The next day Yui returned to school. She waited for Miaka at the school gate as usual and at the end of the day, they visited the cafe again at Miaka's insistence. Yui dreaded going to the cafe. Her legs felt as heavy as lead as each step brought her nearer to their destination. CLOSED. Nothing changed since last week. The cafe remained the way it was the next day and the next . . . Yui started loosening up. Perhaps Taka won't come back this time. What about Miaka? A voice asked at the back of her mind. Yui sighed inwardly. She didn't want to tell Miaka about what happened but she knew she have to tell her sooner or later.

The day finally arrived when Miaka peered at the glass door of the cafe and found that there was an OPEN sign on it. She gleefully stepped inside and saw Taka in the same uniform, wiping the counters. Yui remained outside the doors. She can't bring herself to go in. Who knows what would happen? But Miaka, seeing her friend stranded outside, grabbed Yui's hand and pulled her in.

"Tamahome, I mean Taka is here!" she exclaimed.

"It's my favorite customers," Taka said. He straightened up and looked at Miaka and then at Yui. His eyes seemed to harden at the sight of her but in the second it vanished.

"Hello Tamahome . . . I mean, Taka" Miaka quickly said. They were the first customers of the cafe that day and she decided to make the most of it.

"Is there anything I can do for you ladies?"

"I want everything on your menu!" Miaka said. "I'm just so happy to see you again Tamahome. I wish to celebrate." Upon realizing what she said, she blushed again. "I mean Taka. I'm just happy the cafe is open again"

"That's sweet." Taka replied. He laid their orders on their table. "Enjoy"

Miaka took Taka's words to heart and dug in but Yui ate a little and instead picked on her food. She was trying her best to avoid Taka's gaze. Suddenly, the bell jingled and a couple of customers came in.

"Don't you have any assistant?" Miaka asked.

Taka shook his head. "It's nice of you to mention. I do have assistants but they're late. I guess I have to do everything by myself for a while"

A brilliant idea suddenly struck Miaka. "Let us help you then"

"Us? Really?" Taka glanced at Yui and saw her tightened her expression and look away. "I don't think your friend is up to it"

"Oh, Yui's all right. Aren't you, Yui?"

"Of course, Miaka. I'll help you help him." She answered her without looking at them.

"That settles it then." Taka smiled. He tossed uniforms to them and the matching caps. "I hope it fits you both." He stared at Yui.

"It'll do"

For the next hour, a lot of customers began pouring into the cafe. It seems the cafe turned into a big hit and suddenly it became a fave among the populace. Miaka took an order from a smiling couple and dashed to the counter, dumping the order to Taka. The bell jingled again. She turned back to meet the family that just came in. A smile was plastered on her lips despite the ache that was starting to form on her shoulders.

"What can I do for you?"

"I want . . ." The father droned on and on. His little kids chimed in every now and then and his shy wife whispered something too. Miaka gave out a nervous laugh. She could not believe a family such as this one can eat so much.

Then before she can fully take all their orders, a call came from the other side of the room.

"Waitress! How about our orders?" It was from a group of students.

"Coming!" Miaka looked around for Yui and found her balancing her own orders. She gracefully left the family she handled and went to the students who called her. She smiled again and propped her clipboard up high. "What are your orders?"

All began saying their orders except for one guy seated in the middle of them. He got dark hair and a kind of authoritative look on his face. He was merely staring at Miaka, a small smirk on his lips. Miaka did not notice him until all of them finished talking. She knew she never heard him speak and thus, she was about to ask him when another student spoke up.

"Hey Ren Shigyou, Aren't you going to order anything?"

"Hey, I think I know you." One student butted in. He pointed to Miaka. "You're the smart one's best friend, aren't you?"

Is that how they remember me? Have I no name? Miaka thought wryly to herself, a funny look crossing her face. She knew the student was referring to Yui, her smart best friend. But she let the comment pass.

"No, she's the Maiden of Suzaku." a voice replied. Miaka heard it so clearly that she was shocked. Who said that? She looked at the students talking to her. Everyone was talking at once except for the guy named Ren. He was still staring at her. Miaka knew she never saw his lips move so it was impossible that those words came from him.

"Just water." Ren finally spoke. His voice jolting Miaka out of her thoughts.

"Oh right, I got to go." Their orders in hand, Miaka walked to the counter.

"Here are your orders. Can you handle them?" Taka said as soon as Miaka reached him. She smiled and nodded yes, taking one tray on one hand and another on the other.

"See? I told you I can handle them."

Taka grinned. "Of course. You know you surpassed Yui. She handles only one tray every time."

"That's my Yui! So sure all the time." She grinned back and wedged her away between tables and began delivering the orders.

The bell jingled again. A burly man entered, staggering on his feet. He was holding bottles of liquor in both hands. His dropping, bloodshot eyes peered at the people around. No one seemed to have notice.

"What kind of service do I get from here!" he shouted, finally getting everyone's attention. Miaka stopped in the middle of taking orders and turned to the intruder. He roughly reminded her of the bullies he met in the Book of the Four Gods, Tamahome's world. Sucking up courage, she approached him. Everybody else seemed to have frozen.

"So sorry, sir! I was busy." she said.

"Shut up! No excuses can make up for that!" He raised his arm and slapped Miaka clear across her face. A shout of surprise rippled among the spectators. Taka was already moving toward them, anger crossing his handsome face. That man has no right to molest my cafe and my waitress . . . But before he can fully reach them, Taka saw to his surprise as Miaka pulled back a leg and kicked the intruder right between his legs.

"What do you think your doing?" She said.

"Ow . . ." The man toppled of his feet and fell in a heap on the floor. Stars danced around his eyes. The pain was so immense he could barely speak. Miaka looked down to him and raised a fist. Her action sapped the man from his remaining strength. He could not even stand, much more fight a mere girl. In his eyes Miaka looked large and intimidating. He stared wide-eyed at her.

"I think that's enough Miaka." Taka managed to say as soon as he got over his surprise. He tried to suppress the laughter about to escape from him. He one-handedly dragged the man out of the cafe and tossed him to the streets.

"Don't ever come back or else I'll call the police." He warned him and returned to the cafe.

Everyone cheered at the brave girl. Miaka blushed and hurried to the counter.

"You go, girl!" They kept saying.

Taka approached the counter and tapped Miaka on the back.

"Does it hurt?" He beckoned to her cheek. "Here . . ." He dipped his handkerchief into a bowl of ice and pressed it himself on her cheek. "It must be painful."

"It's nothing compared to what that guy felt after my kick." A blush started to creep across her face. Miaka gulped. She could feel the bumps in Taka's palm. She could even feel the blood pulsing in his veins and capillaries. But maybe she was just imagining too much. She sighed inwardly and laid her own hand on his. "This feels great." She said not only out of the soothing sensation the cold gave to her skin but of Taka's touch on her cheek. Of course, she will not admit that to him.

Taka could not contain himself anymore. He burst out laughing. "That was so . . . " He could not find any words to describe the incident. He clutched his abdomen, finding the whole thing so funny. Miaka grinned and laughed along, glad to make Taka happy even just for once.