Disclaimer- I don't own Inuyasha or Ristorante Paradiso

A/N: Okay until I note otherwise the rest will be spoken in Italian in my story. This takes place a little over three months after Ristorante Paradiso ends. Kagome is 22 years old now.

Piccoli Baci means Little Kisses

Italian Little Kisses

~ 7 Years 11 months Later ~

"Welcome to Piccoli Baci, where every meal is like little kisses to your taste buds." A busty, blonde hostess greeted the next party, a smile on her face. Smiling so hard, her eyes were squeezed shut.

Nicoletta snickered to herself, "Wow Stella, so this is where you work."

Stella's eyes shot open, her smile turning into a true smile as she let out a small girly squeal. "Aiie Nicoletta! What are you doing in these parts?" She yelled, hugging her childhood friend enthusiastically. Nicoletta was a childhood friend of hers and had helped her when she first moved to Rome from the countryside of Italy, but she lived on the other side of Rome.

"Oh just looking for a place to eat." Nicoletta said.

"Well Piccoli Baci is one of the best places to eat at ," Stella said.

"Well I'm glad I cam-"

"Nicoletta please don't run off so suddenly," an older gentleman with glasses huffed out, finally catching up to Nicoletta.

The rest of the Casetta dell'Orso staff came over along with it's owner. They had planned to eat out, since the AC broke again and an old friend of Lorenzo's was in town. However they were all surprised when Nicoletta suddenly ran across the street hugging a busty, blonde waitress.

It was a restaurant with several tables outside, each filled with customers of all ages eating delicious-looking treats.

"Oh my who is this," Vito said, he was a ladies man at heart, even if he devoted his life to his wife.

Nicoletta realizing in her haste to see her friend she had forgotten all about them.

"Oh, sorry about that guys. This here is my friend Stella, we grew up together, even went to cooking school together and she moved to Rome only month after me. Stella these are my friends I told you about before from my job," she explained introducing her friend.

Stella flashed them a gracious smile.

The woman was beautiful and had a bubbly personality about her.

"Hi, it's a pleasure to finally meet you all. Now don't tell me but you're...hmm Claudio," she said pointing at a the man who had been the first to cross the street, pale brownish blonde hair, glasses propped on the edge of his nose.

Claudio nodded surprised.

"Yes, and your Vito," she said pointing to a tall, bald man when he winked at her she giggled and ended up guessing everyone correctly.

"Well my aren't you good with names," a tall, older gentleman stated.

Stella blushed bashfully, "Not really, Nico here just talks about them a lot." She said using here nickname for Nicoletta, "however she's never mentioned you before, Mr..."

He had greyish black hair, kind blue eyes and held a cane in his right hand. "Romano. Christo Romano," he said holding out his hand.

She shook it in shock, "Y-you mean like the Christo Romano, head of Romano Wineries and Co."

Christo smiled, "The one and only...Are you a lover of wine?" He asked, wondering if she had tasted his latest collection of wine.

Nicoletta and the others were a little surprised to hear that, except Gigi and Lorenzo.

Stella shook her head, "Oh no, I mean I do drink some here and there, but I more of a strong type of liquor type of girl. However, my boss—Chef Romano loves your wine, buys tons of it for the—"

"Stella I've told you before about hogging up the customers with your chatter there are people who need refills," another busty waitress this one a brunette cut Stella's conversation in half.

"Aiyah sorry," turning back to them. "well I have to get back to work, but Nicoletta would you like to come and try some food? You said you were hungry earlier." Stella's eyes begging her to please say yes.

"Alright, only because that looks delicious," she said pointing to a giant sundae with fruits and sprinkles on it a waitress was carrying over towards a table.

Stella looked at it and smiled, "Yeah it is delish, made our beloved pastry chef Ricardo." She spoke with pride for her chef who she was an apprentice to, as she led them inside since outside was so busy. Two tables were combined together for them and Stella took their orders.

Nicoletta noticed right away that almost all of the waitresses looked like models and the only male waiter was gorgeous.

"Wow it's so delicious and perfectly paired with the wine," Nicoletta exclaimed when she got her food.

Everyone agreed, even Gigi silently did, since his whole plate and glass were empty.

Lorenzo quite pleased asked if he could thank the chef in person.

"Of course the Chef will be delighted," Stella bounced off to get the her boss.

~oOo~

~Kitchen of Pocolli Baci~

Kagome placed another order to go, as another waitress took it out the swinging doors.

Happy to have a break, she leaned against the counter, when the doors swung open again. It was Stella, a happy go-lucky girl who was an apprentice to her pastry chef Ricardo.

"Boss! Boss you won't believe it! You know my friend I told you about, the one who became an apprentice chef, well her whole staff came her and the owner loved your food and wants to thank you personally. The chefs were impressed, their plates were totally empty." Stella was practically gushing, she adored her boss and felt she should be more proud of herself.

The way she made beautiful pastries and cuisines was marvelous. Always having the perfect wine or drink to go with the meal.

Kagome nodded.

She had started Piccoli Baci from an APE to raise money for cooking school. Not wanting to depend on Maria more than necessary. Spent two years in culinary arts school before realizing she was better off without it. Managed to make enough to buy down a broken down cafe and build up her business. Now it was quite popular with the locals and one food critic from a local newspaper remarked her pastries were to die for, but she hadn't had another chef—other than Ricardo—comment on her food.

"Alright, if it will stop you from jumping up and down like a hyperactive bunny."

Kagome straightened her outfit, which wasn't exactly chef material, but it was more comfortable to move around in if she need to run to the store sometime. Wearing black capris a white cami, with a plaid shirt button down shirt over it, and an apron with the word yummy on it, given to her last year as a birthday present. And the name tag she received years ago from her brother was pinned to her apron.

Walking out into the dining area after Stella.

Kagome almost immediately froze, when she saw an older gentleman sitting at one end of the table.

Grandfather.

Calming her features and praying he didn't recognize her, which probably wasn't likely since he had never seen her before.

Not that she had been hiding or would if he found out who she was. Living here in Rome and growing up let her put aside her petty hatred towards her father. They spoke once every year now and Maria and her brothers visited during the summers and holidays.

Stella thinking Kagome was being shy, pulled her towards Lorenzo.

"Chef Romano, this is Lorenzo Orsini, owner of Casetta dell'Orso. Mr. Orsini, this is my boss and owner of Piccoli Baci Chef Higurashi-Romano" Stella introduced them.

All of the men were blown away. Especially since—not to be sexist—expected to see a man and she was beautiful. Her outfit was laid back for a chef, but the name tag said Chef Higurashi-Romano. She was young, could be mistaken for a teenager. Blackish, brown hair had been swept up into a bun with a few tresses shaping her heart-shaped face. And the bluest eyes they had ever seen.

"Hello, I just wanted to thank you for that delicious meal Chef Romano. Quite perfectly placed with the wine as well."

Kagome nodded, "It is nice to hear a fellow chef say that and there is no need to be formal. Please call me Kagome, everyone does," seeing Stella shuffling about she added slyly, "Except Stella here who should be acting like a good apprentice and coming up with a new dish for the Cooking competition next week."

Stella pouted.

"I was I promise. But Ricardo said I just kept making a mess of the kitchen and kicked me out again." Sending Kagome her best puppy dog eyes, not wanting to part from her dear friend who she hadn't seen in a while.

Kagome's hands moved to her hips and they had a staring contest, broken when an aged voice cut through the air.

"Higurashi-Romano an interesting last name."

Kagome's eyes darted across the room towards her grandfather.

The magazines didn't do him justice. He seemed more imposing in person.

"Yes a combination of my mother's maiden name and my father's last name," she answered. She could just imagine the gears spinning in his head. He'll definitely know.

Christo nodded and he knew he had found her.

Before he could confirm her identity another brunette waitress tranced over, "Kagome, Ricardo needs you in the kitchen. A party of ten is going to be here in fifteen minutes so we need those mini-cake patties started."

Kagome nodded, "Uh well it was a pleasure to meet you all, but work calls me," she bid them adieu hurrying back to the kitchen.

'So much for my break.' she grumbled once she was in the confines of her kitchen.

TBC. Review tell me what you think!