Chapter 8: The Customers Always Wrong

The morning sun was rising over Tokyo which meant the opening of Café Mew Mew. The sun's temperature blazing across the town. A fat brown striped cat fumbled around sniffing at the hedges, it occupied it's time by staring at a leaf gently blowing on a twig, the cat batted a heavy paw at the twig and watched lazily as the leaf tore away from the twig and fell to the concrete floor due to the lack of wind. Its owner watched from a bench in the park a few meters away and chuckled dryly.

Zoey was currently carrying the open sign for the cafe outside. A gleam of sweat shining on her forehead. She reached Bridget who was already sweeping near the bright green hedge.

"Morning Zoey!"

"Hnnn..." She grumbled in response.

"Are you okay?" Bridget asked, pausing sweeping and holding the broom in her hand. Her glasses were nearly falling off her nose so she pushed them upwards. She looked at Zoey awaiting her response.

"Yes...just ahh" She let out a breath as she finally placed the heavy sign in place. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with one of her arms. "Phew! Yes I'm okay, I'm sorry Bridget it's just so darn hot today!"

The sun reflected on Bridget's glasses so Zoey couldn't see what her facial response was.

"Where's Sakura?"

"Huh? Oh." The pair started to walk back inside the cafe, Zoey picking her clothes so that air could pass through them. "She's probably getting pampered with ice-cream with Kiki..."

"Eh!" Bridget started getting panic-bubbles in her hair. "B-b-but she'll through up!-She won't eat her breakfast-She'll be sick!"

Zoey just gave a long moan. "I knooooow!~ But I guess I can let her have fun once in a while...anyways baby's feel the heat twice as stronger as we do so she must be baking!" Zoey reached a hand out to twist the door handle and giggled at Bridget's vision of Sakura in an oven. "Oh hey I'll be taking a shower before I get into my maids uniform so be sure to tell Elliot not to come barging in without knocking!" She gave a wink to the green-haired girl. Everyone knew by now about Elliot's relationship with Bridget.

"Ha, if we all recall Zoey it was you who barged in his room twice!"

"Jealous I saw him shirtless?" Zoey laughed as Bridget started blushing.

"That girl!.." She heard a loud lazy meow. "Oh hello! Are you one of Zoey's friends? We're sorry but unless it's urgent could you wait until after we close?" Bridged gently petted the fat cat and flipped the mini open/close sign the right way hanging on the door and started work.

+A Little While Later.+

The girls were currently finishing off a tub if ice-cream Wesley brought for their lunch break. Elliot was in charge of Sakura who had, confirming Bridget's theory, been sick. Luckily Elliot had a spare t-shirt he hadn't thrown in the wash. Sakura was currently dressed in booties that looked like strawberries and a sky blue pastel dress with lemons around the trim, near the bodice there was extra dangling material shaped into cherries, which of course Sakura tried to chew in her mouth. She stopped after a while when she realised that stitching didn't taste as good as the real thing.

"Mmmmn this is good karma from yesterday Elli!" Zoey put a spoon-full of vanilla ice-cream and let it melt in her mouth.

Elliot frowned but still kept wiping the baby's mouth with a wet wipe. "Karma? From what I may ask?"

Kiki spoke up, some cream already drying up near the corner of her mouth. "You made fun of Jaden yesterday!"

Elliot opened his mouth to say something when Sakura started pouting at their comment. "Ah-no-no! No don't cry! Don't cry dammit!"

"Pick her up." Renné coldly started. Herself and Corina were the only ones who didn't eat any ice-creams, Renné settled for an ice-tea again instead. Elliot did what was advised and started baby-talking to Sakura.

"Ahh by the way sorry about the other day Zoey, we wouldn't have said those things if you told us from the start!"

Zoey let out a dry chuckle. "Well I did tell you that Jaden was definitely not my boyfriend!" She shuddered from the thought. "Eww! I mean I love him sure, but not like that! Ugh!"

Corina looked up from the book she was reading. A cup of jasmine tea by her side. "Well you have to admit you did have us going there!" Earlier Zoey had confirmed her relationship to Jaden and Jesse and mentioned that the answer to all this confusion was written behind the photo of them holding Sakura. Zoey gasped. "Corina how can you stand to have tea on a day like this!"

"A tight schedule is noble for a lady..."

Zoey mumbled to stay out of Sakura's earshot. "More like tight-ass..."

"Speaking of which..." Wesley spoke up, tying his long pony tail tighter and taking the baby from Elliot's arms. "When is this young fellow due to arrive? Should we put some snacks out?"

Zoey leaned back in her chair, her silver spoon dangling in her mouth as she bent her neck to look at Wesley. He caught the back of the chair with his knee and frowned at Zoey who was upside down. "You'll fall off your chair if you lean back to far."

She ignored his comment but replied to the question. "Hmm let's see...he sent me a text yesterday saying he would be around 14 hours...so now that it's lunch he should be on the train to Tokyo now?" He nodded.

"Eh? Why are you so happy?"

"Huh? Oh I'm just glad that were making so much profit from the ice-cream sales today!"

The girls paused for a moment before bursting into laughter. If they had been paying attention to the time or Wesley's face they would have noticed his anger mark on his forehead.

"And the fact that I'm docking all you girls pays for being 10 minutes late!"

" Ahh  Wesley!" "You shouldn't have kept us talking!" "Yeah it's your own fault!" "For 10 minutes you demon!"

Elliot chuckled at the girls all talking at the same time and watched them scuttle out back to work.

The sky was fiery red with shades of amber and purple by the time the last few customers left the cafe. It had been a long and busy day, many teenagers ordered slushies' and ice-cream and plenty of families visited the cafe for a refreshing drink and snack in the shade away from the sun. The building had a generally good air conditioner so it wasn't humid with people's body-heat during rush-hours. Kiki was picking up the last few plates, Renné mopping up any spills, Bridget sweeping a broken glass leaving Corina and Zoey wiping down the tables. Elliot and Wesley were busy totalling up a few things behind the till and ordering new ingredients for the upcoming week. Most of the noise was coming from Corina and Zoey bickering about whom did the most work around the cafe, Corina insisting that tea-tasting was vital and took time and effort. The front door opened and closed ringing the tiny bell on top of the door. Bridget being closest turned around.

"Sorry Sir but the cafe is shu-oh!"

The 'customer' winked at her and leaned on a table in the middle of the room, his jacket slightly dusty with sandy dirt and his heaving backpack thudded on the table top. Renné and Kiki turned at the sound and froze when they saw who had entered.

"Oh girls give it a rest or I'll get Wesley to dock your pay for the whole day!" Elliot finished off writing an order in a notebook and placed the red cafe phone down by the till. Wesley had started to turn off the lights in the kitchen and lock up; he glanced at the new arrival and greeted him with a smile and a nod. Elliot was confused at first but after a nudge from Wesley he put two and two together.

"You're a slave driver Elli! A slave driver! Why don't you get little-miss-princess to lift her bony finger for once!?"

"I prefer the title of queen but I thank you for the compliment chubby-cheeks."

"Grr!"

A sarcastically loud cough broke the fight. Corina turned around to see their new visitor, it was a young man with two toned spikey hair, dust covered trainers, white (now grey) jeans, a black t-shirt that was now sticking to his body from the long journey and a red jacket resembling the Slifer Dorms at Duel Academy, she smirked and looked at Zoey who was still glaring at her.

Zoey blinked in confusion at Corina and started to wonder why she wasn't fighting back. A cold snap of air blew down her neck and she started hitting at air behind her after screeching. The man moonwalked out of reach as Zoey's fist punched through the air. Zoey froze but then grinned like a cat with milk and pounced onto him.

"Jaden! I thought you'd be here early tomorrow! What are you doing here?"

He laughed heartily and spun her around whilst she still held onto him. "Ahh you know me, I'm always on time!"

Jaden stopped spinning the both of them and let Zoey down, as he did she flicked his forehead gently. "Ow what was that for?"

"Jesse made sure you left early right? Am I right?"

He stroked his cheek with one finger. "Ahhhh...maybe...maybe not?" Zoey pouted and Jaden took the opportunity to squeeze Zoey's cheeks.

"Waaaa!~"

"Chubby-cheeks!"

"Ahhhhh!~ Jaden stooooop!~"

Jaden chuckled and stopped. Zoey started greeting him to everybody and Jaden shook hands with all of them apart from one. When he got to Elliot he just stuck his tongue out. The blonde boy raised his eyebrow and Jaden explained by loudly whispering, 'slave driver'.

Elliot was shocked. "Zoey what lies have you been telling him!"

Everyone started laughing.

"Ahh I'm starting to like you already Jaden!"

"Thanks uhh...Renné was it?"

"Zoey where's?.."

Jaden had sparkles in his eyes. He wanted to see Sakura for the first time. Zoey led him to a booth. "Ahh! What's this cat doing here?"

"Hey! Zoey saw this cat outside in the morning!"

"Well what it doing inside! Wait...in the morning?"

Jaden crossed his arms. "Pharaoh don't put your tail near her mouth!"

The group behind them were left in confusion. Jaden absent-mindedly responded that the cat had stowed away in his back-pack. He was too occupied with the sleepy baby on the booth's seat. "Ah, how long has she been asleep? Can I wake her?" He knelt down and gently placed his hand on the baby's bright pink blanket, enjoying its softness. He slowly raised his hand over her hair but didn't make contact at the last few millimetres to wake her up. Jaden settled for watching her sleep cutely.

Zoey smiled and said that if the baby wasn't awake by the end of their shift she usually woke up by the time she got home.

"Hmmm." Jaden childishly pouted. "I want to wake her up."

"Ehhhh babies need sleep."

"I haven't slept in 20 hours!"

"Huh?"

Jaden stood up.

"Jesse threw me on a boat, then I had to dock the boat at Domino, I had to get on the earliest train to Tokyo and nearly missed the bus into town, then I had to take the subway to your house and walk all the way here!" Jaden pouted and threw his hands in the air.

Zoey giggled. "Aww poor baby!" They went in for a hug which Jaden accepted. "Yuck, you smell Jaden!"

"I smell better than you!"

"No really are you sweating?"

"I nearly missed the bus as I said! Sorry for the public transport!"

Zoey grazed her hand across Jaden's face. "You have stubble."

Jaden felt his own cheeks. "Aww man...meh I can get away with it for a few days."

"Fine, but shave within the week or you'll look like a drunken hobo!" She stuck her tongue out at him which he copied back. After a few seconds Jaden put his hand on her forehead.

"Are you ill?"

"No?"

"Your cheeks are red." He placed his hands back to his sides.

"Must be from when you called me chubby!" She stuck her tongue out again. "Oh wait Jaden who's Pharaoh?"

Jaden picked up the cat and plopped him onto Kiki's arms who started muttering 'kitty-kitty' too. "My old teacher's pet cat. He still belongs to the Academy I guess though."

Zoey punched his arm playfully. "Stealing school supplies now eh?!"

He rubbed his arm in response. "Man Zo, I'm really tired and my body already hurts..." Jaden started moaning and leant on the table top. He rubbed his eyes and face and whisked his fingers through his now damply-matted hair and stretched his arms above his head, making a popping sound. "Uhhh man will I be glad when we get home...Eh Zo, you forgot to lock up this morning."

Bridget who had been patting Pharaoh looked at Jaden confusingly. "I opened up today and the place was secure?"

Jaden blinked. "Ah, no I meant our place!" He said looking at Zoey.

"What? How did you know?"

Jaden reached into his pocket and fished out a set of house keys. He threw them to Zoey who caught them.

"That's the spare set from under the flower pot. I started cleaning the house."

"Ehhhh?"

"I got here earlier than I expected but I knew you would be working and I shouldn't bother you, I don't know when your break is so I just spent the day cleaning your mess!"

"You could have taken a nap?"

"On piles of clothes?" Jaden laughed. "I couldn't even make it to the kitchen without tripping! I thought I'd clean up a little then take a short nap but it was coming up to the time you come off work so I thought I'd might as well make my way down here."

"So you carried your bag as well?"

"Zoooooey! I don't think of these things!" Jaden turned away from the group and face planted the table he was leaning on. Zoey started grabbing him in a headlock and ruffling his hair. The group started laughing, the noise started to wake Sakura up.

Sakura had a thin pink cardigan on with white trimmings above her previous dress as it had gotten colder during the afternoon. She started to sit up and rub her eyes. Her hair being in her usual two spikey giraffe stubs were tied with two bright red plastic balls with the band being green. Jaden noticed that it was the same hair tie he had sent her in the mail from Duel Academy. A cheap gift, but it's the thought that counts.

Jaden looked up and started jumping on the spot like a child. Elliot mumbled how this guy could be a teenager whilst Renné smacked him across the head. Wesley started to whisper to Zoey.

"Looks like he isn't tired anymore?" She giggled in response. Jaden stopped jumping as Sakura opened her mouth to cry, she stopped and looked in confusion at the man who was looking at her. Sakura looked to Zoey for help and back at Jaden and started to cry.

Jaden had a guilty look on his face. "No-no baby, hey-hey...shhh...shhh, look it's me!" She quietened down and stared at him. "Do you remember me? It's Jaden! Hello cutesy!"

She kept on staring at him. Jaden looked around for the kitty-bear plushie he had heard about and held the toy gently in front of her she started smiling and cooing. Jaden started clapping making her laugh. "Yay!" He lifted Sakura and started kissing her all over her face, she started dribbling onto his shirt, not that he minded, and he would have had to wash anyway. He closed his eyes and smelled her hair. He opened one eye and looked at Zoey, swaying gently and rocking Sakura against his torso. "You've been using cherry shampoo on her?"

Zoey raised her hands in a giving up motion. "Hey what's a girl too do?"

Sakura raised her head from the crook of Jaden's neck and grabbed a fistful of his chin closer to her. Jaden groaned in pain but stopped as he realised what she was trying to do. Most of the girls started to go 'Aww'. Jaden wiped the drool from Sakura's 'kiss'. "Huh, love you too..." Jaden coughed awkwardly and handed her the toy to occupy herself with.

"Alright, enough of this mushy goo. Zoey get dressed and let's go home already!"

Zoey and the gang agreed and started heading to the lockers to get dressed in casual clothes.

"Oh Bridget could you put Pharaoh in my bag before you go?"

"Sure no problem." She went to carry the cat one-handed before realising that Pharaoh was quite heavy, and bent down to pick him up. Once he was in he meowed loudly. Jaden swayed himself and Sakura closer to Pharaoh after picking up her blanket. "Look kitty, kitty." Jaden started to pat the pet but Sakura was more occupied with someone more furry floating behind Jaden's head.

Wooooo..

Of course Jaden didn't realise since he was being more entertained by Pharaoh than Sakura! Zoey came back in a white top with fancy lace pattern and lime jeans, she wore dark blue jelly shoes, and today she carried a purple sports bag with Sakura's things in. Jaden awkwardly hugged Zoey with one hand and kissed her cheek. She took the blanket from Jaden and zipped it into the bag. They both waved to the group as everyone started to make their way home, Zoey twirling the house keys in her hand. (She had the original set in her pocket.) Pharaoh had his head poking out of Jaden's bag.

"Hey you sure you don't want me to carry it? Or I can carry her if you want?"

"No it's fine, anyway, Pharaoh is heavier than he looks! Ha-ha!"

They avoided walking through the park this late at night and just went the quickest way home via the bridge. The only noise came from their cold breaths and the night traffic.

"Hmmm Jaden?" He looked at her. "How's Jesse?"

He frowned. "Still annoying. Next question."

"Ha, okay...hmm..." She linked her arms behind her back calmly. Jaden started explaining star constellations to Sakura who was falling asleep at his voice yet tried to raise her head to look up at the stars. "...What about your friends? Do you miss them yet?"

Jaden stopped walking, it took a few steps before she realised as she was staring at the street below. "Yeah...sure. It's just been a long day. I was meant to call when I got here but I forgot." He sighed. A cloud of frost coming out of his breath. "I'll do it tomorrow-man I forgot how cold it quickly gets!"

Zoey laughed. "It's been a heat wave!" Jaden groaned and she smirked. A plan coming to mind. "Oh hey Jaden?" She innocently asked. "How's your fiancé?"

Jaden made a choking sound and blushed. "He told you!" Zoey started laughing and jogging home, leaving poor Jaden to do the best speed-walk he could back home all with an obese cat, a heavy backpack and a screaming child.

"Geez where's my welcome home Jaden party?" He grumbled.

Wooooo.

"Oh hush Kuriboh! It's not funny!"

A few minutes later Jaden reached the apartment complex. The lights were off but he thought nothing of it. He relied on the moonlight to give him the way.

Kuri~

"What do you mean watch out?"

Jaden tried calling for the lift. Unfortunately for him it wasn't working. He looked up at the several flights of stairs.

"Oh you have got to be freaking kidding me..."

Kuriboh appeared in front of his face. "Don't even think about it." Jaden mentioned. Knowing he would have a snide remark ready. Kuriboh winked and dematerialised.

Around 10 minutes later when he reached the front door. He noticed Zoey had not turned on any of the lights. Instead she stood in the middle of the room with a torch.

"Oh Jaden I was so worried!"

"What happened?"

"Power-cut, thankfully it happened at a time when we don't need the Wi-Fi or TV!"

He smiled. "Always look on the bright side!"

"Jaden! Stop making bad puns!"

"...What's a pun?"

She sighed. "It's too dangerous to take a shower now, let's just get some sleep." She turned around and head Jaden shuffle about, muttering about how much weight he must have lost today and how that Sakura started to doze off again. Zoey made her way to the bathroom to brush her teeth after locking up and realised she hadn't made Jaden's bed. She quickly took her ribbons out of her hair and placed them on the counter. She heard the sound of snoring and followed it to her room. There in the dark she could make out the collapsed figure of Jaden and Sakura on her bed, Jaden having taken his jacket and trainers off. She shone the torch to see that he left his bag near the bed. She went into the bathroom again to change into her pink pyjama suit and laid on the bed, making sure to cover her other two occupants with the duvet. She turned the torch off and left it on the bed stand, and rolled over. She smiled at the sight. Jaden moved his arm above his head and rested it above his brow; he started to snore a little louder, Sakura, even in her sleep did the same movement but snored a little lighter. Zoey snuggled into her pillow and let out a content sigh.

"How genetics work..."