Me: Good morning, to all you beautiful people! I as usual, would like to apologise to every one of my readers. I wish I could do that personally, but with all the love you guys have been giving me, and all of the views, and I always keep delaying my deadline to post new chapters. Happy late new year! :) What's your goal for this year?
Kashino: Great way of returning love.
Me:-Ignores him- Well, today, I try my best to return your love to you alllllllll! So without further ado, let's get started! I'll meet you down there! Happy Reading!
Kashigo (AU)
I heard the shop's bell ring, before looking up from my place, where I was placing the last of my baked goods into the counter. The strawberry tarts were selling like...well, strawberry tarts. The recipe was my grandmother's, which I'd inherited in the book, which I'd gotten from her. I remembered when I was a kid, I would come running from school because nobody there liked me. I would come to my grandmother who would give me this tart along with some other treats.
My eyes met with caramel ones, before I looked back down. Keeping another croissant into the counter, I secretly sneaked a peek at him. He had golden hair, which matched perfectly with those caramel eyes of his. He was wearing a turtleneck, with a scarf and a pair of jeans, which was suitable considering the weather outside. The cold air which had managed to come inside hit me, and I shuddered. It was absorbed by the warmth of the shop though.
I looked up again to find Caramel-eyes (Yes, I have a lot of creativity) looking across the counters, his nose scrunched up. He looked at me again, and I kept the last of the sweets inside before straightening up, and wiping my hands on my apron.
"May I help you?" I asked him politely.
"Um, yes. What is the healthiest thing you've got?" I internally scowled. You come into a patisierre and ask for the 'healthiest thing'?
"Oh yes." I went inside, before picking something up from one of the island tables. I came out of the kitchen and placed it in front of him. I smiled.
"A mint leaf?"
"You asked for the healthiest 'thing'. This is it." I was expecting a laugh, a small smile even. He just frowned before glaring at me.
"What?"
I sighed." Sir, this is a paatissiere. You need to choose something from the counter. I can help you to choose if you want to." His nose scrunched up again.
I asked him again," So?"
"So help me choose." He put his hands in his pockets, before looking at me expectantly.
"Strawberry tart?"
"Too sweet."
"Lime tart?"
"No."
"Honeycomb shortcake?"
"Eh."
"Napolean?"
"..."
"Bakalava?"
"Sweet."
"Macaroon?"
"Neh."
" Giving your attitude..." And I'm on the verge of loosing my temper.
"Nuh-uh-uh customer knows best."
"...I would suggest the Chocolate and Chili Devil's Tart." I plastered a smile on my face. Ichigo, remember your motto. No customer unsatisfied.
"Sounds interesting."
"Of course it does." I pinched myself. I hope he doesn't get it...
"...Yes. One chocolate and chilli tart please. Eat in."
"It's a Chocolate and Chili Devil's Tart."
"Whatever." I frowned before smiling again, atleast he chose something.
I handed it to him in a small plate, before asking him if he wanted it sliced. He said yes.
"Okay. Eight?" I looked at him when he nodded. I sliced it daintily into eight pieces before handing it to him, as he handed me the money.
"One last thing..."
"Yes?"
"I can't eat it alone." I looked around, bewildered. Was he asking to share with me?
"Wait..you mean?"
"Yes." He had a stotic look on his face, which rarely was giving away anything. Whereas I was sure that my face had become completely red.
"O-Okay." We sat down together, near the window, which displayed the night view of the city. He picked up a slice, offering it to me. I took it and waited for him to start.
Was I to know this would change my life?
XxXA Month later XxX
He used to come in everyday, sharply at 7 o' clock evening. Not many people came in at this time and when they did, he would wait for me to finish. And yet, the only thing I knew about him was that he was a doctor or a nurse. He didn't tell me that, instead I'd picked up the smell of spirit alcohol used in hospitals. Oddly enough he too hadn't asked me any information about myself. He'd come in, and I'd have his tart ready, sliced into eight pieces, which we'd shared equally and I'd start pouring all the things a I did in the day and he'd keep on nodding.. Once he'd asked me why I didn't put more chili in and I'd reasoned because sometimes kids took it. Which was a lie. So the next time, I made some red chili praline which I'd blitzed and poured it over four slices generously.
Flashback~
"Extra chili?" He'd asked his eyebrow arched.
"Yes." I'd replied proud of myself. He wanted more chili? He would get it.
He ate a bit before coughing. I almost laughed. I talked about a man who very rudely had accused me of ruining his girlfriend's birthday, before I picked up a slice without looking at it. After I ate it, (popping it into my mouth, the whole thing) it was chaos. It BURNED. I chaotically pointed at my mouth as he was laughing. That was the first time I'd seen him laugh.
He ran to the kitchen to get a tumbler of cold water, which he'd forced me to drink by holding me by the waist. And putting my fingers around the glass, still supporting it with his fingers. After I'd calmed down, he'd burst out laughing. And I sat there, as red as a tomato and grinning like an idiot.
End of Flashback~
It was already forty minutes past seven, and I was getting anxious. He might have had an important case, right? I kept back all the sweets, excluding one of his tarts, slicing it and seperating all the slices as he did. The 'OPEN' sign was still facing the door, just in case. I went into the control room, and repeated the video for that day and repeatedly watched him laughing on screen.
XxX An Hour later XxX
It was now forty minutes past eight. I was tired, and I'd already put the dough for my mini baked donuts for resting. I was dozing off now and then I heard the door open.
I got up, thinking it to be him. He walked in a sleepy matter, as if sleep walking and was going to fall off if I hadn't caught him. He leaned on me, and now I realized how much taller he was than me. I could just barely reach his shoulder and as he leaned on me, his breath fanning my hair and as I could feel those tiny bits of his (incredibly) soft hairs. I realized that I was breathing directly beneath his ear, his chocolatey scent overcoming my senses, before I smelt something else...was that alcohol?
"Are you drunk?"
"No." His voice was slurry, and it was clear he was a bit tipsy.
"Not even a little bit?"
"...Maybe." He confessed as a small kid would. I smiled. I made him sit down before I got him his chocolate tart and sprinkled some more sugar on it. Sugar counteracts alcohol. I took it to him before putting one near his mouth. To my utter surprise, he didn't open his mouth.
"I don't know what you're putting in there."
"Of course you know. I made one in front of you once." He picked up his chair bringing it nearer to mine, as I edged towards the window. He came closer before whispering "You cheated then."
"I did not."
"Okay." He opened his mouth and I fed the tart to him, piece by piece. It came to the last piece, which he refused. He took it from me, made me take a bite and then ate the rest.
"Okay. Let me tell you something. My name is Satsuki Andou. I'm an architect to be specific. I'm 23 years old. And I'm addicted to you .I do not know why, but I'm addicted to you." I glanced into his glazed eyes.
"You're lying." I said. I could feel my eyes brim up with tears. After all of this, after I probably poured my whole life out in front of him?
"You're lying." I repeated before getting up and trying to walk over to the kitchen, before his wrist grapsed mine.
"How do you know? How do you know anything about me? I never told you anything."
"Let me go."
"Tell me. Please."
"I saw your ID sticking out of your pocket. I clearly says that your initials are MK. If you can lie to me about your name, why not everything else?"
"Why do you care? Why do you care if I tell you the truth or a lie? Why?"
"I don't know...I-I just don't know." He got up at this.
"Why?!"
"I care about you, okay?! You think I'd still be here if I didn't? It's 9 o' clock! I wanted to wait for you, I was anxious if something happened to you, if you were hurt in any way! I don't know why!" I felt the tears come down, streaming down.
He hugged me, my tears soaking his shirt. I let my arms be on my side, and he broke the hug, before using his thumb to wipe off my tears.
"C-Could you tell m-me the t-truth?"
He smiled, a real smile, before saying,"My name is Makoto Kashino .I'm a neurologist. I am 23 years old and..."
"..and?"
"And I AM addicted to you."
I felt my cheeks warm up, and I felt him tilt my chin up. He came closer, before closing the distance between us. I could almost feel as if my heart would burst. It was beating so fast, I'm sure he could've heard it. He broke the kiss before chuckling.
"You look like a red lamp."
"Mou..." I pouted.
He hugged me again, and I could swear he said something along the lines of 'I love you'. But I could wait. I smiled, before kissing him again, relishing the taste of the chocolate mixed with the chili flakes.
AU
Satsumi (This one's for you Sona-chan!)- Hidden
I entered the classroom, hoping for some change. Which went in vain. As usual, Kashino was irritating the new student, Ichigo-chan who was on the verge of crying. Andou sat with his partner, kana-chan, glue on both their fingers. I wasn't late. Ever. I walked up to my seat, as I sat alone I had no partner to look forward to. Our teacher, Eko-Sensei came in, trying to stop the chaos which was going on in the class of grade 10. A girl( maybe smaller than me) walked behind her, her orange hair coming up till her back, and round glasses adorning her face. Sensei motioned her to introduce herself, and she cleared her throat.
"Hi, I'm Katou R-Rumi. Hope you t-treat me w-well." She bowed down with this.
"Rumi, you may sit next to...Hanabusa Satsuki. Satsuki-kun please raise your hand." And I did. She came next to me and sat down in her seat, which was also next to the window. I leaned a bit towards her, grinning.
"Hi." She looked at me before returning the greeting. She's cute.
XxXxXxX
We've been texting. For days. I'd taken her number the first week, after I'd had the guts to( like Id' ever admit it.) I kind of like her, she's not like other girls. She's different...in a good way.
My phone pinged, and displayed the new message which was read out by a program made by Andou. 'Hey, Sats, meet us in an hour at our spot. We have a dare for you. -Taks' Takuya? Seriously? I opened my messages to text hi back. 'Seriously? What now? You want me to give a rose to someone?' Send. I recieved another one.
'The opposite.' I internally smirked. This might be a good one.
"Hey." I greeted the five people in front of me. Andou, Kashino, Takuya, Keichiiro and Naoki. They all nodded in response. Kashino, Andou and I were close, and so were the other three. Kashino and Andou...looked pissed off for some reason.
"Ah...Satsuki, come on in!"
"What'd you do to piss them off, Takuya?"
"Just told them about your dare."
"..What is it?"
"You know Katou? Rumi? The new student?"
"What about Rumi?" I asked, my tone louder than before. Calm down.
"She's going to ask you on a date." My eyes widened at this. Rumi?," When she does, you reject her."
"Wait, what? Why?" The three started getting up, as my eyes turned to Andou and Kashino for help.
"You're known to never turn down a dare, Satsuki. Don't let this one girl spoil that reputation." He whispered, beside me before walking away with the other two. As I looked back, I found Kashino and Andou getting up to go. They both stopped when they were passing, and said," Don't do it."
"Rumi!" I tried running after her, stopping as I felt something wet on my cheek. Was she crying? Because of me? I never wanted this to happen. I heard footsteps behind me. Lots of them.
"Well done, Hanabusa. Now I can go and be her knight in shining armour." Wait what?
"What do you mean, Takuya?"
"Come on, Hanabusa. Don't be so naive. I told you to reject her so I could "rescue" her. What else do you think I dared you to do it?"
"You're a dirty scumbag, Takuya. Let's go from here Andou, Hanabusa."
"No, Kashino. Wait. You told me to reject her, so you could prey on her when she's vunerable and weak? You little-" Kashino and Andou did their best to hold him back, as he lunged at the older boy, who was smirking smugly.
"Language, Hanabusa. You don't want the whole school to know that you hurt a girl because you were dared to, right?" His face fell at this. Kashino and Andou felt his body go limp in their arms. They watched as the older boy walked in the direction Rumi had run and let go of the one inn their arms, who instantly fell to his knees.
"We warned you." Kashino said, before pulling Andou with him and walking off, leaving Hanabusa alone.
"I'm sorry, Rumi." And with that, one single crystal-like tear escaped his eye.
5 Years Later
"Oh Hana-kun!" I listened as I was passing through the corridors of my college. Hana-kun? like Hanabusa Satsuki? A single tear went down the length of my face, as I walked forward, clutching my books, my heard lowered with my black-dyed bangs covering my face. I was frightened to cry anymore, for fear of the contacts I was wearing, which coloured my eyes black.
Me:And that's it! I hope you liked it. And I have lots to tell you about! I (finally) finished Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and I absolutely loved it! I also love you guys because you actually requested for stories of your choice! And i am so sorry to the readers whose requests I couldn't follow up with, I'm working on them and I will post them very soon! How'd you like the chapter? Had any more ideas which you might want me to put on paper? Or...you computer/phone screen maybe? :)
Kashino: And?
Me:Oh yes, if you have a smartphone, please don't forget to download the FF app, and you can read TFAA chapters now OFFLINE!
Kashino: Or you can go to other people's stories, people who actually UPDATE ON TIME-glaring-
Me: I again am sorry for not updating. I promise it'll be faster the next time. Well, I do hope you guy-
Kashino:Eh.
Me: Let's get on with the reviews!
Reviewers' Corner~
1 Sonata-Devil- I PROMISE YOU YOU"LL BE GETTING A PM FROM ME VERY SOON. I don't have any more excuses. I hope this chapter and the Satsumi part make up for the times I haven't uploaded. Love you. please leave another great idea! :)
2. Song Butterfly Girl- I love your profile picture so much. I am so sorry for the late update and I'd like to tell you that I am aware of Shugo Chara, but i haven't even completed one season yet, and so I thought it may be wrong of me to write about characters whom i don't know much about. Please forgive me for this. I hope you have any more ideas which you'll be leaving for me! Love you!
3. Kitty-chan- I owe an apology to you too. you've been with me since the last few chapters, doing nothing but encouraging me. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me for not writing about your request, and I promise it's on the top of my to-do list. I love you and hope I haven't lost you yet.
4. LucyPevensie- thank you Lucy-chan. Hope you like this chapter.
And to every one of my readers, I'm sorry. For not updating in the past. And also for the future, because I cannot update till the end of march this year, due to academical reasons. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please leave any ideas you want to! I know not many of you must be waiting for this chapter any longer, but here it is. I love you all, and please don't leave me. Have a very good year!
Signing off( Not for the last time),
~Sweet-chan.