Chap 31

Happy Birthday Inuyasha, part 4:

Place: Castletown

When Captain Kenichi got the word from Jaken that there would be a thousandth birthday party for his best friend he rushed to tell Nikki. As he entered the "Cake Demon" shop, he took a minute to appreciate his wife's workplace. Everything was sparkling clean. Her employees were dressed in chef white jackets, their names embroidered under the "Cake Demon" logo. Comfortable multipocketed pants completed the uniform. Kenichi appreciated a handsome uniform. He had worn a uniform since he moved to Castletown. His wife liked them too. Kenichi smiled looking for his bride.

Nikki was in the middle of the midmorning rush. Sporting her regular everyday chef's jacket with sleeves rolled to the elbows, she chatted to her regulars, new customers and adoring pastry connoisseurs. She had been experimenting with a sweet and sour breakfast pastry that won every demon who tried it. The demons had been talking up this new treat so now all the hanyous and humans in town were clamoring to try it. She had been challenged to keep up with supply and demand. Her response was to dominate it.

Capt Kenichi found her "reigning over her pastry domain", positioned where she could see all her workers and customers, her hands on her hips, a smile on her face. She looked up and saw her mate and her smile grew bigger.

"What's my handsome husband want?" she quipped. "Need another of my sweet and sour treats?" She winked suggestively.

"Hi Dad," Jalen called out from the open kitchen door. "This batch is hot out of the oven. Do you need me to save you one?"

Capt Kenichi smiled as he caught sight of his "mini me" now a teenager. Also dressed in the "Cake Demon" uniform, Jalen may have looked like his dad but he took after his mom's talents. An apprentice in his mother's shop he was quickly surpassing her other students and well on his way to becoming a partner in the pastry enterprise . His son was balancing a new tray on his shoulder while walking through the swinging doors from the kitchen to the sales floor.

The surrounding crowd parted so the Lord Protector could get to his family.

Capt Kenichi made a quick count of the number of tarts on the sheet and the number of customers in the store. Seemed there might be a spare but he called out, "Anyone mind if I grab one?"

"Help yourself, Lord Protector."

"You're so kind to ask Captain."

"Enjoy your wife's baking. I would if mine could bake." The old man who said that looked around carefully to see the look on his wife's face. "Oops," came a soft exhale as the woman elbowed him in the gut.

"Now, now," Kenichi laughed. "No blood shed in here."

The old man's neighbors laughed at the little display from the couple and then resumed their positions in line.

"Jalen, watch over the counter please. I need to talk to your mother," Capt Kenichi asked politely.

"Sure thing Dad. Here's your tart." Jalen passed the tart to his father in a napkin. "Remember to put the paper in the recycle bin. That's the new recyclable stuff Bobby sent us to try out. Supposed to breakdown in 24 hours or less. We're beta testing it for him."

Jalen turned to the crowd and told them of the recyclable napkins while Captain Kenichi led Nikki to the kitchen. He took a bite of the tart and sighed, "Woman, you made something amazing when you made these. Yummy."

Nikki smiled as she watched her husband's facial features. Finally, she spoke.

"I'm happy to feed you anytime Love, but you just left an hour ago to go to work. What brought you home so soon?"

"Inuyasha," Capt Kenichi replied just as he took another bite of the tart.

"What about the Prince?" Nikki pressed.

Capt Kenichi was still chewing the large bite and was unable to talk with his mouth full.

Nikki pressed. "Is he okay? He's not ill or something?"

Kenichi nodded no. He kept chewing.

"Is it Lord Sesshomaru? Is he okay?"

The blood hound again nodded that the Lord was fine. He sped up his chewing.

Nikki wanted an answer. "Husband! Is he coming to visit or something? Do I need to start cooking for the entire brood or just the two of them?"

Capt Kenichi finally swallowed the large bite and answered his wife's questions.

"He's fine and so is his brood. Sesshomaru talked him into celebrating his millennial birthday."

The squeal of joy could be heard outside the bakery's front doors. Jalen peeked into the kitchen to assure himself and the customers that everything was fine. He witnessed his mother jumping on his father and locking lips. He shut the door quickly.

"Don't know for sure what that was all about but Mom was happy about it," Jalen told the crowd. "Now, step up and get these tarts while they are hot!"

The crowd grabbed their prized tarts, paid and left. Within a few moments the store was empty. Jalen called out to his parents through the door.

"Everyone is gone. The other students are on coffee break. I locked the door and put up the "closed" sign. Can you tell me what's going on?"

Jalen didn't have to wait long.

Nikki rushed through the door and grabbed her son. Swinging him around like he was still a child she squealed, "We get to make "The Cake!"

Jalen's eyes bulged. "Really, Mom?"

"Your father said Inuyasha is allowing Sesshomaru to throw his 1000th birthday party!"

Then it was Jalen's time to whoop loudly.

"I've wanted to make one of these cakes since— well — forever!" He jumped for joy.

"Mind filling me in on what's happening?" Kenichi asked warily. His wife's and son's response was a bit more than he had anticipated.

"Dad, I saw this amazing cake in a bakery magazine. It was so cool. I showed Mom and she said that it looked cool but it would have to be for someone really important. I don't think there is anyone more important to the two of you than Inuyasha," Jalen smiled knowingly.

"Don't sell yourself short, Baby," Nikki cooed. "You will always be our number one VIP."

Jalen blushed. "Thanks Mom. You guys are the best." Then after a quick hug he added, "When can we get started?"

Capt Kenichi laughed. "Time for me to go back to work. I can tell you guys will be busy for a few days, planning and creating. If you need me to, I'll pick up carry out for dinner."

But Nikki and Jalen were already head down, drafting and sketching ideas for "The Cake".