![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
FIC: Daiki, Part 20b (of 22)
Title: Daiki, Part 20b (of 22)
Rating: R overall, but mostly PG-13
Pairing: Leon/D
Word count: ~6,430
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Matsuri Akino and Yumiko Kawahara. No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Sequel to: This can be considered a continuation of my earlier series of stories (Revenge, The Day After, Spirits, Blodeuedd), but it can stand on its own as my version of what happens after Book 10.
Thanks to: Spare from the Petshop discussion group on Yahoo, who planted the plot bunny in my head about the Dolls shopkeeper being Leon and D's child! ^_^
Summary: A crossover between Petshop of Horrors by Matsuri Akino and Dolls by Yumiko Kawahara. The family reunion of the Ds takes place.
Part 1a, Part 1b, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15a, Part 15b, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19a, Part 19b, Part 20a
***
"Can we get back to the point?" Tet-chan asked impatiently, interrupting Leon's hazy daydream of grandchildren. "What's this ritual you mentioned?"
"It is a sort of marriage rite where the non-human partner transfers some of his or her magic and immortality to the human partner," Sofu explained, then paused to correct himself. "Well, we are not really immortal, but close enough that it makes little difference to a human. But to be accurate, let us say, rather, transfers some of his or her extended lifespan to the human partner."
"What?!" D exclaimed. "Why did you never tell me this before, Grandfather?" he demanded. "If it is possible to share some of my kami powers with Leon to extend his life..."
"That is precisely why I never mentioned this to you--for fear that you might do something foolish!" Sofu snapped. "Because by sharing his powers, the non-human partner loses some of his magic and shortens his own life!"
"But I would not mind if it meant that Leon would live longer!" D protested. "I would not mind having a shorter life, if it meant that Leon would be by my side for all of it!"
"You do not understand at all!" Sofu shouted, his golden eyes blazing with both fear and anger, his normal cool kami serenity completely shattered. "For a healthy kami, going through with the ritual would mean that he and his spouse would share a more or less equal lifespan, much longer for the human and much shorter for the kami. That would be bad enough, but need I remind you, Grandchild, that you are not healthy? I have no idea what effect the ritual would have on you, but it could drastically shorten your life, to even less than a normal human lifespan, and perhaps even kill you immediately!" His already pale face turned dead white, and his voice trembled slightly as he said, "I have already lost one son, and even without the ritual, I will most likely outlive you, child. It is a most terrible and unnatural fate, for one to outlive one's children and grandchildren. I beg of you, Grandson, do not make me mourn you any sooner than absolutely necessary."
In that moment, Sofu was not an arrogant demigod, nor even an annoying, meddling in-law, but only a grandfather who feared to lose his precious grandson, and for the first time, Leon could sympathize with him. He knew that he'd feel the same way if it were Daiki in D's place, offering to cut his life in half for Raphael's sake.
"Grandfather..." D whispered, looking shaken and humbled. His voice trailed off uncertainly, as he glanced from Sofu to Leon, obviously torn between his love for each of them.
But in this case, Leon was on Sofu's side. He reached out and gently clasped D's hand in his, then said firmly, "I'm not greedy, D. I won't ask for more life than has already been allotted to me."
"But--" D started to argue, and Leon laid a finger tenderly across his lips.
"I told you before, let's just make the most of whatever time we've got. What if Sofu's right, and this ritual kills you? Do you think that I'd want to live at your expense? What good would a long life do me if you aren't there in it?"
"But..." D protested again, a little more weakly this time.
"Besides, life is uncertain," Leon said quietly. "I know that you don't like to think about it, but let's face it, I'm in a dangerous line of work. It would be pretty dumb to give me an extended life when I might get shot the next day."
"Leon, do not even joke about that!" D cried. "Besides, perhaps I would be able to transfer some of my healing powers to you, and then you would have a better chance of surviving if you are wounded in the line of duty."
"The effects of the ritual are unpredictable," Sofu interjected in a quelling tone. "There is no way to determine how much of your magic he would receive."
Leon almost said, "And even a kami can be killed by a bullet in the head," but glanced over at the young Count, and just barely stopped himself in time. If Junior didn't know how Papa D had died, then it was better to leave well enough alone, and even if he did, it still wouldn't be a good idea to rub it in his face. Instead, Leon said, "Look, D, you didn't want your sister to sacrifice her life for yours, right? So why should I want you to sacrifice yours for me?"
D sighed unhappily. "I do not wish to sacrifice my life, precisely, just give you a few of the extra years of life that I have..."
"But Sofu says it's dangerous," Leon reminded him. "Gaining a few years isn't worth the risk of losing you." He squeezed D's hand gently and smiled at him. "Don't worry; I'm in good health, and I intend to be around for quite a few years more. We've been happy together, and raised a wonderful son. I feel like the luckiest guy in the world; I can't ask for anything more."
D smiled tenderly, if a bit tremulously, at his son and his lover. "I suppose it would be hubristic to ask for more," he said reluctantly, and squeezed Leon's hand in return. Then he leaned forward and brushed his lips against Leon's, right in front of Sofu and Junior without any self-consciousness, and whispered, "I love you, my dear Detective."
Leon was a little embarrassed, but at the same time delighted by the unexpected public display of affection. He supposed it was a bit petty, but the sour look on Sofu's face only added to his pleasure. "Love you, too," he whispered back.
Leon half-expected Junior to look as disgusted as Sofu, but the youngest D only gazed at him thoughtfully for a moment, then murmured to Chris, "Your brother is a very...interesting...man." Remarkably, it didn't sound like an insult. Maybe it was even a compliment of sorts, because he added, "I am beginning to understand what my brother sees in him."
Chris grinned, but Tet-chan fidgeted impatiently and demanded, "Can we get back to the ritual, please? What exactly does it do, and how do we perform it?"
"Hold on now, Tet-chan," Chris said, looking alarmed. "Let's not rush into anything. If this ritual is dangerous..."
"It is dangerous to my grandson because his health is something less than perfect," Sofu said, looking more composed now that D had decided not to undergo the ritual. "It should be safe enough for Tet-chan, relatively speaking. He would be giving up a portion of his lifespan to you, of course, but he would not be in any immediate danger."
"How long does a Tou-Tet live, anyway?" Chris asked, gazing at his lover with a troubled look in his eyes. "I wouldn't want you shortening your life for my sake--"
"And how do you think I'd feel, living for centuries alone without my lifemate?" Tet-chan interrupted.
"You will not just be giving up your near-immortality," Sofu warned him. "You will also be giving up some of your inherent magical ability, including your power to transform from human to animal and back again."
"So...I'd be completely human?" Tet-chan asked hesitantly.
"Not completely," Sofu replied. "You would retain some of your supernatural powers, but they would be significantly weakened; it is difficult to predict by exactly how much. As I said, you would lose the ability to transform, although you would probably retain greater-than-human strength and agility. You would lose your horns." Tet-chan automatically reached up to touch his curved, ram-like horns as Sofu continued, "Part of the purpose of the ritual, beyond giving an extended lifespan to the human spouse, is to allow the magical partner to pass as human so that he or she might live in harmony in the human world. Most likely, though, you will still look a bit otherworldly--retaining a golden tinge to your eyes, for example. Your non-human nature cannot be completely suppressed, but you'll look human enough to live openly with Chris."
Tet-chan and Chris stared uncertainly at each other. "I can't ask Tet-chan to give up his magic for me," Chris said.
But Leon was more concerned about something else. "What will happen to Chris if they go through with this thing?" he asked sharply. "You said that some of Tet-chan's magic would be transferred to Chris. Will it just extend his lifespan, or will he start growing horns and craving human flesh?"
"Oh!" Chris exclaimed, and Tet-chan looked just as startled. "I never thought of that!"
"Hmm," Sofu said thoughtfully. "I have never heard of a marriage between a Tou-Tet and a human, so I cannot predict exactly what will happen. But nothing so drastic, I think. It would be counterproductive for the ritual to transform the human partner so drastically that he no longer looks human."
"Right," Raphael said, nodding. "Because you said that the magical partner becomes more human in order to fit into the human world, so there would be no point to that if the human partner suddenly grew horns or whatever."
"My, my," Sofu said, elegantly arching an eyebrow in surprise. "Brains as well as looks--how remarkable. At least you have chosen a more intelligent mate than your Papa did, Daiki."
D, who ought to be offended on Leon's behalf, just snickered, damn him. Leon glared at both of them, but Daiki just smiled serenely and pointed out, "Dad was clever enough to track down a kami who didn't want to be found."
"Proof of my skills as a great detective," Leon said proudly.
"Hmph!" Sofu snorted, sounding like a crotchety old man in spite of his youthful face. "It is sheer animal instinct, no different than the way a bloodhound can trace a scent. It has nothing to do with intelligence."
"Why you--" Leon growled.
Daiki chuckled softly and laid a hand on Leon's arm to restrain him. "Perhaps you and Great-Grandfather can quarrel later, Dad, but I believe that right now we should be discussing Chris?"
"Yeah, I suppose so," Leon muttered, grudgingly subsiding.
"Very well," Sofu said coolly, returning to the original topic as if nothing had happened. "Tet-chan's powers are mainly those of a superior sort of predator--heightened senses, speed, and strength. The transfer of power might cause Chris to grow a little stronger, and perhaps develop a keener sense of sight, hearing, and smell, but nothing that would be dangerous to him. If anything, it might even prove to be an asset to him in his work. The only truly extraordinary power a Tou-Tet has is the ability to put on the body of a corpse like a second skin, in order to disguise himself as a human to get closer to his prey. But I do not think that Chris will receive this power in the transfer, and even if he did, I am certain that he would choose not to make use of it."
"Of course not!" Chris exclaimed.
"And I doubt that Chris will receive the desire to consume human flesh, either," Sofu continued calmly. "Although he may develop more of a taste for meat than he has had in the past."
"I learned to like vegetarian dishes when I was living with the Count, but I also love a good steak," Chris said with a smile.
"So in conclusion," Sofu said, "I believe that the ritual poses no danger to Chris, if he and Tet-chan decide to go through with it."
Leon just grunted in response. He still wasn't sure that he liked the idea, but he didn't believe that Sofu would deliberately put Chris in danger. The old kami was fond of Chris in his own way, and according to Daiki, he had protected Chris by forbidding Junior to sell him any pets.
"I don't know about this," Chris told Tet-chan, his smile fading. "All joking aside, I don't want you sacrificing anything for me, and like Leon said, there's no need to be greedy. A normal human lifespan is enough for me."
"Just out of curiosity, how long would Chris live if he and Tet-chan performed the marriage rite?" Ten-chan asked.
Sofu shrugged. "It varies slightly, depending on the power and normal lifespan of the non-human partner, but from what I have heard...I would expect both Chris and Tet-chan to live for more than a century in very good health, but probably not more than two."
"It's not worth it," Chris said quietly, "to gain a few extra years at the cost of your magic and the rest of your life, Tet-chan. You still haven't answered my question about how long a Tou-Tet lives, but I suspect that it's a good deal more than two centuries."
"Well, you've told me what you want, but you haven't asked me what I want," Tet-chan growled, glaring at Chris defiantly.
"Do you want to give up your magic?" Chris demanded. "Do you want to become mortal for my sake? Do you think I want that kind of burden on my conscience?"
"Oh, so now I'm a burden!" Tet-chan snapped.
"That's not what I meant!" Chris shouted.
"Ooh, a lover's quarrel," Ten-chan said, his eyes gleaming with interest. "Their first fight, I believe, since becoming all lovey-dovey. Actually, I feel reassured. It was quite disconcerting to see Tet-chan being so sentimental."
"Maybe they'll break up," Kanan muttered, half jokingly, half hopefully.
"That's not a very nice thing to say, both of you!" Pon-chan said, glaring accusingly at both the dragon and the kitsune.
"I didn't mean it in a bad way, Pon-chan," Ten-chan said gently. "It's easy to get along during the first stage of infatuation, when you're all caught up in the euphoria of love and everything seems perfect. But eventually you realize that your partner isn't perfect, and you have to learn to deal with each other's differences and annoying little habits. Even people who love each other sometimes quarrel, and Chris and Tet-chan's relationship will become all the stronger if they can recognize that and still love and respect each other even when they disagree."
"Oh, I get it!" Pon-chan said brightly, her eyes filling with comprehension. "Like how Leon and the Count always fight, but still love each other."
Leon glared at the kitsune, who just smiled back at him cheerily, and then Leon gave in and laughed. "You're pretty clever, for a smart-mouthed little brat," he said with gruff affection.
"Well, I am a fox, after all," Ten-chan said modestly.
Meanwhile, Tet-chan was insisting, "I want to do this, Chris! And not just to extend your life, although that's part of it!"
"Then why?" Chris asked, staring at him in confusion and distress. "Explain it to me, because I sure don't understand!"
"Because you were right," Tet-chan said quietly. "I thought that I wouldn't mind being your 'pet' as long as we could be together, but I was wrong. Our relationship...it's never been one of equals. When you were a kid, I was your guardian, and if I move to San Francisco like this, I'll have to pretend to be your pet. But I don't want to be your big brother or your pet, Chris--I want to be your partner. I want to be your lover." He stared at Chris, a hungry and possessive look in his golden eyes. "I want to meet your friends and neighbors and coworkers. I want everyone to know that I belong to you, and you belong to me. I don't want anybody hitting on you, thinking that you're single because they don't know that I'm your boyfriend and not just your pet sheep."
Chris blushed and smiled. "You know that I don't want anyone but you, Tet-chan, and I'd certainly never go out with anyone else."
"I know," Tet-chan said. "But I still want everyone to know that you're mine. I want to be part of your life, in every way that matters. I don't want to just be your secret lover."
"I...see," Chris said, wavering slightly. "I think I understand how you feel, but still, it's such a huge sacrifice--"
"I don't consider it a sacrifice," Tet-chan interrupted in a determined voice. "Because I'm gaining something in return--you. My lifemate. I want to share my life with you, every moment of it, no matter how long or short that might be."
"But..." Chris started to protest, but his voice trailed off as Beauty walked over to Tet-chan to stand by his side, firmly clasping his large, taloned hand in her dainty little hand. It was the first time that Leon had seen the Plant Doll display any affection towards Tet-chan; the two of them tolerated each other, but each seemed to consider the other a rival for Chris's affection. "So," Chris said, smiling helplessly at Beauty, "you're taking his side, too?"
Tet-chan looked startled for a moment, but quickly recovered and said firmly, "See? Miss Beauty agrees with me, don't you?" Beauty nodded and reached out with her free hand to grasp Chris's hand. "Even the doll gets it," Tet-chan continued. "All three of us, we're meant to be together, Chris. We're a family."
"I guess I'm outnumbered, then," Chris said, laughing even as tears welled in his eyes. "But Tet-chan...are you really sure? Will you really be okay, living as a mortal? I don't want you to do anything that you'll regret later."
"I'll be okay, Chris," Tet-chan said, smiling at him reassuringly. "It's not like I've done much with my so-called magic for the past couple of decades. We haven't had much trouble at the shop since the detective started living here." He sighed, looking a little regretful at the thought of having no intruders to devour. "So I've practically been living like a human, anyway, working as a cook for the Count. I can do that just as well in San Francisco as here." His face brightened as an idea occurred to him. "You know, maybe I could get a job as a cook during the day to keep busy while you're at work. No, that wouldn't work, 'cause I've gotta baby-sit Beauty, but if I opened my own restaurant, then I could keep her with me."
"That would cost a lot of money, Tet-chan," Chris cautioned him, but began to look excited as well. "I've got a bit saved up, but not enough to pay rent on a restaurant, and besides..." He gave his nephew an ironic look. "I'm still paying off my loan from the Plant Dolls shop."
"Well, maybe I could work from home, doing a bit of private catering," Tet-chan suggested, but D waved his hand in a dismissive gesture.
"Money is no object," he said airily. "If Tet-chan wishes to open a restaurant, I would be pleased to invest in it and provide him with the necessary capital. It is the least I can do after all his years of service to me."
The young Count said eagerly, "I too, would be pleased to invest in this restaurant. Chris and Father have told me much about my brother's famed chef, and from tonight's dinner, I can see that they were not exaggerating about his talent." Tet-chan grinned proudly. "My only request is that you provide an extensive dessert selection on your menu." He smiled slyly at Sofu. "Including a strawberry shortcake."
"Done!" Tet-chan said, and shook hands with the young Count.
"Why do I feel like I have just handed my chef over to my brother?" D pouted.
Junior gazed at D anxiously for a moment, then looked relieved when he saw that his brother was only teasing him. "Well then, Brother, you will have to come visit me often in San Francisco, so that we can dine together at Tet-chan's restaurant!" he laughed.
"I look forward to it," D said, smiling at his brother warmly.
Setting up a restaurant in San Francisco sounded pretty permanent, and Leon wondered if that meant that Chris wouldn't request a transfer to L.A. after all. Then he decided that it didn't really matter, as long as everyone was happy. San Francisco was close enough that they could visit often, and it would give D a good excuse to see his brother. Junior seemed like a decent sort, for a D, so Leon didn't mind the idea of visiting him in San Francisco, but he was glad that D's little brother didn't seem interested in moving to L.A., because Leon preferred to keep the young Count and his murderous pets out of this city. Leon figured that a little distance between himself and the in-laws would help keep family relations running smoothly, and he suspected that Sofu probably felt the same way.
"I take it that the two of you intend to go through with the ritual?" Sofu asked, and Chris and Tet-chan nodded. "All right, then give me a few weeks to properly research it and make the preparations."
"A wedding," cooed one of the cat girls. "How romantic!"
"We will hold it here, of course!" D declared happily, his eyes growing a little unfocused as he began planning the wedding in his mind.
"A wedding..." Leon murmured thoughtfully, his gaze falling on the ruby pendant that D was wearing around his neck, the one that Leon had bought him as an "anniversary" gift. He and D were like an old married couple, but they'd never had an official ceremony. Leon wasn't much for ceremonies and fancy parties, but D was, and Leon wondered if D ever regretted never having a formal wedding.
"Hey D," he said hesitantly. "How about you and me getting hitched, too?"
D's jaw dropped open, along with everyone else seated at the table. "B-but you s-said that you did not want us to perform the ritual," he stammered.
It was actually kind of amusing to see everyone staring at him slack-jawed, and Leon grinned. "Nah, I don't mean the ritual, but you and I never did anything official. I just thought that, well, maybe we could exchange vows, like a whatchamacallit..." He gestured vaguely, trying to recall the proper term.
"Commitment ceremony?" Daiki helpfully supplied.
"Yeah, that's it," Leon agreed. "I mean, it wouldn't be legal in the eyes of the government, of course, but you've made it clear that you don't care much about human laws, and well...if Chris and Tet can get married, I don't see why we can't. Let's make it official and do things properly, till death do us part and all that."
D suddenly burst into laughter and tears at the same time, and flung his arms around Leon. "A rather inelegant proposal, my dear Detective," he laughed, with tears streaming down his face.
"Uh, sorry," Leon mumbled, his face turning red. He wasn't really good with words, and it had been a spur of the moment thing, but he was absolutely serious about this proposal. Still, even Leon had to admit that "let's get hitched" wasn't exactly romantic, and he wondered if D was disappointed that he hadn't gone all out with roses and champagne and going down on bended knee with a diamond ring and all that. "I could, uh, do it again if you like," he offered. "Do it right this time--get dressed up and take you to a fancy restaurant and--"
"Oh no, Leon!" D laughed, hugging him tighter. "It was inelegant but perfect, awkward and yet completely sincere--just like you!" While Leon was wondering if he ought to be offended, D kissed him soundly on the mouth and said, "I love you exactly the way you are, Leon, and yes, I would be delighted to marry you!"
Leon forgot about being offended, and returned the kiss and wrapped his arms around D as everyone in the room cheered and applauded, except for Sofu and the young Count.
"Well, it looks as though it will be a double wedding, Father," the young D said with an amused smile, and eldest D heaved a sigh of resignation.
***
"So your parents are finally getting married after more than twenty years," Raphael chuckled as he and Daiki left the petshop and got into Daiki's car.
"It's a bit backwards, I suppose," Daiki laughed. "Most people get married and then have children, but my family has always been...unique."
"I think it's safe to say that there's no other family like them in the entire world," Raphael said, grinning widely.
"But actually, I'm happy that things turned out this way," Daiki continued. "If they'd gotten married before I was born, I wouldn't have been able to take part in the ceremony. This way, I get to be part of the wedding, too."
"It is nice, when you think of it that way," Raphael agreed. "So, I imagine this wedding will be a big deal in Chinatown--the social event of the year, maybe even the century. Everyone thinks that the Count is a god, and it's not every day that a god gets married."
"Oh, I don't think that they'll publicize it," Daiki laughed. "Uncle Chris's and Tet-chan's marriage rite will have to be private for obvious reasons, after all. And Dad doesn't like big parties. So they'll probably have a small, private ceremony with just family and a few friends. Dad probably hasn't thought that far ahead, but Aunt Jill will kill him if he doesn't invite her to the wedding. And she's dying to meet you, by the way."
"She's not as overprotective as your dad is, I hope," Raphael laughed nervously.
"Not at all," Daiki replied cheerfully. "She says that I'm sensible and capable of making my own decisions. And she's a romantic at heart, so she loves seeing people in love. She knew that Dad and Papa were in love with each other long before they did." He paused to think for a moment, then added, "Of course, if you were dating her daughter, it might be another story. She's fierce as a mother lion protecting her cubs, and Uncle Terry is just as bad as Dad is. Lian is always complaining that boys are scared off by the fact that she has not just one, but two parents who are cops."
"Poor kid," Raphael chuckled, then noticed that they had pulled up next to the Plant Dolls shop instead of heading back to his apartment.
"Is it all right if we stop by the shop?" Daiki asked. "I have something I want to show you."
"Sure," Raphael said. He was always happy to spend as much time as possible with Daiki, and stopping by the shop late at night held the possibility of some make-out time on the couch--without any interruptions from Tet-chan this time, since he was back at the petshop with Chris.
Daiki led him through the lobby of the store, past the sleeping dolls and down the hallway to a door that Raphael could swear that he had never seen before in all his many visits to the Plant Dolls shop. Raphael waited for Daiki to open the door, but he stepped to one side and motioned for Raphael to open it.
"What's in there?" Raphael asked curiously.
"It's a surprise," Daiki said, smiling mischievously.
"So what's the special occasion?" Raphael joked. "It's not even close to my birthday." But Daiki just smiled at him in reply, so he placed his hand on the doorknob and turned it.
The door swung open and Raphael gasped as he stepped into a large, spacious room with a high ceiling and excellent lighting--perfect for an artist's studio, which it was obviously intended to be. There were easels and blank canvases of varying sizes propped up against the walls, and a table and shelves laid out with sketchpads, brushes, paints, and various artist's implements. There was even, Raphael noted with a touch of amusement, a brand-new palette knife like the one Daiki had used to slash the portrait of Rainy Moon.
"Do you like it?" Daiki asked, watching him anxiously.
"It's wonderful," Raphael said softly, still in awe at the sight of the studio. "Is this really all for me?"
"Of course," Daiki replied, smiling almost shyly. "You see...I've been wanting to ask you to move in with me for some time now, but I wanted to wait until the studio was ready."
"Really?!" Raphael exclaimed, even more thrilled by that statement than he was by the studio.
"But of course the studio is still yours to use if you prefer to remain in your apartment," Daiki added.
"You idiot!" Raphael laughed, sweeping Daiki into his arms. "Of course I want to live with you!" He sealed his words with a kiss, and it seemed that Daiki didn't mind being called an idiot, because he returned the kiss quite enthusiastically. When they came up for air some time later, Raphael asked hesitantly, "Um...Daiki?"
"Yes, Raphael?"
"This room...it wasn't here the last time that I visited, was it?"
"Well," Daiki said, with that enigmatic little kami smile that he used on his customers, "let us say that it was not yet visible. It took awhile for the shop to create the room, as it has never made an artist's studio before."
"It 'created' the room?" Raphael gasped, his eyes widening. "Is the shop...alive?" He had already suspected that the room had been created by some sort of kami magic, but it still took him by surprise when Daiki casually talked about things like the shop creating a room, as if it were completely normal. Then again, it probably was normal to someone like Daiki who had grown up in Count D's petshop, with a kami for a father and mythical beasts for his playmates.
"Well, I'm not sure you could say that the shop is sentient, precisely," Daiki replied thoughtfully. "But it does respond to the wishes of its owner, so I suppose in that sense it is alive." He gave Raphael a worried look. "Does it bother you that this room was created with magic?"
"No," Raphael replied instantly. "I mean, the thought of it is a bit unsettling, but after everything I've seen, I don't think that anything can really shock me much further. This--" He smiled as he gestured at the room. "--is a lot less shocking than a three-headed dragon, after all. And you told me that your master, the previous owner, was a kami as well, so it's natural to assume that the shop is magical like the Count's. Just promise me that you won't turn it into a boat and fly off without me someday!"
"That I can promise you, my love," Daiki laughed, embracing Raphael again. "I want to be by your side, always."
"You know," Raphael murmured into Daiki's ear, "that sounds almost like a marriage proposal."
"Should we tell Great-Grandfather that it shall be a triple ceremony, then?" Daiki asked impishly.
"Are you serious?!" Raphael exclaimed, pulling away for a moment to look at Daiki's face to see if he was joking.
Daiki smiled at him tenderly, and although there was still a glint of humor in his eyes, he replied, "I am perfectly serious. I don't need a ceremony to know that you are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, but I think it would be nice to make it official and say the words in front of our family and friends. But we don't need to do it right now if you aren't ready."
"I..." Raphael whispered hoarsely, suddenly finding it hard to speak around the lump that seemed to have formed in his throat. His first thought was that he had no family to invite to the wedding, but that wasn't really true. He was Honlon's "big brother" now, and Leon and D had welcomed him into the family, and he had even grown fond of the bad-tempered Tet-chan. He would have happily married Daiki solely for himself, of course, but he was also overwhelmed by the thought that he would be gaining a family along with his lover.
Raphael coughed and tried again. "I'd love to marry you, Daiki, and officially become part of your family."
"Even with all the strange in-laws you'll be getting?" Daiki teased.
"Even so," Raphael said firmly, kissing his boyfriend--no, fiance. "Should we call your folks with the good news?"
"Well, it's rather late right now, so I thought that we could stop by the shop tomorrow morning to tell them," Daiki said with a coy smile. "And seeing as how it's so late...I thought perhaps you would like to spend the night here."
"Oh," Raphael gasped breathlessly. It wasn't really that late, but he certainly wasn't going to argue the point with Daiki, not after weeks and months of longing for this moment. "Does this mean that the, uh, time is right?" he stammered, recalling what Daiki had once told him, that they would be together when the time was right.
"I would say that it could not possibly be any more right than it is now," Daiki replied, holding out his hand. Raphael took it, brought it to his lips, and reverently kissed it, then followed in a daze as Daiki led him upstairs to the apartment above the shop, to the bedroom which Raphael had not set foot in until now.
Raphael felt as if he were in a dream that he never wanted to wake from, and later when he tried to recall the details, they all seemed to melt into a hazy blur of pleasurable sensations--smooth skin beneath his hands, the warmth of Daiki's lips pressed against his own, the wetness of his tongue, the ecstasy of being sheathed inside his lover with Daiki's arms and legs wrapped around his body. Afterwards, utterly sated and content, he started to drift off to sleep when a thought occurred to him and reality suddenly intruded, causing him to sit bolt upright in bed.
"Jesus Christ!" he exclaimed.
"What's wrong?" Daiki yawned, blinking at him sleepily as he reached over to switch the bedside lamp on.
"We didn't, you know, use any protection," Raphael replied in a nervous and agitated voice. "I was so caught up in the moment..."
"Oh, it's all right," Daiki assured him. "We're both healthy, and besides, kami don't normally contract human diseases."
"That's not what I meant!" Raphael snapped, blushing. "I'm clean; I've been tested, and I wouldn't have slept with you if I weren't."
"Of course, my love," Daiki said, stroking his arm soothingly. "So what is bothering you, then?"
"Ah, sorry," Raphael apologized, blushing again. "I shouldn't have snapped at you. It's just...gay guys don't usually have to worry about birth control, but I was wondering...is it possible for us to have a child the way that your parents had you?"
"Oh!" Daiki exclaimed, his golden eyes going wide and round with shock. "Oh my, I suppose I should have considered that as well. I do not know, Raphael. Kami-human hybrids are extremely rare, and I'm not sure that even Great-Grandfather knows if such a thing is possible. For the Ds, a conscious intent is usually required to create a child, but my own birth was a happy but unplanned accident. Although there was a certain combination of desperation and passion after being reunited after a long absence that might have created the proper circumstances in which to conceive a child. Hmm..."
Daiki frowned thoughtfully and Raphael stammered, "Is...is it possible that we could have, well, conceived right now?"
"Oh no," Daiki laughed, to Raphael's relief. "If we had, the room would be covered in vines. The Ds give birth through a plant surrogate, you see."
"Yes, Tet-chan explained it to me," Raphael said, smiling sheepishly. "So we're safe for now?"
"Yes, but I'll speak to Papa and Great-Grandfather later," Daiki replied. "They may be able to give us some advice on how to prevent an unplanned conception, although come to think of it, it might be unnecessary. I'm not sure that I can conceive in the manner of the Ds, because flowers and plants have never sprouted from my blood as they do from Papa's."
"I see," Raphael said, his mood unexpectedly shifting from relieved to disappointed. "That's too bad. I mean, I'm not ready to be a dad right now, but I would like to have children with you someday."
Daiki smiled at him tenderly. "Well, I don't know that it's impossible. We could try, when the time is right, and Great-Grandfather might be able to give us advice on how to conceive as well as on how to prevent a conception."
"Yes, I'm sure your great-grandpa will be thrilled to have more part-human grandkids running around," Raphael said dryly, and Daiki laughed.
"You're right, he will complain, but I think that he would rather have part-human descendants than see his race die out entirely. And I'm almost certain that my cousin and his detective will be having children together someday."
"Poor Sofu," Raphael chuckled.
"It's not a bad thing," Daiki said. "The Ds have been inbred for too long, and human blood will probably make us stronger. As for you and me, even if we can't have children of our own, we can always adopt. There is more to a family than blood ties."
"True," Raphael agreed, smiling as he thought of Leon and D, Honlon, Pon-chan, and all the other petshop inhabitants. He turned off the lamp and sank back down onto the bed, pulling Daiki into his arms.
"Are you happy now, my love?" Daiki whispered.
"I've never been happier in my life," Raphael replied truthfully, and soon fell into a deep, peaceful slumber with Daiki by his side."
***
Afterword: At the time I originally wrote the fic, gay marriage wasn't legal in California, but now Leon and D (and Daiki and Raphael) could get officially hitched if they wanted. Maybe I should write a sequel where they renew their vows! ^_^
Part 21, Part 22a, Part 22b
no subject
no subject
no subject