She glances up at him as he stretches across the bar and holds his lit lighter out to her. She accepts, puffing once, twice, tension hanging heavy between them like the smoke escaping her plump lips. Her eyes roam over him, as if searching for something, before a small pout graces her features. With a frustrated sigh, she takes one last long drag of her cigarette before putting it out in his popcorn.
"You Bit-"
"Another shot of tequila, Aino-san?" The bartender cuts him off, placing a slice of lemon beside her empty shot glass, before refilling it to the very top. Aino-san drains it one pull before suckling on the lemon.
His trousers are suddenly a bit tighter.
The bartender clears his throat and with a nod of his head, picks up the tequila bottle, and moves to the end of the bar where he pours a single shot and places a new bowl of popcorn on the table. When he follows, the bartender asks, "What's your name?"
He raises his eyebrow and takes a seat. "Nao Kobee."
The bartender pushes the shot towards him. "Well, Nao-san, I suggest you forget her."
Kobee's eyes narrowed in distrust. Was this man a contender for her heart? He could not deny that the bartender was handsome with his long mane of silver hair and ice blue eyes. Even in his apron, with a dishtowel hanging over his shoulder, the man looked intimidating. Still, a challenge is a challenge. He puffs his chest out and asks, "What's it to you?"
The bartender lets out a deep, chuckle in disbelief and rests his forearms on the bar. "Let me tell you about her." His head turns towards Aino-san and there is something ages old in gaze. "She comes in here every night and every night men flock to her. One by one, she shoots them down. She is quite the topic of gossip around here." He scowls before continuing, "Some say she is cursed by her beauty, always the one night stand, never the soul mate. Others say she is waiting for her one true love to return to her."
"What do you believe?"
There is a sadness on his features as he answers. "I'm not sure that I believe any of those silly tales. What I do know, though, is that she only drinks alone."
A boyish air cackles around Kobee as he says, "I think I'll ask her to dance."
"Don't take it too hard when she turns you down." The bartender is grinning now.
Kobee sighs in disappointment before draining the shot and exiting the bar without leaving a tip. The bartender is unaffected, however, this is a nightly occurrence.
The rest of the evening passes uneventful and he spends it tending to his customers and washing glasses. It is nearly closing time and the bar is empty save for Aino-san who is draining the last bit of her drink. He is mopping the floor near the exit when she gets up off the bar stool and sashays towards him.
He inhales deeply at her soft, floral scent and she smiles sweetly at him. "Goodnight Kunzite. See you tomorrow."
As she leaves, Kunzite feels the hope he's been withholding all night crash down upon him. Night after night, he watches her turn down man after man, unsure of what she is looking for.
And all the while, it's been standing right in front of her, begging for her to realize just who he is.
