Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin

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Title: Coffee
Rating: PG
Words: 259

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Kaoru loved her coffee.

There was something about the bitterness and the sweetness combined that made her look forward to it every morning. She loved the scent of it as the steam curled up out of the cup. She loved the heat of it in her hand as she walked to school from the coffee shop.

Most importantly, though, she loved talking to the man who worked behind the counter.

There was a coffee shop about a block from her apartment, but she always walked five blocks out of her way to go to his shop. She felt a little stupid and a little juvenile, but each morning when she walked through the door and saw him standing behind the counter, her heart did this crazy little double-beat. He was short, with his long red hair pulled back in a neat ponytail, and had eyes the color of the clearest amethyst. Why he made her feel the way she did was a mystery to her, but in all honesty, she could care less. There was something comforting about seeing him every morning.

She never said much more than "Good morning," or something inane like "Nice weather we're having," in addition to ordering her coffee, and he always responded in his polite way, but at the moment, it was all she wanted.

She was content with just seeing him in the mornings.

Maybe one day she'd deepen the conversation.

But today, like all others, she smiled, took her coffee from him and left his shop. It was a beautiful morning.