Sugar and Spice – Chapter 15
Punishment for Naughty Chefs
When Ichigo arrived at Byakuya's place after work, he noticed a pink post-it note stuck to the door. He pulled it off and read it:
Dinner is on the counter
Please eat before you come looking for me
I'll be waiting
Your Bya-nana
A huge goofy smile broke out over Ichigo's face. What was this?
When he got Byakuya's text earlier asking him to come over after work, Ichigo never imagined stumbling upon this. He thought it was strange when he buzzed Apt. 6 that Byakuya was not answering. Ichigo had to buzz some random person claiming falsely that he had lost his building key. Thankfully, they believed him and opened the door.
He tried the doorknob, noticing that it was unlocked, and entered the apartment watchfully. Quickly, Ichigo punched in the alarm code and locked the door behind him. His eyes scanned over the living room and kitchen. There was no sign of Byakuya anywhere and the place was utterly silent.
"Byakuya, I'm here. Where are you?" he called out.
There was no answer.
Ichigo's mind began to wander. Maybe Byakuya is in the bedroom—naked—laying on top of the bed, waiting for me like the naughty chef that he is.
He shook his head bemused and set his laptop case and satchel into a chair at the kitchen table. He hung up his stylish black wool business coat and slipped off his dress shoes with a sigh. Mmm... He could smell something delicious in the air and wandered into the kitchen to find out what was for dinner. He spotted a crock-pot on the countertop on low heat and lifted off the lid. Inside was a vegetable stew with fat pieces of chicken and bits of wakame in a dashi broth.
The dish made Ichigo's hungry tummy growl on demand. He caved. "Okay, fine. I'm eating dinner like you said first."
Still, there was no answer.
It felt strange, as if Ichigo was talking to himself, yet, he knew that somewhere Byakuya could hear him. He laughed with divine amusement at the situation. Ichigo managed to devour two bowls of stew before he went in search of the man that had beckoned him over. He couldn't wait a second longer to land his eyes on his sexy man.
He padded into the bedroom, expecting to see his fantasy come to life. However, Byakuya was not there on the bed as he had envisioned. Hmm, Ichigo turned towards the bathroom. This was Ichigo's favourite room in Byakuya's apartment. It was spacious and designed so beautifully with soft taupe and dark wood tones and a screen wall that divided the toilet from the rest of the room. It was very traditional, however, a Western styled antique bathtub stood right in the middle of the bathroom. Ichigo was in love with this bathtub. Byakuya told him he had it custom installed. To the right was a sink and a few furnishings housed towels and toiletries and vine-like potted plants.
This was the only room left to search and sure enough, he found Byakuya peacefully sitting in the bathtub with his hair piled on top of his head, foamy white bubbles dripping off in dollops near his shoulder and onto the tiled floor, the air filled with the fresh sweet scent of mangos. He held a book open in front of him, his cheeks rosy from the steamy water, lying back against the deep, black claw-footed tub with a white interior.
"There you are." A devil-may-care kind of grin appeared on Ichigo's face.
Byakuya calmly glanced over at Ichigo, who stood there looking down at him in his business clothes, appearing rather dashing and professional. "Welcome home, Ichigo," he murmured, sounding very relaxed for once.
Ichigo felt an extraordinary sense of pride at hearing Byakuya say 'home'. There was no question, he was very comfortable hanging out at Byakuya's place, and it seemed he came here more often than he did his own place these days. He leaned down to drop a quick kiss on his boyfriend's lips.
"There's a spot waiting for you, right here." Byakuya wriggled a toe that peeked through the bubbles at the opposite end of the tub.
Ichigo did not even hesitate for a second as he began stripping out of his clothes, tugging off his tie, pulling off his suit jacket and working his fingers quickly over the buttons of his shirt.
Byakuya set his book aside and studied the redhead, peeling off layer after layer of clothing, revealing in increments his delectable skin. Like a barbarian, Ichigo dropped his clothing to the floor with no mind to hang them up or fold them neatly so they wouldn't get wrinkled or damp. Byakuya looked on amused as Ichigo stomped out of his trousers with haste like an excited child, managing to pull one leg inside out. Then he slipped off his socks. Cool grey eyes trailed over Ichigo's naked form, always mesmerized by what he saw—long toned limbs with just the right amount of muscle that made Ichigo so superbly masculine and beautiful. And when he pulled off his boxers...
Byakuya smiled.
The hair on Ichigo's head wasn't the only thing that was ginger.
Ichigo stepped into the hot, bubbly water with a hiss and settled himself in on the other end of the bathtub between Byakuya's feet. He sighed euphorically, a soft rumble leaving his throat and closed his eyes, stretching his long legs under Byakuya's propped knees, his feet ending up on either side of the other man's rear end.
"This is heaven. Your bathtub is so much bigger than mine—we could never do this at my place." Ichigo claimed opening his warm brown eyes, admiring the man across from him.
"I'm pleased that you like it. Did you enjoy dinner?" Byakuya questioned him. He had taken Yoruichi's advice to do something relaxing and special for Ichigo after his first day.
"It was so good I had two bowls. Like I have said before, you're an amazing cook." He was happily rubbing his stomach under the water. "I can't believe you did all this."
"It was nothing," Byakuya assured. "I won't be able to spoil you as such on days that I work."
"You don't have to spoil me," Ichigo said softly.
Byakuya watched his lover adoringly. "How was your first day at the office?"
Ichigo spent the next few minutes filling Byakuya in on his day as they lounged in the bath together. He told him about the work he was doing and described his hot -headed boss, Toshiro Hitsugaya. He sighed tiredly as he told him about his nosey co-worker, Keigo Asano. However, he did not tell Byakuya that he was buried in the middle of many other cubicles and that he imagined himself a hamster trapped in the center of a maze. He didn't share how he felt a pang of misery when he wandered upon the half-assed bakery on the first floor, and how much he missed Café on Sixth already.
"I've been recruited into the Office Cooking Club," he said proudly. He explained the situation in the photocopy room with Chiyo.
At this information, Byakuya chuffed thoughtfully. "How quickly they discovered your talent."
The redhead waved him off. "I dunno about talent, but suddenly a bunch of people started emailing me for that shortcake recipe." Ichigo smoothed his hands around Byakuya's calves, gently squeezing. "But don't worry I won't share any recipe that is sacred to you."
"I know you won't." Byakuya answered, scooping up a handful of bubbles, squishing them lazily through his fingers. He was surprised how swiftly Ichigo managed to bring the topic of cooking into their conversation. He told Ichigo to lean to the side.
Ichigo shifted his head over a bit. He watched keenly as Byakuya lifted his leg partly out of the water, bubbles stuck to his wet skin, and used his foot to turn on the hot water faucet.
"You could have asked me to do that," Ichigo claimed with a chuckle, intrigued by the kind of dexterity Byakuya had with his toes.
"I could have but I didn't." Byakuya replied in a haughty tone then smudged some foamy bubbles off his toe and across Ichigo's ear playfully.
"You trying to get me going?" Ichigo said pointedly, swiping the bubbles off his ear with his hand, accustomed with his lover's eccentric behaviours. "Because I bet your feet are as ticklish as your ears."
With that, Byakuya shut off the hot water and returned his foot safely under the bubbles. "You wouldn't dare," he said coolly.
"Try me," warned Ichigo, a smug look on his face.
"You overlook that the sensation on the ears makes me—"
"—horny...?"
Byakuya scoffed. "But that isn't so with my feet. If you touch them I may have to harm you," he explained justly, yet his eyes were brimming with cool disobedience. "You still refrain from telling me where your preferred erogenous zone is." He rubbed his foot along the inside of Ichigo's thigh. "Tell me," he urged softly.
This man would be the end of him Ichigo was sure, delightfully sure. He complained playfully. "You better not scratch me with your toenails."
"I trimmed them earlier," Byakuya assured. "Now stop changing the subject."
Ichigo felt Byakuya's foot press gently against his genitals. A fiendish smile appeared on his face. "Are you trying to give me a foot job?"
Byakuya dared. "Do you want me to?"
"I thought you wanted to know about my erogenous zone?"
"I do, but I'm not stopping you from telling me," Byakuya murmured watching the way Ichigo's eyes grew heavy with his foot petting. "Give me a hint."
Ichigo's eyes were directed at the action below the water, although he couldn't see anything. "Alright, it's a spot you put your lips to, often. Sometimes you even leave a mark there." Ichigo divulged, not as shy to share this kind of information with his lover anymore.
"That's simple," Byakuya countered knowingly, "Your backside, yes?"
Ichigo actually giggled softly at this game. "You would say that, but nope—not there," he teased, eyes crested with sheer amusement. It was true that Byakuya did have a habit of leaving marks on his rear with his teeth. "That hurts, by the way. Why do you always have to bite so hard?"
"Because you have the most irresistible behind," Byakuya explained, trying to sound innocent but failing miserably.
"Tch," Ichigo sounded. "You should be more gentle. I'm not made of rubber, ya know."
"My apologies, perhaps I should be punished," Byakuya offered wickedly, not sounding sorry in the least. Byakuya removed his foot, resting it on the bottom of the tub again leaving the younger man alone, for now. Instead, he watched Ichigo and his pretty, scowling face. What a hot head, he thought.
"Well, you're in a special mood tonight," Ichigo quipped incredulously, losing the frown. "Was it the extra sleep this morning, were you watching dirty videos or something. Did you eat a funny mushroom?" he teased and laughed.
Putting his playful indulgences aside for the moment, Byakuya told Ichigo about his day, which had nothing to do with 'funny' mushrooms or 'dirty videos'. He told him casually about how he went grocery shopping in the morning, and how he found a set of miniature silicone tart molds that he'd been seeking. Byakuya explained how he could make chocolate tart shells with them. Then he described a new recipe he wanted to try tomorrow at the café and how he met up with Yoruichi. Of course, he omitted the part where he had miserably lost the race to her. He was still sore about it.
"Sounds like a great day," Ichigo told him thoughtfully. "Maybe that's why you're in such a mood. I'm jealous."
Byakuya almost said, 'I wish you were there.' But he didn't want to rub it in that they no longer shared the same days off. From now on, they would only have Sundays together.
Byakuya motioned for Ichigo to come join him on his side of the tub. With a little manoeuvring, Ichigo gladly settled between Byakuya's legs, relishing the way his arms wrapped around his middle. Ichigo rest his head back against Byakuya's strong shoulder. He closed his eyes as the man kissed sweetly behind his ear, murmuring adoring sweet nothings.
"I wonder," Ichigo whispered. "Can you teach me how to temper chocolate?"
"I can teach you anything you like. Tempering chocolate is my specialty," Byakuya spoke softly. "It takes a lot of practice and patience. What makes you ask this?"
"It's the topic in our cooking club this week apparently, but I don't really understand what it's all about," Ichigo admitted. "What does it mean?"
It was simple. "You heat the chocolate to a certain temperature so that it reconstructs the cocoa butter—the fat in chocolate. Imagine the fat starts out as various shapes, circles, triangles and squares. Tempering makes the cocoa butter all the same shape, all square, so to speak. When you have all the same shapes, they can be stacked to fit together properly, correct?" Byakuya calmly explained.
"Right..."
"And when everything fits together properly you have a stronger structure—it's the same idea with chocolate. It becomes stronger, more resistant to temperature and it gives off a better shine. It will also not do something called 'blooming', when the cocoa butter fat rises to the surface of chocolate, making it unsightly and cloudy looking. Understand?" Byakuya said, trailing his fingers across Ichigo's chest.
"That's really cool, I get it now. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Ichigo tilted his chin up towards his lover. "No matter what, you will always be my chef. Even though I know you don't think you've earned that title yet," he murmured sincerely and Byakuya kissed him tenderly.
Ichigo had no idea how profound those words were to Byakuya and he thought, please come back to me soon. There is so much more I can teach you. He sighed as he felt the soft flesh of Ichigo's sweet lips against his own.
When Byakuya broke away from the kiss, Ichigo disclosed. "Your father came to see me today."
"Oh?" Delicate brows knotted together faintly. "I do hope he's not making a nuisance of himself?"
Ichigo remembered Sōjun's words. "No, he wasn't, it's alright. He was just checking up on me. It feels good knowing he approves of us, don't you think?"
"I have never let others stand in the way of my affections," Byakuya replied resolutely. "However, I would not be here with you if it weren't for my father."
"Why do you say that?"
"The morning I left without saying a word, he found me at the graveyard." Byakuya cast his eyes aside in an expression of shame. "He was the one that pointed out my incredible foolishness."
"Oh, well, I would have forgiven you eventually," Ichigo assured good-naturedly. "Maybe it would have just taken a little longer." A flash of determination lit up his eyes. "Just so you know there is nothing that can keep me away from you. I won't let it."
Byakuya closed his eyes softly.
"He called you his 'mini me'." Ichigo just had to share. That little tidbit was too golden to keep all to himself. Sometimes Ichigo thought he was the only one with a wayward father, but now he didn't feel so alone. Sōjun was a special breed of Kuchiki.
The baker grunted. "I shall have a word with him."
"Please don't, Byakuya," Ichigo insisted promptly.
"And why not...?"
"Because," Ichigo began seriously, "I want your father to like me—he's important to you and I don't want to be the reason for any misgivings between you and him. Being accepted by your family means everything to me." Ichigo proclaimed hotly. "Families are important. I don't want my working at Kuchiki Enterprises to complicate things."
That was just like Ichigo to be worried about what his family thought of him or how their relationship affected them. This was a side of Ichigo that Byakuya admired the most, his unwavering sense of loyalty to his family and his friends and those really close to him. Ichigo you are so much stronger than I am.
Byakuya understood and relented. "I see, but you must inform me if my father gets... carried away. I don't want him to cause pointless trouble for you." He reasoned.
"Sure," Ichigo replied, mostly to satisfy his lover. He would deal with Sōjun in his own way. "Anyways, my father is ten times worse than yours. Handling your father is a piece of cake."
Byakuya contemplated that. He chuckled lightly, "Perhaps."
The bubbles were beginning to dissipate and Ichigo brought his prune-like hands out of the water. "I think we've been in here for at least an hour, I'm shrivelling up here."
"In a moment," Byakuya requested. "First, I want to give you something."
There was a faint jingle. Before Ichigo, Byakuya held out two keys on his palm, which came attached to a silver ring and a keychain. "Where... where did that come from?" he asked with astonishment, picking up the keys with his wet fingers. It was the first thing Ichigo thought to say.
"I believe it came from a store where I had a key cutter make them," Byakuya replied with mirth.
Of course, Ichigo knew that but inside his mind a million possibilities for these keys came into question. Was Byakuya asking what he thought he was asking? Did these keys mean...
"One key to this apartment, the other is for the lobby door downstairs—I want you to have them." Byakuya said sincerely.
"Right, so you don't have to leave the door unlocked next time you invite me over for a bubble bath and vegetable stew." Ichigo studied the keys.
"It's more than that, Ichigo," Byakuya offered quietly.
More than that? There is nothing more in the world that Ichigo needed as long as he had Byakuya's affections. And just knowing that he did, made him feel incredibly superhuman with super powers sometimes. Ichigo was almost unsure about how to proceed. They hadn't discussed future plans together yet. Was that what was going to happen now? Were they going to have that talk?
Ichigo decided he needed to know more before he let his inner thoughts go berserk. "How much more do you mean—are you asking me to move in with you?"
"In time, that is my wish. For now I want you to be able to come and go as you please."
Ichigo was speechless.
"Read the keychain," the baker suggested.
The keychain was round with a white face that read 'Yes Chef!' in black letters. Ichigo began to chuckle. "Cute," he said.
"Read the other side," Byakuya murmured impatiently.
Ichigo turned the keychain around and was surprised to find a tiny inscription. It said:
A strawberry and a banana live here.
Ichigo could only laugh and he did so loudly. For the first time in his life, he wasn't irritated with the damn 'strawberry' epithet. It would seem as if these foolish names they called each other have become more like endearing pet names.
"This...this is really sweet," he said thoughtfully and teased. "I live with a banana."
"There wasn't much room for a longer inscription." Byakuya explained calmly and added. "Ichigo, I know we have only been together for a few weeks. However, I want it to be so much longer."
"Me, too…" Ichigo expressed truthfully. "I know couples are supposed to have these kinds of discussions, but I've never really been in a serious relationship before. And I wasn't sure what you were hoping for. I can't do anything until I get Uryū all sorted out, that could take a while. Anyways, I practically live here now."
"That's alright," Byakuya assured. "Take all the time you need."
Ichigo turned around now so he could face Byakuya, his knees on the bottom of the tub. "Haha, now you're stealing my lines. That's what I should be saying to you." He studied Byakuya's enigmatic grey eyes that were watching him so closely, making sure that Byakuya meant everything he was suggesting. It sure seemed so. "Thank you..." He leaned in close enough to feel his lover's breath against his lips, "...for letting me into your life. I know it's not easy for you," he whispered softly. Then he kissed him, the keys dangling off one finger and clanging against the edge of the tub he was holding.
When Ichigo pulled back he declared, "Now let's get out of this damn tub."
A coy glint flashed across Byakuya's eyes. "You still haven't told me where on your body you are most sensitive."
Ichigo groaned. "Are you still going on about that? If I tell you, you're just going to torture me. I know it."
Byakuya gave Ichigo a cool stare. "I will find it either way."
"I already gave you a hint," Ichigo said patiently. "How about I point it out so you can see for yourself?" He tilted his head back and placed a finger to his throat, in the general area that Byakuya last left a mark. "Is it still reddish here?"
"I see, so it's your neck." Byakuya murmured pleasantly. "You can't blame me for marking my territory." He began to draw forward, ready to kiss Ichigo's neck, perhaps add another hickey. And since Ichigo claimed his neck was his most tasty spot, it would get him in the mood as well. Byakuya liked that idea.
But Ichigo pulled away, not giving Byakuya a chance to touch his body—not yet anyways. "Oh no, first we get out and dry off. I'm a fucking raisin here and I still need to brush my teeth before bed."
"Bedtime already," wondered Byakuya almost sadly.
"Unlike you, I busted my ass all day and stressed out about this new job. It's starting to hit me," Ichigo complained lightly. He was quick to reassure, however. "You know I'm joking with you, right?" Because no one worked more than Byakuya and he deserved every second of time off that he got.
"Tch," sounded Byakuya.
Suddenly Ichigo grinned broadly. "Besides, I think I just thought of a great punishment for you," he taunted serenely as he stood up and got out of the bathtub. He stepped onto a mat on the floor.
Punishment? Byakuya threw Ichigo a towel as his fine brows perked up. "Oh?"
Ichigo chuckled under his breath. This time he used the power of silence to make Byakuya sweat a little, taking a cue from his lover here, saying nothing. He toweled off quietly, making sure not to drip water all over the floors. He knew how much Byakuya hated that.
When Byakuya was finished up in the bathroom, brushing his own teeth and combing out his hair, he wandered to the bedroom naked as a jaybird. Ichigo took a few minutes longer in the bathroom, cleaning his teeth thoroughly before he followed Byakuya.
An orange head peeked into the bedroom first. Oh my, yes! Byakuya, you ARE a naughty chef. The pâtissier was lounging on his bed in the nude, lying on his stomach and resting on his elbows. He was facing the headboard on his bed with the cozy white down comforter, messing with his cell phone, probably setting his alarm clock for work in the morning. Ichigo was admiring his bare ass.
The baker was completely unaware, a prime target.
That's when Ichigo pounced. He lunged towards the bed and grabbed Byakuya's foot before the man knew what was happening. He took a secure snake-like hold on his leg and tickled his foot.
"Ah ha! Gotcha!"
Byakuya gave a startled cry and immediately tried to yank his foot out of Ichigo's clutches, his pretty eyes looking back full of ungraceful torment. He was no weakling by any means and gave Ichigo a good struggle, shaking him vigorously. But he couldn't get him to let go. Ichigo held on like a big fish on the line.
Ichigo howled with evil pleasure, enjoying the roughhousing.
Byakuya grit his teeth and bit back wails of tickle-induced laughter and pure torture. He moaned unhappily and tried to shoo Ichigo away with his free foot. He was not being sweet about it either. He gave Ichigo a nice kick to the shoulder. Only, Ichigo grabbed it with one hand and sat his naked ass on it.
Now Byakuya's feet were both hostage in an unceremonious hold by Ichigo at the end of the bed.
"Stop it," begged Byakuya.
"I can't stop." Ichigo professed. "This is the perfect punishment for naughty chefs and for all those bite marks you've put on my ass."
"Please...stop," moaned Byakuya again. He had his teeth clenched so he would not treat his evil lover to his howls of forced laughter.
Suddenly the phone rang over the ruckus and both men stopped their horsing around, pausing in mid-tickle, pausing in mid-moan.
Byakuya began digging for his phone that went flying off into the pillows after Ichigo attacked him. He pushed blankets and pillows aside until he found his sleek black chirping phone.
"It's Rukia," he announced as a hopeful warning to Ichigo who might cease this hateful tickling. Byakuya gave a test yank on his foot and scowled—Ichigo was not letting go. He sighed and answered. "Hello?"
Ichigo could hear the faint chattering of Byakuya's sister on the other end it was suddenly so silent in the room.
"Yes, I haven't forgotten that the health inspector is coming this week. We'll have everything in order," he started saying.
As Byakuya discussed the simple matter with Rukia on the phone, he glanced back at the redhead who seemed to be waiting for the phone call to end. Or was he? Ichigo flashed him a crafty grin.
"Punishment," Ichigo whispered much to Byakuya's horror, whose grey eyes widened. He began to shake his head 'no'.
Ichigo chuckled wickedly and drew one fingernail delicately across the soft sole of Byakuya's foot, starting at his toes and going all the way to the pink of his heel.
Byakuya released a strange squeak and threw a nearby pillow at Ichigo angrily.
Ichigo could hear Rukia's voice. "Nii-sama... are you alright?"
"It's n-nothing," Byakuya stammered unusually as he spoke, his voice constricted from the waves of distress coursing over his body. His leg was twitching and he had his eyes squeezed shut.
Ichigo was giggling at the sight. He definitely found Byakuya's weakness and was thrilled to be exploiting it. "Hi Rukia! Did you know that Byakuya has ticklish feet?" he called out.
Ichigo could hear her laughter over the phone.
"Y-yes, goodnight, Rukia." Byakuya hung up the phone slightly mortified and glared at Ichigo. "That's enough, Ichigo." He was starting to sound annoyed.
But Ichigo wasn't going to fall for that. "I still have to do the other foot—it's only fair," he answered rationally. Just then Ichigo thought of something."Wait, I have a better idea." Ichigo straddled over the backs of Byakuya's thighs, keeping his legs secure between his knees. He now had perfect access to both feet and was careful to keep them wrapped tightly in his arms so Byakuya would not knock out a tooth or something.
Byakuya buried his face into a pillow, muffling the crazed mewls Ichigo was drawing from him with this ultimate torture.
"You'll pay for this, Ichigo Kurosaki!" He yelled into the pillow, stifling his giggles.
A/N: Grr! Fanfiction was being evil, I could NOT post up this chapter last night! Sorry about that.
So... Boys will be boys XD! A little silliness for everyone. I hope you enjoyed it. This was just a chapter of indulgence, a moment to see Ichigo and Byakuya just hanging out together, doing fluffy couple things. I thought it was a nice way to show how comfortable they've gotten together and a look into their future as well. I want a tub like Byakuya's XD!
Byakuya really did ask for it :P
Next chapter Ichigo visits Sojun :)
Reviewers: SO many thanks guys for taking a chance on my fic and leaving me your thoughts. Many thanks to A Fellow reader(Omg! You totally had me going there for a second lol! Evil :P ), Castiel4life, ForeverBlackSun (Thanks for all the comments of a bunch of chapters. So happy you're enjoying the fic!), ctofi1 (Oooh! I hope you are feeling better hun! *makes you chicken soup*), Shenigmatic (You are always so lovely! Much love hun!), Yonaka Kyoki (HAHA! Thanks about the cosplay. Yesh! It'd be great to be able to build the armour out of wood or metal. I went for as authentic as I could get. LMAO! I just got your Banankai! Senbon-banana joke!AHAHAHAHA! That's tooo funny! We'd be a funny cosplay pair for sure lulz!), Kags21(Awww, thank you!), igotmoneymoney, AngelaMaeAmatuzio (Thanks so much for reading and leaving your thoughts hun! I'm so happy you're enjoying the story *grins*), DinieLuvYunho (Hehe your comments make me giggle! Bya is such a hottie as a chef. Thanks so much for your thoughts.)