Ichigo had gotten a Sweets Spirit that very same day after her stunt in the kitchen making Mille Crepes. Her name was Vanilla and the little blonde fairy was waiting for her at the door of her dorm. Ichigo had taken an instant liking to this cute little spirit. She learned a fair amount from Rumi's Sweet Spirit, Sugar, about Vanilla.

Like, how Vanilla has short, pudgy legs, causing Kashino's sweet Chocolat to pick on her. Ichigo honestly didn't find anything annoying about that physical description and felt that Chocolat was just like her partner: they were both bullies who took some sort of pleasure in bringing others down.

Another interesting thing about Vanilla is how she becomes all rough and angry if you don't listen to her directions and screw up. Chocolat had chimed in and said she nicknamed her as "Spartan educator" because of her nature. This caused Vanilla and Chocolat to get into some sort of fight in which they swung around their spoon and fork like weapons. Ichigo had to yank her spirit away and felt Chocolat sink her fork in her hand, an aim meant for Vanilla. The little blonde spirit promised from that day on to avoid Chocolat if they ever got confrontational…for Ichigo's sake.

But in the mere measly couple of days, it isn't possible to get to know someone completely. And Ichigo forgot one BIG characteristic about Vanilla. Well…she just never found out about it.

Vanilla…can't hold in her secrets. She's a gossiper. Now she won't talk trash about Ichigo (although she won't hold back on trash talking others). She would just take a secret and use it as an opportunity to start a conversation when there is none or when she wants to change the course of a discussion when it is too tense. And unfortunately, Marron who is Miya's sweets spirit, had this same drawback as well despite her cold persona.

So Ichigo had confided in Vanilla about the plan she made with Miya, making her promise to not tell the students. She didn't want anybody knowing about their plan. But there was a loophole… she never said not to tell other spirits.

And so, Vanilla told Marron and the two were excited to gossip to the other spirits about what their partners were up to.

After saying goodbye to their partners, Vanilla and Marron flew over to Café, Chocolat and Caramel. As usual, Café was having some sort of existential crisis about his beauty, so they reveled in Chocolat's irritation and attempts to lower Café's ego.

When Marron let loose a small chuckle, Café snapped out of his dramatic fantasy and regarded the two female sweets spirits, offering them roses. Vanilla took hers happily, and played around with the petals. Marron scrunched up her nose and declined quietly.

"You just had to blow our cover," Vanilla shook her head, "It was so entertaining to watch."

An irritation mark formed on Chocolat's head and she swiveled around to the two spirits and asked rudely, "Oh yeah? Nice to know my pain was your entertainment!"

Vanilla rolled her eyes, only holding back because she remembered the last time she fought with Chocolat, Ichigo ended up getting hurt.

"Where are your partners, desu?" Caramel asked worriedly, "Shouldn't they be in bed?"

"Nice to know that you asked…" Marron grinned, "They're in the kitchen."

Café tilted his head in curiosity and asked, "What do you mean in the kitchen?"

"They're going to make a sweet for Kashino-kun," Vanilla beamed.

"But please, please, please, I beg of you three not to tell the Sweets Princes, or any student for that manner," Marron sighed in irritation, "The last thing I want is some possessed fangirl intercepting their plan."

The three spirits of the sweets princes nodded in a solemn agreement. What the five spirits were NOT aware of was a man with blonde hair and cerulean eyes who was seething in jealousy at the idea of Ichigo making sweets for a boy her age. Blinded by his anger, he never thought to ask the sweets spirits if Ichigo had any feelings for Kashino-kun.

He blindly went down the numerous hallways to where the kitchen was. He looked at his watch and it read 9:45 PM. About time for them to wrap up from making sweets.

The girls had neatly packaged the sweet into a pale pink box with dark pink ribbons. A few fancy hearts decorated the edges of the box but overall it was simple. Ichigo insisted that in order to ensnare the affections of a cold person, going too fancy will end up in a total failure.

But all Henri-sensei could see is that Ichigo felt something strong about Kashino, even after mere four days of school. And it angered him for some reason.

"Well I think that is it," Ichigo smiled as she had dried the last utensil and placed them up; Miya had placed the unused ingredients away. "I hope he likes it."

Of course, he will, because you made it with LOVE, Henri bitterly thought.

"Thanks! I hope he does," Miya smiled then blushed, "I think he will love it because you helped me."

Henri was gripping his pen so tight he snapped it in half. Looking at what he done, he chucked it in the trash can. Enough was enough, he decided to make his presence known.

"Amano-san, Koshiro-san, what are you two doing here so late?" Henri asked, eyes trained only on Ichigo.

Miya looked between the two of them and when she saw a tumultuous storm in his normally calm aqua eyes, she knew he was green with envy. But with what?

"I was helping Koshiro-san with making sweets," Ichigo lied smoothly, "She said she had this wonderful recipe she wanted to try out and I never heard of it before. Curiosity killed the cat, and I decided to tag along."

"Curiosity did kill the cat," Henri darkly mused over Ichigo's innocent use of the phrase, "And experimenting with emotions you don't know can do far worse damage."

Miya took her box and stood there awkwardly, refusing to leave until he acknowledged her to do so. When he nodded, Miya breathed in relief and grabbed Ichigo's hand, presuming that they would walk to the dorm together.

"Amano-san, stay. I need to have a word with you," Henri said in a low, even tone.

Ichigo's heartrate sped up as Miya reluctantly let go of her hand and slipped out of the practice room. When she saw the door close and see the footsteps pad down the hallway, she dared to turn around.

"Sensei, what's wrong?" Ichigo asked carefully.

"What's the real reason you decided to come here?" Henri asked.

"To help Koshiro-senpai make something for Kashino-kun," Ichigo said awkwardly, raising an eyebrow in suspicion.

"Why would you lie?" Henri asked, stepping near her.

"Because I didn't see you come here," Ichigo sighed, "And sensei, Kashino-kun also practices late, but he never gets called out. Why me?"

"Do…do you love him?" Henri asked cautiously.

"Wait what?!" Ichigo whirled her head around to look him square in the eyes, her eyes dancing in bewilderment.

Henri didn't say anything and Ichigo knew he was serious. Laughing a bit to herself, Ichigo untied her apron and hung it on a hook quietly.

"What?"

"You're jealous," Ichigo whispered quietly, "And quite frankly I do not know why. But for your happiness, no I do not love him. I couldn't fall in love in four measly days, and his rotten attitude and arrogant personality repulses me. A wonder what Miya sees in him, really. Hopefully she can change him."

Ichigo's eyes widened in shock when she heard her teacher of all people breathe a sigh of relief.

"Why are you relieved that I don't love him at all? What kind of gain or satisfaction does it give you that I have a poor luck with guys?" Ichigo asked quickly.

"I thought you loved him, that's why you tried so hard," Henri dodged her question.

"I poured my emotions in the sweet because Miya loves him, and I would do anything for her to be happy," Ichigo said.

"But you can't pour emotions that you don't have towards a person, in a sweet for them," Henri countered; he was well aware it was possible, but he just wanted to curb his jealousy that was eating away at him.

"Oh yeah? How about that sweet you made that I tried at the fair back near my sister's piano recital? You recreated a girl's first love, and according to your theory, you must be engaged or married," Ichigo said as a matter-of-fact.

"I have never had a girlfriend, fiancé, nor wife," Henri said coldly.

"Then how did you recreate such a tender emotion?" Ichigo snipped back; this was dangerous, getting all sarcastic with her teacher. But she can't help it when he's a jealous wreck, out of character for some godforsaken reason she has no idea about.

For the second time that night, he was silent. And Ichigo knew she won, but she had to announce her checkmate.

"You draw them from a reservoir of emotions you have accumulated over the course of your life. Me, well I never had a boyfriend and I am single, for your contentment. But I remember guys chasing my little sister and wistfully thinking how happy it must feel to be wanted by someone else, and to be in love," Ichigo said, "To pine over somebody and crave their love. And I used it for this dish I made."

"I have to go, sensei, and I hope all misunderstandings are cleared up now," Ichigo picked up her dorm keys and left without being dismissed.

But Ichigo was extremely wrong. If anything, her words have not done a thing to placate him, but to strengthen his love for her and the ever-growing possessiveness and jealousy Henri felt around her.

Instead of throwing water into the fire, Ichigo had enraged it by pouring in kerosene.

-x-

"So, did he like it?" Ichigo asked Miya on Monday.

"Yes! He took it and tasted it. He said it was 'decent'!" Miya exclaimed happily.

"It couldn't hurt for him to praise you, sheesh!" Ichigo sighed in irritation.

"I know but knowing him, it is the closest to a compliment I will ever get," Miya said.

The brunette placed a hand on Miya's shoulder and said, "Never think like that. I think you just need to keep trying. The fact that he didn't chuck your sweet in the trash can means you made some improvement, right?"

"Yes, he did actually eat the whole thing," Miya said, but frowned, "But maybe it is because you helped me."

"Why was he able to taste that?" Ichigo snorted.

"No, but you're talented," Miya sighed.

Ichigo shook her head and said, "I was merely helping you. You chose out the recipe, the ingredients, etc. You did everything. I helped you put it all together. This was all you, senpai."

"I guess you're right," Miya smiled, "Also helped that I didn't come on too strong. Remember last time?"

Ichigo nodded, recalling the moe mode Miya was in when she presented her last sweet. It could've thrown anybody off. Kashino had the worst reaction though.

"Yeah but that doesn't warrant him to throw your offering on the floor," Ichigo sighed in frustration, "I bet it tasted nice."

"Well that's the past, not like we can change it," Miya said, and knocked on Ichigo's dorm door, letting Rumi answer it for them.

"Hey you two, I will be going out for a bit," Rumi said, grabbing her purse.

"Why?" Miya asked.

"I need to get some ingredients to make a particular dish I want to make, for my boyfriend," Rumi explained.

"Have fun," Ichigo smiled.

When the door closed, Miya decided to get straight to the point by asking about what happened the previous day. Something about the look in Henri's eyes didn't sit well for her. It wasn't the normal concern a teacher platonically had for his or her students.

"I don't know, it kind of freaked me out too," Ichigo sighed, "He's our teacher, I don't know if he should be acting like that."

"I have a theory but it might be stupid," Miya said after a while of thinking, "But he might be jealous."

"How could he be jealous? His skills are superior to mine," Ichigo asked.

"I don't think he was thinking about that. He might….have romantic feelings for you," Miya said slowly.

"But how? We only met shortly before school began," Ichigo said, "And he's our teacher!"

"I have read enough manga to figure out that love like this, though not allowed, is possible," Miya snorted, "But seriously, you will want to look into that. Maybe I could help with that."

"But I don't know where to look," Ichigo said, "And if I am caught snooping around in his stuff, who knows what kind of punishment I will get."

"Maybe…we can coax out the information out of him, but not right away. Maybe give it some time. I could ask him or something but we will need to make sure we're very careful how we word our sentences," Miya said, "I might as well help you out since you are helping me out with gaining Kashino-kun's attention and hopefully love."

The two girls nodded and planned on how they would crack down the walls of Henri Lucas, a teacher who was considered an enigma to the students.

TBC…