Subject: [kffdisc] Hiding In Plain Sight Date: Sat, 01 May 1999 04:04:07 -0400 From: Miss_Led Reply-To: kffdisc@onelist.com To: kffdisc Post So here it is!!! My very first RK fan fic! I hope you guys like it, I've got lots more planned for these two if I get positve feedback on the matter. Thank you to all of those ppl that did not think that I was crazy for seeing something between Sano and Tae. Comments, compliments and criticism are always welcome. ^^; I'm a beginner so I still need to sharpen the pencil, so to speak. Hee, hee. Enjoy! Miss ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ This fanfic is based on the story and characters created by Watsuki Nobuhiro. I’m just borrowing his characters for a spell, no copyright infringements were intended. I’m not getting paid for this Kiddies! This is my own private obsession! ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Hiding In Plain Sight By Miss_Led Part1 ^^^^ Tae opened the side door to the restaurant and stepped out into the bright afternoon sun. She paused for a moment to adjust her eyes, tightening her grip on a large handled bucket as she did so. She hurriedly walked over to the well to draw some water for the dishes. She was dropping the bucket over the edge when a large shadow engulfed her small form. Surprised, Tae instantly looked up to see the newcomer. The sun shrouded shadow moved to the side and took the rope from her hands. She smiled, realizing that the tall figure was Sanosuke. She watched his hands as he raised the line and pulled the bucket over the side well. Such strong hands, so kind and gentle, but when he was angry, they were capable of such violence. She studied his long muscular fingers remembering the day they had caught her after a drunken customer had hit her in the restaurant. He had fought the man with one finger and won. Then had left again without paying the bill…….. Just then a deep voice broke into her thoughts….."Yooo!! Tae-San! Are you going to stand there all day or are you going to tell me where to take this?” Sano raised the bucket and pointed at it to emphasize his point. Tae looked up to encounter the bemused expression on Sano’s face. She flushed a pretty pink. “Gomen, Sanosuke-kun.” She looked at him guiltily and rushed back into towards the restaurant. At the door, she turned and motioned for him to follow. Sano watched her scurry off. He sighed wondering about the way she had blushed when he caught her staring at his hands. He held one of the strong appendages up to examine it’s callused palm. ‘Why? Did my hands cause her to pause like that? No, never, Tae-San would never think of me…’ Not finding any answers in the deeply lined palms he sighed. Shouldering the bucket, he walked at a casual pace into the back resturant. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ “Sanosuke-kun!” A smiling Tsubame ran up to greet him. “Tae-San said you could leave the water over there.” She pointed to a stack of dishes in a nearby corner and their accompanying washtub. Sano had just placed the bucket down when Tae stepped into the room to pick up a tray of food. He smiled mischievously. “Oi! Tae-San! What’s for lunch today?” Tae turned to look at him, once again a gentle blush colored her cheeks. ‘Me.’ Tae was ashamed at herself and her mental answer. It was so quick she had no time to stop it. The implications that went along with it were too much for her already confused heart to handle. ‘Why am I blushing? I can feel it! I don’t know what’s come over me today…Just because he protected me from a bunch of drunk, would-be politicians….But he’s so STRONG!’ Tae was staring at him again. It was unnerving the look she was giving him. Her eyes were wide and filled with longing, they appeared almost wistful. The blush was a rosy glow on the pale softness of her face. Sano regarded her quietly. Her tongue escaped her mouth to dart over her lower lip. Its quick pink motion drew his gaze. Tae slowly pulled her sluggish mind back together. Her eyes focused once again, only to realize that Sano had asked her a question. At that precise moment the said Sano was intently watching her lips. She nervously wet them once again as her insides began to shiver. Sano’s eyes narrowed, the look on his face grew almost painfully fierce. Sano watched once again as the wet tip of Tae’s tongue anointed her lips. His insides clenched painfully as he grew more and more aware of the woman before him. He abruptly turned away from the delectable sight of her mouth, struggling to regain his cool, calm detachment. “Che, Tae-San,” He looked over his shoulder into her surprised face, “I said ‘What’s for lunch today?’” The mischievous, boy-like grin was back in place. Upon the realization that he had only come for another free meal, Tae became instantly annoyed. “Sanosuke,” she exclaimed sharply, “if you keep coming here expecting free food, you had best be warned that you will have to work here to pay off your debt sooner or later!” With that she gave him a stern look and marched out the door to serve her customers. All the while the claws of anger and pride warred within her. She walked up to the table of patrons awaiting their meals and fairly slammed their food down in front of them. The patrons looked up at her with no small amount of fear. Tae had never looked so angry before. She went around to various tables collecting dishes and cleaning. All the while she could be heard muttering to herself…..”Ingrate, freeloader!……So what if he has wonderful hands………expecting to eat for free…………he’ll pay me yet! Baka!” She headed back towards the kitchen to be met halfway by the Ingrate. Sano gave her that boyish grin once again. He took the heavy load of dishes from under her arm, shrugging at her look of surprise. “Oi, Tae-San,” He looked into her eyes saying softly, “you know I don’t eat for free.” He turned to leave the room, smiling at a startled group of customers looking between him and Tae who was blushing once again. Sano stopped and looked over his shoulder. “I’m your personal bodyguard, remember!” He winked and went through the door. Tae made a sound of frustration, then sighed in exasperation and defeat. A small smile worked its way across her face as she called after him firmly, “Sanosuke! You have been warned!” His head poked back through the door as she walked towards the kitchen. She gestured to the side, “ Now go find a seat. I’ll have Tsubame serve you.” Sano smiled triumphantly and walked to his favorite dinning cove in a shady corner of the room, close to the door. He sat down brusquely and lazily leaned against the wall. He looked out over the well-liked establishment, noticing for the first time the heat of the mid-summer day. He fanned himself and quietly gave into thought. From the kitchen, Tae watched his lazy actions through the open doorway. All the while she scolded herself for giving into his boyish charm once again. She forcefully remind her that her thoughts of this gentle giant would lead to nowhere she ever wanted to visit again. She directed her mind to the task of washing dishes before she could give into the pain of memories long ago. The heat in the back room made the air heavy and thick. She ignored it as best she could. She took all of her aggravation out on the large stack of dishes, utensils and woks to be washed. She was sweating profusely, but she still kept on, her annoyance with herself a lingering demon in her mind. Her vision started to blur, next then Tae knew she was falling in to the waiting arms of darkness. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Author's note- This'll most likely lead into some lemon scenes, but I'm tasteful, so don't freak. There will also be some unexpected plot twists and mayhap a fight or two.....You never know.......