Recipe 8: Lucky

Author's note: Again, sorry for the late update! (Lack of inspiration). Read on! Another note is at the end of the story.

Kashino entered the bakery and hung his keys.

"I'm back, Ichigo!"

Ichigo came out of the kitchen to the entrance of their bakery and house, her gloved hands covered in icing. "Welcome home, Makoto!" The two Sweet Spirits hovered around Ichigo, fighting.

Kashino set the bag on a table and sat on a chair, sighing. "Sheesh, Ichigo. I can't go out for supplies every time!"

Ichigo frowned a frown like Kashino's. Vanilla took a picture of it.

"But I don't know how to drive a scooter, and I don't have a license either!"

Kashino sighed again, looking down. Chocolat flew near him and whispered something in his ear. He looked up at Ichigo with a mischievous twinkle in his amber eyes that shone in the morning light.

"Then I'll teach you."

Ichigo put on her helmet, jumping. "A-are you sure I won't crash?"

"Probably not. Let's hope."

Ichigo gulped. Vanilla settled on her shoulder.

"Look, if anything happens to Ichigo, I'll haunt Chocolat for the rest of her life! You hear me, Chocolat?"

The black-haired Sweets Spirit growled back at her.

Kashino shook his head. "As long as you ride with me, I'll make sure nothing bad happens. Now come on." He put on his helmet and got on the scooter. He slid back and motioned for Ichigo to sit in front of him. Ichigo sat down nervously, looking at the buttons.

"Enough leg room?" He asked.

Ichigo nodded.

"Okay, first I'll ride for a bit and you just watch my hands." Ichigo nodded again.

He turned the key in and turned his right hand on the handlebar. The scooter vroomed and the engine ignited. They moved a little. He moved his hand more, and they sped off.

Ichigo looked at his hands carefully.

That side to speed up, this side to slow down. Headlights here, horn here, speedometer light here.

Once she had got in all the details, she sunk backwards into Kashino's chest, causing him to shift and stiffen a little but relax a few moments later.

"Got it?" He asked, looking down at her and hoping hard that she didn't see his blush.

"Mmhm!" She replied, blushing after she noticed the heat in his cheeks that she saw through his transparent helmet.

"Can we be like this for a bit longer?" She asked and watched as the red on Kashino's cheeks became darker.

"I-if you want."

He kept driving, and the hair that wasn't in their helmets fluttered. She looked at the golden and amber ring on Kashino's right hand, glinting in the sunlight, and glanced at her own gold and ruby ring. She smiled.

I feel so lucky now.. He makes me feel special but in reality it's him who's special..

After a while, Kashino stopped and got down.

"Your turn, Ichigo."

"Y-you'll be right behind me right? This road doesn't have many vehicles right? What if-"

Kashino put a hand on her shoulder.

"You're going to be just fine. Now hop on properly. Shoulders straight, hands at a right angle, hold the two handlebars. Yes, that's it."

He hopped on behind her and put his hands on top of hers.

"Okay. Move this hand slightly."

She did, and the scooter spluttered before jerking and moving a tiny bit.

"More."

It spluttered again and jumped forward, racing ahead.

"Okay, we want to go a bit slower. Loosen."

Soon they were cruising along on the clear road with trees surrounding them. Ichigo's eyes shined and she knew this was the best thing ever.

The best feeling in my life. The thrill of driving and the love of my life right beside me.

Her stiff shoulders relaxed, and she began getting used to the scooter. This is easier than a bicycle!

Kashino slowly removed his hands, and Ichigo panicked. The scooter turned right and left in jerky motions, and Kashino out his hands back and firmly guided it back to control.

"Stay calm! There's nothing to fear."

Ichigo took a deep breath. Kashino removed his hands slowly and gently, and this time the two-wheeler didn't careen out of control. Ichigo smiled, and then laughed. Her laugh echoed through the trees, and unknown to her Kashino's mouth formed a tiny smile.

"Turn here. Yes, nice and slow. That's-"

She accidentally sped it up, and it was headed straight for a tree. Kashino's arm quickly grabbed Ichigo's and stopped it.

"Whoa there. Let's take this easy. Okay?"

Ichigo nodded, her face pale.

Kashino the devil.. Is teaching me how to drive. If someone told me this back in middle school I wouldn't have ever believed it!

Half an hour later, Ichigo's hands trembled and she stopped. She was much better now, and Kashino had to take control only once after that.

"Can I sit in the back now?"

"Sure."

Kashino drove them back, and Ichigo wrapped her hands around his waist. He stiffened, but soon relaxed into her touch, and Ichigo leaned on him.

He smiled. I am the luckiest man in the world.

They drove on for a while, and stopped at a remote place near a lake. It was grassy and there were lots of trees.

Time for the second surprise of the day!

"Here?" asked Ichigo, confused. "What are we doing here?"

He smirked. "Picnic."

Ichigo immediately jumped and got down. She ran around, making some dandelions float because of her speed. Kashino followed, smiling.

As childish as ever.

He set a picnic basket down and spread out the cloth. Ichigo stopped running and flopped down on the grass, breathing heavily.

Kashino smiled, two spots of red on his cheeks. Neither of them was used to this even though they were married.

"Ichigo, surprise number three."

She looked at him in confusion when she heard a rustle from the bushes.

Out jumped Andou, Caramel, Hanabusa and Café! Ichigo immediately ran over and gave them all hugs. Kashino just sat there smiling.

"Aww, he's smiling!" Teased Hanabusa, laughing.

Kashino immediately got up and scowled. Hanabusa ran to him and hugged him. "Long time no see, Chocolate King."

Andou smiled. "Happy, I see."

After catching up on each other's lives and having a delicious lunch, the four friends lay in the grass with the Sweets Spirits. They suddenly heard a tiny squeal.

That sounded like Chocolat and Vanilla.

Kashino immediately got up and quickly opened the basket. Out flew two very annoyed Sweets Spirits!

They all stared in shock. "Why are you here?!" Kashino asked, scowling.

Chocolat scowled more. "Don't you think we want to see Caramel and Andou too? Hmph."

Ichigo immediately apologised. "Sorry, Vanilla! I should have known you'd come." Kashino simply ignored Chocolat.

Vanilla gave her signature 'up-to-no-good' smirk.

"Look what I got! Kashigo pictures!" And the other two Sweets Princes along with their tiny companions looked through the pictures, squealing and 'ooh'ing. Our couple was blushing furiously, and Kashino looked even cuter with his signature pout.

Finally, Ichigo couldn't take it anymore and ran into the trees. Kashino followed her, and they sat under a tree. The laughing was only faint now.

Kashino breathed deeply. "Ichigo. Alone at last."

That made her blush even more. Even though they worked together, they were always busy and they were too tired after work. On the rare few holidays they refilled their supplies.

Ichigo leaned on his shoulder. "Finally."

And our Ichigo was snoring within a few minutes. Kashino looked down at her leaning on his shoulder, and smiled. He shifted her to his lap so that her neck wouldn't hurt. They stayed like that for a while, until Kashino heard a click sound.

Hmm.. That sounds suspiciously like a camera..

He spotted Chocolat.

"Aargh Chocolat!" He whispered, trying not to wake Ichigo. She just laughed and took another picture. Ichigo woke up and was looking around in confusion, sitting upright. Kashino got up and chased Chocolat, and then all the others because they had pictures of the couple too. Ichigo finally figured out what was going on and chased them along with Kashino, laughing. She looked at Kashino, who looked at her and smiled.

Yes, He said with his eyes whole running. We are so lucky to be together.

Okay, I don't know much about scooters (if that's what you call it where you live). They are two-wheelers with lots of leg space, and I based this off my own experience riding a scooter for the first time with my uncle 😊 Remember, always drive slow if you're driving, be sure to wear your seatbelt, and if you're on a two-wheeler don't forget that helmet! (Might mess your hair but if you don't wear a helmet, it'll mess your life) Stay safe! I hope you enjoyed my story!