Chapter: Volume 4, Chapter 2
Species of pet featured: Gattolotto (Plant)

Leon gets dumped, and D is there to see it. Is there anything worse for the proud detective? Maybe only if Count D offers him a plant in consolation. Which, of course, is exactly what D does, saying he doesn't trust Leon with a real pet. After a bit of a struggle ("I'm not putting that in my appartment!"), Leon takes the plant, Gattolotto, home with him.

At first, Leon sulks as he puts it on the windowsill, which is the only place he has in his small appartment. When he goes to sleep, the plant's vines crawl up to him. Leon wakes up with a start, and looks at the plant... looking the same since he'd gone to sleep. Perhaps it was a nightmare? Leon wonders about Count D's ulterior motives, but then notices the plant has bloomed after only one night. He swears he'll take it back to the shop tomorrow.

As time progresses, Leon finds himself enjoying the presence of the plant in his appartment, cancelling after-work appointments to spend time with it. Remembering Count D's advice to not give it too much water, and talk to it instead, Leon remarks that Gattolotto has really brightened to place up.

One day, Leon finds himself on a case, where the criminals are on the run, and if they escape it might be months before they're tracked again. Leon decides to take a chance... and gets shot three times. Just before he passes out, he wonders who will water Gattolotto when he's not there.

While out cold, Leon dreams about Gattolotto's blooming, red flowers. When he comes to, he sees Count D standing next to his bed. The doctors inform Leon that it's a miracle that he's still alive, after the shots in the critical areas. Leon doesn't seem to care, and informs about Gattolotto. Count D offers to water her, although she must've withered away already. Gattolotto, the flower of life, only blooms for a single night. And that night, she bloomed for Leon.



» B a c k