1 Chapter 1

The sun shone just as it did everyday. It made the gathered group tug uncomfortably at the collars of their dark clothes. Only a small breeze made a few distant branches move in the wind. Bits of a solemn voice drifted along the wind. People bow their heads, while others sniffle. One lone girl stands in the middle facing the twin headstones, watching both caskets be lowered into the ground. Slowly the crowd trickles away. A few offering a pat to the shoulder or a gentle hug.

"I mustn't cry. I have to be strong. Don't let them see." I stand there almost numb all while being hugged and comforted. My eyes never leave the two mahogany caskets covered in chrysanthemums, my moms favorite. Eventually the last well wishers leaves. I can feel the emptiness like a weight pressing in on me. Sweat trickles down my neck beneath my dress. The collar was scratchy and the material was coarse. It was the only distraction from the pain waiting to burst forth. Unbidden tears fell silently, slowly wicked away by the breeze.

A throat clearing made me turn and realize the caretakers were ready to fill in the holes, and I was standing in the way. Just like that the world took a breath and continued on. While it moved on I suffered alone. I walked away from the two people I loved the most and headed towards the now empty home we once shared.

My shoes made a loud think on the entrance floor. At one time my room would have told me to place them more carefully or else I could go barefoot. Now they lay scattered across the floor. Tomorrow I would set them up right, but tonight I didn't care. I didn't even bother turning on the lights. I walked up the dark staircase avoiding the squeaky stair. It used to annoy my dad because he could never fix it. My room looked like a tomb. My phone sat lit up on my bed where I had left it this morning. It's blue glow almost eerie in the darkness. Shoving it aside I climb onto my bed and pull into a ball. Here in my home, hidden from the world, I fall apart.

My parents are gone. It wasn't supposed to be this way. I'm only sixteen and still in school. I wasn't prepared for this. I don't even know what to do now. Already my neighbors had helped me pack up or sell the majority of the house. My room had boxes piled against the wall for me to finish. At Least our landlord was allowing me a week to find another place to live. A couple of family friends offered to house me for a short while until I took my entrance exams. They all had their own families to worry about though. I was lucky. My parents had put away a little money for me for school. No one could have guessed that now it would have to provide me with a place to stay until I found a job. My grades always kept me towards the top of my class. I was going for a scholarship and was at a track meet for competition when the car my parents drove ended up getting hit from the side by a truck that had lost its breaks. They hadn't stood a chance. The police told me they hadn't suffered and died instantly.

I suppose that was their way of comforting me, but I could have told them that did nothing to ease the breaking of my heart. I had to leave the track meet early, missing out on my chance of a scholarship. I couldn't care less at that moment at losing a way into my favorite school.

I don't think I slept a wink that night. I swore I heard my parents moving around in the house. I wept like a baby that first night after I found out they had passed. By morning my face was swollen and my eyes red. I cried myself out by the time others came by.

Today though I wept without tears. My blankets pulled up around my chin while I stared up at my blank ceiling. Just a day ago there had been posters of my favorite bands and idols. Now it was like a blank slate. Kind of like how my life was now. Tomorrow I started my search for my new home. Unfortunately I know there isn't anything in this district. Without being in this district I was ineligible to remain in my current school. Worries buzzed in my head like bees and prevented sleep from pulling me into a blessed mind numbing slumber.

Outside my window I watched the progress of the moon until the sky brightened with a flare of pinks and oranges. My head felt heavy and my eyes glued open. Stiffly I shifted. Muscles pulled along my back and made my legs tremble. My dress was wrinkled and had ridden up my legs as I had tossed in the bed overnight. My teeth feel grimy and after lifting my arms, tugging off the dress, I smelled myself and grimaced.

I released my wavy brown hair from the right bun I had it in from the day before. The tips tickled between my shoulder blades. Dark circles formed under my eyes adding to my depressed mood. Staring back at me from the bathroom mirror was someone unlike me. My skin was whiter than normal, my hair limp and despite the claims of my makeup being waterproof, my eyes looked like a tanuki's. I was never beautiful. Plain was definitely how I would describe myself. I make at face at myself before starting up the water. The warmth helped work out some of the kinks and take away the grunge. I watched the water escape down the drain and let my sorrow go as well. I had to move on. My parents wouldn't want me to destroy my life just because they were gone. I finished getting ready and packed up the rest of my room. I missed the sounds of my father leaving for work and my mother cooking while humming to herself. The small house laid silent now until a new family took it over.

A small breakfast was all I had left waiting for me. I hadn't gotten any groceries knowing I couldn't take them with me. Once I stepped foot outside the door my new future would begin. Slipping my shoes on I stand in front of the door and take a deep breath. Steadying myself I turned the handle and allowed the door to swing open. Outside the door the smell of fresh air and flowers filled my nose. Love filled me with courage as I balanced on the edge of my future and that of my past.

I stepped out the door and didn't look back.

=================================

"A'yeong! Your table is ready!"

My coworker Joo-min called out to me. She had been my senpai when I first started this job. The only one I had been able to find was a waitress at a theme cafe. Age and experience was required at a lot of the well paying jobs. I had neither. I stumbled into this cafe out of the rain one day. I had just been turned down once again and it was getting harder to see my future. A doorbell had jingled over my head after I walked in and a perky girl with small calico ears sticking out from her curled blonde hair greeted me.

"Welcome the Playground Cafe. Will you please follow me?" When she turned around a black tipped tail swung behind her.

"Oh, but wait. I don't have a lot of money on me. I just wanted to get out of the rain." I followed behind her with water dripping down my cheeks. She stopped beside a small two person table.

"Don't worry about it honey. Doesn't look like we are gonna get a lot of customers today. Just sit here till the rain passes. I'll bring you some warm tea and a slice of sweet berry cake. It's on the house." She winked at me and I smiled. She was so nice. "Thank you very much."

It didn't take long for her to carry out the tea and cake. I dug in realizing how famished I was after all my walking. The heat from the tea forced away the chills. The cake was delicate and fluffy. The berries were tart, but went well with the sugary glaze drizzled over top of it. As I nibbled I watched the girl and noticed that sometimes the ears and tail would twitch in different directions. It fascinated me so I had to ask.

"Umm excuse me, Miss?" She straightened up from where she has been leaning against a counter. "Yes sweetie is there something you need?"

"I was just wondering how your ears and tail moved? Aren't they just props?" As if they knew I was talking about them the ears swiveled forward. The girl chuckled softly.

"Oh they are props, but they also have mechanisms that react with our body movements. Customers seem to enjoy them a lot. You wouldn't believe the tips we get from cute boys. Our boss is a genius." I smiled watching the girls tail flock back and forth playfully.

"I'm Joo-min by the way. You wouldn't happen to be looking for a job would you?"

I almost choked on my tea when she asked me that. "Am I that obvious?"

"Just a wild guess actually, and we honestly really need another girl here. Boss has been looking for ages, but no one seems to fit. But, I have a feeling about you. What do you say?" Joo-min pouted in front of me and had her hands folded in front of her begging. There was no way I could say no. Not to the job nor to Joo-min.

Come to find out the spot the needed filled was for a bunny girl. It came with the ears, nose, and cute fluffy tail. Even I had to admit it was pretty darn adorable. The pay was decent for what the job entailed and we shared tips. The first time someone whistled at me I was so embarrassed. Joo-min came up and flicked my ears while swishing her tail to take the customers focus off me. She is so protective of me like an older sister. I've since learned to handle the attention. I offer them a polite smile and wiggle of my nose. It never fails to get me good tips and return customers.

I've had this job for over a month now and finally settled into my apartment. It was tiny,but I did get one in a decent neighborhood. Other than me, the only other person that had been in there was Joo-Min. Just like a sibling she liked to hound me about getting out and dating. When did I have time for that. As it was I worked as often as I could even filling in shifts that others couldn't make. I had put back quite a bit of money for school now. There was a good school just 30 minutes by train away from my apartment. Next week I am going to take the entrance exam. To say I was nervous was an understatement.

"Yo A'yeong! Better take this before it gets cold." Jumping I turned around with a slight blush. "I'm sorry Joo-Min. I'll take it out now."

"It's ok sweetie. Just didn't want you to keep those hotties waiting." She winked at me and I rolled my eyes at her. She thought every guy she saw was hot. I picked up the tray filled with little tarts and an omelette with three cups of raspberry tea. My ears flopped over my hair and my nose itches beneath the little mask. Three sets of green eyes looked up at me when I stepped close.

"I'm sorry for the wait." I carefully placed their items on the table and tucked the tray under my arm. "I hope this is to your liking. If there is anything else I can do for you please don't hesitate to ask me." I bow politely before them then turn around. As I walked away I felt a tug on my tail followed my a pinch to my ass. My cheeks heat up and I freeze in place.

"Hey, let her go."

"I'm not hurting her. That cute ass with the white fluffy tail was too irresistible." Smack

"Dude what the hell was that for!"

"Umm… guys… it's okay." I winced hearing the smack and had turned around. "Please sirs. I'm not hurt. Don't fight on account of me. Just enjoy your tarts and tea."

The boy sitting furthest from me looked up at me with a frown. "No, we apologize. He knows the rules here. Besides you are the new girl, and I refuse for us to be the reason this cafe lost such a beautiful hostess."

"Yeah, we like you and don't want to lose our cute bunny." The one seated by himself looked up at me with a sweet smile.

"Please don't leave us sweet bun-bun. I'm sorry for being so rude. I won't touch you again.. that is unless you ask." The forward one winked slyly. All this attention had me blushing like a tomato.

"Th..thank you. I promise I won't leave. Don't worry about anything. Just enjoy." I attempted a smile before hurrying away. Walking into the kitchen I fanned my red face with the empty tray closing my eyes. 'Phew that was close.'

"Are you alright?" A deep voice by my ear forced a yelp of alarm from me and my eyes flew open. Dark brown eyes stared into mine. Concern with a hint of amusement looked back at me.

"Oh A'yeong, I see you've met our new male host, Bong-Ju." My smile seems flat after having been scared witless. "Nice to meet you. I'm A'yeong."

I held out my hand for him to shake but am completely surprised when he brings it up to his mouth and gently kisses the back of it. I feel the heat from his breath and shiver slightly. "Pleasure to meet you White Rabbit."

"Will you stop that. You're gonna make her faint." Joo-Min tugged my hand from his and glared at him. "Don't let this dog pull you into his sordid den. I've known him since we were in diapers. Trust your oneechan." I can't help but giggle.

"Hey now, I'm not that bad. Don't let her fill your head with lies. I'm perfectly respectful."

"For a dog…"The two of them glared at one another, but I could sense an underlying tension between them. "So you said he's new? I didn't know we needed a male host." They both stopped staring at each other and turned to me. "Yeah the boss thought we could use a guy to bring in some more female customers. This rafe needed a job to keep out of trouble so I recommended him." Before he could retort I spoke up.

Well welcome aboard then. Try not to chase our kitty around the shop and we will get along just fine." Joo-Min snorts and wraps her arms around me in a big hug. "You make me so proud my little bunny. We are all gonna get along great!"

The rest of the night went by without any further craziness. The three guys from earlier left a large tip along with their emails. I tried throwing them away, but Joo-Min wouldn't let me. She even typed them into my phone for me. Both her and Bong-Ju walked out together as we locked up. They went one way and I the other after reassuring them I would be fine alone. I was only a 10 minute walk away from home. No one had yet to bother me.