Chapter 3

I am sooo sorry about this being so late! I had no time at all these past quite a few weeks. Projects, no sleep, school, the list goes on…. knocks on wood I think the workload is dying down, so I should have more time to write.

Thank you to: silverymare, rogueunlimited, and Black Spell for your reviews!!

(I'm so sorry I spelled Syaoran's name wrong! )

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The kitchen was full of different smells blending together. Pots boiled on the stove, and steam rose to the ceiling. The stove wasn't very big, but it was the latest model. A fire burned brightly underneath the metal plate that warmed the sauce and noodles.

A helper walked into the kitchen, carrying some wood for the fire. He set the wood in the flames and smelled something burning. It didn't smell like wood, but…

"Madam! Your sauce is burning!"

"Oh dear! Oh dear! I'm coming!" Grandma called. Footsteps were heard down the hall.

"Umm…" The helper, unsure of what to do, took his shirt in his hands and grabbed hold of the very hot pot. He almost dropped it when he turned to the table.

"Thank you dear. Set it down here." Grandma motioned to the glass holder she had placed on the table. "I'm so sorry. I was talking and forgot the time."

The helper set down the pot and shook his hands to cool them.

Grandma took hold of his hands and looked at them. "Oh dear. Do you want something for this?" His hands were turning red and a few blisters began to show.

The helper was about to shake his head 'no' when the front door opened. Sakura walked in and saw them.

"What happened? Are you ok Masahiro?"

"Will you grab some ice from the icebox? He burned his hands helping me."

"Alright." She went to the icebox and wrapped up some ice. She placed it in his hands. "Here you are."

Masahiro nodded his thanks and left the room.

"That was fast. Are you done already?" Grandma asked.

"Actually no. I came in to get some more soap. Aki's bucket is nasty and there's no more out there." Her head was in a cupboard, searching.

Sakura pulled back, holding a thin bottle of bucket cleaner. She waved it at grandma.

"Will you tell Grandpa that we need some more the next time he goes to town? This is the last one."

"I'll do that. Dinner is almost ready. I need to make some more sauce, as you can smell."

Sakura put her hand up to hide the silly grin on her face. She managed to say, "Thanks grandma." before losing it outside.

Koji looked up and saw a laughing Sakura walk over to him. He held out his hand for the bottle and said,

"What's up?"

Sakura took a few breaths and handed him the bottle. "Grandma just burned the sauce, so the kitchen is going to smell again."

Koji sighed, "Whoever taught you grandma to cook did a very poor job. Was this the last one?"

"Yes. Grandma said she'll get more when she goes to town."

"Alright." He dumped Aki's water bucket and began to scrub soap in it. Sakura brought over another nasty one.

"I'm so glad you clean these. Hey, do you remember the time I tripped and fell into one of these? My hair and shirt were a mess, and I couldn't get the smell out for a week!"

They both began to laugh.

"By the way, we should hurry up a little. Grandma's almost done with dinner." She added.

A soft whistle reached their ears.

Koji stood up and carried the just cleaned bucket over to its owner's stall. The black Morgan snorted and let him place it back on the hook. He began to drink from it.

Sakura hurried to Aki's stall with her bucket to find him waiting for her. His ears lifted when he heard her coming.

"Hello Aki. I'm sorry I took so long." She began. "I had to go to the house to get some more soap to clean your bucket."

As soon as she backed away from the bucket, Aki decided to add to it.

"Aki! That's gross!" Sakura giggled. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him. He nuzzled her cheek and left some water on it.

"Sakura! Let's go! Dinner is getting cold!" Koji yelled to her.

"Coming!" She yelled back. "Bye you." She said as she wiped her face. She gave him one last pat before shutting the stall and racing Koji to the house.

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Thank you so much for continuing to read this. I really hope I can update, or for that matter write, faster now that school is out. I can't guarantee anything, but I really hope you'll hang in there with me! Please review!!!

Alchemistwings