Disclaimer - I do not own Rurouni Kenshin :-)

Wednesday Night

Kenshin liked to think that he was a patient man. He could wait. Really he could. When he went to Subway 'the fast fresh sandwich makers,' the idea behind the meal was the fast bit. Then the teenager had asked if he could wait for 10 minutes, because their microwave was in the shop. Kenshin had replied that he didn't mind. Of course he minded.

He also liked to think that he wasn't all keyed up in anticipation for his date with the dainty jazz club owner. Kaoru. He'd heard the waiters, and various patrons call her that. He liked her name. He slowly lost his appetite as he weighed the dwindling odds of perhaps enticing the lovely lady out on another date. He only felt this way when he really wanted something, and he always got what he wanted.

'Kenshin. Your orders up,' informed Aoshi. The stoic man stood to Kenshin's left arms folded emanating an air of frustration at having to wait at a semi fast food joint. In Aoshi's world, he had explained in the least verbose manner, waiting at an award winning restaurant is fine because you're actually waiting for food you will love. Fast food was an option simply because it was supposed to be Fast. Kenshin agreed mildly although he privately wanted to throw his newly wrapped sandwich at the teenager who had handed it to him. Then again it wasn't really the kids fault.

'No poker tonight?' murmured Aoshi. Kenshin translated that in his head to mean If you're not coming to poker then what exactly are you doing?

Kenshin nodded absently, 'I have a prior engagement Aoshi.'

'Our poker is steeped in tradition.' He responded.

Translation: What's more important than poker on Wednesday night?

Kenshin almost tripped on the pavement, 'I expected that line from Kamatari, not you.'

'Hmm.'

Kenshin let out a breath of relief inside as Aoshi let go of his line of questioning in favour of sneering at his sub. Kenshin marched of to his office sandwich in tow for the rest of the afternoon hoping that it would pass quickly.

Kenshin had told Kaoru in their prior conversation that the date was casual. He could imagine the look of surprise on her face at his suggestion. She'd only ever seen him in his work attire.

In the end he opted for a white threaded cotton shirt and jeans. Very Casual. As he pulled up in front of her club, he watched as she reprimanded Sano for something, as the man leaned down and nodded at her remarks. Noticing Kenshin striding towards them she sped up her little chat and walked towards him. She looked great. Her long hair had been parted to the side, falling over shoulders and contrasting with her yellow cotton dress. She looked like a fresh buttercup.

'All set?'

'Yep,' she nodded happily before waving at Sano.

Kenshin ever the gentleman held her door open and waited until she slid into the passenger seat.

'So I said casual, and you love music.'

'Mmm,' she murmured in agreement.

'And I know this place on Sydney Harbour that plays live Mexican music, so I thought we'd go there,' he concluded. On the phone she had said anything was good for her.

'I love Mexican! And I know everyone's like "just because you like nachos and tacos that doesn't mean you like Mexican," but seriously I love them so I don't really care,' she finished her rant happily.

The restaurant was lively, the music was loud and the food was fantastic. Kenshin was surprised at how good the service was and how reasonable the prices were. Kaoru even danced with him to 'Bamboleo' a Venezuelan (Spanish/Latin) classic and he conceded that she was actually quite a good dancer. She stepped with him, anticipated his movements. Everything about her was so on point and entirely unscripted. He knew that she thought he was too controlled and too aware. Occasionally she would draw him back to the present reminding him that she wasn't about to try and keep up with him.

By the end of the night they found themselves walking along the harbour eating gelato. Kenshin chuckled inwardly when Kaoru went to Gelatissimo twice. She wanted different flavours and was completely in awe of all the different chocolate flavours available.

'I think that there should be a book written about things we say but don't mean,' commented Kaoru swinging her hand in his at a leisurely pace.

Kenshin chuckled, 'I couldn't agree with you more.'

'For example: When I first started the club this guy asked me out, and we went out a few times. SO we're getting serious and we're out one night and we accidentally ran into Sano. Now I casually enquired how things were with him and asked him—if he wanted to join us. Now everyone knows that the correct answer to this question is 'NO' but good old Sano says yes and actually went out to dinner with us. And he let my boyfriend pay,' she concluded dryly.

'I went to Subway this morning, and I went there specifically for the mildly healthy yet quick service and I was asked to wait for 10 minutes after I'd paid,' he sighed. 'They asked if I minded, and out of politeness I responded, 'No I don't',' he paused, 'but of I course I minded. I'm here for the fast service.'

Kaoru smiled at his mild diatribe annoyance evident in his tone and squeezed his hand fondly.

'I'm sure that even if a book were to be written, Sano would still have said yes to having dinner, he'll do anything for an unpaid meal,and it's really my fault because I should have realised before I offered,' she exhaled crinkling her pert nose in distaste.

Kenshin laughed at her little complaint and assured her that Sano would probably help her with anything she asked so it was minor consolation.

He explained about his friend Aoshi, an entirely taciturn individual who rarely accepted criticism yet dished it out on a regular basis in subtle yet minimal verbage.

She spoke to him about her relatively lonely existence and terrible grades at school. Truly people had expected her to fail completely, but Kaoru knew anything it was business acumen. She had learned to survive and being smart about living was how she became the proud owner of a jazz club.

Kenshin confessed that he didn't have a musical bone in his body, and wished that he could have learnt to play the piano.

Kaoru promised to play the piano for him. Next time.

Kenshin anticipated the next time they would spend time together, he already felt like he was falling and embraced the strange sensations associated with what people commonly referred to as love.


Thanks as always to Alwyzme for Beta reading this one :-)

Cheers,

Iuvenalis.