Disclaimer: I don't own Kitchen Princess, or its characters. Natsumi Ando does.
Story: She missed Sora and he reminded her of him. He hadn't felt such kindness or caring for himself since his late wife. Daichi just wants to support them both, but doesn't know how. Akane is just trying to be a good friend.
Set as an AU after Najika gives the Director the salted sweets, and no Daichi/Najika parts.
Spoilers: Yes, for the whole series.
Warnings: ?
Pairings: The Director/Najika, strong past Sora/Najika, side (minor?) Seiya/Najika, and Daichi/Akane…
Salted Caramel Chocolates
Chapter One: Paella Sweetness
"The only person…who can support Daichi is you."
Because…you're family.
"That's…true."
It had been a long time since anyone had shown any kindness to him. And longer still that someone had cared enough to care about him. Kazami Najika had so kindly thought of him, enough to make these salted caramels specifically for him.
He had thought it enough that she was able to get his son to eat even a little, but then to offer comfort after, when he had reluctantly been vulnerable and had a moment of weakness in front of her…There was no judgment on her part, just quiet understanding.
"Salt…is an important ingredient that complements the taste of food. Lately, it has been hated by many who say that it's unhealthy…but we need it…to survive. I think…parents…are like that salt. It's a basic ingredient in cooking…but no one is grateful for it. But it's essential. It's…something very important."
Those words were like a soothing balm to his soul. And the flash of happier times…picking up a smaller Daichi up into the air, the two of them smiling happily at each other…It's been so long since he'd felt and remembered such happiness.
"…That's why…I want you to stay cheerful for Daichi."
She'd then handed him a bunch of some of the only sweets he'd ever liked.
"The only person…who can support Daichi is you."
Shocked and thankful, he stared down at her, with her holding up her offerings. Her words made him see her in another light.
"That's…true," and so he grabbed one from the bunch and ate another one of those delicious little treats she had made especially for him, watching as she smiled genuinely at him and feeling his own expression soften.
The salted caramel melted in his mouth deliciously and he closed his eyes in pleasure, relishing in the taste. When he opened his eyes again, she was still smiling at him. And he remembered how she was being so kind and sweet to him, despite how he'd tried to ruin her life and tear down her dream. He hadn't realized he'd gone even closer to her than he had been, where instead of being just an inch away he was a breadth away. He saw her startle at his close proximity, but before she could question it and before he could change his mind, he was leaning over her and pressing his lips to hers.
Her lips were supple against his, and he was easily able to move his lips against hers without resistance. She initially hadn't responded to him, but after a moment or two she was hesitantly pressing back. One of his hands moved to the small of her back, gently guiding her closer. Within seconds, he'd had her pressed against his body and could feel the slight shivering of her body. And then he was testing waters as he prodded his tongue against her lips, which finally broke the moment.
She jolted back, and he could see her wide eyes and her look of confusion. Inwardly, he felt ashamed at himself and guilty at what he'd done to her. Along with feeling shame at his actions, he was also mortified at the whole thing. This had been his deceased son's girlfriend, and he had tried to take advantage of her when she had only been trying to be kind to him.
"I'm sorry, Kazami-san. That was inappropriate and wrong of me. Please forgive me," he murmured, hanging his head as he backed away and moved around his desk to be slightly opposite her with it in between them.
"D-Director…it's alright. I…I'm okay. We can just forget about it…and I promise I won't say anything to anyone," Najika gave him a small smile, but he winced.
"Thank you…but I'm more worried about how you feel and what you're thinking," he pushed.
He averted his eyes, but turned to look at her again at the soft touch of her hand on his shoulder, the distance between them having been somewhat closed once more.
"I promise I'm okay." She was smiling kindly at him again, and he horribly had the urge to kiss her for a second time. "But…um, Director? I have another request. I want to ask you a favor. Could you make something for Daichi to eat? Eating with family…is the happiest thing you can do. I want Daichi to be happy…I want you to be happy too, Director."
He was standing in front of her again and looking down at her sweet face; the urge to kiss her seemed to be unwilling to go away, especially when she kept saying such wisdom and kindness towards him.
"…Daichi likes rice. Is there something easy I can cook, with rice?...I've never cooked before and never stepped into a kitchen," he admitted.
Her smile turned brighter and he couldn't help smiling back in return, even if it was a much smaller smile.
"There's paella. There shouldn't be too many ingredients, but there's still a good amount, I think. But it's something where you can throw anything in, and it's fine," she looked to him for approval and he nodded.
"Is there a recipe you've made of it? Perhaps it would be best for me to follow your lead," he asked.
She beamed happily at him and started listing off ingredients and instructions, but he tentatively reached out and touched her arm, stopping her.
"Maybe you can just teach me instead?" he hesitantly asked with an even more hesitant smile.
She blinked in surprise before giving a just as hesitant nod in return.
"I think it would be best to try cooking this at the Fujita Diner, so that you can immediately go to sleep afterwards. It's late already and you shouldn't be out in the dark by yourself. This way, you're already at 'home.'"
"Ah, t-thank you, Director. That's fine with me. Um, some of the ingredients aren't at the Diner though. Should I go buy some?"
He shook his head. "No, it's alright. We'll just pick it up from the school's kitchens and then head over to the Diner after. Is that fine with you?"
After Najika agreed, he nervously, though it was hidden, offered his arm to her and she looped hers around it. He escorted her to the kitchens, where they made quick work gathering ingredients, and then went outside to walk in the dark to the Diner. It was cold that night, so Najika was shivering. Though it was for a different reason, it brought back to mind her earlier shivering. He immediately pushed away those thoughts and focused on being a gentleman, wrapping the arm she'd been holding around her shoulder, pulling her closer and offering his body warmth, and giving her his other arm to hold. He had to again push away the less than unsavory thoughts that threatened to bother him.
Once at the Diner, she turned on the lights and took off her jacket, before she started to prepare the pans and other equipment they were to use. He watched carefully…though his eyes tended to stray towards just her often.
"In Spain…paella…means 'shallow pot'," Najika talked as she started to cook. His eyes didn't move from her. "Vegetables, meat, seafood. Anything is fine. We throw it in a pot…and cook it with rice, olive oil, and saffron. All the tastes blend together. It's delicious."
She was finally done preparing the ingredients and everything else, the last thing she did being arranging the squid, shrimp, and bell peppers neatly on top of everything before covering the full pan with a lid and leaving it heating in medium heat.
"We'll have to wait 12 to 15 minutes for it to finish, before finishing the final step," she told him. "Then I'll help you do it on your own."
He nodded and she went to go wash her hands, with him still watching her.
"Director…Don't you think…paella is like life?" her voice was soft and she wasn't facing him, still at the sink and washing her hands slowly. "You put everything together that happened, good and bad, and cook it."
She turned off the sink and turned towards him, smiling sadly.
"And…paella isn't good when you make it for yourself," she strode closer and took one of his hands in both of hers, holding it up between them. "That's why…it's something you make a lot of to share with family. So please…take care of yourself and talk to Daichi."
"I promise to make this for him and I'll really talk to him," he echoed her sad smile. His eyes turned soft as he gazed at her, and she flinched and moved away.
He looked at her in confusion and she looked at him in apology.
"I'm sorry, Director. It's just…right then, you really looked like Sora-sempai. I guess his eyes came from you…"
She looked down and nervously started fiddling with the front of her apron, as he stared at her. For the something time that night, he was hesitant. But there was nothing to lose, not really. So he took the leap and didn't look back.
Walking to her, he stopped her fidgeting hands. He waited for her to look up at him, and once she did he brushed back her hair behind her ear tenderly.
"You loved him deeply, didn't you? I'm sorry, Kazami-san, for everything. I shouldn't have tried to hurt you so. I know he loved you just as much. So please…if it would ease you or help you in anyway…if you could find solace in it…I could make you happy tonight," he almost ended in a whisper. "I could pleasure you and you could pretend I was Sora. I will not speak a word, not a whisper or sound to break the illusion. In the darkness of the night, in your darkened room, you could easily mistake me for him and I will go along with the fantasy. A chance to be with him, like you couldn't before."
And he was doing this for her, for Sora, and for himself who craved the comfort and care and sweet kindness that she so freely and willingly gave and continued to give to him. He felt guilty for the things he'd tried to do to her, so he wanted to make it up in any way he could, even letting her use him and for her to find any comfort she could from him. He wanted to let Sora have this chance at being with her, even if it was only in his son's image.
And it would be the first time in so long that he would be with someone who genuinely cared for him, even if it wasn't exactly 'him'.
"Director…"
"If we were to continue and if you chose to do this, perhaps it would make things less awkward if you were to just address me as Masahiko…N-Najika," he undecidedly called her.
She nodded an okay so he relaxed.
"Masahiko-san," and in a way, just by saying his name, she had already given her answer. "I…o-okay," she confirmed.
She tentatively turned to their food and watched it, indecision warring on her face. He reached over her and turned it off, and took her hand, waiting for the next move. She swallowed down her uncertainty and nervousness and started to lead him to her room after taking off her apron. Pulling a small 'door' from the ceiling, she pulled down the ladder and climbed up on it. He followed her, entering into the small space.
He winced, recalling he'd been the reason for her new 'room', if it could even be called that.
They sat quietly on her bed side by side, just stewing in the doubtful atmosphere. And then slowly, they began to take off their clothing. It seemed too much like a business transaction and he didn't like it. So he took over and stopped unbuttoning his own shirt, and turned to her, gently laying her on her bed and startling her. He slipped off the straps of the cute plaid dress she'd worn, and moved it down her body. In the darkness, he could barely see the outline of her, but the warmth of her body reached out to him as he started to undress her underwear as well.
For her, this was just a surreal experience. His lips devoured hers, and she could still taste the lingering salty caramel he'd eaten, trustingly tasting a sweet she'd made especially for him. The warm hands on her hips squeezed gently and then were traveling upwards, cupping her breasts and letting warmth seep into the mounds. She squeaked at the unfamiliar action, new to any sexual touch. She'd never let anyone touch her like this, and the farthest she'd ever gotten was the forehead kisses she'd shared with Sora. But as his large hands started massaging them, she moaned into his mouth and arched into him.
Her mind could hardly understand her decision and process what she was doing with the Director, but then Sora's smiling face flashed through her mind and she could easily pretend that the Director was his son and that right now she was with Sora…and not Masahiko.
It was dark and cramped, and in the darkness, with features so similar to his son's, she didn't have trouble picturing Sora and imagining him being the one touching her.
Started 8/30/11 –Completed 8/31/11
EDIT 9/1/13: Just in case, edited out sex scene to comply with guidelines.
A/n: BTW, ages are upped. Sora was 17, and Akane, Daichi, and Najika are 16. Yes, the Director's second wife is still in the story, so expect trouble. Since he was never given an official name in the series, I named the Director Masahiko (because it's become my new favorite name ^.^). For some reason, I am extremely interested and obsessed with this pairing…
