Chapter Sixteen: Doubt Puppet:

Takeru stared off into space. What are we doing with our lives? He and Hiroji came to a Coffee shop called Alice�s. He couldn�t help but notice the women staring at them.

�Uh� Hiroji,� Takeru whispered.

�What?� the other �girl� asked.

�Why do they keep staring at us?� He cautiously nodded his head toward the women.

�It�s all in your head,� �Sylvia� brushed off without looking up.

�No, they really are,� �Ruriko� whispered.

�It�s probably nothing.�

�But�� Takeru nudged Hiroji with his elbow.

�Look,� Hiroji hissed. �It�s okay. We fit in and so far, we have no problems! Now, chill!�

Ruriko lowered her eyes to the table.

�Alright,� he said.

�Good.� A waitress appeared at their table.

�Hi, here are your orders,� she said cheerily. The kitty girl set down a tray of cookies.

�Whoa,� Sylvia said. �We didn�t order this.�
�Oh, it�s fine,� the waitress said. �These are on the house.� Sylvia raised an eyebrow at her.

�Really?�

�Absolutely! New girls always get cookies in our shop. Plus, they�re fresh and yummy too.� Sylvia smiled at what she heard.

�Thank you, you are so kind.� The waitress smiled and winked before walking away. Hiroji waited until she was truly gone.

�Try one,� he told Takeru. The other hunter gave him an odd look.

�What? Why me?� he asked.

�Do it,� Hiroji whispered. �Take the cookie.� Takeru rolled his eyes.

�Fine,� he mumbled. Ruriko picked up a cookie and took a bite while his partner eyed him.

�Well?� Takeru grinned at the other hunter.

�These are good,� he said. Hiroji�s eyes squinted.

�Huh?� he asked.

�Yep.�

�And it�s not poisoned?� Hiroji asked.

�Nope. I taste cinnamon.�

�Is that so?� Sylvia picked up a cookie and took a bite.

�Mmm,� he said. �You�re right, these are good.� Takeru smiled and nodded. He looked down at the map on the table.

�Find anything yet?� he asked. Hiroji traced his eyes down the red-marked path.

�Oh, yes,� he said, pointing to the stars drawn on the map. �I marked off the points of entry. There are three in the west and one in the south. One of them in the west is hidden in vines, and the one in the south is heavily guarded.� Hiroji looked up at his fellow hunter.

�What about you?� Takeru took out his notepad.

�Five in the north and three in the east,� he read.

�Good.�

�So when do we tell the others?� Ruriko whispered.

�Soon,� Hiroji said. �I will send the flare in twelve hours.�

�So, what do we do until then?� Takeru asked. Hiroji shrugged his shoulders.

�Keep observing,� he said. Through he didn�t show it, Takeru felt rather uneasy about this whole thing, again. But instead of bringing that up, he smiled and nodded.

�Alright.� In the kitchen, the waitress put on a hidden headpiece.

�Yes, the hunters are here,� she whispered in her microphone. �It�s just those two, but they have a marked map on their table. I think they are plotting to invade the city. What do I do now?� The cook watched the waitress from the stove as she cooled caramel in a big pot for the little cakes on the counter. The kitty girl nodded on her headset.

�I understand,� she said. �Bye.� The waitress turned off her headset.

�Gina!� the cook shouted. �Take the muffins out to the front.�

�Yes!� the waitress said. She hurried over to get the tray. The cook gave her a mischievous smile.

�You know,� she whispered. �We could use the one in the yellow dress to prevent this invasion.� The waitress smiled with a gleam in her eye.

�I�ll see what I can do,� she said in a flirty voice.

Back at table eight, Takeru took a sip of his coffee.