A Whole Latte Love by ForgettableFox
A Whole Latte Love
Moonbucks Coffee Shop and Bakery was exactly how one would imagine a trendy, hipster java joint in the center of downtown Tokyo. Located down the street from the infamous Shibuya Crossing, the building had been an old postal depot that had been renovated. Large enough to accommodate the ever-revolving crowds, the space was a delightful mixture of industrial charm and modern chic.
The walls were exposed brick, dark and rustic, which were a beautiful contrast to the finished, concrete flooring. Edison lights hung from the visible wooden beams; providing a cozy atmosphere, and illuminated the local artwork strewn across the shop. Tables and chairs were made from steel and reclaimed wood, but the look was softened by thriving flora, tenderly cared for by the Moonbucks’ team.
Perhaps the favorite renovation for those who visited, was the delivery bay. The old garage doors had been replaced with a floor to ceiling sliding affair. On days where the weather was beautiful and mild, the doors would be thrown open, tables and chairs would be set outside, and the hustle and bustle of the city would infuse the space. Occasionally, the soft crooning of a live band would suffuse the shop with acoustic melodies.
On the far wall, was a massive work counter. It was covered in every coffee-making device available – from high end brew stations to French presses – and endless syrups, confections, and add-ons. Moonbucks boasted the capability to make any morning beverage on request and a huge chalkboard listed out their current house specialties. They had coffees, espressos, teas, juices, and smoothies. Each more delightful than the last. And of course, all beans were ethically and single-sourced. They came from Kenya, Costa Rica, Indonesia, and from other exotic lands – and were roasted in-house until they were baked to perfection.
The air smelt of sinfully rich dark roast with a hint of vanilla.
It was divine.
A plethora of pastries lined a display case beside the register, tempting those out of their caloric deficit to take part in their sugary goodness. That is where a well-dressed demon king stood while he waited in line to place his order. Citrine eyes caressed over a cinnamon roll, oozing icing, and he wondered briefly if the taste was worth getting his fingers sticky.
Sesshomaru had been coming to this establishment from the beginning, and found comfort in both the atmosphere and the routine. The employees knew him by sight and they were quick and efficient in having his order ready for him. It was something he admired about Moonbucks, they didn’t dally with your order and always got it right.
He was an ancient creature of habit and order who took pleasure in life’s tiny competencies.
So, imagine his disgruntled surprise when his usual barista was not there to greet him.
“Hello! Welcome to Moonbucks, what can I get started for you today?” asked the chipper barista behind the register.
Sesshomaru frowned as he took her in. Raven black hair, pulled into a high ponytail, was juxtaposed to sun-kissed skin. Her face was dappled with a smattering of light freckles that accented her cerulean gaze. She wore the standard uniform for the Moonbucks team – black shorts, magenta tank top, with dusty blue apron – but she somehow managed to wear it with the same elegance and zeal one would an evening gown at a gala – stunningly, and with an abundance of confidence. He couldn’t remember seeing her before; but, then again, he never claimed to be the most observant demon in the land – regardless of his status of ‘King’.
“Sir, your order?”
He blinked and cleared his throat. “I will take a cinnamon roll with my usual…Please.” He threw in the nicety for good measure – he was feeling magnanimous today.
The woman – Kagome, he saw on her nametag –giggled and went to grab his cinnamon roll. “You must be a regular. Sorry to say, but I’m new and I have no idea what your normal order is.”
Sesshomaru let out a ridiculously dramatic sigh. Partly because he was annoyed that he had to walk her through her job – she should just know these things, damnit – and partly because he couldn’t actually remember what type of drink he normally ordered. He had been coming here for two years. Usually he walked up, nodded at his usual barista, she said “The usual?” he would nod, pay, and be on his way.
He glanced around the coffee shop, searching for his normal barista in the morning commotion. If only he could remember her name!
“Where is the other female who typically works the register?”
“Oh, you mean Harle? She’s on vacation to the Caribbean for the next few weeks with her family. They hired me as a replacement in the meantime.” Kagome beamed at him and handed over the sugary pastry.
The Demon King’s brows furrowed as icing glided over his thumb. He sucked it into his mouth. The barista’s smile wavered as she watched, wide eyed. “What type of beverage do you recommend?” he asked, perusing the long menu on the chalkboard behind her.
The question pulled her out of her reverie. “Oh! Well, everyone seems to love our Shakerato Affogato.”
“What is in it?”
“It’s our finest espresso poured over vanilla ice cream, and topped with another pump of vanilla syrup and a mint sprig.”
He considered momentarily, then said. “I will take that as well.”
“Coming right up! What’s the name for the order?”
“Sesshomaru.”
Kagome grinned as she wrote his name on the cup. “Perfect. That’ll be $15.”
Sesshomaru paid for his items, then stood to the side with the rest of the riff-raff waiting for their first hit of caffeine.
The Moonbucks team behind the counter orbited one another in organized chaos. He watched with mild curiosity as Kagome skipped through the mayhem, putting this and that into his cup.
Finally, she called, “I have a Shakerato Affogato for Shiba Inu! Shiba Inu, your coffee is ready!”
They made eye contact.
She gave him an innocent smile.
He grimaced at the snickering he heard from the other patrons.
He walked forward to grab his beverage.
“Here you go. Have a wonderful day!” she said brightly.
“My name is Sess-ho-mar-u. Not, Shiba Inu.”
“Oh,” she said with a grin. “My apologies. I’m sure I’ll get it right next time.”
With a small wave she hurried off to fulfill her next order.
Grumbling as he left, he took a sip of his drink and was delighted to discover – it was delicious. He supposed he could forgive the barista’s laps in listening abilities just this once.
~oOo~
“Good morning, welcome to Moonbucks. What can I get started for you today?” asked Kagome the following morning, a smile splitting her face in two. She wore her hair in messy curls that framed her face.
Sesshomaru, who still couldn’t recall what his usual drink was, said, “Good morning. I will take another recommendation from you today…Please.”
Her smile grew impossibly wider. “Hmm, how about our whiskey barrel aged cold brew?”
He nodded.
“Name?”
He frowned. “I informed you yesterday.”
“Yes, but it seems affogato your name,” she laughed. “Get it? Affogato – like I forgotto. A play on your coffee order yesterday?” She wiped a tear from her eye. “I am too funny.”
“So you can remember my coffee order from yesterday, but not my name?” he asked flatly.
“Hmm, seems that way!” She giggled.
Sesshomaru did not see any humor warranting laughter. He sighed. “My name is Sesshomaru.”
Kagome wrote his name on the cup. “Got it.”
“Not Shiba Inu.”
“Understood.”
He paid and moved aside. He hoped there would be no repeat of yesterday’s ridiculousness. Once again, his eyes were caught on the way Kagome moved behind the counter. Flittering and fluttering around her fellow coffee connoisseurs, she made his drink with practiced ease.
She strolled up to the counter and called. “I have a whiskey barrel cold brew for Machu Picchu! Machu Picchu, your drink is ready!”
They made eye contact.
She gave him a guiltless grin.
He sighed with unequivocable irritation.
He slogged forward to grab his beverage.
Sure enough, the wrong name was written in sharpie on his cup. “How did you manage to get Machu Picchu from Sesshomaru?”
“Excellent question – have a good day!” Handing him his drink, she zipped back to her station behind the register.
Sesshomaru scoffed and took a sip of his cold brew. His mouth was filled with heavy notes of chocolate and oak – coupled with the dark coffee, it was a pleasure to consume. He scratched at the stripes that slashed his cheek in contemplation. He had to admit, that girl could make a damn good cup of coffee.
~oOo~
“Good morning!” smiled Kagome, “What would you like to order?”
Sesshomaru had spent that evening combing their extensive menu so that he was prepared for this very question. Meeting her gaze he said with authority, “I would like a pumpkin spiced latte with two pumps of caramel syrup, topped with whipped cream, cinnamon, and a caramel drizzle…Please.”
He enjoyed the way her eyes widened and she giggled under her breath. “Sure, can do. Name for the order?”
He was doubly prepared for this one. “Sesshomaru. S-e-s-s-h-o-m-a-r-u.”
Kagome’s face exuded mischief. “Sesshomaru. Got it.”
“Not Machu Picchu. Not Shiba Inu. I have spelled it out for your convenience.”
She nodded graciously. “And I appreciate it.”
With that, he paid and moved aside.
Sesshomaru was enraptured by the way she moved. The act of making his drink had become an artform of the highest caliber. She shifted along the counter, stretching and pouring and gliding in a way that felt like an interpretive dance. But the emotions she was interpreting seemed to elude him. Her ponytail swung playfully behind her as she worked.
“I have a caramel PSL with all the fixings for Tiramisu! Tiramisu, your drink is ready!”
They made eye contact.
She gave him a cheeky smirk.
He rolled his eyes to the heavens and prayed for patience.
He stomped forward to grab his beverage.
“Now I know that you are doing this on purpose. Is there a reason you are butchering my name? Or are you doing it merely to annoy me.”
She handed him his drink. Her smile was soft. “Just to annoy you. I’ve seen you come in here a few times before and you just look pretty miserable. Thought I could liven up your day a bit. Hey, wanna hear a joke?”
“Not particular–”
“What do you call a sad coffee?”
He sighed. “I do not know. What?”
“A depresso.”
Sesshomaru couldn’t stop a snort from escaping him.
“That was hardly funny.”
She winked. “If you really thought so, then you wouldn’t be smiling.”
And to his chagrin, he found that it was true.
~oOo~
“Good morning! Welcome to Moon–”
“Good morning, Kagome. I finally remember what my usual order is.”
She quirked a brow. “And what would that be?”
“A large, dark roast coffee – black.”
A laugh was startled out of the barista. “You’re telling me, you couldn’t remember your usual drink all this time – and it was just a plain, black coffee?” She shook her head. “You’re a mess.”
“Yes, well, it seems I have been stuck in my routine and not paying very much attention to things around me.”
“Don’t worry, we’ve all bean there before. Name for the order?”
He chuckled – both at her terrible joke and her question. “Does it matter?”
Kagome shrugged, “Probably not.”
“Then put whatever you desire.”
She wrote something down that he was unable to see.
He paid and lingered patiently with the other caffeine addicts. The Demon King couldn’t help but smirk at the way Kagome went about making him his ‘usual’ drink. She bit her bottom lip, sighing at the pitch liquid as it poured into the cup. Sesshomaru was already waiting at the counter when she approached.
“Sesshomaru, here’s your plain, dark roast coffee. No cream. No sugar. Black as the lowest level of hell itself.”
He took it from her, curious to see the name she put on his cup this time. To his surprise, a phone number was written on it instead.
She grinned. “If you’d ever like to go out sometime, let me know. I like you a latte, and think we could have some fun.”
Sesshomaru wiped a hand down his face. “Will there be more terrible coffee puns?”
“I guarantee it.”
He laughed. “Excellent. Then I shall text you this afternoon. Have a good rest of your day, brew-tiful.”
Kagome’s laughter followed him out of the shop, and he felt lighter than he had in a very long time.
~oOo~
A/N: Happy Birthday, Brew-tiful Lady! Words cannot espresso how much fun I had writing this for you.
Thanks for reading!
<3FF