Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Parsee stood at the bar as she cleaned yet another glass.

'Mmmm... Such a good day... Well, if you think about it.'

Parsee sighed as she looked around, 'No-one here...' She thought as she moved to another part of the cafe.

See, Parsee had made a cafe after eating at Mystia's Izakaya a few times. It was better than just sitting by a bridge all day everyday.

Well...

The cafe was not far from the bridge - So, she could keep an eye on it.

Green eyes scanned the horizen. Nope. No sign of anyone. Not even Koishi.

Parsee's heart skipped a beat for a moment. Koishi Komeiji...

'Now that's a nutjob I can't be with... Stupid gods and the bridge princess thing...'

The wind in the area flowed nicely, for a change.

Everything was as 'normal' as it was going to get down here. Parsee sighed again as she meandered towards one corner of the cafe where Chen had come to visit her. Chen was on a stool in her cat form.

'Lucky.' Parsee shook her head and slowly put a saucer of milk in front of Chen. "Here."

Chen looked up at her and smiled. Well, it seemed like a smile at any rate.

"Thanks!"

Parsee felt a slight smile tug on her face.

"No problem. Just... Don't make a mess."

Chen giggled and meowed lightly. "Okay!"

Parsee nodded and headed to another part of the cafe, specifically? The Kitchen.

Parsee shook herself down and wiped her hands on her apron as she pushed the door open. Inside, she heard giggling... Wait... Giggling?

Parsee blinked as she walked in; spotting Koishi standing at the sink - Washing cups and plates... And...

And stacking them on top of each other in a weird jig-saw.

Parsee sighed. "Koishi." She stated, "What... Are you doing?"

Koishi looked to Parsee and smiled. "Hey Parsnip, I'm just doing the washing up..."

"And playing jigsaw?"

Koishi nodded with a gleeful look on her face, "Yep!"

Parsee sighed again. "Just don't, break, anything. We're open, remember?"

Koishi nodded, "I know! I know! Don't remind me." She stuck her tongue out at Parsee who chuckled.

Parsee rolled her eyes and headed back to the main section of the cafe. Spotting Satori already on the till, working away.

Parsee had a genuine smile for a moment before it faded away. "Had any customers?" She walked towards Satori.

Satori blinked and looked up, "Only Marisa came by... She said she'll bring someone with her next time."

"What did she buy?"

"A few drinks; even one of the Mizuhashi Special."

"Really?"

"Mhm"

"That's cool." Parsee stated as she shook herself down a little and went to where Chen was, she had only just finished the milk in the saucer. "Hello Parsee!"

Parsee nodded, "Hey Chen, did you enjoy the milk?"

"Mhm!"

"That's good. Did you pay already?"

"Mhm!"

Parsee nodded. "That's good then, Chen. Make sure you take your time before you go. We're open until Sunset."

"Got'cha."

Parsee leaned down and picked up the saucer before returning to the kitchen/cleaning area.

Koishi had moved all the cups and plates away from the jigsaw and back into their respective places.

Parsee couldn't help but feel motivated, so she washed up the saucer and her hands, before returning to the front of the cafe.

Cafe...

Mizuhashi.

Today was going good. She wondered who the next guest would be.

Chapter Text

The following few hours were... Quiet.

Right up until there was a loud smashing noise in the kitchen, followed by: "... Oops. Ummm, Parsee!"

Parsee groaned as she turned around, mere moments before Koishi headbutted her. "Oww!" Parsee yelped as Koishi was... Panicking.

"Oh no! Are you alright? Well, you're not alright because I headbutted you and because of that I-"

"Koishi! Shut up! What broke in the kitchen?" Parsee managed to get out, even as she was cradling her head, "Your head hurts..."

"I dunno! Someone came in and made me jump!"

Parsee frowned and readjusted her eyebrows a few times in concerntration. "Someone made YOU jump?" Parsee repeated.

"Uh-huh! Uh-huh! Uh-huh!" Koishi nodded rapidly.

Parsee sighed and walked past Koishi after patting her on her head. Wait... Where was her hat?

"Where's your hat, Koishi?"

Koishi blinked and patted herself on the head. "... I dunno!"

Parsee groaned and headed into the kitchen.

Weirdly... Nothing was broken. More to the point; nothing was smashed.

But there WAS a new person here.

Sakuya Izayoi.

Parsee rose an eyebrow and smirked. "Did you repair things with your time magic?"

Sakura nodded. "It is as you surmise, yes."

Parsee went back to normal and nodded. "That's good. And a relief too. Wait... Where's Koishi's-" She looked to the counter where Koishi's hat sat... Unmoved.

"-Hat."

Koishi appeared moments later and picked up her hat, putting it on her head. "Mm!" She nodded, "Hat-san is back on my head! Wait... That sounds wrong..."

Parsee chuckled and rubbed her head before returning to the front of the café, looking around and then noticing that Yuugi (her former drinking partner) was coming in.

Parsee smiled as she walked to Yuugi, who stood at the sign that said; "Please wait here to be seated."

"Yo! Parsee!" Yuugi waved at her as she arrived in front of her, "Nice... Your café looks good!"

Parsee blushed and nodded. "Mhm. Now, what can I get you?"

Yuugi grinned and sat down at a nearby table, "Get me a drink-"

"-We don't serve alcohol yet... Gods orders."

"-Damn. Alright, well, how about this Mizuhashi-special you seem to have here?" She pointed at the menu and Parsee nodded, "Any food?"

Yuugi nodded, "Mhm! Get me... Uhhhhh..."

Parsee grinned, "Let me guess... An oni like you would like... Steak?"

"Is that a big slab of meat, basically?"

"Mhm."

"Then yes! Steak!"

"One 'well-done' steak and Mizuhashi-special coming right up!" Parsee smiled as she practically skipped to the kitchen.

Satori had a sneaky smirk on her face as Parsee walked past her. 'She certainly does like you, Parsee.' Satori thought before playing down any further thoughts, just in case Koishi was nearby. Koishi could read Satori's face like a book, so it was best not to let anything happen too drastically.

A few hours went by and Yuugi was 'fed and watered' as the phrase goes.

Yuugi paid and left almost as fast as she had come. Praising Parsee on a good establishment.

Eventually, it was night time so the café closed.

Parsee walked to the bridge she was supposed to guard and nothing happened on it. Absolutely nothing. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

Right up until...

"PARSEE!"

Parsee jumped out of her skin as she turned to the entrance of the bridge (and consequently the underworld), noticing Orin walking towards her with Utsuho, hand-in-hand.

'That's a little too much...'

"Is the café closed?"

Parsee nodded. "Mhm, we open at six in the morning, tomorrow"

"Awww!~" Utsuho whined only for Orin to pat her on the head, "It's okay." She told Utsuho, "We can always come back when its open."

Parsee smiled. "I guess words getting around about my café then?"

"Yeah!" Orin turned to Parsee, "I hear even Remilia's gonna stop by somepoint tomorrow!"

"And because its the underworld, she doesn't have to worry about Sunlight burning her skin!" Utsuho chimmed in with a grin.

Parsee nodded. "Okay, I'll get some supplies before we open tomorrow then."

"Right you are, now Orin, remember you said you would come for a flight?"

Orin paled and Parsee chuckled. "Scared of heights, kitty?"

Utsuho lifted Orin up and she yelped. "Ack! Put me down! PUT ME DOWN!"

Utsuho chuckled and put Orin on her back as she took off, being careful of Parsee; and ending up flying at a peaceful pace away from the area.

Parsee shook her head with a grin, "Maybe one day the Gods'll give me a break from bridge protecting... I could go for a break." Her grin disappeared as she sighed. "Nevermind."

What Parsee didn't know, was there would be a visitor when they were open, who would give her a potential "opening" for a break...

And her name?

Flandre Scarlet.

Chapter Text

Parsee made her way to the "supplies shop" and got her entire stock and then some, because vampires could be quite hungry (according to their maid) and end up using quite a bit of stuff.

Parsee whistled a merry tune as she got to her café, opening the door and carrying her supplies into the establishment itself.

Time currently? 05:45-AM.

Parsee smiled as she stopped whistling and got all supplies into their relevant areas.

Knock, Knock.

Parsee's smile disappeared as she looked up, Satori and Koishi were standing there - Waiting to come in, presumably.

Waving them in, Parsee began to count the chairs and tables.

Satori walked in and brushed down her seat before sitting in front of the till.

Koishi, on the other hand, went straight for the kitchen - Putting her hat down on the long desk in front of the till. Satori picked up the hat and placed it on her lap. She didn't want Koishi to be told off. Not today.

"So, I hear Lady Remilia's coming today?"

Parsee nodded, "Mhm, I heard that as well - Well, I hope she doesn't cause too much trouble." She sighed and went back to counting chairs and tables - When she was satisfied, she looked at the clock:

Time currently? 06:00-AM.

'That was fast...' Parsee thought.

Parsee went to the door and switched the sign from 'Closed' to 'OPEN', patting herself down and turning around - Heading into the café and getting ready for the first customers to come in.

Eventually, several Youkai and some fairies came in. Some of the fairies looked like they had come for a morning "refresh" before their morning shift at the SDM.

Parsee went about getting the orders and such, Satori was continously doing till work and Koishi... Well... She was doing "Koishi things" in the kitchen. Mostly, washing up and playing with the bubbles. She likes bubbles.

Parsee chuckled and then went back into the main section of the café, spotting Utsuho and Rin appear and walk into the establishment. They stood by the "wait here to be seated" sign that Parsee had set up when she had initially researched café's.

Parsee took out her pad and pen, walking over to them. "Hey there girls. Table for two?"

Rin nudged Utsuho who nodded. Parsee nodded and looked around, "Mmmm... Let's see... How about a window seat?"

"Sounds great!"

Rin meowed lightly as the three walked over to said table. "What can I get for you two? A drink of water, first? Or, would you like something to eat first?"

Rin sat down and Utsuho sat across from her, looking up at Parsee. "Can I get a breakfast? And, what about you, Orin?"

Parsee nodded. "Good choice." She looked to Rin, "?"

Rin fidgeted for a moment before, "... A bit of Samon, please."

"Right you are! And drinks?"

Utsuho leaned slightly near Rin, "I'll have a water, I think Rin would like some milk."

"Full fat milk? Or just skinny milk?"

"Skinny milk?"

"Yeah." Parsee nodded again, "The other youkai call it that. It's basically half fat milk."

Rin had a hint of a grin before she nodded, "Okay! That's good!"

Parsee wrote down the orders and headed to the kitchen; whereas outside, approaching Café Mizuhashi was a certain Devil and her time-bending maid...

Chapter Text

Remilia Scarlet walked slowly towards the doors of Parsee's brand new café, nodding at Sakuya who opened the door for her.

"Thank you, Sakuya."

"You're most welcome, Mistress."

Parsee walked back into the main part of the establishment and spotted Remilia and Sakuya standing by the, "Wait here to be seated." Sign.

Parsee walked over and nodded. "Nice to see you both. Table for..."

"Three." Remilia stated as she looked to the door where there was a familiar face walking towards the bustling café. Someone with rainbow coloured wings...

Parsee was confused at first, but upon spotting the younger Scarlet heading their way, nodded and turned - Moving over to a place that seemed... VERY comfy. It had Leather Armchairs and all kinds of nice amenities. Suitable for the Scarlets one would think.

"Over here would be best, then."

Remilia cleared her throat and sat down after Sakuya patted the chair down. Hey, gotta be cautious and all that!

"Thank you Sakuya. Okay, for me:- A Tea and... Hmm... Maybe a slice of this... 'Carrot Cake'?"

"Very good. And you, Miss Izayoi?" Parsee looked at Sakuya who smiled at her, "Just a cup of tea will be nice."

"Right, Right." Parsee wrote it down and turned, narrowly dodging Flandre Scarlet's rainbow wings as she sat down across from her sister.

"How about you?"

Flandre picked up the menu then looked around, "Hmmm?" She then looked at the kitchen as a small smile appeared on her face. Wait... Smile!?

"I sense Koishi's in here. Can I get..."

Parsee looked at Remilia who waved dismissively at her, "I'll cover it."

Flandre then put the menu down, finally - After around 3 minutes. "A steak sandwich with some... Lemonade, please."

Parsee nodded and wrote it down, turning to the kitchen. "I'll get your orders ready. And, if you want to see Koishi, feel free. She's mostly playing with bubbles in there."

Flandre giggled while Remilia rolled her eyes.

Sakuya offered a slight reassuring smile to Parsee who walked towards the kitchen.

It took a grand total of 5 minutes; but the meal (For Flandre) and the cake with tea (For Remilia) came out well done. The Steak Sandwich was hot and the lemonade was ICE COLD. Flandre had to fan herself a little while drinking the lemonade. It had been THAT cold.

After paying, Remilia looked at Flandre who was ITCHING to get into the kitchen to see her best friend. "Flan, you can see Koishi, if it's okay with Miss Mizuhashi. It is her café, after all."

Flandre nodded her head and cleaned her face with a napkin before looking at Parsee, "Is that alright with you?"

Parsee nodded slowly. "... Don't be long, Lady Koishi is still on the clock."

Flandre hummed and tilted her head before walking to the kitchen.

Opening the door, Flandre saw Koishi was SURROUNDED by bubbles. SO. MANY. BUBBLES!!!!

Giggling, Flandre walked forwards and closed the door gently behind her.

"I see someone likes bubbles..."

Koishi looked up and over to Flandre and smiled even wider. "Hey! I was wondering when you'd be here!" She carved a path of bubbles out of the way of Flandre and patted a seat that had... Appeared out of no-where.

"Join me?"

Flandre nodded and walked over to Koishi, sitting next to her... Amongst all the bubbles. Flandre giggled again as she pushed one of the bubbles, gently, towards Koishi - It landed square on her nose.

As if by magic; Koishi went still, trying to keep the bubble on her face for as long as possible.

This was getting very good.

Although, outside; a certain Witch and her Shrine Maiden friend were making their way there...