I discovered this series via Volume One of the Tokyo arc, and enjoyed it so much that I decided to try and read 'em all. I ordered this and several other volumes from Better World Books. This continues the series from Volume Three, though the individual stories stand alone; it's worth reading the books in order for some bonus character development but it isn't essential.

Later: The first story here has Detective Orcot assigned to a bizarre crime scene involving a collector of rare sea creatures. Leon takes the fish to D to care for, and of course we get to see D chatting happily with the different types, giving them their preferred environments, while Leon looks on in bafflement. [We also see the lovely humanoid versions of the creatures - and of the young Tetsu, the juvenile form of the ravening totetsu from the previous volume.] The plot turns out to have a poignant twist regarding transexuality and thwarted affection, something that touches D more deeply than it does Leon - though he's just possibly beginning to thaw a bit after all this exposure to D and his creatures. When D gives him a rare plant to look after, Leon - fresh off of a breakup with his latest girlfriend - finds himself getting quite attached to the plant, which pays off in an unexpected and poignant way when Leon gets shot in the line of duty...

In another story, D lends one of his shop's horses to a film studio, and gets involved with a young woman whose own horse is quite special - indeed, D offers to buy it and, when turned down, to trade any of his rare and exotic horses. But despite strong temptations the young woman refuses, her fidelity to her horse earning D's respect.

There's a comedic tale in which Leon blunders into D's attempts to arrange a marriage - between rare flowers; Leon sees the lovely female form of one of these, and the flower promptly falls for him...

And the "Dracula" story - um, is about vampires (surprise!), with roses and flirtations and more hints as to D's family history.

[There's an entertaining TV Tropes page for the series, but beware of spoilers!]

Guidelines for safely visiting and stocking Little Free Libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic, from the LFL site here.

I left this book in the Little Free Library; hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

*** Released for the 2021 April Showers/May Flowers challenge, for the roses on the cover. ***