Title: A New Beginning
Rated: PG-13 (Violence & Language)
Author: charismatic angel
Email: charismatic_angel@msn.com
Chapter Date: June 21, 2003
All the stuff you do not want to read but I have to say:
* sighs * I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. Someone else owns the rights and characters to this series. You know the rest…(Please don't sue me)
Chapter 4:
Sanosuke and Kaoru stood a small distance apart before he broke the silence.
"We better get going before he wakes up." He then looked at his watch. "Damn it, they are going to start without me!"
"Who is going to start without you?" Kaoru asked
He gave her an annoyed look.
"I am supposed to be at a poker game right now. I knew I shouldn't have taken this way." He said the last sentence under his breath.
"Let's get you home, the sooner the better. I still might be able to catch a few rounds."
Kaoru stood in the same spot staring at an annoyed Sanosuke.
"Come on!" he shouted, "Does it look like I have all day? I've got money to play and people to beat."
"Don't worry about me. I can see you have better things to do." She said bitterly.
He nervously scratched the back of his head
"Listen missy, I am sorry but we really need to get out of here. It is not safe to stay around. Just tell me where you are staying so we can be on our way."
Kaoru's eyes dropped to the ground when he asked where she was staying.
She nervously croaked out, "I am not staying anywhere."
"What!? I am confused; you have to be staying somewhere? You don't look like a bum off the street."
Kaoru gave him an annoyed glance.
"No you idiot! How do I say this…I – am – not – from – here.
He replied, "No – shit."
Kaoru gave an exasperated sigh.
"I am from Japan. I just flew in today. I tried to get a hotel room but I couldn't. See, they only accept 'credit cards.' That's why I am in this area. I was looking for a room."
Sanosuke rolled his eyes
"Why didn't you say that in the first place?"
"Never mind!" Kaoru said, getting more and more annoyed by the minute.
"Do you have any money?" he asked.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kaoru retorted.
"It means, do – you – have – any – money?
"Of course I do!" she snapped.
Sanosuke let out a deep breath
"I know someone who owns a motel a little ways from here. It's not the greatest place, but it's safe. Plus, you won't need a credit card. He prefers cash."
Kaoru had a feeling that this was not the kind of place she would be accustomed to. At this time she had no choice.
"Can you take me to this place?" she asked.
"Sure, now that you have made up your mind."
Women
Kaoru and Sanosuke made their way to the hotel. He barely said a word to her as they walked. She assumed he was upset about missing his poker game.
In a way she was glad she ventured into this part of town. If she hadn't of met him, she wasn't sure where she would be sleeping tonight.
On their way they passed a small restaurant. Kaoru's stomach rumbled reminding her she hadn't eaten since the plane ride that morning. She stopped walking and looked back at the restaurant. Immediately Sanosuke heard her footsteps stop and he turned around to see what she was doing.
Kaoru turned back to see him look at her with an impatient face.
"I was wondering if you would mind if we stopped here to get something to eat." She said, pointing towards the restaurant. "You helped me and I would like to repay you by buying dinner. That is, if it is okay with you?"
Sanosuke's ears perked up.
"Dinner" he said as his eyes opened wide.
Kaoru nodded
"Is that alright with you?" she asked.
He was not one to ever turn down a meal and being that she offered to pay it was great.
"Well what are we standing out here for? Let's go eat." He said, as he quickly moved towards the restaurant.
The restaurant was an old diner. There were not many people around, probably because it was so late. They sat at a long counter with swiveling bar stools. A plump woman with bright red hair came out of the kitchen to take their orders.
Both ordered a hamburger basked which came with fries and a drink. Kaoru sat on her stool swiveling half ways in one direction and then back again. Sanosuke tapped his fingers on the counter while her impatiently waited for his food.
Finally the food was brought out and they both began to eat. Kaoru noticed that American portions were so much larger than she was accustomed to. She was hungry but this was a lot to eat. Sanosuke on the other hand made no hesitation to stop eating or take a breath in between bites.
Kaoru chucked
"What are you laughing at?" he asked, with his mouth still full of food.
Kaoru arched her eyebrow at his lack of manners.
"What?" he asked again.
Kaoru laughed again. She knew it wasn't nice to laugh but it was so funny hearing his muffled replies while the food dropped out of his mouth.
"Oh nothing." She quickly said, but with a huge smile on her face.
He gave her a funny look and continued eating.
She had only eaten half her hamburger and a handful of fries before she said she was finished. Sanosuke's eyes practically popped out of his head not believing she wasn't going to finish her meal.
Kaoru gave him a quizzical look
"What's wrong with you?" she asked.
"You're not going to eat that?" he said disbelievingly.
"No, are you deaf?" she said.
In one swoop he took her half eaten burger and what was left of the fries and dumped them on his plate. Kaoru's jaw dropped as she realized what he was doing.
"What?! I can't just let good food like this go to waste."
Kaoru shook her head
"You really don't have any manners, do you? You eat like a pig, talk with you mouth full and scavenge leftovers from others plates."
She clicked her tongue disapprovingly at him.
"Listen missy, do you want me to show you that hotel or not, because…"
She quickly cut him off.
"I am sorry. Do whatever you like."
He resumed eating Kaoru's leftovers.
After dinner Kaoru paid the waitress and her and Sanosuke left. They didn't have to walk too much further when he pointed to a sign in the air. She assumed it was the hotel. They made their way towards the neon sign. Upon seeing the hotel, she could tell it wasn't much.
The outside brick was old and deteriorated. Graffiti covered most of the walls. Part of the neon signs wording was burnt out, so she couldn't make out the name.
He said this place was safeThey came upon the entrance and both walked inside. Inside, a small balding man greeted them. The man's appearance was sloppy. His shirt was part ways un-tucked and had stains on it. His baldhead had beads of sweat rolling off. Kaoru found him quite disgusting.
Sanosuke cleared his throat and was about to say something when the small bald man interrupted him.
"Sano!" he shouted. "I haven't seen you here in awhile. What have you been up to?"
Sanosuke fidgeted and replied, "Oh you know, same old stuff."
The little man eyed Kaoru up and down. Kaoru felt uncomfortable as his eyes roamed her body.
"I guess you and you lady friend will be needing a room tonight." As he shot Sanosuke a wink.
Sanosuke fidgeted again and scratched the back of his head.
"Uh, she is not my lady friend. I am was only showing her how to get here."
The little man smiled and said, "Right."
Kaoru was furious.
How could this little imp think I would hang around with such an idiot like Sanosuke. Sure he saved my life but I wouldn't date him if he were the last guy on earth.
Sanosuke noticed Kaoru's face heating up.
"She needs a room for the night. I told her you could help." Sanosuke said.
"Ah, well, sure anything for you Sano." The man replied.
The man gestured for Kaoru to come with him to the desk. She paid the man and he handed her a key. He pointed her towards a flight of stairs and gave her directions to find her room. After he finished Kaoru walked towards Sanosuke so she could thank him.
"Thank you Sanosuke, for everything." She said.
"No prob missy."
"I am sorry I made you miss your poker game."
"Ahh, there will be others. I did my good deed for the day."
Kaoru smiled and was about to say goodbye when Sanosuke spoke.
"Listen, I am not sure what you are going to do after today, but this is a tuff city. I know it's none of my business, but have you thought any of this out?"
Kaoru's eyes fell to the ground – it was a common trait of hers
"I haven't thought that far yet." She said, as she lifted her head "I should be fine." As she gave him a fake smile.
Sanosuke hesitated
"I own an apartment building. One of my tenants is moving the end of this month. If you're interested I can offer it to you.
Kaoru's eyes beamed
"Really, you would offer me the apartment." She asked
"Yeah. It may not be much, but it's better than living in a motel. You will find everyone in New York is looking for a job and an apartment. It's a tough game out there."
Kaoru smiled
"You have done so much for me already, I am not sure what to say."
"Don't worry about it kid. I can stop by tomorrow afternoon and we can look at the apartment."
"Sure, sounds great." She replied.
"Well, I should get going. I will see you tomorrow." He said.
"See you tomorrow." She replied as he walked off.
"Oh and by the way, you can call me Sano. Sanosuke is way too formal."
"Only if you stop calling me missy."
"Whatever you say missy - Night." He yelled as he left.
Well what did you think? That's it for Chapter four! Things will start moving along, wait and see.
AN: I know it may seem strange that Kaoru knows English. Most Japanese children learn both Japanese and English. Their curriculum is much more difficult than ours. If I knew the Japanese dialect better I would use it. At this point, I believe I would be making an ass of myself if I tried. Maybe next time, if learn it better.
Thank you for the reviews.