Disclaimer - I do not own Rurouni Kenshin :-)
Friday Night
Kaoru was rapidly coming to the conclusion that approaching the mysterious gentleman who visited her jazz club every Friday night alone, was probably not the best way to introduce herself. The waiters had all commented that he was all about minimal speech and minimal contact. He never stayed until the end of the night, always arriving at 8:30 leaving at 11pm or thereabouts.
Every Friday there he sat listening to the unknown jazz singers croon away for a chance at becoming big, or simply for the love of music. His eyes closed with pleasure so many times, it gave her the opportunity to study him carefully. He was always so well dressed; his suits were obviously of the finest cut and make even to her untrained eye. He walked with a smooth grace almost as if he were gliding, and she was sure that if there were no surrounding noise his footsteps would be soundless. Draping his jacket casually over his chair he would wait for the waiters to bring his usual order: one bottle of Sake and one cup. Upon its arrival he would reward his server with a small smile which so rarely played across his lips accompanying an equally rare large tip.
Who gave $50 to a waiter for simply placing a bottle on their table? He was definitely Mr. Moneybags this one.
She watched tonight as he walked in with his lithe slow stride and an unusually wilted atmosphere surrounded his frame. He looked tired. His wide violet orbs seemed weary. His face was drawn with an unusually pale pallor. She must have been staring for too long, as he turned his head and looked unerringly at her. Kaoru felt her face heat in embarrassment before turning away and fiddling with the cocktail bottles set up behind the counter.
Crap. Now he thinks I'm a weird stalker.
Sighing she moved along the counter until she found what she was looking for. Sorting through the herbs she had in a cupboard for the cocktails they usually served, she extracted the one called Tulsi. Tulsi was known as holy basil in India and often used to increase strength of mind and memory. Crushing it in the mortar and pestle she mixed it into a bottle of home made lemonade before instructing the waiter to take it to the gentleman's table along with his usual order of Sake. Satisfied that she had ascertained his needs, she hummed happily to herself before informing Sano of the guest list and how many people could enter the club.
'The usual then missy?' inquired Sano rolling the toothpick between his teeth.
'Mmm we may have a few more than usual because of the 'First Lady of Jazz' competition but other than that, the usual customers get in first, their names are on the list—what am I saying, you know who they are. Let the others in as we can fit okay? Within regulations Sano.' she warned remembering what had happened the last time.
Sano closed his eyes and shook his head, 'Missy it was my first time bouncing alright? Give me a break!' he stated before strolling off towards the entrance.
Sighing she trudged up to her office on the second floor to sort through any last minute additions to the competition. Seeing that everything was in order she walked up the last flight of stairs which lead to her apartment on the third floor. She stood in front of her large bed and wondered at her current lack of confidence in approaching the gentlemen in question. Falling face forward on her bed she lay there comforted by the softness before rolling over and contemplating her attire for the evening ahead. Pushing up from the bed she made for the bathroom for a quick shower and a long night of jazz music, along with decidedly inebriated individuals who needed to be bounced out of the club. Not really different from any other night.
Kaoru frowned at the speaker box she was currently trying to fix. Why was it not working? Her idiot sound manager had assured her this morning that everything had checked out.
'You said you checked it this morning,' she rebuked Yahiko flatly.
Yahiko glared at her, 'I did! And it worked fine then! Did you touch it after I left?'
'Hardly. That's your job!' she snapped before sighing and standing up to relieve the ache in her legs from sitting on her haunches for too long.
Rubbing at her left thigh she groaned inwardly wondering if there were any other things that could possibly go wrong for her; and it was only 10 o'clock.
Strangely enough someone must have heard her silent prayer as the jazz played on and on, so many talented musicians displaying their talents for love, for beauty, for liberty without a single hiccup. The last lingering notes faded as they switched from the live jazz competition to her usual band that played most nights.
When moonlight crawls along the street
Chasing away the summer heat
Footsteps outside somewhere below
The world revolves I've let it go
We build our church above the streets
We practice love between these sheets
The candy sweetness in the view
It beads my skin I'm stained in you
And no one else could ever hold you
There's a reason within my heart
And I am barely touching you
Turn the lights down low
Take it off, let me show
My love for you, insatiable
Turn me up, Never stop
Wanna taste every drop
My love you insatiable
The moonlight plays upon your skin
A kiss that lingers takes me in
I fall asleep inside of you
There are no words there's only truth
Breathe in, breathe out, there is no sound
We move together, Up and down
We levitate our bodies soar
Our feet don't even touch the floor
And nobody knows you like I do,
Cos the world they just don't understand
That I grow stronger in your hands
Turn the lights down low
Take it off, let me show
My love for you, Insatiable
Turn me up, never stop,
wanna taste every drop
My love for you Insatiable
We never sleep, we're always holding hands
Kissing for hours, talking, making plans
I feel like a better man, just being in the same room
We never sleep there's so much to do,
So much to say, can't close my eyes when I'm with you
Insatiable the way I'm loving you
Kaoru closed her eyes as she listened to the closing notes of her most favourite non-jazz songs. It was so involved, so intoxicating; the passion emoted from the singer's voice sent shivers down her spine every time. Clapping softly from her place behind the bar she watched as the singer tipped his hat towards her in acknowledgment of her applause.
Insatiable. I want to be loved like that…just like that…
'I'm guessing that's your favourite song?' asked a voice from her left.
Shifting the weight of her left leg to her right, she transferred her attention to the man standing at the bar. It was him. His voice was low and melodic, even more mesmerising than his eyes.
'Favourite non-jazz,' she explained. 'My ultimate favourite song is in the Jazz genre,' she continued. 'You?'
'It's definitely worth considering as a top ten favourite song.'
She stared back unfazed, 'I love it.'
'I could tell,' he stated huskily. 'I understand that you're to thank for the lovely lemon drink?'
'You looked like you needed a pick-me-up,' she shrugged in effort to appear nonchalant.
Smiling softly he thanked her nonetheless, 'I appreciate it.'
'No worries,' she smiled, 'anything for my loyal patrons—you stayed past your usual time limit though,' noticing that it was 3am while simultaneously grimacing inwardly at her stupidity. Excellent work Kamiya, now he's going to think you're a stalker and a crazy people watcher.
The man continued to watch her as she dried the glasses and slid them upside down into the racks above the counter.
'I wanted to thank you, and from the long line outside I gathered that you would be busy until the end of the evening,' he explained.
Well der Kamiya, of course that's why he stayed, he's a gentleman.
'Incidentally, what was in the lemonade? I had amazing clarity after I drank it for some reason.'
'Tulsi or Holy Basil, always does the trick for mental lags,' she grinned.
'Learn new things everyday,' he commented lightly, thanked her again before staring at her for a little longer and striding out of the bar. Rolling her eye's as she heard Sano yell goodbye to the man as if they had known each other for 20 years, she noticed a little card sitting on the counter. Sliding it across she flicked it over to read the little note on the back.
Kenshin Himura
Dinner next Wednesday? It said and his phone number had been neatly scripted below in some sort of liquid pen calligraphy on the back. His hand writing is so pretty.
Apparently she had a date next Wednesday with a man she barely knew.
Thanks to Alwzyme for Beta Reading this :-)
Tell me what you think :-)
cheers,
Iuvenalis.