Chapter XXXI - The Maid in Maid Café

North coughs into his hand, a slight tinge of pink on his face, "Thank you...so we're here...regarding, a missing 'dog'..."

"Ah, I'm aware." The waitress smiles, still holding that casual friendly but could be trying to charm you kind of look. "I was the one who sent you the notice to come here at this moment. And where are my manners? My name is Hotaru."

A sudden look of recognition dawns on North's face, "Ahh...oh, I see. Weren't you one of the member in the...incident?"

An almost dark cloud passes over Hotaru's expression, but it disappears before I could process it was even there.

She presses a finger to her lips, smiling coolly, "...Yes. But today, I'm just Hotaru. Your waitress at the Three Sword's Maid Cafe."

Hotaru...I knew she seemed almost familiar. She initially was trained along with me and North back when we were first taken in by our alpha, or boss you could say. From what I can remember, the girl was an interesting individual, always sweet-talking with the supervisors, charming, but dangerously so. If you even let your guard down for one second as the enemy, you will find yourself a five inch heel against the back of your head faceplanted in the dirt. I almost felt bad Neither me or North had closely interacted with her beyond a few interactions. Then she got into some kind of... trouble and then she wasn't heard from anyone, after that.

Hotaru leans back to study both of us, hand on her chin, "Hm...with pretty faces like the two of yours, I'm sure you would be quite popular among the patrons~" An almost suggestive smile crossing her face, "...Would you be interested in catching a shift here? The perks are more outstanding than you think, and maybe you will find it to your liking."

North clears his throat politely, "Ahem, sorry. We have more...pressing things to work on. So to cut to the chase, we heard you had the info we need?"

Hotaru pouts slightly, "That's no fun..." Her smile returns briefly, and her expression shifts, suddenly more serious, "Well I guess straight to business then...well actually first, I need a favor."

"If that's what it takes to get the information...What is it?" I asked.

"Within reasonable conditions of course..." North added, "We can't be getting ourselves killed before our business is finished."

Hotaru smirks, "Right of course. Nothing comes without a cost after all. But the favor is fairly simple." She lowers her voice, leaning forward, "I need you to steal something for me."

Both North and I look at each other, before back at her.

"Why...have us do it?" I said, "I'm fairly sure that would be a cakewalk even for you."

"I can't, I would still be on shift when the shipment leaves. We are extremely understaffed right now, so I can't afford to leave if I really don't have to. An important client is being hosted. Plus, after a recent scuffle. The people there would be on the lookout for me. But this item is important to me," said Hotaru, " And the only chance to get it is, tonight. Unless you are willing to take my place here for a little while to entertain our guests..?"

North takes a sip of his coffee for a moment before he sets down his cup with a clink! "I think we will be alright." He glances at me as if for confirmation, and I nod.

"We will do this favor, but we can't talk about it here," I said.

"If we learned anything from working in the world we're in, is that public places are certainly not the ideal place for debriefing potentially unlawful plans. You can't trust even that bird outside to not be a eye for the government." North said, glancing warily once at a quite unsuspecting robin outside the window.

Hotaru just looked simply amused. She puts her hands on the table and pushes herself up from the booth, "Well I will send another raven when the time approaches, I think a colleague of mine is starting to suspect I'm not actually doing my job..." She turns to us with another devious grin, and bows, "Thank you for your partonage master, mistress. If you looking for some of our signature pastries to go, you can visit the front desk. Hope to see you again soon!"

After Hotaru leaves, North speaks up again, quirking an eyebrow up questioningly.

"..I was prepared for a negotiation, not a mini roller coaster ride with maid service."

"Well now we just have to do the favor," I said, "Then we can get the information we need for Kane."

"What should we do while we wait then? Any ideas?"

I tap my fingers against the table, heaving a sigh, "We can only wait...I suppose we could head back to the academy for now."

North brightens suddenly, standing from the table, "Let's go to the square. I heard the market is bustling about now. We have time to pass anyways, besides, we going to need the break before classes start."

"I still don't get why we have to attend the academy, we should be helping Kane and the others help find who we're looking for..." I grumbled.

North's face softens sympathetically, "Kane only wants the best for us you know? You should put a little more faith in his plans. The best we can do is do what he says for now. Maybe he wants us to have a chance at experiencing a normal life while we still can. Not running around chasing a loose end when he already has it almost in his grasp."

I laugh slightly, the sound almost rueful, compared to the bright background music and the earnest chatter dotting the air.

"I suppose...just another instance to wait on. then," I get up from the leather seat, smoothing down the hem of my t-shirt as I stand from the booth, "Come on, lets get going before we have to go cause a little trouble. I wasn't exactly liking the fancy scene around here for long anyways."

North smiles, "You know most would die to get in a place like this right?"

I walk pass him, already near the door, " I would settle for a plain coffee anyday than one called 'café au lait'."

"I guess it isn't be everybody's cup of coffee..."

As we step out of the shop, and back onto the open streets, little to our knowledge- a certain waitress stands near the counter, watching quietly as we walked out of the door.

"Thinking about something...Hotaru?"

Silence. Only the sound of small conversations and the sound of patrons being greeted can be heard between the pause.

"...They have been through so much, but they know so little." Hotaru turns to a tall elegantly bulit man leaning near the doorway. His ashen blond lock sweeping over one shoulder, his golden eyes glinting sharply as the sunlight strikes his facial features. "When will you tell them the truth, Kane? And what the hell are you doing here?"

He merely smiles, unfazed, "On business of course. I heard a important figure is visiting here tonight..."

"I don't know what you are up to Kane. But don't make me regret not making you leave like I should." Hotaru turns away, almost flicking her ponytail in his face as she brushes past him, then she pauses, for just a moment, "...You can't keep them in the dark anymore for much longer Kane. Before the worse comes for them. You would know the consequences...both me and you."

Kane watchs on quietly as she walks away, not waiting for a response this time. He smiles sadly, "...Patience, my liege." He looks out the windows at the cloudless sky, for once, a flash of a buried sorrow appears in his eyes, breaking past his controlled facade, "No matter our wishes. Time will always run its course...and time, is running out."