Me: Another chapter! Sorry for the delay! And be aware, there are unexpected couples in this chapter!

Kashino: What kind of couples?

Me: *cough* you and *cough* Amu

Kashino: Amu!

Me: Trust me, trust me! It'll all make sense if you read the chapter!

Kashino: I'm still not feeling good about this...

Me: I don't own Yumeiro Patissiere or Shugo Chara!

Yumeiro Chara Doki-Doki!

Chapter 9: Waist Deep Chaos

Lulu was watching Kashino and Amu from behind a tree; the idea struck her like lightning. It was the perfect way to distract Amu and the perfect way to annoy Ikuto. He had to listen to her, she had promised to take him along with her as long as he did whatever she said. She thought about Ichigo as well, this plan would surely cause chaos. She smiled evilly and slipped away before she was noticed by anyone.

Doki! ~

"You okay Hinamori?" Kashino asked Amu. Amu noticed he had retreated and began calling her Hinamori again.

*Flashback*

"Amu," Kashino interrupted sharply.

*End of Flashback*

"Yeah," Amu replied, she was feeling a bit better now.

"I'll get you to the nurse's office, I promise." He tried to move her slightly; it was hard to run while holding a girl bridal-style.

"You don't have to run," Amu replied, shutting her eyes, "I don't need to be there right now."

"But I have to get back to class," Kashino replied, a hint of laughter in his voice.

They got to the nurse's office a few minutes later; Kashino explained to the nurse Amu was a bit overwhelmed with her first day at school and needing to rest a while.

Amu thanked Kashino and watched him run off, back to class.

Doki! ~

Ichigo noticed Kashino run back into the classroom, Hanabusa, Andou and she had all finished their mille crepes in his absence.

Ichigo's was a more simple kind. She used whipped cream and had added candied strawberry bits, the candied strawberries made the sweet a bit chewy, and added sweetness since she was only using whipped cream.

Hanabusa had made cream used typically for mille crepes. He had added his father's special rose water to the cream, making it smell wonderful. It also tinted the cream slightly pink, and had a relaxing aura.

Andou had used anko beans. He boiled them as he would when he was younger, and mixed them into the crepe mix. So in the crepe, there were anko beans, adding a Japanese taste to a French sweet.

Kashino looked down at his own crepe that was yet to be completed. The crepes were normal, cooked to perfection. For the cream, Kashino made a milk chocolate cream. He had tempered it smooth, so smooth it was like silk. He added chunks of dark chocolate (so that it wouldn't be too sweet), so there would be both a smooth and rough texture blended together and danced across your tongue.

Amu's crepe was finished; it was where she had left it to bask in its glory. The green food colouring dots made the sweet look happy and exciting. She had used egg white icing instead of cream, making it feel more light then heavy with cream.

Ikuto walked over to inspect as soon as Kashino had finished his creation. "Grade them well Tsukiyomi," were Sensei's instructions, "Don't be too soft or hard on them."

Ikuto first sampled a bit of Andou's mille crepe. He could sense that Andou was worried, or curious, wanting to know something that made him feel like an outsider. Ikuto was surprised with his palate, how could he tell from just a pastry? The anko beans reminded him of home, his mother used to make Japanese sweets for him and Utau, and it reminded him of childhood summers.

When tasting Hanabusa's crepe he thought the use of rose water was interesting, the smell of the roses was amazing but in a way nostalgic. Almost like there was a deeper meaning to the rose water, one that he couldn't comprehend.

Next was Kashino's. He tasted determination, the will to do his best, but it wasn't for himself. It was to please someone else, the person that seemed to control his life. It was sad not to be able to be yourself and Ikuto could relate. When his mother had 're-married' after his father's disappearance he felt he could no longer control his life, that his step-father was trying to control him. The textures danced across his tongue. Almost like the rough chocolate and smooth chocolate was at war, until they made peace. It was like the rough chocolate surrendered and let the smooth chocolate wrap around it to create an even more amazing sensation.

Ichigo's was interesting to Ikuto. He had never had candied strawberries before. Crepes themselves were chewy but the candied strawberries made his jaw work for the treat. The whipped cream seemed to take a step back and let the candied strawberries be the main show, then after the whipped cream would come back in a flood, washing over the tongue. A perfect compromise like milk and chocolate chip cookies. The sweet reminded Ikuto of garden planting in June, running through sprinklers and drinking lemonade after swimming for hours.

He gave Team Ichigo high scores and praised them for their creativity and themes. Lastly though, he had Amu's to try. He reluctantly put the pastry in his mouth; he knew how Amu was in the kitchen. His eyes widened with surprise. The cream was not too heavy; the sugar was not so grinded the he could feel it on his tongue. That wasn't supposed to be like that, but it reminded Ikuto of making cupcakes with his family, the times when his family was happy and all together.

The sadness of it all almost cause tears to spring into his eyes. A happy family, the one thing he hardly had. Amu could tap into his heart and get him to say what was on his mind. She was the one he loved and he knew it. He was going to tell her, today. He graded Amu's work hastily and ran out to go see her in the nurse's office. Not before Lulu stopped him.

Doki! ~

"IKUTO!" Lulu screamed his name and he stopped dead.

"What do you want Lulu? I was just about to go see A-"

"Amu?" Lulu asked, smirking.

"Well..."

"Remember how I said do anything to keep Hinamori Amu from figuring out the plan?" She tapped her head, "I've created the perfect plan! What if Hinamori Amu fell in love with Kashino Makoto?"

"You want Amu to fall in love with your victim!" Ikuto was quite shocked, "Why?"

"Amu will be too busy with 'the love of her life' to notice all the problems I will cause. And Makoto-kun is the perfect person, who better to distract her then the victim of the plan itself?"

Ikuto felt angry, how dare she try and make Amu, his Amu fall in love with someone else? "What do I do?" He gritted his teeth.

"You are going to be playing matchmaker, do everything to make them fall in love." She smiled smugly at his annoyed face, "Is that a problem Ikuto? Do you want me to send you home?"

"No!" Ikuto yelled a bit too quickly, "fine, I'll do it."

"Good," Lulu shoved a basket of goodies into his arms, "give this to Makoto-kun, tell him to give it to Amu, little does he know that there's a note from you saying, 'Kashino said this is from Ikuto but really, he's too stubborn to admit he's worried about you, so he sent you this gift basket. – Ikuto'."

"That is the most stupid thing I have ever heard," Ikuto retorted.

"Amu will think it's romantic, trust me."

"Whatever you say Lulu," Ikuto sulked away with the basket.

Doki! ~

"You want me to what?" Kashino had 'what the heck' written across his face.

"I want you to give this basket to Amu, tell her it's from me."

"Why can't you give it to her?"

"I have no time," Ikuto shook his head, "you know teacher stuff."

"But why me?" Kashino still wasn't too sure about giving Amu a gift basket, even if it was from Ikuto.

"Because you took her to the nurse's office, she's already warmed up to you."

Kashino hesitated, he sighed and took the basket, "fine, but like before, I'm only doing this because you're the student teacher." With that he walked away.

Doki! ~

Kashino quietly walked into the nurse's office. Thankfully the nurse wasn't in. "H-Hinamori?" Kashino called out.

"Back here!" Amu called from behind a curtain.

Kashino pulled the curtain; Amu was sitting in bed reading a book. "Hey Hinamori," Kashino smiled half-heartedly.

"Hey," she smiled, "what do you got there?" Amu nodded at the basket.

"Oh, it's a gift basket from Tsukiyomi-senpai. He wanted to wish you fast recovery."

"Oh... That's sweet, I'll thank him later." Kashino handed her the basket. She tore off the plastic and began going through it. As she did, she didn't notice Kashino quietly slip out.

Doki! ~

Amu was amazed with all the stuff in the basket. Her favourite kind of candy, X hair clips, all of her favourite stuff. Finally at the bottom there was a piece of paper reading, Kashino said this is from Ikuto but really, he's too stubborn to admit he's worried about you, so he sent you this gift basket. – Ikuto

She couldn't help but smile, Kashino was worried about her, but he was too stubborn to admit it. How adorable... He cared about her. Amu thought that was one of the most romantic things she'd ever experienced.

Doki! ~

"Is the plan set Ikuto?" Lulu asked once he had reported back.

"Yes," Ikuto sulked, "when did this get so complicated?"

"It is not too complicated," Lulu replied, "I am creating X eggs to catch the embryo, Hinamori Amu is in the area, to make sure she doesn't ruin the plan, I'm bringing in the victim of my ruby necklace in as a lover."

"Of course," Ikuto replied sarcastically, "that sure isn't complicated."

"Shut up!" Lulu slapped his arm, "you'll be eating your words when this plan works."

Me: This story is getting WAY complicated

Amu: You're the one making it complicated :P

Me: Yeah, well anyway, what did you think of the chapter?

Amu: Me and Kashino? -.-"

Me: Sorry 'bout that, don't worry! It'll be worth it!

Amu: I sure hope so...

Me: Please review!