Authors Notes:

Bet you thought I gave up on this, didn't you? You needn't worry, I was fully aware of the neglect XD

So I whipped out this, I hope you enjoy it.

I must really thank school and all of its boring and continuous ways. It basically forces me to write in order to kill time. XD

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"Your…Host…?"

The blue haired angel nodded once.

"You mean like…"

"Yes."

"Why would you agree to such a thing?" The tortured look in those cherry eyes of hers showed that she truly only cared about how Natsuki felt about the situation.

"I had to."

"I see…" Even though yes, this situation seemed to shine brighter on Shizuru, it only served to increase her hate in Him. How dare He force Natsuki to do this when He knows she is still raw from the pain? The incident had only happened just recently, after all.

"So…" Natsuki dragged on, trying to break the so called ice that stubbornly insisted to stay between them. "How's mortality?" 'It's better to hide my true intentions from her. We can't afford for her to drag the Devil into this mess.'

"Viola-san! I see you're here again. Nice day out, isn't it?" A dark haired man weaved into the booth, sitting right where the angel was, her transparent being showing through him. Grumbling, she floated up instead, arms crossed in aggravation.

"Ara, Reito-han. How many times must I ask you to simply call me Shizuru?" She scolded playfully, keeping her eyes trained on him. If she were to gaze up at Natsuki, he would ask what it was she was so rudely giving her attention, and quite honestly, Shizuru didn't feel like coming up with excuses so early in the morning, so instead she completely ignored her deceased friend.

"I've lost count." He chuckled, and Natsuki immediately recognized that he had a "mask", so to speak, firmly up. Being close to Shizuru, she was very well acquainted with the façade, and was one to spot it easily. She almost got mad at him for hiding his feelings to her Host, but as an angel she saw that he had good intentions, he was just a people pleaser and didn't know when to take off the costume of sorts.

'Wait…Did he call her Viola-san?' She stared down at the brunette for a few long seconds, knowing for sure that she would sense it. Her friend was weird like that. Or at least when it came to her. 'But now I know why…'

Flashback

"But Natsuki I love you. I won't let her take advantage of you."

Before Natsuki could muster up any kind of response to that, guards had appeared, and were very well armed. It took a good five of them to pull Shizuru away from Nao…

Hands forced behind her back in a powerful binding spell, Shizuru was tugged away by a leash. Fresh tears on her cheeks; she closed her now red eyes and sighed. Yes, this was okay. Now Natsuki knew. Opening them once more into a glare, she stared at lime green eyes. "I will never let you have Natsuki. I hope you understand that, Yuuki-han."

This made no sense. What was it that Nao had ever done to cause Shizuru to do that? Sure she had flirted with Natsuki every now and then, but she had never thought she was serious…She couldn't have been…right?

End o' flashback

Her hurt voice rang in her ears and she looked away quickly. 'Why should I feel guilty…? None of its my fault…'

"So I see Fujino-san is a Host now."

Hearing the brunette's real last name, Natsuki turned and was met with a large man clad in robotic armor. He was also floating and seemed to be watching the two human's conversation closely.

"So this Reito kid is your Host? Who would've thought…?" But upon closer examination, Natsuki would have easily seen the black smoke emitting from his chest. He was obviously a tainted soul on the verge of demon hood.

"That's correct." He spoke in a voice eerily like the raven haired ones, and looked at her with what she could only guess was a serious face. "But more importantly, I have news for you."

"Wait, hold the phone. You're a demon, right?" Not like she had to ask since the mecha of a man held a dark aura and he had small crows' wings nestled comfortably on his back.

"Yes, my name is Rad."

"And you don't want to fight?"

"You are of no harm to Reito. So no."

"Then what do you want to tell me?"

"I'm fairly certain that you're aware of that." His big hand reached down and pointed to Shizuru's chest. Instead of black smock or white airy clouds, she had a grey fog. She was a conflicted soul indeed.

"Well of course I am." She spoke gruffly, mildly insulted that he had to point out such an obvious thing.

"There is another demon coming to claim her. Orders from Lucifer himself. He finds her to be quite the curiosity and would love to have her by his side. Much like how God had her. Or at least I'm told that's how things went."

With a loud groan, Natsuki ran a hand through her silky threads before tossing some over her shoulder. "Great…"

"You're familiar with my grandmother, right Shizuru-san?" Reito's words brought her back, for she was very confused as to why Natsuki was up there making odd facial expressions and talking to herself. But little did she know that Reito was thinking the same about Rad.

"Yes I am. Quite the lovely woman she is."

"She's becoming too sickly to care for the shop on her own…So she asks that you take over for her."

"E-excuse me?"

"Originally, I would have taken the shop as my own, but I never enjoyed working here. I like tea, but not to this extent. So, to put it bluntly, you're the backup."

"Ara, it's quite the generous offer…Are you positive about this?" Sure, owning the Otome Café would be quite the experience. She could live in the back room if she wanted to, and she was very familiar with making tea. She could always hire a few workers as well…

"Completely. Besides, a young girl such as yourself shouldn't be spending her nights outside. This environment seems perfect for you. I'm sure you'll do a fine job running the place."

Now of course, Shizuru isn't exactly all that young. She may appear to be eighteen in everyone's eyes, but she has been dead for quite a long time.

"I'm taking Reito tonight." Rad informed as he solemnly looked out the café window.

"What're you telling me for? That's a loss for us angels."

"That is true. But I don't think he should go to Hell. He has so much to live for and yet…He chooses this path. What if he wants to change his mind later? The Devil doesn't grant mortality…"

"You're worried for him." She came to the conclusion. Natsuki Kuga was not the type to 'cheer people up'. In fact, she hadn't the slightest clue how to do it, but she gave it an attempt anyway. "Well you shouldn't be. Judging by that soul of his, he'll unfortunately make a good demon. And it's not like you two will be separated or anything…"

"Thank you for accepting. Ah, I had better head off. I want a clean kitchen for you before I leave." At his words, Rad looked away from her and prepared to follow him.

"Good luck Kuga-san, and thank you for listening."

'Sneaky little demons, how the hell did he find out my name?' "I don't need your gratitude. Go off and drag another good soul to Hell why don't you?" And yet she smiled, and he returned it. What a strange world, where an angel and a demon, a child and an orphan, can partake in everyday conversation without the clash of weapons. She had to laugh, for it was an impossible thought, even if it did just occur.

Once Reito and Rad were out of sight, Natsuki sat back down in her respective seat. "So what were you guys talking about?" She hadn't heard a single word they were saying.

"I would like to ask the same. Were you thinking aloud as I had often seen you do in Heaven, or to an angel?" She raised a thin brow as she spoke, showing nothing but pure curiosity.

"Neither." She answered to Shizuru's surprise. "Reito's a Host for a demon."

The brunette never would have thought of that. Reito? Reito Kanzaki? A future demon? How…unlikely. "I see…" Was all she could say. Suddenly, she began to understand. Reito was giving the store over to her because he would be whisked away to Hell.

The immediate sadness in her eyes caught Natsuki off guard. "I-I'm sure it'll be okay…" She fumbled around for words, trying to earnestly cheer her Host up.

"I do hope so…"

X X X X X X X X X X X X X

That morning a "Now Hiring" sign was up on the window at the Otome Café. On three separate occasions, different people took the time to look at it.

The first to look at it was a short mousy looking teenager. She appeared to be alone. Pushing her glasses up with her index finger, she studied it before coming to the conclusion that it would be a good idea to work there. "Don't you think so, Haruka-chan?" She whispered as to not gain unnecessary attention.

"Why here, Yukino? You need an embarrassment where you could become more than you are!"

"I think you mean environment, Haruka-chan…I think…"

"THAT'S WHAT I SAID!" The floating blonde barked before crossing her arms with a huff.

"I think I'll do fine here." She spoke quietly, yet had a somewhat determined look on her face.

Seeing that she meant what she said, Haruka blushed faintly before saying, "Well if you think so strongly about it, you should do it. Never let someone hold you back from things!"

With a nod, one walked into the café, while the other floated through the door.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X

That afternoon, shortly after school had ended, a busty redhead and her feral friend stood before the building.

"I wonder if they need a cook…" One spoke thoughtfully as she asked herself about taking on the position.

"Wherever Mai works, I work!" Her companion nodded at her own words and proceeded to hug her tightly around the waist.

"Of course, Mikoto. We'll see what we can do."

After stumbling inside, trying not to fall from the extra weight, Mai Tokiha spoke to Shizuru from in the kitchen about receiving an application.

The two left happily, one complaining about their stomach rumbling.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X

That night, 12 o clock, to be exact, Shizuru was awoken by knocking on the window of the shop that clearly said "closed". Rubbing her right eye with that same hand, she arose from her makeshift bed in the back and sleepily walked up to where a drunken woman stood.

"May I help you?" She asked, her voice as calm and gentle as if it were daytime instead of night.

"Yeah uh…I want to work here!" The fiery redhead spoke as she tried to regain her balance.

"Midori, you're drunk. I don't think this is a good idea." A brunette mumbled above her, feeling concern for her Host.

"Oh c'mon Youko! You're such a party pooper; I know what I'm doing!"

Shizuru was initially confused as to why this wasted woman was talking to herself, until she realized that she must be a Host.

"Ara, if you're so determined to work here, I'll be happy to get you an application. Please wait here."

"See? She knows I can do this!" Midori posed triumphantly before her angel, causing her to sigh and roll her eyes.

"She shouldn't have encouraged you…"

Woken up from the commotion, Natsuki didn't know what to make of today.

Was it God's work? Why would so many people suddenly want to work for her all in one day? Yes, it definitely had to be His work. If Shizuru was contented with staying here in the Human world, she wouldn't need to drag Lucifer into anything.

"Nice move, Old man, nice move."

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Author's Notes:

Meh, I'm not exactly happy with this one, but at least a lot of progression has happened. Thanks for reading~