When It Rains by LM Bluejay
Splash of Hunger
A/N: So during the reconstruction I decided that I REALLY enjoyed this chapter. It was as fun to write as much it was to read, so I'm glad that I didn't completely trash it. Critics may come and go, but the story will still go on! That being said, if you've read it already move forward, otherwise enjoy...again! :)
Splash of Hunger
.
Kagome watched Gurinman’s head begin to burn red. The friendly confrontation he held with the restaurant’s manager had after fifty minutes or so spiraled to fiery heights.
“Again, I’m sorry, sir, but for the last time we’re all filled up at the moment.”
“I don’t care about that,” Gurinman snapped. “All I asked for was a glass of water.”
“Which you still can’t get until your party has been seated,” the man countered. “It’s like you haven’t been listening to a single thing I’ve said.”
“Oh I’ve been listening alright. Everything that’s come out of that hole you call a mouth always carries that same word can’t. You can’t speed up the service. You can’t seat anymore people. You can’t give a proper estimate of time for available tables. You can’t provide carry out. You can’t accept checks or cards. You can’t even let anyone waiting go use the restroom inside.”
“Well too bad you can’t have things your way, huh?” The man sneered.
Before Gurinman could explode a light hand rested on his shoulder. “I ah have a suggestion,” Kagome interjected.
---
They continued to wait patiently in line while the cashier tended to the customer ahead of them. The drive-thru was currently blocked off under reconstruction and they had arrived just in time during the middle of the lunch hour rush…with only one register open.
“This is ridiculous,” Gurinman checked his watch for the fourth time. “How hard is it to place a simple order?”
“Who knows,” Kagome scrolled through her phone, “but he sure is taking his sweet time, isn’t he?” The clock on her device showed it was almost a quarter to three.
The tall mustached man ahead of them wore dark shades and had a top hat on while his black overcoat barely grazed the floor. He had been looking up at the choices overhead on the screen for the past twenty minutes. Every time the cashier asked if he was ready to order he would point to a numbered meal before immediately shaking his head no.
“Is he unable to comprehend the menu or did he just not acquire the knowledge needed for reading Basic English?”
“It’s almost like the more you complain, the longer he takes to order,” Kagome teased.
“Yes, well if I don’t get to place mine soon heads are going to roll, dogs will whine, and world will burn with the intensity of thousand white suns…starting with this establishment if that buffoon doesn’t order soon.”
“Wow…someone’s really grouchy today.”
“You would be, too, if the last thing you ate was airline food almost forty-eight hours ago.”
She leaned against the rail and dug into her purse. “Well I trust you’re able enough to take care of yourself so to me that sounds like a personal problem.”
“Well look who’s being catty now?”
She casually shrugged her shoulders and popped a piece of gum into her mouth. “Sometimes you get what you give.”
“Next in line please!” They heard the cashier rang.
The man that was ahead of them had seemingly disappeared without their notice. Curious, Kagome scanned the dining area until she spotted him sitting at table in a corner. She couldn’t help but feel that something was awfully familiar about him. The man nonchalantly ate his food when he suddenly looked up in her direction. She quickly turned back towards the cashier, but felt the nagging sensation that she was being watched creep up her spine.
“Ah! Missus H!” The cashier instantly greeted. “Good to see you again. Will it be the usual?”
“Hm, not today Frankie. I think I’ll try buffalo strips this time. Medium meal, please.”
“My-my, how often do you come here?” Gurinman wondered aloud.
“Are you going to order your food or not,” Kagome smiled.
Frankie blinked several times before pointing an accusing finger. “Wait! You mean you two really are here together?” She leaned in closer to whisper. “Are you sure about this? Cause Sho didn’t seem too happy…”
“Sho?” Kagome’s eyes flashed. “When was the last time you heard from him?”
Frankie rocked nervously in place. “Oh, um…not…too…long…ago…I guess.”
“Enough with the chit chat already,” Gurinman broke in. “Food first, then your son is all I’m asking of you. The white flag has been raised. I promise I’ll submit to your every whim.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” Kagome huffed then turned back to Frankie. “And don’t you think for a second that I’m letting you off the hook. For now though can you please take this man’s order? I’m not sure how much longer he’s going to last.”
“I know what you mean,” she blatantly stared at his wrinkles and gray streaks. “Poor thing looks like he’ll croak at any second.”
“I’m not dying of old age!” Gurinman blurted. “All I want is food but everyone keeps denying it to me,” he cried.
“Say no more, pops,” Frankie grinned. “I’ve got you covered. So what’ll it be?”
He grasped her hands into his. “Bless you’re supplicant heart,” Gurinman sniffed. “Ms. Higurashi, please go find us a spot to sit and eat.”
“Aye aye, sir,” she saluted him before sauntering off.
---
Empty cup in hand, Kagome made her way to soft drink dispenser. It also just so happened that he was there as well. She watched him briefly ponder the assortment before electing on a particular mix. He blended in his extra-large container a half-and-half of Hi-C lemonade and Sprite. She only knew of one individual that did that, and coming across another person with his same build at his favorite place was a little too coincidental for her to just ignore. She brought her paper cup to the machine.
He pivoted, saw her beside him, and fled.
He’s so guilty it’s ridiculous. She growled in her head. With the pop filled up to the brim, she loosely plopped a lid on top of it and went after her prey.
The man was seated back at his table. Kagome set her cup down on the toffee plastic surface. She noticed him pretend to not to see her while he took a large bite out of his sandwich. During the over exaggerated process the thick bush over his lip slid to the side, and the sunglasses glided off his face.
“Aha!” She snatched the top hat and mustache up. “Caught you red handed. Did you really think you could fool anyone for long with that silly disguise of yours?”
He arched a brow at her and smirked. “Keh! I don’t know who you are, but you’re about a thousand years too early to be lecturing me, don’t you think?”
She jumped back so fast that she nearly tripped over the table behind her. “O-oh my gosh! I am SO sorry!” she hastily returned the hat and ball of hair. “I-I thought you were someone else…”
“Shhh.” He held a finger to her lips. “It’s all fine my dear. That was a very daring and spontaneous move you just pulled, and I liked it.” He smoothly grabbed her hand and kissed it. “People call me Howzer Cooch Tate, but you can call me tonight.”
“I think…there might’ve been a point of miscommunication down the line,” Kagome mumbled. The sudden closeness of the man left a pink stain on her cheeks. She couldn’t deny herself that the man was really good looking, but the little voice in her head kept reminding her that he also favored Sho. Though the man was definitely older, it was like staring at a future version of her son. Even the slight imagination of Sho flirting with her unnerved her to no end. “Alrighty then…this is awkward,” she mustered up a squeak.
“Well baby, it doesn’t have to be. I can switch up the tempo if you’d like.” She tensely shifted from him causing a slight frown to mare his face. “Do you not find this one attractive?”
Kagome sighed and crossed her arms. “I think you’re…fine…it’s just that you really look like my son.”
“Aw…what is he, like five?”
She fumbled with her fingers. “More like twenty-three…”
He took a step back and gasped. “You’re really that old?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“No worries, love. The older the cow, the richer the milk,” he winked.
She got ready to pounce, but Gurinman unexpectedly appeared between them.
“Have it your way my tush!” he growled. “I specifically said I wanted a double Whooper with cheese with no lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, mayonnaise, mustard, or buns, and to have the meat cooked medium rare with a slight roman burn on the edge. It wasn’t rocket science, but the cretin still called it a complicated order. The nerve of her! I have an eighth of a mind to go file a complaint to the management.” Gurinman did another brief visual inspection of the food in his hands when something odd caught his eyes. “And what on earth is this thing?” He scrunched his face up as he pulled a golden brown hoop from his fries.
“Ooh! Onion ring! I haven’t had one of those in ages.”
Gurinman watched stunned as the man took the piece of food and popped it in his mouth. “M-master Toga!?” The food tray suddenly hit the floor. The momentum caused a half sealed cup of Dr. Pepper to fling into Kagome’s dress. “What are you doing here!?”
“Oh…did you not get the memo? I’ve taken to touring the States,” he grinned.
--◘◘◘--
Prompt: Maneuver, Splash
Words: 1576