Updates:
TastyWheat: Arigato for pointing out my mistake! Also, I planned to do one story on their dates. But too lazy.. .so I didn't. Anyway, thank you and all who had read it!
It was an unusual day at the Honky Tonk. At least, it was for Sendou Rena. For once, she was left solely in charge of the cafe. Natsumi had remedial classes on at school, and Paul decided to go down to the local convinence store to stock up on some goods that were needed at the cafe. Also, as Paul had told her,"It's time to test your skills at coffee making. Keep calm and remember what I've taught you."
Well, Rena was trying to act on her boss' advice. She didn't know if Natsumi had ever tended the shop alone. But, for now, all Rena felt was nervousness. To compound the problem, there was no one in the cafe. In fact, no new customers had come into the Honky Tonk since Paul left after the last customer(at that time) did.
Oh well, she thought, maybe Paul-san knew that this would be a sleepy timeslot, and felt it safe to leave her in charge. Just then, the door of the cafe opened, and the sound of ringing bells, though soft, could be heard quite clearly in the quiet cafe.
"Welcome to the Honky Tonk cafe, Kazuki-san," Rena greeted the former leader of Fuuga in her most courteous voice.
"Thank you, Rena. I'll have a cup of Blue Mountain."
"Right away, Kazuki-san," Though her face didn't show it, Rena was nervous. She had learnt how to brew the Blue Mountain first, yet she has never been able to quite capture the aroma and fragrance of the coffee like how Paul or even Natsumi did. On her first attempt, even Ban had threw up after drinking her concoction.
This is it, Rena, she told herself. Time for you to make a good cup of coffee for a customer to enjoy... Suddenly, her thoughts were scattered by a single question.
"Rena-chan, how come Paul-san is not around?"
"Paul-san went down to the store to stock up on supplies," she answered in a confident note, something even she herself was surprised at. Shaking her head slightly, she continued her task of making the Blue Mountain. But she couldn't resist sneaking a peek at a man whom she thought was odd at best.
The first thing about Kazuki that struck Rena was his hair. Not only was it long, the way he tied it makes him look even more like a lady. But Rena knew the power Kazuki had with his string. He and Shido had saved her, Natsumi, Paul and HEVN once from a swarm of hornets. While Shido had relied on his bird friends for the task, Rena saw how the Battlefield Prince of Terror unleashed his threads and made short work of the critters. It was an awesome sight, at least to a simple girl like her.
Presently, the kettle on the stove started to whistle, the signal for Rena to start the brewing process. Forcing herself to concentrate on the process of coffee making, she poured the boiling water into a cup and proceeded to grind the coffee beans...
Kazuki looked at the little girl in front of him. It suddenly struck him why Lucifer had chosen children like Rena to be his archangels... and his best friend Toshiki as a right hand. All of them had one thing in common: they had their innocence lost at a young age. And yet, without that loss, they would have been such good people: obedient sons, filial daughters, that kind of stuff. As he looked at Rena (who was still busy with the coffee), Kazuki marveled at how much the girl had matured since their first meeting. That was the time where hornets swarmed the cafe. He remembered her screaming like the young girl she was back then. Yet now, she seemed like a young woman, her actions and mannerisms resembling a female coming of age.
Coming of age...Kazuki's mind wandered off to the last moments of the Fuchouin clan. He remembered his mother's last words: Go to Mugenjou. You will find the answers you seek there. It was at that point in time that he resolved to become the warrior he is today. But every warrior needs a damsel and Kazuki had not found his yet...
Though the years in Mugenjou had toughened him, and his training had left everyone gossiping about his preferences,Kazuki knew that he had always wanted to woo a girl and start a family. Though Jubei was a constant companion, Kazuki longed for the days where he could return to a home filled with the laughter of children... and the sweet voice of a caring wife...
"Kazuki-san, your coffee," Rena's voice aroused Kazuki from his thoughts. Looking at the girl, for a split second, he thought he saw his mother before him. Shaking himself slightly, he raised the cup to his lips.
As he drank the coffee, he felt a warming sensation, not the kind coming from the hot liquid, but the kind which comes from, and touches, the heart.
"Rena-chan, this is the best coffee I have ever tasted. In your own way, you have even surpassed Paul-san."
"You flatter me, Kazuki-san," Rena blushed. Kazuki saw it and thought of it as the blushing of a fair maiden. He steeled himself.
"Rena-chan, what would you say if we go on a date someday?"
Rena stood there, speechless. But as she looked at the gentleman before her, she too realised that Kazuki was, in a way, a knight in shining armour. Who knows, he may even be hers. The One for her.
"I'll be honoured to be your date, Kazuki-san."
For the first time, Kazuki touched her hand and held it. Strangely, Rena didn't withdraw. Talk about love at first sight.
It must have been a few minutes before the door opened and the pair retracted their hands in a hurry. Paul saw their flustered faces. If he knew what was going on, he didn't say it.
"Rena, would you come help with these stocks? And Kazuki, hoped you enjoyed her coffee."
"I truly did, Paul-san. I must be going now," As he made his way out of the cafe, Rena had a strange feeling. She felt the tugs of a string on her right little finger. The tugs sent her a little message.
"Tommorrow, 5 p.m. Central Park. Hope to see you there."
"I'll be there, Kazuki-san. I will," murmured Rena softly.
Atogaki(Afterthoughts)
-Inspired by Rabid Lola's RenXKadz pairing... Arigato, Lola-san!
-Please RnR!
