"Hiyama-san, the Mistress at Table Two requires your attention," Gakupo said, smooth as silk, making sure to toss in a wink her way. The other man smiled politely at her when he neared her table, the one with a sweet-smelling vase of lilies on it.
"Is there any way I can help you, Miss?" His glasses almost rolled off his nose, so he adjusted them with an apologetic smile. It was hard to stay in character, especially when your glasses seemed to be against you.
The woman held up her glass, eyes gleaming at the sight of the handsome man. "Refill, please!"
"As you wish," he indulged her and whisked away to the kitchen to prepare more. He brewed the coffee beans to perfection and returned to her with a full pitcher. Extra careful, he poured it into her expertly crafted tea cup. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
She shook her head wordlessly, too enthralled with the butler in front of her to speak. Kiyoteru parted with a deliciously sweet smile…
…Until he reached the kitchen. Collapsing like a heavy sack against a counter, he gave a loud, overly dramatic sigh. "Hiyama-san? What're you doing?" A thin, tree-like man looked up from the dishes he'd been cleaning. He wiped his wet hands loosely on his apron and tilted his head questioningly.
"Nothing of importance, once again," the guy in a Butler get-up groaned.
"Oh, don't be like that! Thankfulness is the key to a happy lifetime!" Roro left the sudsy sink and gave Kiyoteru a comforting back pat, unaware that he was wetting his costume. "You have a job, don't you? Even though it doesn't pay well, it's enough to stay afloat, isn't it?" And the dishwasher continued on alternating between asking questions and babbling for a while.
Before Kiyoteru could pick up his head to answer, Gakupo poked his head though the door, his dyed purple hair swinging into view. "Hiyama-san, what are you doing, pray tell?! I can't entertain these ladies all by myself!"
"Coming, coming, Kamui-san…" he replied, straightening up his back with an audible POP. But honestly, he didn't WANT to go. They pay was meager and the job embarrassing.
It was so dreary.
It was obvious to Prima that it hadn't been good for Allan; all this time to think during the plane ride. Poor man was a pale shadow of what he'd been before. He must have reopened his emotional wounds, again, because his appetite had left him completely. Prima managed to coax him into drinking some water, at least.
She pitied and admired him. While it was sad that he'd ended up running away from Annabel's presence, he had the drive to get up and TRY to go on with his life. Resolving to be there for him, she gave him her cell phone number. Allan was free to call when he wanted…just not during performances or practices.
The look on Allan's face put off the rest of the tourists. Prima had set him up with a tour group, one that specialized with small groups of people and showing them local areas of interest. That wasn't why he'd been scowling the whole time, though. Since starting the tour, only one thought had been on his mind: Peeing.
But everyone else was so busy asking questions and hogging the guide's time that he couldn't ask. Not without seeming rude, and that wasn't something he wanted. Allan probably looked rude, anyways. He was kind of glad that the tour was ending… only because then the tourists would be lead to their hotels, where he could pee.
Unable to contain himself any longer, Allan ducked into one of the bathrooms at the shop they were visiting. Meanwhile, the tour group looked on in fascination as the guide explained the history of a popular vocal program. The group left the store… leaving the American behind.
Upon finding out the group forgot about him, he dashed out in hopes of catching up. Allan drowned in the crowd of Japanese citizens, desperately looking for his guide. There was no way he could find him like this. He shouldered his luggage bag and slunk away to find an English speaker. There had to be someone who could direct him to his hotel…
And then it hit him! He pulled out his phone to call Prima, who knew what hotel came with the tour package. She'd been the one to set it all up, anyways. But it went directly to voicemail, and he gave a heavy sigh. Prima didn't say when she'd be at practice…
It was almost closing time. Gakupo ran about from frilly table to frilly table, insinuating to the patrons that it was about time they left. With his beguiling smile, it was hard to imagine he'd been practically kicking them out. Meanwhile, Kiyoteru took out a wet cloth and began wiping down the vacant tables.
Roro began humming loudly from the kitchen, much to the delight of the customers. They exited the coffee shop humming along with him. The optimist came out into the café, opening his mouth to sing the finale, when he froze.
"Everyone, look! There's some guy outside!" he pointed out, surprised that a male customer would show up (and so close to closing time, too).
Gakupo, paranoid as always, fell out of his persona and whispered, "What if he's a robber?!"
"He doesn't look Japanese, does he? Oh, he's probably a foreigner… but could he be a robber, too? Maybe… a foreign robber?" Roro ducked behind the doorway to the kitchen just in case.
The purple-haired man switched on his work personality and flicked his ponytail behind his shoulder. The foreigner hit the knocker against the door, twice, politely. Gakupo took long strides to the door, and he flung it open… then ran to the kitchen with Roro, leaving Kiyoteru alone with the stranger.
"Uh, hi? D'you speak English?"
Kiyoteru had no idea why, but at that moment, his throat closed up. A spark shot up his spine, and he leaned against the velvety curtains of the café.
He found himself unable to speak.
Next Chapter: There's a few yen missing
+ Thank you to all of my readers and reviewers!
+ Please point out any way I can improve, if you feel up to it.
+ I also just realized that this is my first story with multiple chapters. Heaven help me, haha!
