Maoko walked down the crowded city street. The air was full of noises, loud, crowded, but he could barely hear any of it. His mind felt numb and he supposed he was probably in shock. Just hours earlier he had been called on the phone in his apartment. His parents had been found dead in their house this morning. It looked like a double suicide, but he knew better.

Unfortunately, no matter what he had told the police, they had no evidence to say it could be murder, so nothing was done. Lost in his own thoughts, he was about to turn the corner, when a movement to his right caught his eye, he turned and almost laughed, seeing his own reflection. He stared for a moment, almost not recognizing himself, though who else would it be with the red eyes and short black hair.

But just as he was about to turn away, a movement from deeper in the window caught his eye. It was an animal of some sort. Surprised, he took a step back and looked at the full window for the first time. Painted in neat, old-fashioned style lettering were the words: Millie's Exotic Pets.

Lanny sat in her cage wondering whe someone would come into the shop. She saw someone walk in front of the store window and tilted her head to the side a little and tried to will the person to come into the store.

Lanny was a fairly small black and red creature that looked like a small wolf. The biggest diffrence between her and a wolf is the fact she had small wings that were covered in feathers, like a bird. Her one of her eyes is a pale water blue and the other is a deep emerald green. She was almost compleatly black. The tips of her ears and tail as well as her paws were a deep crimson red.

With a slight shrug, Maoko entered. It wouldn't kill him to get off the street for a while. Besides, maybe looking at the pets would help take his mind off of everything. Once inside, he was forced to do a double-take. He had expected this to be like any other "exotic" pet shop and be selling things like albino snakes and other such odd, but not truly exotic creatures, but he was very wrong. In his shock, he didn't notice as a woman approached him until she spoke.

"Hi, I'm Millie," she said pleasantly, her sapphire eyes sparkling, "is there anything I can help you with? Are you looking for anything in particular?"

Maoko stared for a moment at her before coming to his senses. "Oh, no, I'm not really looking for anything. Just hadn't seen this place before and wanted to check it out."

"Many people haven't seen this place before." Millie said, sounding rather obscure. "Feel free to browse and I hope you'll find something here that suits you."

Maoko continued to wander around the shop, staring at each creature in awe and wonder. He came across small creature that looked like a wolf he looked at it for awhile, studying it in away.

Lanny looked up at the boy and smiled at him. She was very happy that he had come inside. She watched him for a little while then feeling it was safe she purred sweetly, her way of saying hello to people she didn't know. If she had known him she would have simply talked to him, but she didn't want to scare him off.

Maoko continued to look at her and smiled slightly when she purred. Cautiously he reached out a hand so that she could smell him if she wanted. He wasn't sure why he was doing this, but he just seemed to be attracted to her for some reason. He still smiled slightly.

She moved twords his hand but instead of smelling it she tilted her head and looked at him and gave a small freindly bark. She hoped he'd get the idea and pet her. She haddn't been pat in a while and missed being pet.

Maoko was a little surprised by her bark. He pulled back his hand for a moment. He then figured she wanted to be petted, so that's what he did. He pet her on the top of her head. He smiled some and then pulled his hand away and started to leave.

"There was nothing here to interest you?" Millie's voice froze him where he was. "Nothing that brought a smile to your face and made you forget all your problems for even a moment?"

Maoko spun around. "How?" he asked, not sure what else to add to that one thought. She couldn't have known anything about him or what he'd been through and there was no way she could have seen his smile.

"I'm afraid that it's not something I can answer, but I know the nature of my pets. It is to comfort, and only those most in need of comfort ever enter here. If she brings you peace then she is your pet."Millie went and got Lanny out of her cage. She had grown to care very much for the little creature and had a very special message to give her before they parted.

Lanny looked up at Milly ciriously. She wagged her tail a little hoping that something good was about to happen.

((Hey I have to go for a little while I'll be back on later though))

Millie spoke lowly to her, her eyes still on Maoko. "Take care of him. He needs more help in his life than anyone else I've seen enter before. And take care of yourself. You're a very special pet and I think that in time he'll come to see you in your true form."

Maoko, unsettled by the woman's staring, turned and pretended to look at some of the other pets. None of course really interested him that much.

"Come here." Millie finally said, motioning Maoko over.
He crossed cautiously, unsure of what was going to happen, but she simply placed Lanny in his arms with a smile.

"Her name is Lanny and she's yours now. Don't protest," she said, holding up a hand as Maoko opened his mouth to do just that, "it won't do you any good to argue because like it or not, she's yours. All I ask for payment is five dollars for a few simple supplies that you'll want to have and that you stop in once in a while for a visit."

She turned her attention back to Lanny. "I know it can be degrading, but you'll need these on if you're to be about in public." Gently she hooked a tiny black collar with a sterling silver bell on it around her neck and clipped on a matching black leash, the end of which she handed to Maoko.

Maoko fumbled for his pocket, trying not to drop Lanny while he was at it. He wasn't used to holding any sort of animal and he didn't want to hurt her.
"Is that everything?" he asked, managing to pull out the correct amount of money and laying it on the counter.

Millie smiled and handed over a small package with a few other items he'd need. "That should be it. Remember what I said Lanny."

With a sigh, Maoko left the shop. "Well, it's you and me now." he said, feeling a bit ridiculous.

(( Alright. ))

((I'm back ^-^))

Lanny nodded to what Milly told her to tack care of Maoko. She could tell that he was special, other wise he wouldn't have been atracted to her. Lanny watched him out of the corner of her eye smiling a little bit.

She smiled up at him when she was placed in to his arms. She knew that she was in for a great adventure. She let out a slight growl when Milly put the collar and leash on her but she knew it was nessicarry as Milly said.

Lokai walked into the store as the others walked out. He walked up to Milly and softly said "I need help. I don't know what sort of help or how you can give it to me but I felt drawn to this store."

Maoko thought that she was probably the cutest little thing he had ever seen. "So...now what?" He asked. "Should we just go to my place or would you rather walk around for a while?"
Immediately after asking, he shook his head. Sure, he thought that she could understand, but that didn't mean she could talk back or anything.

"How about ice cream?" he finally asked. He really didn't want to go back to his apartment. Not now. Not ever he thought dismay.


Millie looked at the new customer that came in. "Well why don't you look around some, I'm sure you'll find something that you'll like." she said and looked over at one of the creatures that wasn't in her cage, that she let run freely.

Sanoko watched as another boy came in and walked up to Millie. She watched them for a few minutes before getting up and walking up to him. She wasn't in a cage so she could walk around the shop as she pleased. She just silently stood there looking up at him. She was a fox with three tails. She has red orange fur with her ears and tails tipped with blue. All her four legs was marked with some blue as well.

She was a rare pet. She as saw others be bought and wondered if she ever would. Maybe she didn't fit anyone's tastes is why she hasn't been bought yet. She didn't care though she wanted to get out of this shop and see a change in scenery. Though she still walked up to the boy.

Lanny looked up at him her eyes glimmering a little and purred she like the idea of ice cream. She still didn't feel comfortable talking to him.

Lokai looked down at her and smiled a little. He bent down and held his hand out to her. He wondered what type of animal she was. She looked very interesting and a little lonely.

Maoko smiled a little at her purring. "Ice cream it is then." he announced, heading down the street. He was still unsure what he was supposed to do now. As a kid he'd never been allowed a pet and so had never had to take care of one. What would he feed her? Or did she just eat anything?

At the ice cream place, Maoko glanced down at Lanny then decided on a caramel-nut sundae for himself and a small bowl of vanilla for Lanny. He considered getting her something else, but didn't want to kill her. In fact, he was sort of nervous about giving her the ice cream at all.

Once their ice cream was ready, he moved them over to a table and set her on one chair with her ice cream, keeping the leash looped around his wrist. He tried to enjoy his treat, but it seemed tasteless to him.

Sanoko looked up at him when he reached his hand out to her. She then looked at his hand and sniffed and then licked his hand a little. She sat down and looked up at him, her tails moving about some.

When the sat down Lanny sniffed the Vanilla Ice cream and licked it a little. She sneeze six times because of the sudden coldness on her tounge. She looked over at Maoko's ice cream slightly interested in it. She leaned over and sniffed it a little. As she did she tipped over and landed nose first in the side of the ice cream closest to her.

Lokai pet her a little bit, crouching down as he did.
"What's your name?" he asked softly so not to scare her.
He thought she was very beautiful animal.

Maoko laughed slightly when she fell into the ice cream. "You can have it if you want. I don't really want it." he said and sighed slightly. He looked at Lanny and petted her on her head. He waited to see if she was going to eat it before he would try to wipe the ice ream off her nose.

"Her name is Sanoko." Millie said from behind him. She was sure Sanoko wasn't going to talk just yet so she wouldn't scare him away. "She's very friendly." Sanoko nodded slightly to what Millie had said and made a small noise in agreement. She like the petting she was receiving.

Lanny purred as he petted her and tried to lick the ice cream off her nose but couldn't quite get it all. She tilted her head a little so he'd scratch behind her ear cus she liked that. She ate a little of his ice cream. She liked his more then she like the plain Vanilla ice cream. She purred with joy.

Lokai smiled "How much does she cost?" He asked Millie. He really liked Sanoko and though that she'd fit in really well with him and his other pet Manny a giant black and blueish white canadian wolf. He haddn't brought Manny along with him cus of the bussiness he had had to do. "Does she do well with other animals?" He asked.

"Yes she does well with other animals and all you have to pay is five dollars for the supplies you'll need." Millie said with a smile. Sanoko jumped up slightly happy that she may be being bought. Millie motioned for Sanoko to come over to her. Sanoko walked over to Millie. Millie picked her up and put a collar and leash on her and set her on the counter with the supplies and waited for the payment. Sanoko didn't like the collar, but knew she had to have it.


Maoko continued to pet her for a little while longer. He waited for her to finish with the ice cream before wiping the rest of the ice cream off her nose. "So are you ready to go?" he asked. He himself wasn't ready to go, he wasn't ready to go back to his apartment.

Lokai smiled and said to Sanoko "Don't worry you won't have the collar on for long. As long as you listen well." as he said this he pulled the five dollars out of his pocket and gave it to Millie. "How much extra for bedding for her?" he asked, not sure if it was included or not.

Lanny nodded a little then wondered if there was a big park near by so she could run around some. She cuddled up to Maoko. She could tell he needed comforting at the moment.

"Two dollars." Millie said and gave one especially for her to him. Most people didn't buy their pets bedding, they just let the sleep with them or something like that. Sanoko was happy to hear that she wouldn't have to wear the collar for long. She would behave well she was a well behaved animal.

Maoko pet Lanny when she cuddled up to him. He could tell that she was trying to comfort him. "So do you want to go any where else before we go home?" he asked. He hoped that she would so he could waste a little more time before going back.

Lokai gave her the extra money. He picked up Sanoko and the bedding "Thanks." he said as he walked out the door. He walked as quickly as he could to his apartment a few blocks away. "Manny! I'm home and I've got you a friend." he called as he opened the door.

Manny came running from the bedroom. He skidded to a stop and sat in from of Lokai and the new comer. He looked up and waited for introductions. "Manny this is Sanoko. Sanoko this is Manny and my name is Lokai." he said setting her down and taking off the collar and leash. He put the bed, collar and leash down.

Turning back to Manny and Sanoko he said "Here are the rules. One. Be nice to each other and me and the collars stay off. Two. In the car you stay on you beds so that as little mess as possible gets on the car interior. Three. I am the boss but I do listen to suggestions. I'm not super strict but I do have those three rules and I expect you to follow them, well at least the first two. Just know that I'm the boss and I do accept suggestions for change.

He smiled then said "well that's that. Now the tour. This is the main room. There is the kitchen the bed room and the bath room." he pointed to each in turn.

Lanny nodded and stretched hoping he would realize she ment she wanted to runn around and stretch out. She was still cramped a little from being in the cage. She looked around a little and then looked back at Maoko

Sanoko looked at Manny when she was set down. She looked up at Lokai when he mentioned rules. She nodded saying she would follow those rules. They weren't that hard of rules to follow they were pretty easy to her. She looked around the apartment as she was given the tour.She then looked back at Manny for a little while.

Maoko stood up putting Lanny down; he had an idea of what she wanted. He walked out of the ice cream place and walked to the park. When they got there he took the leash off keeping the collar on. He sat down and just watched her for whatever she decided to do.

Lokai grabbed his sketch pad and sat on the couch. He loooked down and at the two animals and began sketching them carefully and with great detail.

When Maoko set Lanny down she ran around him a few times. Lanny jumped around for a while and ran around some more.

Maoko smiled at Lanny as she ran around. She was pretty cute and had beautiful fur. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, but opened the back up soon. It was kind of hard for him to close his eyes, he saw his parents' dead bodies when they were closed.

Sanoko looked over at Lokai and saw that he was sketching or drawing. So she didn't move she stayed the way she was until he was done.

Lanny jumped into Maoko's lap and cuddled up to him and hesitantly licked his cheek.

Lokai smiled and turned the pad to the two animals "What do you think?" he asked them both. Manny smiled and thumped his tail on the floor a little.

Sanoko also smiled. She moved her tails about happily and jumped up some.

Maoko smiled a little when she licked his cheek. He pet her a little before speaking. "Are you ready to go now or do you want to run around a little more?"