~ . Chapter 1: Of loans and excuses. ~

It was a warm summer afternoon. The birds were singing and a light breeze flowed through the cherry trees. It was the perfect time for Mana and Gackt to have a picnic. They were celebrating some time away from the army. Things always had to be done, especially if you were highly ranked like they were. They both finally got a holiday, along with some other sergeants and General Klaha.

Mana had gone to the trouble of buying a new white summer dress and had made food for the both of them. But this wasn't to happen.

Instead of enjoying the sun and occasionally making out, they now sat in a stuffy car.

Klaha had been ordered to fetch someone's money which they owed the government. It didn't have anything to do with the army but they were sent anyway.

The man in question was Robert Shinji; a rich aristocrat who owed over a million yen (over £7000). No one knew why he needed the money since he lived a very comfortable life with his son, five horses and three dogs. The house did not need any repairing and they both had great health.

So the three soldiers on vacation were called back immediately to get the overdue money.

When Klaha brought the news to Gackt, he was very understanding unlike Mana. The cross~dresser proceeded to have a tantrum and threw a sandwich at the General. Thankfully, they were all friends so he didn't get into trouble. After Gackt was done making some disturbing deals and kissing Mana's cheek, he finally agreed to come to the countryside.

The magnificent, shiny black car pulled up into a large driveway surrounded by forests on both sides. But the house was not normal.

A typical British manor stood before them. There was nothing Japanese about this place. Not a single tree was from Asia, everything was European. Mana cringed at the sight and cursed under his breath.

They stepped out of the expensive Chevrolet to be greeted by an older gentleman. He grinned as he shook their hands.

"Might I ask what you fine gentlemen are doing here? Is something wrong?" Klaha went on telling him his loan was overdue by three months.

Mana looked the man over. He was visibly Asian but everything about him was British, even his accent though it was probably faked. He dressed like those fancy and rich grandparents you see in old films. He had the nightgown with the scarf, the walking cane and the pipe. All except annoying dogs.

Woof, Woof.

Oh crap, he thought. Mana hated dogs, let alone springer spaniels. They ran out of the house to greet the visitors. One jumped on Gackt, who happily stroked and cuddled them. He looked up Mana silently begging to have a dog in their house but was giving a death glare instead. One dog ran wildly towards Mana but he was secretly kicked away. The third dog was a puppy and he sat in front of him obediently to show his cute, brown eyes as he looked up.

That's when Mana's heart melted and he bent down to scoop the puppy up to cuddle it. Gackt saw this and laughed lightly. "Can we have a dog now?"

"Maybe, if you play your cards right." Mana mumbled as he kissed the puppy's head, which in turn licked his cheek playfully.

"I'm afraid I cannot pay the loan yet, I still need it." The old man's speech broke Mana's train of thoughts.

"Why not sell something in your house?" Gackt asked, letting the dog run off with the other. Mana still held the puppy.

"You wouldn't part an old man from his valuables, would you?" Here comes the guilt trip, Mana thought. He practically knew every trick in the book due to his time in the front lines.

"Alright, we'll give you two months to pay up, after that your house and belongings will be taken away from you. Is that clear?" Klaha said in an edgy voice, he was clearly annoyed at the stubbornness of the old man.

"Yes, two months, I understand."

"In that case, have a good day."

"You too, General." He waved them off and slammed the door shut.

"Well that was interesting. Mana, aren't you forgetting something?" Gackt asked, laughing and smiling at his lover.

"Fine." Mana put the puppy down and it sadly whined but heard barking and ran off.

"We're definitely getting a dog." Gackt whispered to Klaha, who smiled and nodded, as they got back into the car.