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Define Arc	By : BlackberryPatch Category: +M to R > Pet Shop of Horrors Views: 8525 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Pet Shop of Horrors, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Desecration
- 2-Despot
- 3-Damask
- 4-Definition
- 5-Damsel
- 6-Dearth
- 7-Dirigere
- 8-Disturbance
- 9-Decadence
- 10-Disease
- 11-Draht
- 12-Darkness
- 13-Dva
- 14-Daguerreotype
- 15-Draconigenae
- 16-Deification
- 17-Deviant
- 18-Doyoubi
- 6
- 7
- 8
Disclaimer: I do not own Pet Shop of Horrors and I am making no money from this or any other fan related work.

Warnings: language.

(Dirigere is Latin, meaning "to direct.")

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"Dirigere"

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He remembered wishing that he wouldn't have to come to a decision concerning his and Leon's relationship. He'd hoped for the decision to be taken out of his hands- because D knew, in that fervent, desperate way, that he would have been forced to choose something that he did not want. Because, as much as he cared for Leon, the cause was far more important than anything he could desire for himself- as much as he wanted to, he couldn't choose Leon. He had wished that circumstances would take such a decision from him�

But he hadn't thought that such an event would leave him so utterly cold.

D had never felt alone before. He'd been lonely at times, but that was something slightly different. His grandfather had been a constant presence in his life, and his charges were always there, always crowding around him, and while he might occasionally desire the companionship of a creature that perhaps thought a little differently, he'd never given overmuch thought to it.

For the first time, the presence of his companions brought him no comfort at all.

Leon didn't come back after that day. At first, D was hesitant to pursue him. For the first time he was unsure as to how to proceed; he didn't want to hurt Leon more, but he did want to make sure he was alright... The worst part, what couldn't seem to let D figure out what he was supposed to do, was the overwhelming feeling of guilt that bore down upon him. It was his fault. All of it. He should have let Leon know, told Leon about his father, warned him- hadn't he known his father was in town?- but thoughts of this nature were immediately silenced by thoughts of the necessity of his cause, of the knowledge that the only reason he existed was for the purpose of this cause. And this just made him feel guiltier- for if he hadn't begun this relationship with Leon, then the detective would not have been anywhere near where his father could single him out to strike at him. D would not have needed reminding... Leon would have been safe.

After a full day and night of this constant, back and forth, soul churning debate, he decided he should go to Leon and make sure that he�

It was precisely in the middle of that thought that Jill had knocked at the door and informed him quietly, her voice sad and uncomprehending, that she was there to pick up Chris.

D was pretty sure that it was about in that moment that his heart stopped beating. Chris... Chris was his lifeline to Leon, the assurance that Leon would always return. Would always come back...

When Jill and Chris had departed, D had sunk into a chair and stared at the wall, not moving for hours. Pon-chan, nudging determinedly at his hand, finally roused him, and the needs of his charges pulled him forcefully from his stupor. He fed and cared for his animals automatically, without conscious thought. They watched him quietly, with their opalescent, omniscient eyes, and when he was finished and again sat in his chair, unmoving, they shifted closer to him, offering whatever comfort they could.

But D discovered then that they could not touch him with healing the way they always had before. There was only one thing he wanted, one person... the one that was beyond his reach. Thoughts of continuing in his cause left him empty. Pon-chan nuzzled him worriedly and it was only then that he noticed he was crying, tears flowing quietly down his face and falling unnoticed upon the wrinkled cloth of the clothes he'd been wearing for the past two days.

He wasn't entirely certain of how he made it through that day, but somehow he cleaned himself up and conducted his business with
the customers that appeared until the shop closed that evening. But that evening he went to his room and strode purposefully to the closet, not looking around, not glancing at anything but the floor, and took out his suitcase. He packed it full and, taking it from the room, shut the door behind him. The animals watched him, worry evident in their scent.

He stood a moment and looked around the shop. "I'm sorry," he said softly, and, more firmly, "You'll be alright." He opened the front door, stepped through it, and walked away without looking back.

-o-o-o-o-
It wasn't really a question of running away, but as soon as Leon could think straight he knew he had to get out of town. He had Jill pick up Chris- he couldn't... go back there yet- and as soon as she dropped his brother off, they were on their way to the airport. Leon threw all the money he had at the woman at the counter. "I want two tickets to as far away as that'll get me," he'd said, and she'd nodded, counted the money, typed something on her computer, and given him two tickets with a smile and a generalized benediction. He didn't hear her; he was already gone.

Chris was very quiet at first, sensing, in that way that children have, that something was very, very wrong but not knowing quiet what it was. When the plane landed, somewhere on the east coast, Chris clung to Leon with one hand as his brother
pulled them toward a bus and clung to T-chan with the other.

Leon wasn't entirely sure where he was going- away was the only thought in his mind. He needed space, between him and D and everything that looked familiar... because some things looked too damn familiar, and he needed time to think.
The sun was rising over the water- and that was different enough- when
they got off the bus and started walking. They walked for maybe half
the day and ended up at a seaside resort somewhere in northern Florida. Chris looked tired- more than tired, beat- so Leon got them a room.

He was standing on the large second floor veranda, looking out over the sand and the salty water, when Chris first asked why.

"Bro," Chris tightened his grip on his brother's hand, pulling slightly at his arm worriedly. "Big Bro, what's wrong?" Not receiving an immediate answer, and not knowing what motivation was behind his brother's actions, he forged ahead with what he thought was a safe topic. "Why did we leave Count D behind? I'm sure he would have wanted to come on vacation with us."

Leon flinched. He took a deep breath. He knelt down and took Chris by the shoulders. "Look, Chris, I..." He cleared his throat. "I've got... a lot to think about. I... We needed a vacation alone, alright? D just couldn't come with us this time."

Chris frowned at him, not understanding in the slightest, but nodded, trusting his brother. Tetsu growled something from where he crouched beside Chris; Leon hoped it was some form of agreement but glared at the creature anyway. Despite Leon's rather energetic attempts to discourage him, T-chan would not leave Chris' side, and, after he thought about it- and accepted the inevitability of the damn goat's presence- Leon was actually a little happy about the development. Chris looked slightly more understanding after whatever Tetsu had said, and Leon forced a smile for his brother. "Now go run down and have lunch on the patio with everyone. I'll come later." Chris nodded, and he and T-chan ran off leaving Leon to again lean on the stone railing of the veranda and gaze moodily out over the blue expanse of the ocean.

D... God, D. The one thing he didn't want to think about, the one thing that consumed all of his thoughts, the one thing that he needed to think about...

A part of him knew that D had nothing to do with what had happened to him. A part of him� But a larger part of him could not distinguish; the thought of D brought back memories of that night- the feel of familiar skin combined with the application of unfamiliar force.

"Enjoying the view Detective?"

He flinched at the sound of that voice, the words Speak of the devil, flashing across his mind. He spun around to face the source of it, his breath coming hard. As he looked at the familiar outline of that body, and the familiar features of that face, he was insanely glad that the man had not hidden his long hair.

D's father shook that hair back over his shoulder, leaning forward to place his hands on the railing as he leaned further out to look out over the view. "Ah," he continued without waiting for the detective's response, the deceptive familiarity of his voice sending chills down Leon's spine, "I see your brother down there on the patio getting lunch. Perhaps we should join him?"

For a moment fear for Chris overrode his fear for himself and Leon's hand shot out and grabbed the other man by the arm. "Stay the fuck away from him," he hissed.

D's father glanced at him pityingly, the contemptuousness in his gaze distancing his appearance from that of his son. He reached over and, grabbing Leon by the wrist, broke the detective's hold on him so effortlessly that Leon wasn't sure if it was his astonishment or the sudden pain in his wrist that made him gasp. D's father leaned in close to Leon. "Even if I was given to listening to the commands of others," he hissed, "I would not listen to you, you worm. You cannot stop me from doing whatever I please to whomever I desire." He smiled coldly. "You are worthless." Turning around, he leaned back against the balcony's thick stone railing and looked piercingly at Leon, looking through him, as if to say that he had seen everything there that was worth seeing and had found it not worth much.

Leon looked away. He wanted to run, wanted it more than he'd wanted almost anything in his life, but he turned back to the railing and looked down, scanning the crowd below him looking for Chris. He spotted him right as the boy slipped around a corner to a stairway that led down to the beach and disappeared from sight, the furry bulk of T-chan following after him. Right then, D's father turned around and looked out over the patio below, and Leon bit back a sigh of relief.

D's father heard him anyway, but misunderstood the reason behind the sound. He leaned forward, looking down at something intently. "Well, well." Chuckling, he half turned toward Leon. "Does that have anything to do with you I wonder?" And with that he flowed away from the balcony's edge and disappeared into the crowd of people that was moving by.

Confused, Leon looked back down at the patio, wondering if maybe Chris had come back, or if he had been mistaken when he'd assumed the boy he'd seen had been his brother. But it didn't have to do with Chris; it was D.

Leon froze. Standing near the edge of the patio, looking incredibly tired and wearing an expression of well practiced patience as he listened to a young woman speaking at length, was D. He was drinking tea, he was immaculately dressed in his usual long, flowing garments- he looked for all the world exactly like himself. But... there was also something irrefutably different about him. He looked... empty. Something more than the fact that he'd just been speaking with D's father told him that the man standing below him was the real thing and not his attacker. Something, he wasn't sure what... He thought it was the sadness that seemed to permeate D, surrounding him like a cloud. The woman he was talking to moved away, and D looked up, something catching his eyes, and suddenly he was looking right at Leon.

The utter shock on his face convinced Leon that D hadn't come to this place looking for the detective. He seemed paralyzed by a sudden indecision; Leon, pretty sure he knew what D was trying to decide, moved mechanically away from the edge of the balcony. He didn�t want to talk to D now; he wasn't ready... And D seemed to get this message, because Leon didn't see the other man again for the rest of the day.

It was much later, after he had found Chris and they had walked up and down the beach for awhile, when they had returned to their room and Leon had just gotten out of the shower, that there was a knock at the door. Leon hesitated. He glanced over at Chris; his brother was fast asleep, but Tetsu, lying beside him, looked up with lambent eyes. Leon went to the door and, not bothering to look out the peephole, flung it open.

It was D. He looked startled at the abrupt way the door opened, but then he looked at Leon and sorrow seemed to fill him. "Leon," he whispered, reaching out one hand to the detective. "I..."

Leon stepped back, but he left the door open as he moved back into the room. D took this as an invitation and moved inside, shutting the door behind him. Leon finished drying his hair with a towel; throwing the towel down on his bed he stood facing D, bare-chested, low pants hugging his hips, and hard eyes demanding the other man speak first.

"Leon," D whispered again, "I'm sorry. I didn't..." he shook his head, his hair flickering around his face before he looked up at Leon. "I did not come here to make excuses. I just... I wanted to know... if there is a chance." He moved closer to Leon, raising one hand toward the man as if to touch him but drawing back at the last minute. "Leon," he whispered, and Leon flinched almost imperceptibly. D stepped past Leon and moved to the open sliding door of the balcony. He glanced back at Leon, but the detective remained silent. "Is there?" D said softly. "Even the slightest chance you could forgive me?" Leon's jaw clenched, but he remained silent. D sighed, leaning against the doorjamb dejectedly as his eyes closed.

"Why don't you drop the act."

D started, his eyes flying open as he looked at Leon in surprise. "Leon?" he said in confusion.

Leon's eyes hardened. "You're not D. Now get the fuck out."

D's expression was hurt, but he nodded and moved to the door. For a moment Leon wondered if he had been
wrong- this person sounded almost like D, but he didn't have the aura of
emptiness that Leon had noticed around D earlier. But as his visitor moved toward the door, he passed Chris' bed. He paused and reached out as if to touch the boy's hair one last time, but a vicious snarl from Tetsu stopped him cold. Rising up from behind Chris, Tetsu bared every tooth in his head in warning as he moved between D and Chris; his shaggy fur standing on end made him look almost three times his size.

"Well." D smiled, the expression cold and calculating, and Leon knew his instincts had been right. Tetsu's snarl was a rumble in his chest as he looked to be seriously contemplating taking a bite out of the hand that hung suspended merely inches from his face.

"Enough, my son."

At the sound of another voice, so similar to that of the man who stood in front of him, Leon half turned, backing up as he did so, in order to keep both his visitors where he could see them, the jumbled thoughts running through his head, 'My son'? Was I wrong- is this D? No, there's
fucking three of them...

Standing just within the balcony door was a figure, the same height as the man who stood next to the bed refusing to back down from T-chan, enveloped in a long, hooded cloak. "You have taken this too far," the cloaked figure said, and Leon thought he was the one being addressed until D's father- it couldn't be D- answered the cloaked newcomer.

"Have I?" He drew his hand away from T-chan, curling it into a fist as he glared at the cloaked figure. "You supported me in this, Father. If I have done anything it has been with your blessing."

"My admission that you were correct in determining the severity of the situation, yes. Never my blessing in how you handled it." D's father glared at his father, but the cloaked figure turned toward Leon. He raised his head and Leon looked warily into familiar purple and gold eyes. He wasn't sure what to expect from this new development; apparently the Count- for this had to be D's grandfather- agreed with his son in that Leon was less that worthless and shouldn't be anywhere near D, but he also disagreed with his son's methods; which left Leon wondering whether the Count thought those methods should be more severe...

D's father did not look pleased at this announcement. "You said that you agreed with me!"

The Count held up a hand imperiously, and D's father, despite looking as if he had plenty more he would have liked to say, fell silent instantly. "Leave us," the Count said, and D's father, eyes flashing with indignation, turned and left without another word.

Leon watched him go with raised eyebrows, but didn't say anything; it left him alone with the unknown factor, but he was pretty sure that D's father wasn't going to be on his side in any case, and it got the bastard away from Chris. Tetsu quieted as soon as the doppelganger left and Leon returned his wary gaze to the cloaked figure standing by the balcony.

The Count looked straight back at him, seeming to gaze into his eyes and draw out his soul. Leon shifted uncomfortably, but didn't look away. While he was unpleasantly reminded of the way this man's son had looked at him earlier in the day, the Count's gaze felt different- evaluative rather than demeaning.

Sure, evaluative the way you'd evaluate a bug, but Leon wasn't in the mood to
split hairs.
"I do not think even he realized how deeply his attachment to you runs." Leon blinked at the sound of the Count's voice but didn't say anything. What was he supposed to say to that- assuming, as he did, that the Count was talking about D? The Count stepped further into the room and looked at Tetsu. "You were willing to rise in defiance for this human," he addressed the totetsu. "Why?"

T-chan lifted his lips in what might have been a snarl or a grin, and growled something back.

"Most interesting." He looked at Leon, who continued to stare at him suspiciously. "What are your feelings toward my grandson?"

Leon's eyes opened wide in surprise; he was not expecting that. "Look," he said, holding his hands up in front of him. "I'm getting the impression here that I walked into some kind of family trouble, and I didn't mean to be a problem, for D or for any of you. But," he met and held the Count's gaze, "I'll be damned if I let you take him away from me just because you lot are close-minded bigots. If D wants me to get lost, then I'll leave him alone, at least until I can figure out what the hell goes in that shop and probably send him to jail, but I am not going anywhere just because his family hates me." He set his jaw.

The Count laughed coldly. "You have no idea what
you're talking about." His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "But you did leave," he observed quietly.

Leon's lip curled. "You blindsided me," he confessed. "I have to get my head figured out, and I can't have him around when I'm doing that."

The eyes beneath the hood were unnervingly piercing. "You think if he is separated from you by distance he has less of an influence over you than he does if he is close by?" It sounded stupid, the way he said it, and Leon hesitated before nodding. "You took your brother with you," the Count observed.

Leon snorted and gestures toward the door through which
the doppelganger had entered and left. "I wasn't gonna leave him there with your psychotic kid wandering around."

"What makes you think you can protect him any more than my grandson can?" Leon froze, but the Count brushed over it, continuing, "Regardless of your reasoning, my grandson believes you took Chris away with you because you are planning on not returning."

Leon's eyes flew open wide. "No, I didn't..." He stopped speaking but shook his head in denial. "No. I have faith in D's ability to take care of Chris and protect him." He glared at the Count. "From everything but your son."

The cloaked head bowed in momentary acknowledgement. "You are determined in your desire to return to him?"

"Yes." His voice was firm, strong.

Oddly paired eyes regarded him quizzically. "Even if I were to tell you that he could control you, if he desired, no matter the distance between you or any other pitiful defense that you might attempt to raise?"

Leon's head came up, like a stallion fighting the bit, his eyes flashing. "Yes." The determination in his voice didn't change.

The Count nodded, but looked decidedly displeased. "Then there are things I suppose you should know." He lifted the cloak back from his face and gazed deeply into Leon's eyes. "They will help you to understand him and the cause he lives for. For understand, he lives for nothing else." Leon frowned, but nodded. "Or," the Count's mouth quirked in a self-deprecating smirk, "at least I thought so until he met you."

Leon bristled. "This gonna turn into another one of those 'less than worthless' conversations? Cause I'm fucking sick of those."

"No." The Count frowned; for the first time he seemed sincerely troubled about something. "I have heard... whisperings." He scanned Leon's face, as if searching for something. He didn't seem to find it, or if he did it brought him no comfort for his eyes remained shadowed with worry. "You are changing him, that is true, but perhaps... it is not such a bad thing."

Leon narrowed his eyes but nodded. "So what is it you were gonna tell me?"

The Count regarded him for a moment. "It cannot have escaped your notice in your dealings with my grandson that we are," he smiled slyly, the expression similar to one Leon could remember D wearing, "let us say, not entirely bound to your human perceptions of the world. Nor bound to its laws."

Leon snorted. "No shit. I know what you're not, and I know what you think you're not answerable to, but what I don't know is," he stepped forward and roughly grabbed a handful of the heavy cloak the Count was wearing, "what are you?"

"My dear Detective," the Count smiled. "We're Chinese." Leon growled and the Count placed a
cautionary hand over Leon's closed fist. "There is much I cannot tell you," he continued, "and even more that I would like not to tell you, you being what you are... but suffice it to say that long ago, longer than perhaps you realize, our family was betrayed by humans and slaughtered but for a lone survivor. In helping animals to whom the same fate has been handed, we have found enough anger to fuel our continued existence." Leon released his grip and stepped back, sitting on the end of his bed. That explained a lot, or rather it fit with what he knew of D. "We are the caretakers of what has been lost," the Count continued. "We are that which you choose to ignore."

Leon snorted again. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Sounds to me like you're taking out a grudge on people who've got nothing to do with it." The Count's eyes narrowed, and he appeared to be questioning his good sense in ever thinking that a human would be able to comprehend anything of importance. He opened his mouth, but Leon gestured for him to be quiet, and without waiting for the other to comply talked right over him. "Look, I get the whole revenge bit, all I'm saying is if you've been around for longer than I can imagine or whatever, then I'd have thought you'd have figured out by now that revenge doesn't get you what you want."

The Count's eyes flew open wide. For a moment he looked exactly like his grandson- Leon had to violently suppress the urge to go to him and take the man in his arms. "Detective," he said after a moment, his voice calm and mysterious again, "how is it that you can presume to know what it is we want?"

Leon met his eyes. "Because if you'd found it, the three of you wouldn't still be here looking for it."

And to that there was no answer.

-o-o-o-o-
D had traveled faster than he'd planned on; it wasn't long at all after he walked out of the shop that he stood looking out over the Atlantic Ocean, the huge body of water so amazingly different than the one he was used to.

He'd walked out of the shop with no direction, not really sure where he was going or what he planned on doing when he got there. He hitchhiked his way to New Mexico, where he caught a ride with an accommodating trucker whose Doberman curled up at D's feet as the realization that he hadn't slept in over three days caught up with D full force. He didn't wake up until the trucker pulled over somewhere in Mississippi a good 16 hours later.

It had continued in this vein- he traveled surprisingly quickly, as if something was pulling him toward a destination he knew nothing about. He slept when his body demanded it and he ate because it was something that had once given him joy, and he wished for some joy in his life again. And when he had come to the ocean and realized there was no further to run, he stopped and realized that whatever had been pulling him was gone; he was where he was supposed to be. He'd wondered what had brought him here, to a little coastal town in northern Florida, but he'd looked up as he was finishing his lunch and suddenly he knew.

Leon stood looking down at him from the veranda balcony on the second floor. He looked drawn and wary and D thought he would melt away at the sight of the man. The internal debate that he'd never really resolved- should I go to him or give him room?- started up again, but Leon stepped away, and D knew that, whatever else he might want, Leon did not want to see him.

It... hurt. He spent the rest of the day in a daze, unable to comprehend entirely what was going on around him. A footman seemed to think he recognized D and showed him to his room; though he hadn't requested a room, and didn't have the money to pay for it in any case, he followed the man, and once he was in the cool confines of the room he sank into a chair and sat there staring at the wall.

Leon. Oh, Leon... D raised a hand to his face and closed his eyes. He ached, knowing that Leon had been hurt because of him. He hated that he hadn't been able, at the least, to strike at his father, to at least try and hurt him as he had hurt Leon... But it was like trying to choke himself by holding his breath. He couldn't fight with his father; his body rebelled at the very thought.

Without Pon-chan or anyone there to rouse him, D sat there for the rest of the afternoon and well into the evening, his thoughts chasing themselves around in circles in his mind. A knock at the door brought him out of his stupor; he rose to answer it, not expecting anything- not having the energy to know what to expect. Definitely not expecting Leon to be the one at his door.

He stood staring at the man, his mouth parted slightly in utter astonishment. Leon met his eyes then looked away briefly before dropping his eyes to the floor. "Ah, hi," he said quietly.

D could only stare at him for a few more minutes, but he finally shook himself and held the door open. "Would... you like to come in?" he asked, his voice just as quiet. Leon nodded.

D could feel his heart racing as Leon stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. "Le... Detective," he said, wetting his lips nervously.

Leon shifted his feet. "D," he said softly. "I... I'm sorry."

"What?" D's eyes flew open wide as he shook his head violently. "No, I am the one who is sorry. Leon, I... I should have stopped him, I could have..." But Leon shook his head.

"That's not what I was talking about; and anyway, I don't blame you." He looked up, their eyes meeting, and D thought he might fall into those eyes and never come out. "I mean when I took Chris. I... heard you thought I wasn't planning on coming back. I'm sorry for that, cause that's not what I meant for you to think."

D sat down, his mind awhirl, and could only say, "No?"

Leon shook his head. "No. I... Well, I don't know what I meant for you to think, cause I wasn't really thinking. I was... scared, for Chris." He turned away for a moment, but looked back at D. "I don't expect you to fight your old man because of us. I can't expect you to." D closed his eyes and nodded. "I needed some time to think," Leon continued, "I... still need some time." D met his eyes and nodded again. Leon smiled tentatively.

D cleared his throat. "Yes," he said nonspecifically, just to be saying something, his mind unable to form a coherent thought. "You," he glanced up at Leon, "heard that I thought?"

"Ah, yeah." Leon ran his hand through his hair. "I had a chat with your grandfather."

D went still. "You... spoke with... Grandfather?"

"Yeah, I did."

D shook his head in wonderment, then glanced at Leon quickly. "He... did not try to hurt you did he?"

"No," Leon said quickly. "He was... okay." D nodded, accepting that single word; though it didn't even begin to describe whatever had passed between the two, D knew it was all he was going to get until Leon felt like telling him more.

"I am glad. My grandfather means far more to me than my father does. If he had..." D shook his head, and said again, "I am glad."

Leon nodded, and hesitated a moment before saying, "I should go."

D felt his heart constrict at those words but he said, "Yes." Leon nodded, turning to the door. "Leon," D said softly, and Leon stopped. "Thank you. For telling me."

Leon nodded. After a pause he went to the door. His hand was on the knob when he stopped again. "D," he said, his voice clear and certain, "I need to go now, but I am coming back."

D nodded, was suddenly aware that Leon wasn't looking at him and managed to whisper, "I'll be waiting."

Leon nodded and, with that, left.

D sat looking after him. A commotion by the window drew his attention and he looked over to see a familiar face. "Q-chan!" He held out an arm for the creature and Q-chan perched on it, squee-ing happily at D.

He stroked the creature's soft fur as he sank into the chair again, drifting into a comfortable doze. It was several hours later when another knock at the door roused him. Foolishly hopeful, D went to answer it only to be disappointed as well as pleasantly surprised to find breakfast waiting for him in the hall.

"I didn't order anything," he told the young man with the cart.

The young man frowned, pulling out a piece of paper. "I have here that you did, sir. See?" He showed D the paper. "It's the right room number; two nights, breakfast each morning, all paid in advance."

D read the signature on the paper and remembered Leon mentioning that he had spoken with... "Grandfather," he murmured.

"What was that sir?"

D blinked and glanced up at the young man. "Nothing. Thank you for breakfast." The young man left, and as D closed the door behind him he noticed a piece of paper on the table near the window. It was a letter, lying open, the writing visible. For a moment D felt his breath stop as he imagined his father leaving him another threatening epistle, but as he stepped closer he could see that the hand was different, though still familiar. He reached out with a shaking hand to lift the paper from the table.

My Dearest Child,

I hope this finds you well. I regret that I cannot speak to you in person, but I fear it is not yet the time for that. When I return to you, it will mean the revelation of many things. Things which, now, I do not think you are ready for. Child, you are perilously close to the edge from which there is no return. And yet... Change is coming. I can feel it. It is not entirely a bad thing, though it may shake what we believe through to its core. And not only what we believe, but what others believe as well.

Your human is indeed an exceptional creature, with a directness of thought that I would not have attributed to either him or his race at large.
To comfort your mind, I will endeavor to watch over him as often as I can as he searches for what he must discover. Do not be without hope, though such a thing has never been of much concern to us. Meanwhile, I believe you still have an obligation. Do not let those things you feel are most important come between you and other things which are at least as important, if only in their small way. When I look at you, I know you are still the child I raised. Do not let yourself forget that.

With sincerest affection,

Count D.

D read through the letter three times before he lay the paper back down on the table. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes. Grandfather... He missed his grandfather. It had been... many years... since he had last seen the man who had raised him, and Grandfather's level-headedness had always been a welcome contrast to his father's overly focused fanaticism. Q-chan made an inquiring noise and D looked over at him with a smile. "I suppose we shouldn't let breakfast go to waste. And then, Grandfather is right- I need to go back." It was odd, how before he couldn't stand the thought of going on, but now, with the promise of Leon's eventual return, the prospect did not seem so entirely unbearable. He frowned slightly; Grandfather had mentioned D's all-consuming attachment to Leon, but he also promised to watch over Leon. D wasn't sure what to make of that. But the knowledge that Leon would come back to him filled him with the most wonderful feeling, and as he bit into the warm, peach-filled tart that was a part of his breakfast he thought he'd never tasted anything so delicious.

-o-O-o-
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Define Arc

- "Dirigere" -

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-o-o-o-o-

-o-O-o-

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"Dirigere"

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