Alan waited while his cousin made tea much amused by the demi-god carefully protecting its treasure. He thought about riling the creature up and reaching for one but refrained. He had been on to many window ledges listening to too many of Wu Long's discussions to try it. The kami would finish one cookie and immediately start on another eating them hand over fist as if he couldn't get enough. Hell, maybe he couldn't, from what little Alan had learned kami's weren't truly human anyway so who knew? Leon came back carrying a tray loaded down with tea, coffee, a loaf of French bread sliced thin, a plate of sharp cheddar cheese also sliced thin, and various small containers of creamer and sugar. Leon sighed deeply upon seeing the now nearly empty platter of cookies and set down what he had been carrying.

"D, give me that. You've had enough now." Leon tugged on the edge of plate trying to pull it out of his lap. D grabbed on tightly and refused to let go. Alan snickered under his breath earning him a hard glare from his cousin. He couldn't help but laugh it was hysterical and touching all at the same time. Leon tried again tugging a bit harder this time his words firm and no nonsense.

"D give me the plate. You can have some more later. Now let go." D answered him in a torrent of Chinese that Alan couldn't understand but apparently Leon did.

"No, they are not all yours. You're being rude. Alan isn't going to steal the damn things. D, for the last time let go." Alan watched the proceedings trying very hard to stifle the fit of giggles he could feel coming on. The kami resorted to different tactics and pouted up prettily at Leon tears shimmering in his odd mismatched eyes. Oh, that was a good move his cousin was a sucker for tears and for a minute it did look like Leon was going to buckle but he rallied at the end. Leon yanked sharply on the plate successfully snatching it from his grasp and backed away with it quickly. The kami crossed his arms over his chest and sulked. Alan always one to cause trouble if he could, waited until he could no longer see his cousin then leaned in close to the kami. He pulled a Hershey's bar from his jacket pocket and offered it to him.

"Now don't you go telling on me for giving you this all right? You know how hard headed and mean my cousin can be. I just can't stand to see you suffer like that, terribly unfair really." Alan whispered to him and winked as the kami snatched the candy from him. D leaned forward and hugged him briefly depositing a chaste kiss on his cheek as he pulled back.

"So you and me friends now?" Alan asked the overjoyed kami.

"Of course we shall be most good friends." D replied busy breaking the seal on the wrapper and popping chunks of it into his mouth. They both jumped startled when Leon bellowed from the kitchen.

"Damn it D I know what you're doing. Alan would you mind not being so friggin helpful. And don't start with me I know you gave it to him. Do you ever go anywhere without candy on your person?"

"NO!" Alan shot back but looked at D mystified.

"How'd he know?" D smiled and quickly gulped down the rest of the chocolate.

"We are mated. I know what he knows and he knows what I know. It is the way of it." Alan mouthed a silent O as if that explained everything and reached for one of the steaming mugs of coffee. D feeling sated from all the chocolate reached for the tea Leon had made him and sat back ready to deal with his cousin. He sorely wished he was dressed in a cheongsam with his make up on but there was little point in worrying over it now.

"You are Leon-san's much beloved cousin, ne?" D looked him up and down coolly surprised by the steel glinting in the grey eyes.

"And you are his beloved Count D, the demi-god promised to Wu Long the amazing dragon man. Pleasure to meet ya. Well, now that pleasantries and introductions are over lets dish shall we?" D raised an eyebrow over the rim of his cup unfamiliar with the slang.

"Dish? What do you mean?" D asked politely. They young man grinned and ran his hand through his deep brown hair in a gesture D had seen Leon do numerous times. Unlike the gold waves of Leon's hair his cousins was dark and shot through with rich red undertones, night to Leon's day, D thought to himself and not just in hair color.

"Dish, you know, as in gee, Alan, what's ole Wu up to these days? Then I say somethin' like 'Wu? Well, let me see. He's running one of the largest crime syndicates, he's killing lots of people, and, oh yeah, I almost forget, he's planning on kidnapping you and f**king you senseless and dropping my favorites cuz's body in the bay.' You know, dish." D carefully lowered his teacup and turned to face the young male. Leon came in the room at the same time stalling D from answering. His troubled blue eyes meant D's over Alan's head.

"Alan I'm going to go out on a limb here and using my great detective skills I'm going to say you have information for us. Am I right?" Alan kept his gaze steady and locked on D's face choosing to answer to him and not Leon.

"I know your name." He stated quietly. Shock rolled across the fine delicate features and Alan had to reach forward and grab the teacup as it slipped from nerveless fingers. Leon exhaled sharply and came round the couch to kneel at D's feet. Alan sat grave and still no hint of mockery on his face or in is body language. It was Leon who found his voice first.

"Alan, do you know what that means?" Alan nodded solemnly and pulled a piece of paper from one of the inner pockets of his jacket. He fingered the edges of it gently thinking about his original plan and the underlying guilt it gave him. He was going to give it to Leon privately and let him do as he pleased. He hadn't even stopped to consider if the demi-god loved his cousin or not nor had he cared. Now though sitting beside the kami it bothered him to think of him being enslaved against his will whether it be to someone as ogress as Wu Long or someone as wondrous as his cousin Leon. It actually made it harder for him that the Count apparently loved his cousin very much because it made him seem all too human. Resigned Alan held the small scrap of paper out to the kami.

D looked at Leon confused by the emotions he could feel pouring through him. Leon wanted very badly to snatch the paper out of Alan's hand but held himself back. D had a moment of insecurity that perhaps Leon did not want to be fully bonded to him. Leon pushed through their link sending his affection and desire to never be parted. [No, baby, you take the paper. It's your name and your choice. I'll love you no matter what. Go on take it.] D reached out with shaking hands for the slip. He could feel the charge between the written words and the cells in his body and knew beyond doubt that Alan really did hold the key to his future in hand.

"It's a real pretty name, Leon. I looked it up for you it means roughly something like one who is beautiful and refined." Alan told his cousin once D had it in his hands. Leon gave him a weak grin too many emotions playing through him to answer. D read the English translation of his name and for the first time in his life powers once shielded opened inside him. Leon gasped at the surge of energy he felt rush through his mate followed by an even stronger push as the kanji for it flared within D's mind. D claimed his name and the birthrights he had been denied. He balanced the balled up paper on the flat surface of his palm. Alan pressed against the back of the couch alarmed when a cool white fire developed in the kami's hand and engulfed the tiny particle leaving no trace of it behind.

"I thank you Alan. I am forever in your debt. May I ask a favor of you?" Alan licked his lips and looked at his cousin for direction. Leon nodded at him as if to say it'll be all right.

"Um, okay, what kind of favor?" D touched Alan's cheek lightly and smiled at him reassuringly.

"Please allow me to remove the knowledge from your mind." Alan flinched under the delicate touch. He didn't like the way this sounded at all but if it would make Leon happy he'd do it.

"Is….is that what you want to Leon?" Alan asked.

"Yes, it would be best if you did not know. D won't hurt you. I promise." Alan looked from one to the other wondering what he had gotten himself into. Alan took a few shallow breaths and closed his eyes briefly.

"All right. What does it involve?" D slid closer to him and laid his hands on either side of his head.

"Do not worry Alan-san. We are friends now, are we not?" Alan laughed shakily. D leaned in close and whispered for him to relax. Alan tried to do as he was told but still felt a scorch of panic when D's lips settled above his eyes. A white light exploded behind his eyelids in a triangle that arced from D's hands, to his mouth and back again and then was gone. D settled back on the couch and waited with Leon for Alan to come to. His grey eyes slid open slowly and he looked at them in mild confusion.

"Hello, Alan, who am I?" Alan furrowed his brow and concentrated.

"Your Count D. I came here to tell Leon something important about you. What was it? I can't remember now." Alan started to grow upset and Leon took his hand in his own.

"Oh, Leon. I'm so sorry. I had something that was going to make you so happy. I wanted to give it to you but I've lost it now."

He told Leon in a broken whisper. Leon patted the hand he held comfortingly.

"Don't worry, you did just fine. Didn't he D?" D nodded his agreement.

"I did?" Alan asked lost and unsure what had just happened.

"Yes, Alan you did. Will you excuse Leon and I for awhile?" Alan nodded dumbly at the both of them. His head ached and he wanted to sleep. D stood and leaned over him. He embraced the small man lightly and kissed the top of his head. Almost immediately Alan's eyes closed and he slid sideways unconscious.

Leon stood with D and wrapped his arms around his lover. D opened his mind to Leon and sent his given name into him. Leon picked D up and carried him towards their bedroom willing to let D pull him into finishing off the bond they had started. Setting D down on the bed he carried Sofu's cloak into the living room and covered Alan with it understanding without words that it would protect him and keep him from waking while they were otherwise occupied.

Leon caressed D's face and smiled down at him.

"Jiaoshu, huh? It sounds like a beautiful name to me." D tugged on the hand and pulled Leon down to him for a kiss collapsing backwards on the bed.

"Hmmm, it does indeed Leon-san."