Prompt: The customer is always right

Fandom: Rurouni Kenshin

Setting: Canon AU, FtM verse part 3, continues the one-shot: "Hundred and one kisses." (it was originally part of these drabbles, but then I decided to extend the scene beyond the word count and posted it separately because of that. )

Characters: Kenshin Himura, Sanosuke Sagara, Kaoru Kamiya + few others

Word count: 1000


"– I won't pay for anything, you little shrimp!"

"That's stepping over the line, the nerve!" Miss Kaoru spat and sprung to her feet, pushing her purse to him. Sighing, Kenshin watched her march over to hurl a few choice words at the well-dressed man loudly complaining to Yahiko, their designated server in Akabeko.

In all honesty, Kenshin didn't care for such rudeness either and since Yahiko looked angry enough to spit nails, an intervention seemed necessary. However…

"Those two are going to get into a fight," Sano commented at his side, sipping his sake. Kenshin huffed softly in agreement, but left his sakabato to lie at his side and poured more of the drink for himself, "it's possible, so it is. But Miss Kaoru can handle it, that she can."

"Missy is quite good, I admit… but she isn't exactly dressed for a fight." Sano noted, eyeing the pretty kimono Kaoru was wearing, and more notably, the lack of her usual wooden sword at her hip.

Sipping his drink, Kenshin kept his eye on the low-voiced argument across from their booth. Kaoru's hand was restraining her young apprentice, while she was facing the tall man spitting his complaints at her. Instead of raising her voice in frustration, like she would have just a few months ago, she simply listened and protected her charge.

Her blue eyes blazing, she stood proudly, sure of her place in the world – and by god was she magnificent. Swallowing in sheer admiration, Kenshin noted, "she prefers handling her own responsibilities."

"If you say so…" Sano grimaced, and chucked down his sake in one go. "But I sure as hell couldn't stand back and leave my woman to handle a situation like that. Shit, give me more of that." Another saucer later, Sano frowned at him, his face uncharacteristically somber, "about this marriage thing between you and Missy, how is that going to happen, exactly? I mean, you aren't, errr…"

His breath hitching, Kenshin paused pointedly, before emptying his own saucer.

A lifetime ago, when he had just turned thirteen and Hiko had finally questioned why he had begun addressing himself as man, even though they both knew it was a lie… he had lost his temper and said terribly rude things in defense. Now, after years of choices, both good and bad, he had made his peace with his oddities and inadequacies, and didn't even spare a glance at his bound chest.

Instead, he looked at the beautiful woman so fiercely arguing for her apprentice's sake and a wistful smile playing on his lips, he finally answered, "There is very little this unworthy one can give Miss Kaoru, that's so. However, if she so wishes… The marriage ceremony and our names in the official registry shouldn't be too difficult to arrange, that they shouldn't. After all, on paper Himura Kenshin is a man."

"…seriously? How did that happen?" Both of Sano's eyebrows were raised in surprise and he looked at Kenshin like he never seen him before.

Scoffing in private amusement, Kenshin considered how to answer. Usually, he avoided discussions like this, for he didn't have any desire to explain himself and the bloodstained memories of the war were better left buried. However, this was Sano, a friend unlike any other and frankly, he had kept thinking this very same matter himself since Miss Kaoru had proposed to him only two days ago.

"When Katsura-san brought this one to Kyoto, it was of utmost importance that this one's duties were kept secret, that it was. However, with the city teeming with samurai and ronin alike, the best hiding place was in plain sight. So, though not born to a clan name, that naïve little girl with a sword and a dream became a lesser ranked Choshuu samurai named Himura Kenshin."

"…shit. You mean, you became like that because of the war?" Sano's horrified stare was so misplaced, that Kenshin couldn't help an undignified snort escaping him. However, before he could explain better, a loud crash interrupted them as the angry customer's china bowl hit the floor. Even the restaurant's manager, Tae, who had finally hurried to calm the situation, was stunned into silence.

Miss Kaoru, however, didn't even bat an eye, but simply demanded of the man, "You will pay for that damage, too, before you apologize to everyone for your rudeness."

"Pay for that shitty meal? Know your place, woman! As a customer I have a right to complain!"

"And you have done so, repeatedly, to everyone in the establishment. Still, a right to complain doesn't give right to disturb everyone."

"Just who do you think you are, wench?!"

"I am Kaoru Kamiya, the assistant master of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu."

"You are Kamiya dojo's heir? Hah! Now I see why they say no man would take you as their wife! An unbecoming and unmannerly tomboy like you –"

The thud of his iron scabbard hitting the tatami matting interrupted the argument. In the echoing silence, the click of his blade slipping free for an easier draw was so pointed that even Sano swallowed. His eyes narrowed, his voice cold as the midwinter's frost, Kenshin whispered, "You will apologize to my fiancee. Then, you will pay for your meal with the utmost courtesy and remove yourself from the premises."

The arrogant lout blanched whiter than a freshly washed sheet, scrambled to his feet and mumbled his apologies. Watching him rush to hand money to Tae and escape like a dog with its tail between its legs, Kenshin slipped his sword to his waist and walked to Miss Kaoru, "please pardon the interruption. This one knows you were perfectly capable of handling the situation yourself, that's so."

Her eyes softened, and he dared to slip her errant lock behind her ear tenderly, "but hearing such an insult handed to my lady, one simply couldn't stay silent. I'm sorry."

"I don't mind. Not from you, Kenshin" She smiled and kissed his palm softly, "my soon to be husband."