Hi - this is my first FF, and I'm a big RuroKen fan, so please, be gentle.
As I am new, I will list the usual disclaimers I see on everything else. Um...
I do not own any of the characters from Rurouni Kenshin.
I appreciate constructive criticism, even regarding spellings errors since I am very particular about that.
No Flames, please.
Thanks for reading!
Summary: Chef Saitou is head of his beloved brasserie. But his patience is tested when attractive Kaoru is thrust upon him as a new pastry chef. As tempers and temperatures start to rise, can Saitou stand the heat or does he have to get Kaoru out of his kitchen?
Rating: M
Prologue
Saitou Hajime stood outside the restaurant to light a much deserved cigarette. His 12 hour shift ended at 10pm, but since the customers were still piling in, he decided to stay on to help his crew. He may be the head chef, but like any good leader, he left no man behind. Saitou demanded loyalty from his workers and he earned their respect in spades by showing as much dedication as he gave to his men.
As he enjoyed his first long drag, he took off his white apron which had become dirty with streaks of brown and yellow from grease. He leaned against the wall to check the sleeves of his white chef's jacket - not a speck against the pristine white. He smirked to himself, cigarette dangling dangerously from his lips on the verge from falling - but it never would.* Saitou looked at his watch to note the time was now 11:40pm.
She's late. Typical.
Saitou then leaned his back against the brick wall and ran his hand over his hair. The fringe in front was pushed back but then fell back into place in a few separate strands across his forehead, while the rest of his jet black hair was smoothed back into a neat layered V-shape against the nape of his neck.
He finished his cigarette and flicked the stub to the sidewalk, then stomped the butt with his heel. With a skilled sweep of his foot, he kicked the butt out into the street so as not to mar the front of the brasserrie. HIS brasserie. Well, almost.
Saitou had worked his way up from dishwasher to prepping to sous chef and finally head chef after years of backbreaking long hours, lots of drinking, too many smokes, and way too much stress.
During his breaks, and his one time attempt to quit smoking (which lasted all of 3 days) he'd begun writing notes about his experiences in the kitchen from his youth to the present. That book, "If you can't stand the Heat...," became a national bestseller and established him as a bit of a celebrity chef. Saitou despised the accolades but he loved that business increased three-fold. Having become head chef, having increased business and reached celebrity status, there was now no reason he couldn't become part owner of his beloved Les Alles. The restaurant's financier and legal owner, Shishio Makoto, had said that he would give Saitou part ownership as an expression of compensation, loyalty, and a big need to keep a "celebrity" chef linked to his establishment. Shishio had to stay on top of the other restaurateurs which boasted their big chefs like the Akabeko's Sekihara Tae and the place owned and run by Tsukayama Yutaro.
As Saitou reached into his pocket to fish out another cigarette, he looked up and paused. He placed the unlit stick between his lips and spoke, "I thought you were supposed to be here an hour ago. Lose track of time?" The words flowed out in his usual tone - that of directness, with a hint of menace which could be construed as intimidating, sarcastic or both.
The figure approached with head down. Long dark hair masked all features from his view. With a flick of the neck, the strands flipped over and the face was upturned and illuminated by the street lights to reveal a beautiful young woman with creamy pale skin, rosy cheeks, and rich sapphire eyes. She was dressed in a white chef's jacket, lightweight gray slacks, and black leather Birkenstocks clogs. As she approached him, her soft wispy bangs fell over her deep blue eyes. She looked up at Saitou with determined eyes and didn't flinch from his gaze. "You're not the boss of me."
"Miss Kamiya," Saitou replied without a smile, "in case you've forgotten, I am head chef."
"Oh, so because I'm late, it's now 'Miss Kamiya' and not just 'Kaoru'?" she asked while arching her eyebrow at him.
Saitou had already lit his second cigarette and had inhaled a long drag while he let her have her say. He then moved an inch closer to her face and blew out the smoke ever so slowly while he said, "Yes."
Kaoru rolled her eyes and placed both her fists on her hips in a show of frustration. "Oh, come on! You're impossible, Saitou!"
He quickly tossed the cigarette from his mouth with one hand while grabbing Kaoru by her waist with his other in one fluid movement. He then leaned over her, bringing his face close to hers with his mouth hovering merely inches from her own lovely full lips. His amber eyes narrowed and his lips curved into a wicked smile. Kaoru closed her eyes as his lips approached her own and her mind raced to the first day she met Saitou.
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