Chapter 4
Kaoru swung the door to the coffee shop open, making the bells at the side jingle."Hey, I'm here!" Kaoru yelled, as she placed her canister on the counter. A young teen sauntered out of the back, her black hair winding itself around her waist. "Hey Kaoru, good to see you...again...this moring." said the girl, her words dripping with sarcasm. Kaoru rolled her eyes, looking around the coffee shop. It was cozy, with it's warm burnt orange, wine red trim, earthy brown accents and bright brownish yellow leather chairs, with autumn blamkets tossed here and there. "Are you ready for today's customers?" asked the girl, throwing Kaoru a black apron. "Yep, today I'm going shopping for new clothes, so I will have to get as many tips as possible." said Kaoru, quickly tying the apron around her waist. A young man stepped out of the back, his eyes dark blues eyes shining, as he approached the two girls."Good morning Kaoru, Misao, how are you two this morning?" asked the young man, nudging past them, a sign in his hands. The girls looked at him, following him to the window. "Soujirou, do you think I could make enough to but a new outfit?" asked Kaoru,
Soujirou turned, his smile broadening."Absolutely not."said Soujirou, as he walked back inside. Kaoru followed him, her blue eyes twinkling. As they walked into the shop Yahiko walked into the shop, on his skatebroad, Aldin pulling him along by his leash. "Yahiko what are you doing here?" asked Kaoru, as her brother waled into the shop, Aldin following behind him. Holding up her lunch, Yahiko looked at the muffins behind the glass, his mouth watering. Aldin, nudged Kaoru with his nose, whimpering, his giant almond eyes sad. Kaoru slapped her head with the palm of her hand, groaning as she did so."I forgot to bring you!" said Kaoru, kneeling next to her dog. "I'm so sorry bud." Yahiko rolled his eyes, straightening his tie. "She cares more about the dog than me." said Yahiko, running his fingers through his hair. Kaoru looked at him, leading Aldin behind the counter. Opening the glass, Kaoru grabbed a blueberry muffin, dropping the treat into a brown paper bag, and handing it to Yahiko. Yahiko took it gratefully, licking his lips. Taking her lunch from him, Kaoru sighed as he left, catching up to his friends.
"It's hard letting go." said Misao, polishing the cherry wood counter. Kaoru nodded, settling herself down on a chair. Her emotions felt spent to the point of no return, the loss just hurt to bad for anyone to heal, it was like that for her entire family."It hurt us all when it happened, because it happened so fast none of us had time to think." said Kaoru, laying her long hair over her shoulder. "It's time to move on, Kaoru." said Soujirou, as he flipped the sign to 'Open'. Kaoru nodded, standing from her spot, planting a fake smile on her face. The first customer entered, a white poodle stepping intow with it's master."Welcome to the Sleepy Hollow, what can I get you, sir?" asked Kaoru, pulling a pad of paper from her apron pocket as the man saeted himself. "Green tea and a bowl of water." said the man, as he petted the spoiled poch.
The old grandfather clock struck three, a customer walked into the cafe, seating himself in a corner. Kaoru walked slowly toward the man, her arms drooping from bringibg orders all day. "Good afternoon, Mr.Seijuro, the usual?"asked Kaoru, though she already knew the answer. She remembered when she was a little girl, he was a friend to the former owner, he had come everyday and talked to him, but then the owner and his most of his sons died in a car acident, his wife committed suicide. The man smiled broadly, adjusting his teal green t-shirt. He was a large man, not in the sense that he was fat, but muscular, he had long dark brown hair and sharp blue eyes, his face was a times scary to looking at, but he was an interesting man, with a great love of sake. "You should know that I will have my black coffee, with a newspaper."said Mr. Seijuro, crossing his arms over his chest. Kaoru sighed, pocketing the note pad and pen, and slowly walked toward the kitchen.
As she turned to deliever the order, someting caught Kaoru's eyes, something with a bright beautiful color.