Chapter 26:

It had been one year, eleven months, 12 days, four hours, 34 minutes, and 56 seconds. He had searched all of Unova and sent grunts to all other regions and there was still no sign of Touko. Sighing, he stepped off Reshiram and walked into the team plasma building in the middle of Castelia City.

He always checked in on every Wednesday, it was beginning to become a routine. Ever since he had begun his search for Touko this was the building that he would have to go to see if any of the other regions had caught any sight of her. And every Wednesday he would be disappointed not only in the grunts, but mostly in himself. He was the one who drove her away in the first place.

Spinning around there was a small gasp, but when he checked it was only his mind. There was absolutely no one on the streets at four in the morning. It was only him and some young woman who looked like she was in her late teens. Her hair was tied up in a braid that wrapped around her head. She wore a minty green skirt and a summery yellow shirt. Shrugging off her, N walked into the towering skyscraper.

In eighteen days Touko would be free for exactly two years. And not even once had she shed a tear since then. Locking up her bicycle, she walked into the tiny café. The old owner was at the counter counting the profits from the other day. Nodding at each other, Touko hopped the counter and grabbed her apron. Skipping into the kitchen, Touko pulled out a bowl, some eggs, and a frying pan. Cracking each egg, she began to beat them into the bowl.

Pushing up her glasses, Touko had gotten used to wearing them now so pushing them out of her face was more of a reflex than a nuisance. Lifting up the bowl, she poured the eggy mixture into the frying pan. Letting it sizzle, she looked up to see two orders already put in. One was for a western omelet and the other for a vegetarian burger with fries. Spinning around she opened up the huge refrigerator and pulled out a hand full of peppers and onions. Tossing them counter, she pulled out a huge chopping knife and began to cut them up.

Scooping them into a bowl she portioned out half and the other half she left on the counter. Lifting up the bowl she brought it over to the frying pan. Sprinkling the chopped peppers and onions into the eggy mess, Touko lifted up the spatula and flipped the eggs on their side. Letting them sizzle for a few minutes she, lifted up the pan and brought it over a plate that lay on the counter. Sliding the eggs on to it, she sprinkled some parsley on top of the eggs and passed it to the waiting shop owner.

Spinning around to face the kitchen again, Touko sighed and went over to the chopped up peppers. Whispering to herself "Looks like the breakfast rush has started."

. . . .

It was three thirty in the afternoon and Touko could barely keep her eyes open. There were only two people actually in the café not including herself. Tapping her cheeks she hopped the counter and walked over to the booth closest to the door. An older looking man sat sipping a half full cup of coffee. Asking if he needed anything else, he said no and she moved to the next one. Where a younger looking male sat. He looked about twenty and he soft curly blonde hair. His eyes were a soft green color that looked like spring.

Sliding down in the seat across from him, Touko sighed again as he looked over at her.

"Tired again?" He said chuckling.

"Al, you don't even know how much sleep I even get."

"Well, how about…hmm… ah eight hours?"

"No, six and not including when I have days off."

"Daisy you really need to get a better work schedule. I mean whenever I'm going to or from work you're here. Plus Darla, that old bat has you working like a slave." Reaching a cross the table, he rested his hand on top of hers.

"It's so much better than my last job. Really you don't need to worry Al." Pulling her hand away, he caught it.

"Daisy I really wish you would tell me why you don't want to go out with me."

"I-I can't Al. Its not that I don't love you, you're my best friend but I just don't want to lose you."

"Lose me? Daisy I'm right here. Everyday, every time I have a break I'm always here. With You! What is holding you back?" Touko was standing next to the counter now and Al was clutching her wrist as she looked at the floor.

"Al, I-I-I just I'm sorry Al." Pulling out of his grasp, Touko slowly climbed over the counter. Entering the kitchen, Al just stared back at Touko. Shaking his head, he exited the café just as another person was coming.

Touko poked her head out of the kitchen and gasped. Rubbing her arms up and down she whispered some words to herself before she went out and walked over to him.

"What can I get you sir?" He was seated at the counter on a stool. His soft green tea hair looked evenly cut and tied back just how he had it when she had last time saw him. His face was as perfect, his sweet eyes looked up at her. His sunset red lips moved and formed words but Touko was too mesmerized by him to actually notice what he said.

"Please excuse me, but could you repeat that?" She said blinking.

"Sure. I'll have a peanut butter on rye with chips and a lemonade."

"Anything else?"

"No."

"Alright. I'll be right back with your order. See you Mr. Moore!" Waving to the old man, the elderly gentleman exited the café. Stepping into the kitchen, Touko began to prepare the food.

It only took a sort period of time, because the sandwich was quick and the lemonade was already made. Cutting the sandwich in half, she placed a handful of chips next to the food and walked out of the tiny kitchen. Setting it down in front of N, Touko spun around and began to pour the lemonade.

"So, Miss how long have you been working here?"

"Oh, well in a few days it will be two years. Why?" Touko was trying as hard as possible to keep her cool.

"Well, I used to go here pretty often, but I stopped coming after awhile."

"Really? Well, I'm glad your back now." Bending down under the counter, Touko pulled out a bucket filled with ice. Placing the bucket on the counter, she began to slip in the ice.

"So what's your name miss?"

"Daisy. You?" N pretty much spit out his mouth full of sandwich when Touko said her 'name'.

"Excuse me. It's N."

"A letter? Really? You got to be joking right?"

"…" N just sat there staring at Touko with his mouth slightly open.

"What? Did I say something weird?" Pushing the lemonade towards him, she cocked her head to one side in confusion.

"No... no. Its just a very dear friend of mind same that too when they first learned my name too."

"Really? Maybe we're related!" Laughing, Touko could tell her laugh was awkward, but she was pretty good at faking anything now so even fake crying was easy.

"Yeah…." Slowly sipping his drink, Touko hopped the counter and sat in the seat next to him. 'Even if it's only for thirty minutes and he doesn't even recognize me, it feels great to talk to him.'

"So N… what happened to your friend?" 'If he met a new girl I will personally find her and kill her and ripe her to shreds and-'

"They ran away." Touko couldn't keep her mouth closed. He was talking about her, she was the friend who made fun of his name. He was talking about a past that they could no longer share together. That was the friend he was talking about.

"Really? Why? Was she your old girlfriend?"

"No, she wasn't my girlfriend. But I wish, she was free spirited and beautiful. She was wonderful in everyway. But she ran away because I…"

"What?"

"I drove her away. I told her that she was useless and she meant nothing to the world. I killed her internally and now I can't even find her to apologize to her."

Jumping Touko put her hands on her hips and shouted at N. "N is you really believe that she would be taken down by something like that than you have a rude awakening coming to you." Placing a hand on his shoulder, "I bet she's waiting for you to apologize just so you can come back into her life."

"Yeah… but that's the problem I'm looking for her as we speak and she hasn't been see anywhere."

"N, listen to me I bet if you look hard enough and open your eyes just a little bigger she actually standing right in front of you and you don't even know it."

Placing down his drink, Touko lifted up the empty plate and cup and hoped over the counter. Taking them into the kitchen, she placed them in the sink for later washing. Leaning on the counter, she rested her head on top of her elbows and stared at N, who seemed to be in deep thought.

"N, What cha thinkin' about?"

"Well, Daisy do you have any secrets that you can't tell anyone, but you really want to but it's not in your power to tell."

"Hold it cowboy. First of all, every one has secrets that they just can't tell. And if you know a secret and you want to tell someone but it's not in your power to tell, than don't. Unless it was illegal, because I don't want you going to jail over a secret."

"Daisy do you have any secrets?"

"Of course! Who doesn't?"

"Me! I tell every one everything. No secrets."

"N you say that like your proud but what if someone told you something that would get them into trouble and you would gain from their pain?"

"Well it depends."

"How should it depend? N, lets say I was a bank robber and I told you about my best robbing. What would you do?"

"I-I don't know."

"Right N! You see you trust me and if I did something bad you would want to protect me right?"

"I guess…"

"What ever. N, why did you even ask this? Is something bothering you?"

"No, but… Daisy?"

"Mhmm?"

"What's your last name?"

"Cromwell, why?"

"Nothing, I got to go. I'll see you tomorrow!"

"Bye N!" N jumped off the stool and excited the café. Touko signed and walked into the kitchen. Stepping over to the sink, she turned on the water and let it run over the dishes while she just let her mind wander. Taking the soap she began to scrub the plates and cups from that day.

so this chapter is a little did you guys think? Sorry about the huge time skip, nothing really interesting happened during that time period. And if any of you were wondering Darla is the owner of the cafe! :) love you all keep reading!