TITLE: Cooking Exercise

AUTHOR: MikeJaffa

SYNOPSIS: There's spicy, super spicy, pass-the-fire-extinguisher spicy…and then there's Jo.

AUTHOR's NOTE: I'm getting used to how my new computer does and doesn't work with . And it seems to have worked well. So, dear reader, all you have to worry about is putting down anything you eat or drink for the next couple of minute and enjoy the story.

DISCLAIMER: Burst ANgel is owned by Gonzo. I am making no money off writing and publishing this fic.

8

8

8

Sei's eyes widened in surprise as she came into the trailer. Kyo was there, watching with Jo and Meg as someone else worked at the stove. She recognized the interloper as Hayao Ichimonji, the boy from Kyo's cooking school.

"What's going on?" Sei asked.

"Hi, Sei," Kyo said. "I've told Hayao here how Jo loves spicy food, so he's making his, what does he call then, supernova Buffalo wings…"

"It's a secret family recipe," Hayao explained with a smile as he focused on his work, "so spicy it is barely fit for human consumption. My grandfather told me only to make it for people I wanted to kill. I think this might be spicy enough for ol' Jo here. And they're done."

Hayao picked up a plate and held them up in front of Jo. "Here you are. But be very careful."

Jo eyed the wings skeptically. Then she picked up a wing, took a small bite, and chewed thoughtfully.

At length, Jo swallowed. "Call this spicy?" she asked.

"Yeah!" Hayao said.

Jo shrugged. "Well, whatever." She picked up a bottle of hot sauce, spread some on the wings, and walked away, munching contentedly.

"No way!" Hayao said. He put the plate on the counter, picked up a wing, and took a big bite. Big mistake. Hayo thrashed and jerked as he chewed, obviously in pain. Looking bored, Kyo got a 2 liter water bottle out of the fridge and waited until Hayao had swallowed. Hayao downed several gulps of water.

Sei smiled. "Very gentlemanly of you not to say it, Kyo. Let me know when dinner is ready." She headed up into the cockpit.

"'Scuse me." Meg pushed past Kyo, stuck her head in the fridge, grabbed a plate of leftovers, closed the fridge, and headed after Jo.

Hayao leaned against the counter. "I hope this doesn't get you in trouble, Kyo, but if you're not in love, you must really want to get to France."

Kyo rocked up onto his toes and back onto his heels. "Welcome to my world," he said.

THE END