Disclaimer: I really wish I owned Rurouni Kenshin, but I don't.

Time setting is during present time, another universe, with mainly KxK pairing. WARNING: Major oocness, especially for Kenshin. Hope you don't mind!^^

Cutie-chan

Forever

Chapter 1

Starting out

"Kaoru, get table number 12 for me, will you?" Tae asked as she was writing twenty orders down all at once. The Akebeko was filled with tons of people during noontime.

"Kay." Kaoru said, rushing towards table 12. "May I take your order?" She asked the couple that was sitting there, taking out a notepad and pen from her apron pockets.

"Yes, could I get, ummm…." The lady started searching the menu.

"How about miso soup, dear?" the man asked.

"No, we always eat that." The lady said, turning to the next page on the menu book.

"Ah, strawberry crepe." The man suggested.

"No dear, I'm allergic to strawberries." The lady said.

"Oh yes, that's right, I forgot!" the man exclaimed.

"Hmmm, let's see here…." The lady began, turning to the next page.

Kaoru squinted her eyes, trying hard not to roll them. She looked over to the side and saw Tae rushing from table to table, and then she looked back at the couples who were arguing over what to get.

"Eww, you like spinach?"

"You like almonds?"

"You like seafood?"

"Gross, duck!"

Kaoru pushed back a lock of raven hair behind her ear, which was up in a high ponytail, being held by a purple ribbon that matched her apron. Just as Kaoru was about to screw them off, the lady finally decided "How about Italian style lasagna?"

"Hmm, sounds good!" the man agreed.

"We'll get an Italian style lasagna please." The lady said, turning to Kaoru.

Kaoru quickly wrote it down. The lady handed Kaoru the menu and just as Kaoru had her fingertips against it, the lady exclaimed, "We didn't order anything to drink!" the lady quickly pulled back the menu and began searching again.

Kaoru felt a vain beginning to pop out of her head.

~ 5 minutes later ~

"We'll get orange juice and ice tea please." The lady finally said.

Kaoru scribbled it down madly. "Will that be all?" she asked.

The couple nodded their annoying heads.

"It will be $13.49," Kaoru said kindly to them. After collecting a hundred-dollar bill, and giving them back their change, she gave the order to Tae and went to the next table she had to attend to.

"May I take your order?" She asked. The person sitting there just kept staring at their menu, which was covering their whole face.

"Um… Excuse me sir?" She asked again.

No reply.

She pushed the menu down so she could see their face. "Are you even list-"

"Are you that impatient?" the man said angrily, glaring at her with cold, golden eyes. Kaoru took a step back. "I'm so sorry sir, I thought you didn't hear me." Kaoru apologized.

"I wouldn't be surprised with all the noise in here." The redhead began, lifting the menu back up to his face. "How is this place popular?" he murmured to himself.

"Well, if you don't like this place, then why are you here?" Kaoru asked impolitely, not liking the way he was talking about Tae's restaurant.

"Should you even be talking to your customers like that?" he asked back.

"All I see in front of me is an annoying redhead man, not a customer." She snapped back.

"What kind of a waitress are you?" he asked timidly.

Kaoru took deep breaths to calm herself. She put on a sweet smile and composed herself. "I'm so sorry for the way I was acting, sir. I've just haven't been having a good day." The man lifted an eyebrow at her. "Tell me about it, you just ruined my day." He said, then he began searching his menu again. Kaoru balled her hands into fists, taking deep breaths. 'I'd like to teach him a lesson.' She thought.

"Is there a time when this place is ever quite?" he asked, snapping Kaoru out of her thoughts.

"Yes there is, sir. At around seven p.m. this place is half full, and we light this place with candle lights." She answered politely. "There is also music being performed." Her eyes saddened at that thought.

The man suddenly stood, and Kaoru quickly stepped out of his way as he got out of the booth. "All right then, I'll be back here at seven." He said to her. Kaoru just nodded her head.

He strode out swiftly as Kaoru was watching all of his movements. 'He's so….' She began to blush lightly at where her thoughts were taking her. She shook her head to get rid of them. 'He's annoying, that's what he is.' She thought. She looked back at where she had last saw him, mentally slapping herself in the head. 'Of all days to think about another man, mou!' she was suddenly slapped on the shoulder by an angry looking Tae. "What are you doing just standing there? We've got the place filled with customers, now come on!" Tae said, pulling Kaoru by the wrist.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"I'm leaving!" Kaoru yelled to Tae, who was in the kitchen.

"Why?" Tae asked.

"Because three o'clock is my lunch break!" Kaoru said merrily, taking her purse out from her locker.

"Oh, all right." Tae said, going back to her work.

Kaoru walked out of the restaurant, not even feeling a bit hungry. Especially since today was the day that… Kaoru's eyes began to water up as she stared at the ground, not watching where she was going, or knowing that she was about to walk in a busy street filled with cars going 80 miles per hour. Just as she was about to take another step, rough hands grabbed her by her shoulders, and yanked her back to their chest. Kaoru watched as a car zoomed pass them, screeching "WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"

"You should watch where you're going." said a familiar voice from behind her. Kaoru turned around to face her hero, who just had to be that redhead from the restaurant. "You!" she exclaimed.

"What? No thank you?" he mocked.

"Who'd want to thank a stuck up jerk like you?!" she snapped. The man narrowed his eyes at her. "I'd watch where you place that tongue of yours."

"Yeah, nowhere near you." Kaoru said, rolling her eyes at him. "Anyway, thanks for saving me." She said flatly.

"That sure doesn't sound like a thank you to me." He stated.

"You should consider yourself lucky to even get a thank you from me." She said, beginning to walk away. The man glared at her back, and headed the same direction she was heading.

Kaoru kept side glancing at the man who was behind her, feeling uneasiness about him following her. She turned around abruptly, "Why are you following me?" she demanded.

The man stopped in his tracks, and glared at her. "I'm not following you, I'm heading that direction." He said, pointing ahead.

Kaoru gave him a suspicious look before turning back around, and walking. The redhead began walking, too. The man suddenly turned, walking across the street. Kaoru unknowingly gave a sigh of relief, and began walking again. 'His eyes are so scary.' She thought.

Kaoru finally reached her destination and walked in.

"Welcome to Sagara's weapon shop, how may I help you?" asked a tall man with spiky brown hair and chocolate eyes, who was standing behind a counter.

"Ah, Sanoskue! How are you?" Kaoru asked, walking up to him.

"Jou-chan? Didn't recognize you at first. You know how bad my eyes are." Sano said, scratching the back of his head. "Why don't you get glasses?" Kaoru asked, leaning on the counter.

"Nah, that's too dorky."

"Contacts?"

"There's no way in hell I'm gonna stick something into my eye!" Sano yelled.

Kaoru just rolled her eyes at him. "You're too typical."

"Anyways, why you here jou-chan?" Sano asked.

"Enishi's birthday's coming up next week and I need to get him something he'd like." Kaoru said. "I'm gonna go check around." She said, walking off to go look around.

"Call me if you need anything!" Sano hollered to her.

"Kay!" Kaoru hollered back.

"Welcome to Sagara's weapon shop, how may I help you?" Kaoru heard Sano's voice speaking to a new customer. She continued walking, searching for something that looked interesting. 'Hmmm, a reverse-blade sword.' Kaoru thought, staring at the sword. She picked it up and pulled it out of its sheath, staring at reverse–blade in awe. 'Enishi wouldn't like this.' She then put the sword back into its sheath and gently put it down. She continued on her way, looking for swords that Enishi would like, but not finding one. She was about to holler for Sano for help, when something caught her eye. She went up to it, staring at it for a long time. It was a Chinese sword with a craving of a dragon on the sheath. 'It's perfect.' Kaoru thought. Just as her hands touched the sword, another hand touched the same sword that she touched. She quickly pulled her hand back, and turned to the person who had touched the sword.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't see you…." She began trailing off as she saw who it was.

TBC

PLEASE REVIEW! Cliffhanger! Did you like it? I did! What is the relationship between Kaoru and Enishi? Hee-hee, you'll find out soon! So many surprises coming up!

I've already written 3 chapters, and I'm posting one at a time. So check tomorrow for chapter 2! And the next day after that, check for chapter 3! I did it like this so I could give you guys a great summary, and think of a nice title, instead of having to change everything over and over!

PLEASE REVIEW!

Love ya lots,

Cutie-chan

^___^