Kaoru looked around the tea shop and watched each table for signs of trouble or anybody needing anything. She really needed this job and was determined to keep it. She had to make enough to pay her father's dojo's taxes and feed herself. After her father's death 4 months ago, she realized she would need a job, since he had only saved enough for her to live on for a few months. She only had a few dollars left to her name from what he saved and thanked the gods that Tae had given her a job. She had no experience and was a klutz. Tae simply smiled and told her she would do fine. She may even surprise herself and learn as she went. Kaoru saw tae approaching her and turned to her.
"Kaoru, can you watch the shop until I get back. I need to run and get some more tea herbs."
Kaoru was nervous now. She had not worked here very long and wasn't sure she was qualified enough to take care of it all by herself. She didn't want to disappoint tae though and nodded her head. Tae sensing her worry put a comforting hand on her arm.
"Kaoru you will do fine. You're doing well. It is not very busy so you can handle it all by yourself. I trust you. I shouldn't be very long, maybe 30 minutes."
Kaoru smiled a nervous smile and nodded. She watched tae walk out and braced herself. If she got through without customers getting mad, walking out or screaming she would be ok. She looked over and saw a couple leave and went to the table and began to clear it. She glanced up when she heard the door to the shop open and groaned in disgust. It was Gohei and his 3 friends. She hated they had to cater to Enishi's men and the worst of them was Gohei and his 3 friends. Enishi had so much power over the government and police that he and his men got away with everything. He was the one who demanded all the businesses and homeowners pay a tax to him for protection. From his own men no less. It hit her then that she would have to serve them since tae had left. Tae always served them because she had more experience and knew how to deal with them. Kaoru however had a temper and bit her tongue and had to force herself to fake a smile and be nice. She looked back down at the table she had been clearing, finished it, and took the dishes back to the kitchen. She could hear Gohei complaining already. She bit her tongue, put on a fake smile, and gathered herself. She walked up to the table and as kind as she could muster spoke.
"Welcome gentlemen. What would you like?"
Gohei gave her a sneer and looked at her lustfully. She wanted to smack him or puke; maybe both.
"I wondered when tae would stop hiding you from us. You're a pretty little thing. How about we go somewhere more private?"
Kaoru thought she was going to bite her tongue off at this rate. She wanted to tell him so bad to shove it and get a life.
"I am sorry I am busy working and I am not interested. Now what would you like from the menu."
Kaoru emphasized the last 3 words and hoped she would get the point across. Gohei gave her a look of annoyance and then spoke with a low angry tone.
"We will all take some unsweetened tea. We are tired of waiting so get your ass back there and get our tea."
Kaoru couldn't take much more and stalked off, hearing the snickers in the background. She wished tae was here, she was much better at keeping the peace with the annoying idiots. Seeing a customer walk in she didn't recognize Kaoru was curious. Approaching the strangers table to take his order she looked at him with curiosity.
"What would you like?"
The stranger opened his eyes and looked at her for a moment and spoke in a very low chilling voice.
"I would like some sweet green tea."
She nodded and headed to the kitchen to get the orders all ready. The sooner she filled the orders the sooner Gohei and his goons would leave.
"I should just put toilet water in their cups. I won't though because I need this job. Tae deserves to keep her good reputation."
Kaoru still smiled at the thought but finished getting the tray ready. Taking a breath to gather her nerves and put her tongue in cheek Kaoru got ready to face Gohei. She walked out and looked towards Gohei and his men. They weren't even watching for her. They were in deep conversation in a group among themselves. She didn't want to know about what. She just wanted them to leave.
"Here gentlemen, enjoy your tea."
She turned to walk away and felt arms pulling around her waist. Someone was pulling her down roughly. She screamed and felt her body hit hard against someone else. She saw the stranger's cup of tea go flying and break on the floor. She pinched her eyes shut because she knew who it was when a voice spoke in her ear.
"You're being rude. We want you to sit and enjoy our tea with us."
Kaoru struggled and he only tightened his grip. She didn't speak a word only continued to struggle.
"You better stop before I decide to take you and have my way with you. I love it when women struggle hahaha."
Kaoru shivered in disgust and stopped moving. She was trying to think of a way to get out of his grasp. She obviously couldn't overpower him so her only option was to try and hit him as hard as she could and run for it. She felt his arms loosen a little bit and mustered all her strength. With a grunt she brought her elbow as hard as she could into his stomach. He took a big breathe and screamed. She jumped out of his grasp and ran away from the table. Gohei got to his feet his face red with rage. Oh no what would she do now! She backed into the counter and realized she could not get away. Not only was he stronger than her but he had more people with him and outnumbered her. She watched in fear as he approached her and edged her way down the counter until she hit a wall. She saw his men going around the other way and realized she was boxed in.
"You're going to pay for that. I think you need someone to teach you a lesson. I am the just the person to do it."
Kaoru looked around and grabbed a wooden stick from behind the counter. This would have to do. She wasn't giving up until she was dead.
"Kaoru, are you ok?"
Her head shot up as she heard Tae's voice.
"Tae, stay back. I don't want you to get hurt."
Gohei and his men watched her with amusement and took a step towards her. When he was close enough she swung and hit him as hard as she could. She watched in horror as the stick broke and Gohei stood there unharmed and laughing.
"Now that wasn't a good idea."
She dropped what was left of the stick and looked around for anything to use to defend herself. She heard Tae yelling at them to leave her alone. She watched in horror as Gohei's man smacked Tae across the face and sent her crashing to the floor with a loud thud.
"Leave her alone! Your all nothing but thugs and nobodies!"
Gohei who had been watching the whole thing turned back to her. Walking to her and grabbing her roughly he threw her over his shoulder.
"I would put her down and leave like she said."
Gohei dropped kaoru on the floor with a loud thud and turned to see who threaten him. She looked up from the floor and saw the stranger remained seated in the corner. He had looked over their way and spoke.
"Why should I? Who's gonna make?"
The stranger looked at him annoyance and with god like speed she had never seen came out of his seat. Knocking Gohei off his feet. Gohei's men looked at each other apprehensively.
"If you don't want to end up like him I would suggest you take him and leave. Oh and you better pay the lady for all the trouble you caused."
Kaoru watched in amazement as they grabbed Gohei's limp body and threw a handful of money on the table and left. The stranger looked at her briefly and then returned to his seat.
Kaoru's breath was ragged and her body was still shaking but she got up shakily and went over to Tae. She was shaking, trying to get herself up, and kaoru helped her up. The two women looked at each other and then at the stranger who was sitting relaxed with his eyes closed.
"Are you ok tae? I am so sorry! I caused all this trouble! I understand if you want to fire me."
Kaoru felt her eyes filling with tears and dropped her head.
"No I don't blame you. They cause trouble no matter whom it is or where they are. You were defending yourself. I am not going to fire you. You're a good worker."
Kaoru looked at her skeptically and tae squeezed her hand encouragingly.
"We can't let this stop us ok. They are gone and we need to thank that gentlemen and get him his order. As well serve the rest of the customers that come in today. I have to get these supplies put away so you go ahead and tell him his order is on the house and give him our thanks. I will be out to help once I get the supplies put away."
Tae walked over to the floor where the supplies laid, picked them up, and walked back to the kitchen. Kaoru followed and began making another glass of tea for the stranger. She carried it out and walked to the strangers table. She nervously set down the cup of tea and gathered her thoughts.
"Umm thank you for saving me and tae. As thanks we will let you have this order and anything you would like to take with you on the house."
She waited a few seconds and received no response. She turned to walk away when she heard him speak.
"You do not need to thank me. He was annoying me. It was nothing personal. Did he hurt you?"
Kaoru looked back at him and felt his gaze on her face.
"No I am fine. Thank you again."
Battousai watched her hurry away and thoughtfully sipped his tea. She was interesting enough for some odd reason. She was weak and not as pretty as he had seen but she was feisty and spirited. He had to hand it to her she was stupid to try and take on that guy bigger than her with a stick. It made him also admire her fire and ability to stand up in the face of danger. He finished his tea and left a tip. He had a hunch the idiot would be back and he was going to be there. He was interested and when he wanted something he got it. He had finished his mission and wasn't on another one for a while yet. He had plenty of time to do his research.