" 'Kiki's Komplete Kappicino Kafe'?" Through the rain-blurred windshield, Dante read the restaurant sign with a skeptical expression. "This is where the fantastic coffee shop is? And what sort of weird name is Kiki, anyway?" During the car ride over, Trish wouldn't tell him the name of the shop, only directions.

"It's just a name. Besides, what sort of name is Dante?" Trish teased, then touched his arm, her tone smug. "Looks like you will be getting wet."

It was true. From his sports car to the cafe's entrance, a short sprint would be needed. No shade in between the two destinations whatsoever. Once they were inside, the warm air was a pleasant change compared to the outside's more frigid wind. And Dante was still fairly dry.

Now he didn't know what kind of atmosphere to expect in the cafe was until he was actually in it. The place was a far cry from the strip clubs he frequented. Instead of the babes, now there were old married couples and their hyper, little kids. He saw a wall clock and realized since it was the afternoon hours, naturally there would be seniors. Seeing the patrons' casual and bland colors for attire, he cringed at his own ensemble. Full body of tight leather AND it was bright red. Geez, did all that not just scream sex? Why not have a blinding cherry to add on top? He felt his face flushing the same color when various eyes set upon his bold clothing choice. Well, at least his boots and gloves were black. That made things better. But not much.

A female voice interrupted Dante's musings. "Trish! Long time so see!"

Dante perked up with interest as a woman came around the counter and did the girly gibber with Trish. Not only was she not wrinkled and ancient, but that voice of hers! Low and even sultry. The tone could seduce men to putty and she wouldn't even know it! It suited her shoulder-length raven hair and auburn eyes. Strange thing, she appeared quite open and didn't fit under the "mysterious" category which combined sexy voices and good looks all while shrouded with the veil of silence. He found himself feeling goofy.

"...this?" he caught the last snippet of the girl's question and he sensed her curious gaze.

"Dante," he put in, totally oblivious if she even asked for his name.

It was a good guess because he got a great smile from her. The girl replied, "I'm Kiki."

Kiki. Dante could already hear the melodic harp strings trilling inside his brain as she said something about how a pleasure it is to meet him and won't they take a seat at the corner table she pointed to? His legs moved and he seated down across from Trish. Her slight tug on his vest brought his attention back to the cafe. Beside the table, Kiki stood with a notepad and pen in hand. "What do you want, Dante?" Trish asked.

Now that question had different interpretations! He cleared his throat as he lamely picked out a fancy-sounding latte off the chalkboard menu hung high up behind the counter. Knowledge of all these coffee flavors and types was not information Dante kept up to date with. His drink apparently had chocolate shreds on top. That was all that mattered. Trish ordered the same latte, only with extra, extra foam. Waitress Kiki left to make their order.

Trish waited a moment before leaning in. "Not such a bad name after all, huh?" she whispered.

"What?"

"Y'know, Kiki."

Dante shrugged. "Whatever."

A small shove on his shoulder provoked a glare. Before he could retort, she propped her chin in her hands and an elfish graced her pixie face. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, demon guy."

"Huh?"

"You like her, right? But you look sorta weird."

"And you're going to psychoanalyze me?" His leather pointer finger poked her in the middle of the forehead.

"I've been around you for awhile and I know when something's going on. So tell me." When no reply came, she added, "I can set you two up if you're interested."

He groaned. "Pul-lease. You'd marry us if you could."

"Well? What is it that catches Mr. Sparda's attention?"

"Drop it, okay?" He didn't want to dive into a heavy discussion over something as insignificant as liking a voice. It was like admiring a singing voice on the radio; if it sounds great, the listener enjoys it for a couple minutes and then goes on with life after the song comes to an end. No big deal.

So chatting turned to the topic of morning events; Trish about the friend she had been hanging out with and Dante about how much he appreciated having her around to cure his business boredom. Wispy white steam floated up as latte cups placed on the round table between them and Dante felt his mouth water, even though he honestly didn't know what drink he got. But there were those chocolate bits, oh yes! He looked up to see none other than Kiki. He suddenly felt this ridiculous urge to smile. So he did. Again, he got the same response and a wooden stirring stick dropped into his drink. Hmm, grinning all the time would do him some good. But that would no doubt ruin the badass image he worked so hard to concrete from the past couple years. When fighting nocturnal demony things, it was definitely an image he wanted to keep.

A wink came from Kiki, directed at the demon hunter. "You should visit here more often. You'd sure make my day better."

"If my drink satisfies me enough, I'll be sure to keep future visits in mind," Dante joked.

"Then shall I offer you extra foam for that latte of yours? Or more chocolate sprinkles?" She leaned in and whispered loud enough for her friend to hear, "Free of charge, of course."

Trish's mouth dropped open at the injustice. "Hey! You'd charge me for the taste of extra bliss? Unfair!"

Dante nibbled the end of his stick of wood to halt a grin. The quick face he made at the chalky taste on his tongue couldn't be hid. Gah, this is the adored object he had told Trish about earlier? The damn wood tasted awful! Ah, whatever. It still felt cool to have the thing moving around in his mouth like a cigarette. The perk being the absence of eye-stinging smoke.

Kiki didn't notice any of this as she was watching the blonde. She commented, " 'Trishy'? How adorable. You two must get along well."

"Pfft. Right. Like me and the stupid rain." Dante noticed she didn't press the name issue. That meant she didn't mind it.

"A fight between you and rain? And all this time I thought you got along. What happened?" Good-natured lightheartedness made Kiki tip her head in wonder. "You expected too much? You not getting enough attention?"

"I got dumped on. It's a shame, really." Trish sighed as her coffee stick twirled in cloudy circles within sugared foam.

"That was strike one," Dante informed the waitress, his imitation cigarette moving on his lips as he spoke. "The rain just had too many problems. She didn't pay attention. Wait, that's strike two. Poor her."

Kiki patted a comforting hand on Trish's shoulder. "Too bad. At least you still have Dante."

"A free brownie would cheer me up," the girl responded, totally ignoring Kiki's words.

"Sorry. That's against the rules."

"So is free latte foam and chocolate."

"I can make exceptions." Before leaving, Kiki shot one last suggestive look at the amused Dante, who shook his head at the offer.

"She sure likes you," Trish commented when they were alone, taking a sip of her drink. Dante did the same before singing out, "Jealous, are we?"

"Never."

"Uh huh."

Trish pouted. "So what was strike one?"

"Not paying enough attention to Alastor. I won, remember?"

"I was cold and wet, Dante!"

They stayed silent as they drank. Dante finished in a good five gulps before setting down the empty cup with a tap. The coffee straw remained clamped between his lips as he watched his partner slurp down her own cup. Wait, polite girls don't slurp their drinks, they sip it with dainty airiness. She looked pretty cute doing the polite thing. Of course, that pretty much was all the time. She shook her head when she noticed his stare and his eyes raised into a roll. They found the other side of the restaurant for amusement. At least it was slightly more interesting than Trish's cup of caffeine. Kiki wasn't anywhere to be seen, so no flirting there. His gaze glazed in boredom as he counted the rotations of a spinning overhead fan. Dizziness encouraged him to stop. He tilted his head down and as he did, a blob of something orangey made him look over. A table away and behind a chair, a little girl with wavy curls of red hair peeked out at him. She looked about seven and seemed to enjoy playing hide-and-seek with the chair. Her liquid green eyes trained on him in wide-eyed fascination. More precisely, she stared at his leather outfit, but her vision flew up to his face when he caught her gaze.

"Hey there," Dante called out in amicable greeting, putting his stirring stick into his empty cup. Normally he despised little twerps, but the happy mood he was in made him put the fact aside. Besides, her curious demeanor had this wacky appeal.

"Hi," the little girl shyly replied, tugging on her sunflower checkered dress. Dante's peripheral vision caught Trish watching his face with avid interest. He tried, "How come you're standing way over there?" His admirer shrugged, looking embarrassed. He said, "You can stay there, but I can't hear you so well if you're all the way across the room." A lie, but she didn't need to know.

She blinked as she considered what next to do. Boldly, she neared and when beside his table, Dante reached on the opposite end of it and plucked something up.

"Here, for you." He smiled a dazzling grin, handing the girl what he had. A pack of sugar from the condiments tray. Trish was on the verge of laughing and leaked some. The person receiving the gift blushed instantly and let out a giggle. Yes, the Dante charm could even work on little girls too. And he barely had to try! He tried not to laugh.

The small redhead seemed to finally realize that another person sat at the table with the mysterious man and she beamed a look at Trish. The silent woman set down her coffee cup and exclaimed with admiration, "Oh, Dante, she's so cute. Were you that captivating when you were her age?"

The silver-haired man gazed over at her in mock astonishment. "Hark, am I hearing you admit I'm charming? Why Trishy, I'm so happy."

"Keep on dreaming!"

Swiveling his attention back to the kid, Dante couldn't believe himself when he cooed, "So what made you want to talk to me?" Heck, I'm Dante Sparda; what other reason would you possibly need?

Curious eyes regarded him in wonder, and she responded simply, "You're pretty."

The two coffee lovers smiled and Trish piped in an, "aww!", though whether it was meant for Dante or the kid, he couldn't be certain. Meanwhile, he replied, "Thank you. And may I say you're very pretty too." Short tresses bobbed as little princess laughed, blushing some more. He managed to contain an "aww!" himself. This kiddy cuteness was getting a little overwhelming! "So what's your name?"

"Alison."

Trish said, "That's a nice name. Are you here with someone?"

"My mommy." As if on cue, a stern female voice called out Alison's name. Disappointment crossed the little child's face, but she smiled at him and Caffeine Girl before happily trotting off with her packet of sugar.

Trish grabbed his forearm in astonishment. "That was all so adorable! I've never seen you so- nice!"

Dante eased a smooth hand on top of hers and said suavely, "I can be the gentleman if I try." Her eyebrow raised, but he ignored it as he wondered about the bill. Just when he was starting to recall how much his drink cost and whether it was the more expensive one, Trish plunked down money on the tabletop and grabbed her purse. Outside, the rain had slowed to a very light mist which Dante and his leather were tons grateful for.

"Shoes at the mall? You're kidding!" Dante stopped strolling the parking lot at Trish's suggestion of their next destination. "What is the insane attraction of shoes to girls?"

"Don't get huffy on me. I'm only beginning to understand it myself. Besides, I haven't shopped for shoes in...well, ever! The Underworld is all I've known."

Dante grumbled, "No credit cards there, I'll bet."

"Huh? Credit cards? What's that?"

"Never mind. You really don't want to know."

The girl shrugged, but perkiness still held her expression. "It should be fun! I haven't gone shoe shopping yet!"

"Hmph. Well, I've been regular clothes shopping and it's bad enough. Too much selection. Don't torture me with this."

She looped her purse strap around her neck and pushed it around to her back, freeing her hands. Moving behind him, Trish squeezed her arms around his neck in an affectionate -if not choke worthy- hug. Her chin sat on his left shoulder and Dante tried not to think of the many body curves being pressed against his back. Music which was her honeyed tone floated into his ear. "I can make it worth your time."

"Shoes," he said flatly, like she had gone crazy.

"Don't you care about me, Dante?" Trish's arms slithered lower and under the rain-dampened trench coat with tickling intent to his sides. The heat from her fingertips seared right through his thick vest like didn't even wear it. Dante sighed. "Blackmail, now? You truly are devious, devil girl." He couldn't stop his restless body from reacting to her touch, at the closeness. Trish must have detected this change and her teasing lips curved upwards against the side of his neck. Her playful hands stilled firm on his hips. "That's how you like me, right?"

The drizzling mist felt refreshing on the half-demon's heated skin and he tilted his face up to absorb the much needed coolness. "You are evil."

Her booted toe tapped hard against his calf. "Hey, not anymore."

"Unless cappuccinos are involved. Then the exception is made." He shifted, trying to gain some sort of advantage, but the seductive huntress' grip proved unyielding.

"I suppose that's true. But I'm a nice girl. Honest," murmured the diplomat as she tried to break him down some more by trailing kisses over the back of Dante's neck. The pace of his heart picked up and her hot breath almost made his own stop. He sighed deep. "This is totally unfair, you know that, right?"

"Two strikes for dear Dante," said Trish with a giggle. Before he could ask, she explained, "That first one is you sleeping on the job. Lazy, lazy."

"Your fault. You barged in."

"Great comeback! Very convincing."

He groaned. First the secret of his hairbrush revealed and now shopping. He repressed a shudder. When could he ever win? "Two hours."

"Two hours? That's hardly any time!"

"I could drop you off at the mall and leave you be for as long as you desire."

A very short silence, then, "All right, two hours. You've been generous today. I want to be with you today." The flirty girl's body deflated enough for him to wiggle free. When he turned, her hands were behind her back in playful shyness. "Thanks, Dante."

Dante grimaced. "Don't thank me yet."

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A/N: What fun awaits Dante next? Will he be weak and buy footwear himself? (New boots are always good!) The final chapter awaits...