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Post by Kamalia on Jul 20, 2010 22:41:28 GMT 1
The day was sunny, not a single cloud in the deep blue sky and there was just the slightest breeze to stir the leaves on the trees that lined the street. Kaoru smiled to herself as she walked. Her parasol was up and her fan was in her hand to keep her cool in the summer heat but, even though she was almost unbearably warm, she was happy. Her classes had ended for the day and she was on her way to her very favorite café to have a nice cup of tea and maybe even a sweet pastry. Her smile widened at the thought and quickened her pace, the heels of her dainty little shoes clicking against the pavement.
She had, as always, spent almost two hours getting ready that morning but it was well worth it. Her red hair was elaborately curled and tumbled down her left shoulder. It was decorated with creamy white flowers that went perfectly with her shortsleeved blouse and dark blue dress. Her legs were encased in cream overknee socks and on her hand there were a pair of beautiful lace gloves. And the shoes... How she loved those shoes! They were simple, white and highheeled but they had some adorable little flowers on the toe. They were absolutely perfect for this kind of hot summer day!
Humming to herself she continued to walk and her eyes brightened significantly when she spotted the glass doors that led into her favorite café. Still smiling, she approached it and then pushed it open. Immediately she felt a gust of cool air meet her and she sighed in relief. Thank god for their airconditioning! Greeting the owner, an elderly woman with beautiful white hair, happily Kaoru stepped inside and walked over to 'her' table by the window.
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Post by Nagi-kun on Jul 20, 2010 23:33:55 GMT 1
It was a beautiful day outside, with the weather so clear you just had to be a part of it. Having spent the better part of the morning in his studio working on a painting he was doing for Tessa, he decided since the day was so lovely to have his afternoon tea out a cafe he rather liked. Strolling down the avenue dressed much like an English gentleman, complete with a cane his adopted father had given him for his birthday three years ago, he reached the cafe and wandered on inside.
He took a moment to savor the cool air that circulated the place and pass a quick look at the current guests before making his way up to the counter. The owner greeted him with clear familiarity and he greeted her likewise, politely making small talk as he ordered a cup of his favorite Dragonwell green tea and some of shortbread fingers to go with it.
Taking a seat at the table by the window just before Kaoru's to wait for his order, he propped his cane against the window pane beside him and drank in the sight of lovely afternoon resting outside.
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Post by Kamalia on Jul 20, 2010 23:52:11 GMT 1
As she sat down Kaoru straightened her back, tucked one ankle behind the other and then shifted her legs slightly to the side, sitting like a proper lady just like her grandfather had taught her. At first she had had some troubles with it, especially since she was used to be seated on the tatami and not on a chair, but eventually it became a habit and now she doesn't even think about it anymore.
She reached into her bag and pulled out a small notebook and a pen. She loved to just sit here, in this café, sipping her tea and scribbling down any ideas that popped into her head. That was how her entire collection had been born. Smiling to herself, she started sketching on one of the blank pages but was interupted when the owner of the café approached her table.
"Here's your tea, Kaoru dear." The kind lady said and the Japanese girl smiled brightly in return, thanking her. She came to this place so often that she did not even have to order anything. They already knew what she wanted: a cup of steaming Cherry tea.
"Can I have one of those Strawberry pastries too, please?"
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Post by Nagi-kun on Jul 21, 2010 0:08:31 GMT 1
While the older woman saw to the female patron's order, her granddaughter brought Rahmu his. He replied with a polite thank you and brought the cup to his mouth for a sip, tucking dark red hair behind his ear. The girl lingered a moment with a smile and asked, "How is it today, Mr. Nekoi?"
Rahmu lowered the cup back to the saucer and turned to the girl with another polite smile. "It's delightful, as always. Today's simply wonderful for outings, I couldnt pass it up no matter how busy I am."
The girl giggled a little and tucked the tray under her arm. "Still occupied with all those students again?" He simply smiled, folding his hand on the table with the other on his lap as he faced the girl. "How's that painting, coming by the way? It's for Ms. Tessa right? Granny was telling me about it the other day. Do you often take painting commissions like that?"
Rahmu reclined back in his seat and considered her questions a moment. "Well, I wouldnt say I do it all the time. Only when someone comes to me that would really like something done and cant find another artist among their preferences that is available at the time. The painting I'm currently working on is coming along rather nicely, though it'll still be another day or so before it's finished."
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Post by Kamalia on Jul 21, 2010 0:18:37 GMT 1
Kaoru watched the old woman move away again to get the cake and then turned to gaze out the window again. But before she could do that her eyes landed on a very handsome man sitting at the next table. Her eyes widened momentarily as she took in everything that he was wearing. She had never seen any man dress so stylishly before, except in old photographs of course. Immediately her pen went to work and she did a quick scetch of the man, who also appeared to be a regular customer in this café. 'How strange that I have never seen him before...'
When the old woman returned to Kaoru's table with the sweet pastry, the girl could not help but ask. "Nee, obaachan," She said, using the japanese frase for grandmother since that is what she had always called the other woman, "Who is that man? Do you know him?"
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Post by Nagi-kun on Jul 21, 2010 0:31:38 GMT 1
The girl went right on smiling at Rahmu and shifted the tray again, this time clutched to her chest. "Well good luck on your work than, Mr. Nekoi. Enjoy your tea." She bowed slightly and walked on back to the counter.
Rahmu sighed contentedly and picked up his cup for another sip, before turning his eyes out the window again with a daydreamer's smile on his face. Being so lost in his own fancies, he's scarcely noticed Kaoru's sudden interest in him, and idly stirred his spoon in his glass before dipping one of the shortbread fingers in his tea. He liked coming to this particular cafe because it reminded him so much of growing up with his adopted father, Professor Nekoi. He'd been taught proper etiquette from the man himself and they had often frequented such cafes to enjoy afternoon tea on sunny days. It was the nostalgia of that time that made him seem like he was daydreaming, and for the moment his current responsibilities were put from his mind.
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Post by Kamalia on Jul 21, 2010 0:44:39 GMT 1
"Ah, that is Mr. Nekoi. He comes here quite often. I'm surprised you've never seen him before." The older woman replied with a kind smile before leaving the table once more.
Now that Kaoru was left alone, she picked up her cup and sipped the hot tea. She wanted to talk to that man, Mr. Nekoi, but she had no idea what to say or how to begin. Whenever it came to approaching strangers, the young woman was always dreadfully shy. What if they thought her to be rude, or what if they didn't like her? It was a bit silly to think like that, but she couldn't help it. She had always been like that and probably always would be. Besides, with the way she dressed people usually came up and talked to her first.
She shifted slightly in her seat and turned her attention to the absolutely delicious looking treat that sat on the table in front of her. Picking up her spoon, she scooped up one of the strawberries while trying to think of some way to approach the man that sat across from her.
Finally she couldn't take it anymore. "Uhm.. Excuse me, sir." She called out to the man, her face turning a bright red in the process. "I was wondering..."
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Post by Nagi-kun on Jul 21, 2010 0:50:34 GMT 1
Rahmu snapped out of his afternoon reverie at the sound of the girl's voice and set the tea he was about to take a drink of back to the saucer. "Yes?" He inquired with mildly curiosity, wondering what the girl was....well, wondering. She seemed rather afraid to talk to him, and he found her timidity rather cute.
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Post by Kamalia on Jul 21, 2010 0:55:38 GMT 1
Kaoru's eyes widened when the man looked up at her. For some reason she hadn't quite expected him to take notice of her, even though she had spoken to him. Cheeks still flaming, she looked down at her own teacup while she desperately tried to think of something to ask him. Why had she called out to him without anything to say? She berated herself silently.
"Uhm..." Hesitantly she looked up again, her gloved hands fidgeting nervously in her lap. "Is that tea any good?" 'Oh god...' Was that really the best question she could come up with?
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Post by Nagi-kun on Jul 21, 2010 1:02:52 GMT 1
Rahmu blinked at the question, then smiled faintly when he realized what was really going on. He nodded and turned his cup so he could pick it up by the handle. "Mm, it is. And yours?" He asked, looking up at her over his glass, sounding friendly and hoping that calmed her down so she wasnt so nervous.
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Post by Kamalia on Jul 21, 2010 1:13:39 GMT 1
Kaoru blushed a deeper red. She really wished she'd had something better to say but was grateful that the man hadn't laughed at her at least. Still, she was so embarrassed and she almost missed Mr. Nekoi's question completely. Thankfully, though, she caught it. "Ah, yes!" She said quickly. "It's my favorite kind! Japanese Cherry." Was that reply too enthusiastic? She thought so herself at least. "Have you ever tried it?"
She did not quite know why she was so eager to speak to this man. Of course, he was very handsome and dressed nicely, but that alone had never been enough for Kaoru to conquer her fears like that. There was just something about him that made her want to get to know him... Besides, she could definitely do with some more people in her life.
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Post by Nagi-kun on Jul 21, 2010 1:29:45 GMT 1
Rahmu was slightly startled by her loud reply, and barely stopped himself from laughing at how her nervousness made her act overly excited. Setting down his cup, he decided to broach the distance and possibly aide in putting her at ease, rising gracefully from his seat and carrying his tea and shortbread fingers over towards her table. He paused beside her and gave her a polite gentle smile before he asked, "May I join you? It seems silly for us to be sitting apart if we're going to talk, dont you think?"
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Post by Kamalia on Jul 21, 2010 1:35:36 GMT 1
Kaoru watched nervously as the man got up from his seat and by the time he had reached her table she was fidgeting in her chair. This was what she had wanted but she wasn't sure how to handle a situation like this. She had already made a fool out of herself as it was and she didn't want Mr. Nekoi to think badly of her.
"Mm of course, have a seat." She managed to say. Even as nervous as she was she still managed to be polite. Looking up at the man through her dark eyelashes she hesitated for a moment. "Uhm... I'm sorry about this... I am not very good at talking to people."
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Post by Nagi-kun on Jul 21, 2010 2:06:41 GMT 1
Rahmu carefully sat down in the opposite seat, not to fast or too slow so as to not make her feel more nervous than she already was. He looked at her once he was situated and idly stirred his tea to give his hands something to do. "Well if it's any consolation, I never was very good at breaking the ice either. I learned how to though. It'd be rather difficult to teach people if I couldnt talk to them or look them in the eyes."
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Post by Kamalia on Jul 21, 2010 2:14:36 GMT 1
Kaoru smiled faintly at the man. He probably just said that to make her feel better, but it was nice. It sort of made her feel like she hadn't messed up too bad. Relaxing a bit more, she lifted her teacup to her lips and took a sip. It was true, she really did love this tea. It always managed to calm her down, no matter what.
"You're a teacher?" She asked, cocking her head slightly to the side as she regarded Mr. Nekoi curiously. Her nervousness was fading rapidly now that they were actually talking, but she knew that it could come back at any moment.
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