Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Taboo ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

Thanks for dropping in to read my story.

 

Here's a little background info so as not to confuse anyone about the setting: This alternate universe story is in modern times (2004-2005) and is supposedly in Japan. However, many of the things in the story will be Americanized (i.e. no school uniforms, food, money, fictional street names, etc. . . .). Hope it's not confusing or contradicting. Enjoy!

 

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Café Tae was always busy during meal times, especially lunch. Summer was almost over, but the insufferable heat still lingered, causing an overflow of customers to buy iced lattes and fruit smoothies from the trendy yet cozy café. The room was noisy with people chatting and laughing, machines whirring and blending, with soft French music playing in the background.

 

“I can help the next person in line!” a young blue-eyed girl shouted. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail while she wore a white tank top and navy blue shorts underneath a dark green apron. An older gentleman approached the register.

 

“Hi, Mr. Higo! What would you like today?”

 

“The usual. Hot day, isn't it, Kaoru?”

 

“Yeah. Thank Kami for central air-conditioning. Alright. Corn beef sandwich with Swiss cheese on a croissant, no mustard or mayonnaise, pickle on the side, and a regular coffee,” she punched some buttons on the register.

 

“You're good,” he stated.

 

“Only to you,” she smiled. “That'll be four thirty-six, please.”

 

The man paid exact change. Kaoru took the money, opened the register, and handed him a receipt. “Thank you, Mr. Higo. Enjoy your lunch!”

 

“Thanks, Kaoru.” He put three dollars in the tip jar and left.

 

Kaoru turned around and handed a young male worker a piece of paper. His white t-shirt did not conceal several of the tattoos on his arms nor did his short blonde hair cover the piercings in his ears. “Here Masaaki, that's the next order.”

 

“Got it,” he said, not taking his eyes off the drink he was making.

 

“Next person!” she called.

 

Just then, a tall brown-haired man busted through doors, swerving around customers to get behind the counter. He grabbed an apron and hastily tied it on.

 

“You're late, Sano!” Kaoru declared happily as she was getting change for a customer. “Ice cap, blended, no cream, large,” she quickly added.

 

“Yeah, I know,” he said with a grin, referring to his tardiness. He began making the ordered drink. “Where's Tae?”

 

“Making sandwiches in the back,” Kaoru said over her shoulder.

 

Masaaki placed some drinks on the pick-up counter. “Caramel iced-mocha and a vanilla latte, over ice!” He turned to Sano. “So, why were you late?” He was smiling wickedly as if he already knew the answer.

 

“Yes, why were you late?”

 

Sano turned around to see Tae with her hands on her hips. She was wearing a summer dress with a red apron over it. A white bandana held up her brown hair. He hurried to her side, grabbed her head, and smothered her cheek with kisses.

 

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry,” he said in between kisses with a baby-like voice.

 

“Gross,” she muttered, pushing him away from her. She glared at his apologetic yet cocky face. “I would fire you if you weren't so good at making drinks. And your apron's on backwards.”

 

“You're the best Tae!” Sano said, shoving her face in his chest by his so-called hug.

 

“Try not to be late again,” Tae demanded as she pointed her finger at him. “And stop eating all the food. You too!” She directed her fury to Masaaki.

 

Masaaki gave her his best puppy eyes. “But we get so hungry.”

 

“Then pay!” She stormed off to the back to make more sandwiches.

 

Sano and Masaaki slapped hands and continued to work. A man with red hair tied in a low ponytail walked in the café. He wore a black t-shirt that subtly revealed the muscles in his chest and upper arms. His khaki shorts reached just above his knees and his feet sported tan leather flip-flops.

 

“Hey, Kenshin!” Kaoru waved from the counter.

 

The redhead took off his sunglasses and smiled. “Hey, Kaoru.”

 

“How you doing today?”

 

“I had a bad morning,” he shrugged, looking down at the counter. Then he looked in her eyes. “But I'm having a great afternoon.”

 

Kaoru blushed.

 

“Oi! Kenshin!” Sano raised a whipped cream bottle in salutations.

 

“Kenshin!” Masaaki repeated the greeting. They seemed like bar tenders rather than baristas.

 

“Hey guys,” Kenshin called, giving the typical male nod. He looked around the crowded room. “It's really busy today.”

 

“It's lunch time,” Kaoru said. She looked at the clock. It read one-thirty. “Was lunch time. Did you get to eat?”

 

“Yes, I ate sushi with a friend.”

 

“A friend?” she asked, her voice faltering.

 

“He's a lawyer,” Kenshin added.

 

Kaoru's smile brightened. “Well, can I get you a drink or anything?”

 

“Sure.”

 

She waited for him to order. He was outright staring at her. She blushed again and cleared her throat. “What would you like, Kenshin?”

 

“Hm? Oh. Something cold. How about an Italian soda?”

 

“Okay,” she punched a button on the register. “What flavor?”

 

“What flavors are there?”

 

“We have everything. You name it, we got it.”

 

Kenshin arched a brow. “You have spaghetti?”

 

Kaoru laughed. “Other than spaghetti.”

 

“Wood?”

 

“We have mint,” she offered.

 

This time Kenshin laughed. “I'll take peach with cream, please.”

 

“You got it.” She pressed some more buttons. “That'll be one twenty-six.”

 

Kenshin handed her a twenty and she rang it up on the register. “Okay, eighteen seventy-four is your change and there's your receipt.”

 

He dropped a five-dollar bill in the tip jar. Kaoru smiled at him and shook her head. “Are you meeting anyone?” she asked.

 

“Nope.”

 

“Mind if I join you? Not for too long, though.”

 

Kenshin smiled. “Of course.” There were no seats available to sit down, so he stood along the wall where there was space and waited. Kaoru grabbed the Italian soda after Sano made it and said, “Cover me. I'll be back in five.”

 

“Going to flirt with your boyfriend?” The rooster-head teased. A metal shaker hit him in the head. “Ow . . .”

 

She threw daggers at Masaaki with her eyes before he could utter an inappropriate comment. He put his hands up and backed away. She spotted Kenshin and walked over to him. When she handed him his drink, his fingers momentarily touched hers. Her skin tingled.

 

“Thanks, Kaoru,” Kenshin said just before he took a sip from his drink. “Hey, this is really good. Would you like some?”

 

“Uh . . .” Kaoru hesitated, “No thanks, I drink it all the time,” she fibbed.

 

“Just a sip. It's so hot today.”

 

She pressed her lips together nervously, eyeing the delicious concoction before her. “Alright.” She took a step closer and leaned the straw towards her. She took a sip. Her eyes widened in delight. “Mmm! It is good!”

 

He leaned against the wall. “Have some more.”

 

“Thank you, I will.” She took a longer sip then stepped back. She licked her lips and realized Kenshin was watching her. His violet eyes held hers as he slowly brought his lips down on the straw, the same place where her lips had been. As he sipped, his lips slightly pressed the straw, as if he were kissing the straw, kissing her. Kaoru tried to swallow the apple of a lump in her throat. Say something, say something, say something, she begged herself.

 

“I, uh, I . . . my schedule changes starting tomorrow.” Yeah, that's not desperate.

 

“What are your hours?”

 

“Four to nine. Sundays are the same. No more Saturdays.”

 

“I see. Hey, Kaoru,” Kenshin pushed himself off the wall. “I won't be able to come to the café this week because of work, but I'd like to see you Friday.”

 

“Oh, I don't work on Fridays.”

 

He gave her a bone-melting smile. “I know.”

 

Kaoru mentally gave herself the biggest pat on the back for not falling over. She remained quiet lest she said something stupid like, “I've been dying to go out with you.” She clapped her hands over her mouth.

 

Kenshin chuckled. “Yeah, me too. By the way, can I have your number?”

 

Kaoru removed her hands and fished out a pen and napkin from her apron. She quickly scribbled down her name and number and handed it to him. “That's my home number. I don't have a cell phone.”

 

“Great. I'll call you during the week.” He pressed the napkin to his lips. “I can't wait.”

 

“Neither can I,” she whispered as he left the café. Kaoru squealed in delight and ran back behind the counter. Masaaki, Sano, and Tae were waiting with grins on their faces.

 

“So?” the blonde asked.

 

Kaoru looked like she had a hanger in her mouth. “He asked me out. Kenshin. Me. Date. I've got to be dreaming!” She hugged Tae viciously as they jumped up and down in excitement.

 

“Congratulations, sweetie,” Tae said, beaming. “He's only been a regular for a month and now you're going out with him! I can tell that this is going to be something special.”

 

Kaoru sighed happily. “I do hope so.”

 

Sano laughed. “Geez, Jou-chan, you're acting like this is your first date or something.”

 

She blushed.

 

“Oh my god, don't tell me this is your first date,” Masaaki said.

 

Kaoru picked up a blender. “You want to tell me what's wrong with that?”

 

The men dove for cover.

 

“There's absolutely nothing wrong with that,” Tae said kindly, prying the girl's fingers from her beloved blender. “Too many young people date too much when they're too young and end up regretting most of those dates.” She held Kaoru's pretty face in her hands. “But you won't, right?”

 

Kaoru smiled. “No, I won't. Oh, this is going to be a great week!” She twirled on the spot. “When I get home, I'm going to sleep extra early.”

 

“Why?” Sano asked. “So you can dream more about Kenshin?” He immediately shielded himself.

 

Kaoru merely scoffed at him. “No, chicken-head. It's my first day of school tomorrow.”

 

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Excitement and agitation filled inside Kaoru until she thought she was going to burst. After being home schooled for most of her life, she didn't quite know what to expect from a public high school. Especially as a senior.

 

Kaoru looked down at her schedule. She had History for first period in room two seventeen. She was grateful that she came to school early because finding her way around the school was terribly confusing. The brown brick building was shaped like a square with a stairwell in each corner of the building. The halls looked the same from each stairwell entrance, and students could only tell where they were by looking at the room numbers above the doors. Also, there were two additional wings in the building that were somewhat confusing to get to. Of course, Kaoru's first class was in one of the wings.

 

She walked up a flight of stairs, overwhelmed by the number of students running up and down, back and forth, talking, grumbling, laughing around her. She saw a group of pretty girls walking ahead of her with their arms linked together, causing human traffic in the stairwell. Students behind them grumbled but didn't say anything to them. One chubby freshmen boy yelled, “Move it!” as he tried to shove past them. The girl with light brown hair in the center of the link stopped and turned sharply. She slapped the boy so hard across the face that the sound echoed through the stairwell. The boy held his cheek as tears filled his eyes.

 

“Don't you know you should respect your elders?” Her green eyes danced with mockery. She turned and laughed with her friends.

 

Kaoru fumed. Perhaps she knew little about public high school, but she did know a thing or two about humanity. Nobody had the right to do that, elder or not. Her hands fisted and she purposefully strode towards the girls. “Hey!” she shouted, but was suddenly grabbed and pulled back before anyone noticed.

 

A short girl with jade colored eyes and long braided hair said, “I wouldn't do that if I were you.”

 

“Why not?”

 

“Because you're a newbie. They'll eat you alive.”

 

“What?”

 

“Socially, I mean. Those are the richest, meanest, and most popular girls in school. Obviously you didn't know that because you were about to yell at them. Plus, I've never seen you before. I'm Makimachi Misao. You're a senior, right?”

 

“Yeah,” Kaoru said, a little dazed. “I'm Kamiya Kaoru.”

 

“You know where all your classes are? I know this school can be confusing to first-comers.”

 

“Actually, I'm trying to find the B-wing, room two seventeen.”

 

“That's on the other side of this building. It's kind of complicated to explain to a newbie. Why don't I take you there?” Misao offered.

 

“That's okay. If you could just give me some directions, I'll be fine.”

 

“It's no problem!” the girl beamed. “Besides, we have five more minutes till school starts and I can get us there in two.”

 

Kaoru didn't think two minutes was so impressive until Misao grabbed her again and began to run like lightening. The girl was weaving through crowds of students through endless halls and stairwells. Kaoru was glad that she was had such a friendly . . . guide to show her to her class; but she was slightly regretting it because there was no way that she would be able to remember how to get back due to the world being a blur.

 

Misao suddenly stopped. Kaoru nearly fell on the floor but thankfully Misao's shoes blocked the fall. “Ow . . .”

 

Misao yanked Kaoru up by her backpack. “Oh my god, Kaoru! Are you okay?”

 

“Yeah,” Kaoru groaned, rubbing her nose. She looked at the door in front of her. “Is this it?”

 

“No, this is the beginning of the wing. Just walk down a little more and you'll see two seventeen. I gotta go now. Good luck on your first day at Azusa High!”

 

“Thanks so much, Misao!” Kaoru walked down the hall and saw her classroom. She kept pinching the bridge of her nose to make sure it was in place. She grabbed opened the door and walked in the classroom. Then stopped.

 

“Kenshin?”

 

The redhead looked up from his lesson plans. “Kaoru?”

 

They spoke simultaneously. “What are you . . .”

 

Students took their seats as the bell rang.