Welcome back for another chapter of DCF! This chapter honestly took a while to write but I was able to make it happen! Hope you all enjoy! I don't own anything!

~Acceptance and Forgiveness~

Normal POV

"Hanabusa-kun!" Ichigo exclaimed, walking towards the tea-green haired boy. "When did you get here?"

"Late last night," he said. "I was gonna come here later on this afternoon, but I thought you guys would need the extra help."

Ichigo laughed. "Well, we're gonna need it."

"You didn't answer me!" Kashino said in an irritated voice.

The brunette turned to him. "What?"

"Why did you leave before me? Especially at 4:30 in the morning? Are you insane? Something could have happened to you!"

"Would you relax?" She said, trying to calm him down. "I'm fine! I was just with Asuka-chan. We were here the whole time."

"Don't worry Ichigo-chan," said Asuka speaking for the first time. "He's just worried about you that's all. It's kinda cute actually!"

Kashino turned away, his face red. "Shut up Kazunari."

"Oh and by the way," Ichigo said, clearing her throat. "Hanabusa-kun, this is Kazunari Asuka. Henri-sensei recruited her to work with us. Asuka-chan, this Hanabusa Satsuki."

Being the person he is, Hanabusa-kun walked up to Asuka and handed her a rose. Asuka took it and blushed. "Another one of the Sweets Princes," she said. "I'm honored."

"What were you doing anyway?" Kashino interrupted, feeling uncomfortable.

Asuka and Ichigo looked at each other and grinned. "Oh you know," Asuka started.

"Just girl stuff," Ichigo finished.

"Whatever," Kashino said walking toward the cabinet to get out cooking tools. He stopped and turned around. "Well, what are you waiting for?"

~xXx~

When they were fully changed in their "butler" uniforms, they started getting ready for the day. Since it was Sunday, it was going to be really busy. On the weekdays, they can start coming in a later. Today, Asuka was in charge of the display outside again and thanks to Hanabusa-kun's arrival, the inside of the shop was no problem now. Through out most of the morning, it was one of those... awkward moments. No one was really talking, they seemed to be concentrating but the atmosphere was different. The only lucky one was Asuka, who avoided the awkwardness because she's always listening to music.

"It's the only thing that relaxes me," she told them. "Other than cooking at least."

But eventually, they made it though the morning. The Garden opened at 12 and, like yesterday, it was busy. They sold a variety of their sweets for the first few hours, most of them being Ichigo's Sourire de l'Ange. That was a bit of the problem. It's not that everyone didn't like the fact that Ichigo's tart was selling, but it was because that it was selling so much, not a lot of the other cakes were selling, creating a number of disposal losses. Before lunch break, all the strawberry tarts were sold and that was it for now.

"Are you sure you're okay with this Ichigo-chan?" Asuka asked for the third time already.

"It's completely fine Asuka-chan," she told her, setting down her water. Understanding the situation, Ichigo decided to sell her tarts only on occasion. "I'll do what needs to be done. Besides, the fact that everyone loves it is enough to make me happy."

"So when so we sell them then?"

"On holidays," Kashino answered. "Christmas, St. George's Day, Valentine's Day, New Years Eve and so on."

"But it's an early notice for our customers," Asuka commented. "How are they gonna take it in?"

"As time goes by, they'll eventually have to accept that fact," said Hanabusa-kun. "There's nothing we can do but hope for the best. Hopefully, it won't affect our selling of sweets in general."

Then they all heard a sudden tap at the door and looked up to see two kids, one boy and one girl, who looked around 9 and 6.

"Is lunch break already over?" Vanilla asked.

Yuca shook her head, "No, there's about 15 minutes left."

Asuka got up from her chair and walked over to unlock the door. She knelt down to the young children. They must be siblings; the older one, the boy, had the same violet eye color as the young girl and he was holding her hand protectively.

"Hey kids," she said. "What are you doing here?"

"We want to buy a cake" the young boy said.

"I'm sorry," Asuka apologized. "But we're not open right now."

"Ash..." The little girl whined.

"It's okay Lily," the boy named Ash said, comforting her.

"Where are your parents?" Asuka asked.

Ash took a moment before answering. "We snuck away from her. Lily wanted to buy a cake but our foster mom wouldn't let us, not until my other foster siblings were done eating lunch. I chased after Lily who was upset and I scolded her. But now, she said she won't listen to me unless I buy her a cake."

Asuka giggled.

"I know," Ash sighed. "Little sisters."

"But won't your foster mom be worried?"

Ash shrugged. "She's too busy to worry about us."

Such a mature boy, Asuka thought. "Alright then, come on in." She let the door wide open to let them in.

"Oi!" Kashino exclaimed. "What are you doing?"

Ichigo laid a hand on his shoulder. "Kashino!"

"Relax Makoto-kun," said Asuka guiding the confused children though the dining area. "It's only for a while. They wont be here for long."

The three of her friends and the Sweets Spirits, followed Asuka to the kitchen, stopping at the doorway, now knowing if they should go in any further.

"What is she doing?" Chocolate asked, not believing that Asuka just brought two little kids into their shop.

"Take a seat," Asuka said to the kids. Ash was able to get up but he had to help Lily onto the stool.

"So Lily, you like cake and sweets?" Asuka asked while she was preparing them a cake. By the looks of it, it's like she was used to making it a lot because she's making it quick.

"Yeah! Very, very much!" She replied.

"How about you Ash?"

"I do," he said then jabbed a thumb towards the little bouncing blonde bob. "But not as much as her."

Asuka giggled. "Is that so?" She then brought over two small rectangle slices. "Here's the cake you wanted."

"That's her Reve d'Automne," Ichigo breathed, noticing the different swirls and patterns on top.

"It's millie feuille!" Lily cried. "I love millie feuille!"

"Do you?"

"Oh yes she does," Ash laughed.

Asuka smiled as both Lily and Ash took a bite. "Wow~! It's so good!"

Ash nodded, agreeing with his sister. "It is. And you made this Miss?"

"I sure did!" She continued to watch the two siblings eat. Suddenly, Asuka remembered a time when she was young. She was at the bakery where she trained but this time, she brought a blonde haired boy with her. They would always eat cake first before training. Sometimes, she would smudge frosting on the boy's face, usually ending the whole thing up in a little food fight.

"So," said Ash, placing his fork down. "Do you forgive me for yelling at you?"

Lily looked up at her brother and smiled. In response, she gave him a kiss on the cheek, leaving a smear of cream. Though he was satisfied, Ash turned red and wiped it off.

Everyone smiled as the two siblings finished up their cake. Ichigo tore her eyes away to look at Asuka who was leaning against the counter, facing away from them. She had her hand covering her mouth, as if she was trying to keep any sound from coming out. Yuca flew over to her and touched her face. Asuka looked at her, tears rolling down her face. Ichigo noticed and walked into the kitchen.

She placed a hand on her shoulder. "Asuka-chan, are you okay?"

Asuka looked at her then to Kashino and Hanabusa-kun at the door way. She quickly wiped her face before anything else happened. "Sorry," she whispered. "I'm an emotional person!"

"Miss," Ash said standing up and reaching for Lily's hand. "Thank you for everything. We should head back."

Asuka nodded Ichigo a thank you and walked to the kids. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

Ash dug through his pocket for a few euros. "How much do we pay you?"

Asuka bit her lip then said, "Nothing. Just make sure you don't run off like that again okay?"

The smiles of the little siblings lit up their faces. "We wont!"

~xXx~

At the end of the day, they were luckily able to sell everything. With the sudden announcement of the shop not selling Sourire de l'Ange, it made them loose a quarter of their customers. They were all nervous at that point, that the next day, they'd lose more people. For now though, they were all hoping for the best.

After they were done cleaning up and out of their uniforms, they all sat in the dining room, tension whirling around them.

"About $590, equals around ¥59,065," Kashino announced after calculating the money. "Damn it! I was hoping we'd make at least over $600!"

Asuka unscrewed the cap of her water bottle. "At least there's a good side to this, we made more money than we did yesterday."

Kashino glared at her in response.

"What?"

He sighed. "We made about $1,705 in the first two days. Since the weekdays start tomorrow, sales are going to be not as big."

"Should we raise the prices after all?" Ichigo asked.

"There's no reason to," said Hanabusa-kun. "It's only been two days of selling. Let's wait for a week at least."

"We made way more in Japan during the grand opening," Kashino commented.

Asuka scoffed. "Yeah, well, this is London. Not Japan."

"But because the Marie's Garden here is the second one in the world," Cafe said. "It's just as busy as the one in Japan. That's what I heard around the Sweets Kingdom at least."

A click of the front door caught their attention. It was Sully-san followed by Koshiro-san and Johnny. Ichigo and Hanabusa-kun looked surprised, Kashino cringed and Asuka stiffened.

"I apologize for coming without notice," said Sully-san walking towards them.

"Oh, no, it's okay!" Said Ichigo.

"What are they doing here?" Asuka said in a flat tone. Koshiro-san just smiled and Johnny had a serious face.

"Well, that's the reason I'm here." Sully-san gestured toward the two cousins. "Koshiro-san and Johnny-kun asked if they could work here at your shop."

Their mouths hung in disbelief. Immediately, both Kashino and Asuka spoke, "No."

Everyone turned to them. Sully-san tilted her head. "And why not Kashino-san? Kazunari-san?"

"Well, why do they wanna work here?" Kashino replied.

"Simple," said Koshiro-san. "Chateau Seika sponsored Marie's Garden and all it's shops, including le reve colour. So if you hire us, you can have a greater chance of having customers."

Kashino still didn't care. "The answer is still no."

"That's not right Koshiro-san!" Ichigo stood from her seat laying her hands on the table. "We want our customers to come here because of their love of our sweets. It won't make sense if you ask people to come here just because of your father's business."

Koshiro-san looked like she didn't make any sense. "I hope you're not just saying that because you don't want us to work here due to our personal business Amano-san."

"No, Ichigo-chan is right." Asuka's voice didn't waver and her face was serious. It was weird for everyone to see her like that. "I don't know what you're relationship with Makoto-kun or Ichigo-chan is Koshiro-san but it has nothing to do with our shop. Neither does my relationship with Johnny. All I, we, care about is our shop being successful. What I am most concerned about is, are you willing to work here?"

"Celeste..." Johnny began, but Asuka ignored him.

"Are you willing to work?" She asked again. "We don't have time to deal with people who are not serious about what they do. If you are a true patissiere, you will not let your personal life mix in with work. If you are not serious, then leave."

Ichigo drew in a breath, "Asuka-chan..."

It was silent for a while. Sully-san looked like she understood what Asuka was trying to say, but it's not her position to get involved.

Johnny broke the silence. "Of course I'm serious, you know that Celeste."

Asuka looked at Johnny with a straight face then nodded. "Koshiro-san?"

All eyes were on Koshiro-san now. Her face didn't change, and she just smirked. "Yes. I'm serious."

"Look me in the eye then," Asuka told her.

Koshiro-san locked eyes with her and repeated, "Yes, I'm serious."

Asuka took a breath then let it out. "Fine."

"Kazunari!" Kashino exclaimed.

"If they are both willing to work Makoto-kun, then that's all that matters. I don't care how high and mighty her father is, if her or both of them make one mistake, they're out."

"I will agree with you Kazunari-san," said Koshiro-san. "It's a deal; if you let me and Johnny work here, we will work. If we screw up, then we will leave."

Asuka turned to her friends. "Well?"

Slowly, they and the Sweets Sprits nodded. Kashino looked sick but he agreed.

"Then it's settled, you start tomorrow."

~xXx~

Sully-san left them alone after the debate was settled. Johnny and Koshiro stayed behind to talk about their plans for tomorrow but somehow, the conversations suddenly took a turn.

"Since when did you become the leader?!" Kashino yelled at Asuka.

Asuka took a swig of her water bottle. "Are you seriously gonna ask me that after that whole thing ended 5 minutes ago?"

"Yes!"

Koshiro-san cleared her throat. "You know, we're right here."

Kashino turned to her. "Do I care?"

"I said that I will work here seriously Makoto-kun," she said.

"Well what about him?" Kashino pointed towards Johnny who was leaning on the table with his arms folded across his chest.

"I told you that I will. Celeste knows how hard I work- "

"Don't," Asuka interrupted. "Call me that."

Ichigo had a worried look on her face. After hearing Asuka's story this morning, she didn't know how Asuka would act around Johnny the next time they saw each other.

Johnny got up from the table and grabbed her arm. "Let me talk to you in the kitchen for a second."

Asuka tried to pry from his grip, but he was too strong. "Johnny let go of me!"

Ichigo and the others watched as he dragged her behind and they tried their best not to eavesdrop.

When they got to the kitchen, Asuka turned to Johnny, looking like she was gonna slap him. "What do you want?" She hissed.

"Why are you acting this way?" He asked.

"Are you serious?" She scoffed."I'm going back!"

"No, you're not!" He said, grabbing her arm again. "Celeste talk to me! What's happened to you?"

She walked up to him, getting as close as she wanted. "What's happened to me? I've changed! That's normal for someone you haven't seen or talked to for 3 years!"

"I'm sorry I left you but I had to, so I can live my dream!"

"Ha! That's the lamest excuse I've heard! Do you know how worried I was about you?! Your parents never mentioned you at all when I lived there. Neither our friends at school! Do you know how mad I was?

"I know that you're mad but- "

"But WHAT?!" Asuka started to tear up from her anger. "You left me when I need you the most! I find out you left after I lost my dad! You don't know how much pain I went though!"

Johnny opened his mouth to say something but quickly shut it and instead he said, "I'm gonna make it up to you, I promise!"

When he said that, Asuka shook her head in disbelief. She slid her arm from his hand. "No... You can never make it up to me..."

Asuka walked back to the dining room. Everyone looked at her, only to see her face red with rage and wet with small tears. She grabbed her water bottle and headed up the stairs to the upper level of the shop. "I'm gonna cool my head," She said while slipping on her headphones.

Yuca didn't follow her. There are times she knew to leave Asuka to herself. Johnny came back into the dining room with a defeated face. Now everyone looked at him.

"What was that about?" Koshino asked.

Johnny sat down in a chair, his head hanging down. "Nothing..."

"How do you know her anyway?" Asked Koshiro-san. "Is she your ex?"

Johnny shook his head but Ichigo answered for him. "No, it's not that."

Hanabusa-kun looked at Ichigo. "How do you know?"

"Asuka told me this morning. Her... Life before she came here."

Johnny looked back up at her. "She did?"

"So what's the story?" Kashino said. "How do you know Kazunari?"

Ichigo sighed. "Kashino, please..."

"No, it's okay Ichigo." Johnny cracked his knuckles before speaking again. "Celeste- Asuka and I basically grew up together back in America. Her mom died when she was 5 and her dad had to move due to work. We were about 10 years old when we met. We became really close a while after. Asuka is like a little sister to me and I was as close to a brother as she could get. We played together all the time, we celebrated birthdays and we went to school together, up until 10th grade. That's when I decided to move to Japan and live with Miya and her father. I never told Asuka that I was leaving. I convinced my parents to not tell her why when she went to live with them."

"Why would she live with your parents?" Koshiro-san said. "She stopped living with her dad just because you left?"

"Her dad died in a car accident the day I left. I didn't find out until my mom called me after I arrived in Japan."

It got so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone had a variety of looks on their faces. Some looked sad others had a hard, serious look.

Hanabusa-kun broke the long silence. "So not only did she lose both of her parents, but she also lost you? Basically?"

Johnny nodded. "Yeah, so she has every right to be mad at me. I don't even know how we're gonna work together without clashing of some sort."

"Poor Asuka-chan," Vanilla muttered. "She's usually so happy, I never knew..."

"She wears that smile on her face to hide her pain," Chocolat said.

"Celeste was always cheerful back then," said Maize. "Yuca and I actually met her and Johnny when they were training at a bakery."

"Why do you call her 'Celeste'?" Kashino asked.

"Celeste was the name Asuka used in America," Johnny explained. "It was her middle name and her mom's name as well."

Hanabusa-kun stood and started to walk up the stairs to the upper level. Cafe called out to his partner, but he didn't seem to hear him.

~xXx~

I don't know why all the trees change in the Fall, but I know you're not scared of anything at all. Don't know if Snow White's house is near or far away but I know I had the best day with you today.

The song rang through Asuka's head as she looked across the Garden. It was really beautiful at night, the rows and rows of shops faded in the distance, the clock tower stood tall, looking like it was about to touch the sky and the sky itself was clear, the moon making it more radiant. The fact that it was late Spring made it even more comforting.

A sudden tap on her shoulder made her heart drop. Her instincts took in and her fist came in contact with whoever it was. She heard a faint grunt through the music. She turned around and her hands flew up to her mouth. "Oh... My God!"

Apparently, her blow was hard enough to make Hanabusa-kun fall off his feet. Asuka slid off her headphones and knelt down next to him. "Satsuki! Are you...?"

Hanabusa-kun had his hand on his cheek. "It's okay," he said with a small laugh. "That wasn't the first time I was hit by a girl."

"Huh?"

"Well, actually, I was slapped not punched- "

"I know, I know," Asuka cried. "God I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

"No, it's alright."

"No it's not!" Asuka reached in her pocket for her handkerchief. She damped it with the rest of her water and removed Hanabusa-kun's hand to place it against his swollen cheek. "Here."

They made eye contact for a second, but Asuka felt a chill go down her spine and her heart beat even faster. She tore her dark brown eyes away from his green ones and tried to look at something other than him.

"I'm sorry," she said again. "I was just surprised that's all, my instincts took over."

"It's fine," he said. "But I have to admit though, you're pretty strong."

Asuka blushed, "Yeah. Back in America, my dad taught me self-defense. You know, in case for certain situations."

"How old were you when he died?" He asked.

After letting out a breath, she said, "I was 15. And my mom died of cancer when I was about 5."

Even though he knew she wasn't looking, Hanabusa-kun gave her a sad face. "My father died before I enrolled in St. Marie."

That caught Asuka's attention and she looked back at him. "What?"

"He was on his way to the airport from a business trip in Paris and, like your dad, he died in a car accident."

"...I'm sorry."

He shook his head. "Don't be. You understand, so I don't have to share the pain alone."

"How about your mother?"

"She's still alive. She's back in Japan though."

"I'm jealous," she laughed.

"But isn't Johnny like a brother to you? At least, that's what he said."

Asuka sighed. "He told you didn't he? But yeah, he's like a brother to me. Being an only child and all, he was the only playmate I had," she smiled back at the memory. "I love my big brother, but I just can't forgive him for leaving me, especially without telling me."

Her hand slid away from his face, which was still red but it wasn't swollen. She stood and held out a hand to help him up.

"He probably didn't want to hurt you, that's all."

Asuka walked over to the railing and leaned on her hands against it. "Maybe, I guess. But in a serious situation like my dad passing away, Johnny is the only one who can comfort me. But, he never did."

Hanabusa-kun came up and laid his hand against hers. "I don't know what it was like for you back then," he said to her. "But what I do know now is that Johnny is not the only one you can rely on now. There's me, Ichigo-chan, Kashino, maybe Koshiro-san and even the Sweets Spirits. You have more friends you can trust and talk to."

Asuka looked up at him as he smiled at her. He was right, it's like Ichigo said this morning. You're not alone. She smiled back at him, not one of those smiles she didn't need to use to hide her pain, a real smile. Because now, her pain was gone.

"Thank you Satsuki."

Wow, that chapter was LONG! But it was fun writing! Especially the ending!

I hope you come again for the next chapter! Review if you can!

-Aoi