Dulcetshipping (Ishizu Ishtar/Kawai Shizuka/Kujaku Mai)

. . .

"You're putting a lot of work into this," Mai said, looking over the mess across the counter. "It's just going to get eaten in a few seconds."

Shizuka blushed, but she kept stirring.

"I think it's nicer this way," she said. "That way we can personalize it, too."

It was a quiet, sunny day in Shizuka's kitchen, surprisingly bright for a February morning. The sunlight dripped through the windows and across the mess of ingredients and bowls all across the counter, where the pieces of what Shizuka called "operation valentine's chocolate" were strewn across almost every open space.

Ishizu turned around from the counter with the bowl full of the dry mix.

"I might have over poured a bit of sugar," she said wryly. "But I doubt Jonouchi and the others will mind."

"I'm sure they won't," Mai said with a roll of her eyes. She stole one of the little bits of raspberries and popped it into her mouth.

"Mai-san, we need those," Shizuka said.

"It's a waste on the boys," Mai groaned, spreading out over the clear part of the counter. "They probably won't even appreciate how much work went into making homemade chocolates."

"Well, then, you have nothing to lose seeing as you're not working on it yourself," Ishizu teased.

"Oy, keep that up and I'll eat all of the chocolate before you guys can give it to your unworthy brothers."

"You're welcome to have some when it's done, of course, Mai-san," Shizuka said with her trademark cheer and lightness. She looked very cute with her hair pulled back in a bun, which was slipping a bit to let a few framing strands dance across her cheeks. She had a bright pink apron on that complemented her red hair nicely. She had offered one to Mai, but Mai knew better than to get near a kitchen lest she set fire to whatever Shizuka was working on. Mai's expertise lay in instant noodles and takeout. Ishizu admitted she didn't know much about cooking either, but she could mix ingredients, and the recipe overall wasn't a huge job. After the dry ingredients were added to Shizuka's melted concoction, Ishizu wandered over to where the CD player was playing the dulcet tones of some old classical music that Ishizu had put on, to skip ahead to the next song.

"This is boring," Mai said, not really meaning it.

"You could try helping," Ishizu said with a half smile, knowing that Mai was just being annoying for the sake of it.

Mai stole another raspberry piece.

"Mai-san, we need those," Shizuka said, laughing.

Mai just smiled at her.

"Oh, it's going to be fine," she said. "That brother of yours will eat anything."

"Oh, I hope so," Shizuka said, looking suddenly nervous. "I've never done this before...I hope they don't taste too bad..."

Mai smiled again, pushing off of the counter so that she could scoop Shizuka briefly into a one-armed hug.

"He's gonna love it," she said. "Don't worry so much."

She booped Shizuka on the nose and Shizuka giggled, which made Ishizu smile too.

"Don't worry," Ishizu said. "Besides, even if they don't taste very good...he'll probably eat them anyway because they're specially made from you."

"Oh, but I want them to taste good!" Shizuka said. "And I'd hate to send you home with some for Marik and Rishid if they don't taste good..."

Ishizu laughed and joined in on the hug for a moment, catching Mai's eye with a sparkle in her own.

"It's going to be fine," she said.

"And I'll be happy to taste test them when they're done," Mai said.

"Who said you get to have any when you didn't help?" Ishizu teased.

"Oh, it's okay, Mai-san can always have some—she's here for moral support!" said Shizuka.

"Yeah, Ishizu," Mai said with a grin. "Moral support. That's a big job."

Ishizu just rolled her eyes in such an un-Ishizu-like way that Mai had to chortle out a huge laugh, almost knocking all three of them over.

"I'm glad you guys came to help," Shizuka said. "Oh! Ahh, sorry, I have to get the raspberry bits in before it hardens!"

She wriggled free and and scurried to the counter, and then it was back to work on the Valentine's chocolate.

. . .

A/N: Just in time for Femslash February! Next is Driveshipping (Marik x Mai).