Me: Hi.
Kashino: What is this?
Me: A new story...?
Kashino: How can you be doing a new story when you already have so many?
Me: I... I really want to do this one!
Kashino: I can't believe you... You say that for every new story and then you abandon it later. It's like all your series are on permanent hiatus.
Me: You're so mean! Anyway everyone, I hope you guys like this story. :)
I do not own Yumeiro Patissiere!
Sweet Baby Blues
Chapter 1: It Is Done
He had to smile at the sight of her. Her beautiful chestnut hair cascaded gently around her shoulders. Her eyes shining orbs, the colour of warm chocolate, her lips full and pink. Ichigo's lips turned into a smile. "Makoto~" She cheered, holding up her skirt and rushing forward to him. Ichigo's dress was a beautiful strapless gown, fit perfectly around her waist. The skirt was long and trailed innocently behind her. The top piece was beaded with ivory beads and a beautiful lace veil went down the back of her hair.
Kashino held out his arms and embraced her, "Kashino-Amano Ichigo," He whispered gently in her ear.
She laughed, "I love you."
This girl was all his, his and his alone. "You're so beautiful," He murmured sweetly, running his fingers along her side, "I love you." He leaned forward and slowly kissed her.
The two had taken a car ride from their wedding reception to a stunning hotel in downtown London. The city lights reflected in the window. Letting go of him, Ichigo crossed the room and slid the curtains shut. "What would you like to do tonight Makoto?" She purred.
He raised his eyebrows, "What about you Miss Ichigo?"
She came up to him and laid a single finger on his chest. "Surely you know," she whispered, her words slurred together seductively.
Kashino wrapped his one arm around her waist and used the other to twirl her finger around her hair. Slowly, he pulled the veil out of her hair. It fell to the floor gently and Kashino reached his fingers to the back of Ichigo's dress. "Uh uh," She said, pushing him lightly.
He stared back at her, confused. "What's up Ichigo?" He asked.
She leaned forward, "Tell me you love me."
"I love you," He whispered, "I love you so freaking much, why else would I have married you today?"
Ichigo grinned, "Alright then, let's go."
XxXxX
"Ichigo..."
"Ichigo..."
"ICHIGO!"
The brunette groaned and opened her eyes, Kashino was above her, "Wake up lovely." It was 1 month after the two had gotten married, and they currently resided in Kashino's small apartment. The apartment was 3 blocks from their sweets shop almost in the center of London.
"Is it time to get up already?" She murmured, "I'm tired."
"You're always tired," Kashino laughed, he took her hand into his, "Come on now."
"My stomach's hurting," Ichigo whispered absently, still half asleep.
"Cramps?" Kashino asked.
Nodding slowly, she placed a hand on her stomach, "Yeah."
"Are you on your... girl time?" He asked cautiously, knowing if she was, she would be touchy about the subject.
She shook her head, "No. I'm not. My stomach is just cramping up, maybe it's something I ate last night..."
"Do you want to stay home?" Kashino asked gently, pushing the hair out of her face.
"No, I'll come," She answered, moving away his hands and sitting up. She felt dizzy, but she ignored it for Kashino's sake. Kashino helped her out of bed and she walked into the bathroom to get ready to go in for the sweets shop.
XxXxX
Ichigo walked arm and arm with Kashino to the sweets shop, she felt oddly weary and tired. Kashino had insisted he walk holding on to her because she had barely eaten that morning. "Come on Ichigo, you aren't feeling well, why do you insist on coming?"
"Because," She said, "The wedding shot our savings, we can't afford to miss work at the moment."
"Ichigo, the shop's not even open yet, we're still in the process of planning," Kashino sighed, "You can miss one day to rest."
Ichigo pouted, "I'm fine, I'm just tired because we stayed up late is all."
"You're so stubborn," Kashino smirked, they arrived at the sweet shop, he opened the door for her, "Go sit down."
She rolled her eyes, but she felt weak. As soon as Kashino let go of her, she slumped into a chair because she feared falling over. Ichigo rubbed her stomach aimlessly, "My cramps are really bad," She mumbled. Kashino looked around to see if their one employee at the small shop was around. He hadn't arrived yet. Kneeling down his kissed Ichigo's stomach sweetly, "Stop being a jerk girl time, if you're gonna happen, happen now. Stop messing with my wife."
Ichigo giggled, "Thanks."
"No problem," Kashino answered with a wink, "Now where's Michael?" He looked out the window, "We have planning to do."
"He's so sweet," Ichigo sighed, "not many people would take a job that hasn't even started yet."
"He's a big help with moving things in, it's too heavy for you," Kashino answered, looking in the kitchen cupboard for the planner. It had, 'Le Reve Couler' written in Ichigo's careful cursive handing writing.
"I'm here!" Michael called and Kashino heard the door chime, "What's up Kashino-san?"
Ichigo looked up from the chair, "Michael! How are you?"
"I'm fine, how are you?"
"Been better, just tired," Ichigo replied honestly, "Kashino's in the back getting the planner."
Kashino came in from the kitchen with the book and sat at the table. Michael joined them, "So let's get started, when will this shop have its grand opening?"
Kashino pursed his lips, "Honestly, with the amount of money Henri-sensei is giving us, I say at least 9 or 10 months. Maybe even a year."
"A year!" Ichigo exclaimed, "That's so long from now!" She bit her lip and Kashino knew what she was thinking, money.
"It's our only reasonable goal," Kashino muttered.
Michael nodded, "I know it may seem long off Kashino-san, but I say it's the best time."
"That'll be in July!" Ichigo continued, "Already half way through the new year."
"I have to agree with your husband on this one Kashino-san," Michael replied meekly.
Ichigo huffed, "Fine. Opening date decided, July what?"
"Uh, let's say July 10th for now, we'll see where we are closer to that time." Kashino decided, "Next, opening day sweets, what are we going to make?"
"Cupcakes," Ichigo cut him off, "I want to make chocolate cupcakes with cherries on top."
"Ichigo..." Kashino raked his fingers through his hair, "As much as I know you can make delicious cupcakes, I don't think it's a good opening sweet."
"And why not?" Ichigo snapped, "It sounds good to me."
"It's too... Boring. Plain." Kashino deadpanned, "Ichigo, be reasonable."
"Whatever," Ichigo replied moodily.
XxXxX
After a long day, Kashino dropped Ichigo off at their apartment, insisting she rest while he and Michael went browsing other sweets shops around the area. "Fine," She agreed grudgingly. She would have liked to come, but right now for some reason she felt nauseous and was in no condition to argue.
As soon as Kashino left she called Rumi. "Hello?"
"Rumi-chan?" She asked, biting on her lip.
"Yes Ichigo-chan?" Rumi replied, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm at home, do you mind coming over?"
"Is everything alright?" There was a pause, "You and Kashino aren't in a fight are you?"
"No! Nothing like that!" Ichigo mumbled, "I just need your help."
"Okay, be there in 15 minutes."
XxXxX
Ichigo answered the door and Rumi sauntered in. She was still single, but doing great. Her nails were painted a fresh shade of orange and she looked happy.
"What's up Ichigo?" She asked casually, sitting on the couch.
"I've been feeling really weird lately," Ichigo confessed finally, sitting beside her best friend.
"Weird? What do you mean?" Rumi wondered, she tapped her fingers on the armrest.
Ichigo sighed, she had been keeping things to herself for the past few days, but she couldn't any longer. "Please don't tell Kashino what I'm about to tell you."
Rumi raised her eyebrows, "Ichigo... It's not good to keep secrets from your husband."
"But this is really important and I think he'll just blow it out of proportion," Ichigo muttered nervously, twisting her wedding ring around her finger.
"Okay..." Rumi agreed finally, "What's up?"
"For the past few days... I've been really nauseous," Ichigo confessed, "sometimes when Kashino's working on something with Michael, I find myself in the bathroom throwing up."
Rumi's face was blank, "How long has this been going on?"
"For the past 3 or 4 days," Ichigo answered, looking down at her lap, "My stomach's been cramping too and I'm really tired. I've been checking, but I don't have a fever or anything, could this be some foreign sickness?"
Rumi noticed her friend looked really scared, she thought for a moment before it finally dawned on her what might be the answer, "Ichigo... I don't think you caught a foreign sickness."
"You don't?" Ichigo looked up at her friend, tears shining in her chocolate coloured eyes.
"I don't," Rumi repeated, "But can I ask you something a little... Personal?"
"Um... Okay," She waited for Rumi to ask.
"Have you and Kashino ever... You know..." Rumi felt her cheeks turn pink.
"You know what?" Ichigo asked densely.
"You know... That special thing married couples do..." Rumi cleared her throat uncomfortably.
Ichigo turned bright red, "W-well..." She stammered, "Y-yeah, but I mean it was only once and it's not like it's a regular..."
"I'm not judging you Ichigo-chan," Rumi stopped her, "It's just that, those symptoms you have..."
Ichigo leaned forward, "Yeah?"
"I think... I think you might be pregnant."
"WHAT?"
XxXxX
It took a while for Rumi to calm down her poor friend. "Deep breathes," She assured the hysterical woman, "There."
Ichigo sucked in air through her teeth. Rumi handed her a cup of tea, "W-why do you think that?" She finally asked.
"Well, those things you've told me are things that happen to pregnant women..." Rumi trailed off, her poor friend had tears in her eyes, "What's wrong Ichigo-chan? If I'm right, you're going to have a baby!"
"But... I can't!" Ichigo exclaimed, she leapt up, "We haven't even started our sweets shop yet! We have no major source of income... We can't afford to have a baby!" She swiped away her tears, "Kashino will kill me!"
"Calm down Ichigo-chan," Rumi got Ichigo to sit down, holding her hand she said, "You don't even know if you're pregnant, so don't jump to conclusions."
"Right," Ichigo replied slowly, "How do we find out?"
"I'll go and buy you a pregnancy test from down the street at the drug store," Rumi assured her, "And we'll really find out if you're pregnant or not."
"Okay," Ichigo sniffed, sipping her tea she smiled, "You're a great friend Rumi-chan."
"So are you Ichigo-chan," She stood up, "I'll be back in 5 minutes."
XxXxX
Rumi came back and Ichigo took the box from her. Opening it, she took the single white stick from the box. Taking a deep breath she looked to Rumi who nodded in support, "I'll be waiting right outside the door for you Ichigo-chan."
Ichigo walked into the bathroom, her hands shaking. She was so scared.
After a few minutes, Ichigo came out of the bathroom, her face unreadable.
Rumi hurried over to her, "So? What's the verdict?"
Ichigo handed her the stick, the colour drained from her face. "R-Rumi-chan..." She whispered, her legs feeling wobbly.
Rumi gasped when she saw it and dropped it to the floor. Ichigo leaned on her for support, tears pooled in her eyes, "I..."
"Ichigo-chan..."
Ichigo placed her hands on her stomach gently, "Rumi-chan... I... I'm going to have a baby."
Me: Thanks for reading! Please review!
Kashino: You'd better continue this if you've already started!
Me: I promise, I'll try!
Kashino: ... You'd better.
Me: Please Review!