My Sweet Tooth
Author: pickles_pick
Chapter: 2/?
Genre: Fluff, Humor
Pairing: Byou/Jin, hints of Kazuki/Manabu/Yuuto, more pairings along the way.
Rating: G
Warnings: Uhm, maybe tooth decay but…maybe not.
Disclaimer: No, no, no and no.
Synopsis: A macaroon a day, keeps a smile on someone’s face…and maybe more.
Puffy, this is for you, as promised~~ ^^
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“Jin, stare at the ceiling any longer and you’ll probably burn a hole in it. Or maybe you know, grow lasers like Cyclops.” Despite himself, Jin let out a chuckle.
“I don’t have the X gene in me, Kifumi, but thank you for bringing me back to reality.” The shorter man grinned happily, revealing his chipped tooth, and turned back to kneading the dough. “Still…Valentine’s Day is coming up…and I still have no recipes to come up with.”
“Why not use the ones we sold last year?” Kifumi asked curiously. “As I recall, it was all sold out, so I suppose we could get the same response this year as well?”
Jin shook his head as he pressed shapes into the pieces of the bread dough. “Yes, we can bake the same recipes we used last year, but I get more satisfaction from coming up with new recipes and putting new things on the shelf. And when people are happy with the new recipes, it means I learn something new and can experiment with it.”
“And if they don’t?” Kifumi vaguely recalled the taro tarts they had made once. It was popular amongst the elderly, but the younger generation had certainly made their dislike clear.
“If they don’t, then it is also something learned. Baking is also an art of learning, young one, not just all about flour and eggs.”
“And yeast.” Kifumi chipped in, grinning. The two of them shared a short laugh before turning the conversation back to more light-hearted topics.
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“Hey Bu…”
The raven-haired man turned from where he was sketching at his table to a prone figure lying on the sofa. “How long have we been here again?”
Turning back to his work, Manabu chuckled. “What, bored already? As I recalled, you were the one who made Mom agree to let us shift back here.”
“I’m being a responsible elder brother and not leaving my brother to fend for himself alone.”
A snort. “And said brother is doing quite well, far better than a certain elder brother rotting on the sofa.”
Manabu smiled as he heard the rustle of clothes against the sofa; he could very well imagine Byou’s annoyed face.
“But I’m not leaving you alone anyway!”
“Yes yes…by the way, hasn’t Uruha-san called you or anything? As I recalled, you were due for a photoshoot soon, no?” Manabu turned around, a concerned look on his face. “I know he wasn’t happy that you shifted here, but that doesn’t really warrant you getting fired or anything right?”
“That’s why I said I shouldn’t leave you alone.” Byou turned so he was lying back down on the sofa again. “You worry too much.”
“You aren’t answering the question.” Manabu folded his arms.
“Was about to. He called this morning. I’m due to be in town in a couple more days, and you’re coming along.”
“No can do.” Manabu answered flatly. “Nii-san, we talked about this-”
“I know I know.” A lazy arm waved. “It was a passing remark. I trust you can take care of yourself…but I still don’t like staying away from you. I just need to be sure you’re okay.”
Silence fell between the two brothers for a while before Manabu spoke up, his voice softer.
“I haven’t had an attack in a couple of years already, Nii-san.”
“I know.” Byou pushed himself up from the sofa and turned the younger man, who was looking somewhat downcast. “It’s a miracle your bottomless pit hasn’t cried out in hunger yet.”
The remark got him the exact reaction he wanted. Manabu looked up at him, cross. “I just get hungry easily!”
“And then my cute little brother will look more chubbier. Sounds great to me.” Byou grinned as Manabu shot daggers at him. “Alright, truce, truce. I’ll go get some groceries and stop by the bakery and get us some bread. Dinner on you?”
“I want nabe.” Byou raised an eyebrow. “In the middle of summer? Hot.”
Manabu turned back, picking up his pencil to draw once more, a smile creeping across his lips. “I thought nothing was ever too hot for you except yourself?”
“Don’t stoke the ego, but okay, I’m not losing to a pot of meat and vegetables. Nabe it is.”
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“Good afternoon, my fellow ingredients! Have you been well? Did you miss me?” Rui barely ducked in time as a hand came swinging in his direction. “Zuki, what the hell?”
From where he was opposite Rui, Yuuto shook his head. “Drunk, I tell you, drunk.” Kifumi and Rui looked at him in horror.
“Not the chocolate liquor in the storage right!?”
“Oh come on, he can’t possibly be that stupid-”
“Exactly the chocolate it is! Come, my gentlemen, bring out the rum and be merry!” The other three watched as Kazuki continued waltzing in the small kitchen before Rui facepalmed.
“He is the definition of stupid.” Rui groaned. “I told you guys to keep the chocolate liquor elsewhere!”
“We hid it amongst the flour sacks this time! He’s got a nose like a dog I tell you!” Yuuto protested. “Next we’ll be hiding it in the toilet bowl and Jin’s gonna kill us for tainting precious ingredients!”
“Speaking of Jin, where is he?” Rui turned to the shorter man beside him, making an effort to ignore the screeching that was Kazuki in the background.
“He said he wanted to get some ideas for the upcoming Valentines, so he stepped out for a while.”
“Rui, my dear twin.” Yuuto cut in. “Speaking of Jin, I would like you to know that you have a nice flour-coated palm print on your face.”
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“And such a perfect palm print...” Jin muttered to himself as he inspected the toy. “…and still no ideas.” With a sigh, Jin set the toy back down and walked out of the shop. “A full walk for almost an hour, and still not a single idea…” With another sigh, Jin shoved his hands into his pockets. “What am I going to do…”
No sooner had he finished the sentence he was greeted with a face full of something that smelled green and…
“Carrots?” he muttered to himself as he stepped back. “I’m sorry, I didn’t-” Jin’s eyes widened as a familiar face, or rather, a face he had only seen once so far, right in front of him. “You…”
“Oh, Baker-san. Sorry, didn’t see you there too.” Byou tilted his head slightly in greeting. “I was about to drop by your shop too. My brother misses your bread.”
“Ah…I was on the way back to my shop as well…and…brother?” He blinked curiously at the other man as they both walked towards the bakery.
Ah, slip of tongue. Byou cursed inwardly. He didn’t want his little joke spoiled that quickly. “Ah…I mean…ah well, don’t tell the others, but…” he scratched his head with his free hand. “That girl that the guys supposedly saw is actually my younger brother. He looks a tad feminine from the back, so a lot of people mistake him for a woman.”
“Oh…” Jin blinked, and then grinned. “Got it, I won’t tell them.” Byou gave him a grateful look. “My brother and I got the better features from our mom, but I would say he got the most of it. At some point he really hated that people kept mistaking him for a female, but he’s a lot accepting of it now.”
“Resigned to it sounds more like it, doesn’t it?” Jin chuckled.
“What can I say…he’s a modern day Snow White. Don’t tell him I told you that though, he’s got a bit of a temper.” Byou threw a wink in his direction. Jin blinked again before looking away, feeling a little flustered.
I’ve got to say…he’s indeed quite good-looking…Jin snuck a look up at the taller man. As if sensing his gaze, Byou turned to him. “Is something the matter?”
Caught, Jin quickly looked away, his face burning from embarrassment. “Ah, no…nothing…my bad…”
Amused, Byou chuckled. “You aren’t a very honest person, Baker-san. Although your facial expressions are like an open book.”
“No they aren’t!” Jin protested, Byou merely shrugged, but Jin saw a smirk on his face.
As they neared the bakery, Jin looked up at Byou.
“…am I really like an open book?”
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“Isn’t Jin taking quite a while to return?” Rui turned from the cashier as a customer walked out with her purchases. “He must really be out of ideas…”
“Well…” Kifumi looked thoughtful. “I had an idea earlier while we were making the bases for cookies earlier, but Iet’s wait till…” he trailed off as said person walked through the door. “Jin, you’re back!”
“Yea, hi guys.” Jin gave them a tired wave. “Thanks for the work today.”
“Welcome…oh, hey there, ikemen-san!” Kifumi greeted as Byou appeared behind Jin. “Been a while since we saw you here!”
“Yea, we kind of ran out of bread so I’m here to restock.” Byou looked around the shop. “Shop looks the same as ever.”
“What, those bread lasted you and your girlfriend for a month?” Rui’s eyes looked as if they were about to pop out anytime. “It won’t be fresh within days!”
“Nah, we polished them within a few days. After that we didn’t drop by so much because we were eating proper meals.” Byou clarified.
“You mean, this is the second time you’ve been here.” Kazuki came out of the kitchen and peered at Byou’s bag of groceries in interest. “Hen-pecked, aren’t you? Shopping and all for your girlfriend…”
A snort.
“Uhm…” Jin coughed, nearly forgetting that he wasn’t supposed to give away the joke when everyone glanced in his direction, especially Byou. “I kind of choked on my sneeze…”
“Anyway Jin, how did your little trip go, any ideas?” Rui queried. At this reminder, Jin sighed. “Not a productive day, I’m afraid…”
“What, Baker-san is running low on ideas?” Byou looked at Jin in surprise. “That’s a first.”
“People run out of ideas too, hello.” Jin huffed. “My brain can only churn out so much after all…” Byou shrugged and proceeded on his business, Kazuki trailing behind him, helping him to carry his tray of bread while pestering him about things Jin was sure was related to Byou’s “little girlfriend”.
“Desperate, isn’t he.” Rui grinned as he looked at Kazuki and Byou. “Still, you and him looked like you were having a couple’s tiff.” Jin’s eyes widened as both Kifumi and Rui grinned widely at him. “What…what are you guys saying!”
“Speaking of which, how come you two were together?” the smirks certainly weren’t leaving their faces.
“We bumped into each other while I was doing hen-pecked shopping.” Byou answered, Kazuki setting the tray on the counter, looking sulky. Jin had the impression that either Byou hadn’t entertained his questions or had blown Kazuki off entirely. “That will be all, thanks.”
“You should drop by here more though, with your girlfriend…we would like to meet her.” Kifumi piped up as he helped Rui pack the bread while Rui tapped on the machine.
Byou just smiled. “I’ll see how. Oh yes…” Byou’s hand shuffled through the grocery bag before pulling out a carrot and giving it to Jin. “Here you go.”
Bewildered, Jin took the carrot. “…what are you giving me this for?”
“You’re stuck for Valentine’s cakes aren’t you?” Byou tilted his head towards the carrot. “See if this carrot helps you kickstart those little gears in your head. Well then, thanks for the bread as usual, see you guys around~” he gave a little wave as he walked out of the shop.
Everyone looked at the door, and then at the carrot, and then at Jin.
“Well…” Jin looked at the carrot. “Here’s some food for thought at least.”
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“I’m home…” Byou called out, smelling the smell of broth in the air. “Manabu?”
“In here!” he heard his brother call out from the kitchen.
“You’re done preparing the broth I see.” Byou looked at the boiling pot on the dining table before walking into the kitchen. “Stuff for the nabe, and breakfast tomorrow.”
Manabu took the grocery bag, peering at it before taking out the contents. “You sure bought lots of stuff.”
“Might as well have a feast while we’re at it.” Byou shrugged as poured himself a cup of water. “Plus we could always have another pot of it for lunch tomorrow.”
“Say, Nii-san…”
“Hmm?”
“You didn’t get any carrots?”
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A/N: Andddddddd Chapter 2 is up! Sorry it took so long, its been a tad hellish for me with exams and all and other stuff…
Anyway, hope you enjoy the story! ^^
Chapter: 2/?
Genre: Fluff, Humor
Pairing: Byou/Jin, hints of Kazuki/Manabu/Yuuto, more pairings along the way.
Rating: G
Warnings: Uhm, maybe tooth decay but…maybe not.
Disclaimer: No, no, no and no.
Synopsis: A macaroon a day, keeps a smile on someone’s face…and maybe more.
Puffy, this is for you, as promised~~ ^^
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“Jin, stare at the ceiling any longer and you’ll probably burn a hole in it. Or maybe you know, grow lasers like Cyclops.” Despite himself, Jin let out a chuckle.
“I don’t have the X gene in me, Kifumi, but thank you for bringing me back to reality.” The shorter man grinned happily, revealing his chipped tooth, and turned back to kneading the dough. “Still…Valentine’s Day is coming up…and I still have no recipes to come up with.”
“Why not use the ones we sold last year?” Kifumi asked curiously. “As I recall, it was all sold out, so I suppose we could get the same response this year as well?”
Jin shook his head as he pressed shapes into the pieces of the bread dough. “Yes, we can bake the same recipes we used last year, but I get more satisfaction from coming up with new recipes and putting new things on the shelf. And when people are happy with the new recipes, it means I learn something new and can experiment with it.”
“And if they don’t?” Kifumi vaguely recalled the taro tarts they had made once. It was popular amongst the elderly, but the younger generation had certainly made their dislike clear.
“If they don’t, then it is also something learned. Baking is also an art of learning, young one, not just all about flour and eggs.”
“And yeast.” Kifumi chipped in, grinning. The two of them shared a short laugh before turning the conversation back to more light-hearted topics.
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“Hey Bu…”
The raven-haired man turned from where he was sketching at his table to a prone figure lying on the sofa. “How long have we been here again?”
Turning back to his work, Manabu chuckled. “What, bored already? As I recalled, you were the one who made Mom agree to let us shift back here.”
“I’m being a responsible elder brother and not leaving my brother to fend for himself alone.”
A snort. “And said brother is doing quite well, far better than a certain elder brother rotting on the sofa.”
Manabu smiled as he heard the rustle of clothes against the sofa; he could very well imagine Byou’s annoyed face.
“But I’m not leaving you alone anyway!”
“Yes yes…by the way, hasn’t Uruha-san called you or anything? As I recalled, you were due for a photoshoot soon, no?” Manabu turned around, a concerned look on his face. “I know he wasn’t happy that you shifted here, but that doesn’t really warrant you getting fired or anything right?”
“That’s why I said I shouldn’t leave you alone.” Byou turned so he was lying back down on the sofa again. “You worry too much.”
“You aren’t answering the question.” Manabu folded his arms.
“Was about to. He called this morning. I’m due to be in town in a couple more days, and you’re coming along.”
“No can do.” Manabu answered flatly. “Nii-san, we talked about this-”
“I know I know.” A lazy arm waved. “It was a passing remark. I trust you can take care of yourself…but I still don’t like staying away from you. I just need to be sure you’re okay.”
Silence fell between the two brothers for a while before Manabu spoke up, his voice softer.
“I haven’t had an attack in a couple of years already, Nii-san.”
“I know.” Byou pushed himself up from the sofa and turned the younger man, who was looking somewhat downcast. “It’s a miracle your bottomless pit hasn’t cried out in hunger yet.”
The remark got him the exact reaction he wanted. Manabu looked up at him, cross. “I just get hungry easily!”
“And then my cute little brother will look more chubbier. Sounds great to me.” Byou grinned as Manabu shot daggers at him. “Alright, truce, truce. I’ll go get some groceries and stop by the bakery and get us some bread. Dinner on you?”
“I want nabe.” Byou raised an eyebrow. “In the middle of summer? Hot.”
Manabu turned back, picking up his pencil to draw once more, a smile creeping across his lips. “I thought nothing was ever too hot for you except yourself?”
“Don’t stoke the ego, but okay, I’m not losing to a pot of meat and vegetables. Nabe it is.”
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“Good afternoon, my fellow ingredients! Have you been well? Did you miss me?” Rui barely ducked in time as a hand came swinging in his direction. “Zuki, what the hell?”
From where he was opposite Rui, Yuuto shook his head. “Drunk, I tell you, drunk.” Kifumi and Rui looked at him in horror.
“Not the chocolate liquor in the storage right!?”
“Oh come on, he can’t possibly be that stupid-”
“Exactly the chocolate it is! Come, my gentlemen, bring out the rum and be merry!” The other three watched as Kazuki continued waltzing in the small kitchen before Rui facepalmed.
“He is the definition of stupid.” Rui groaned. “I told you guys to keep the chocolate liquor elsewhere!”
“We hid it amongst the flour sacks this time! He’s got a nose like a dog I tell you!” Yuuto protested. “Next we’ll be hiding it in the toilet bowl and Jin’s gonna kill us for tainting precious ingredients!”
“Speaking of Jin, where is he?” Rui turned to the shorter man beside him, making an effort to ignore the screeching that was Kazuki in the background.
“He said he wanted to get some ideas for the upcoming Valentines, so he stepped out for a while.”
“Rui, my dear twin.” Yuuto cut in. “Speaking of Jin, I would like you to know that you have a nice flour-coated palm print on your face.”
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“And such a perfect palm print...” Jin muttered to himself as he inspected the toy. “…and still no ideas.” With a sigh, Jin set the toy back down and walked out of the shop. “A full walk for almost an hour, and still not a single idea…” With another sigh, Jin shoved his hands into his pockets. “What am I going to do…”
No sooner had he finished the sentence he was greeted with a face full of something that smelled green and…
“Carrots?” he muttered to himself as he stepped back. “I’m sorry, I didn’t-” Jin’s eyes widened as a familiar face, or rather, a face he had only seen once so far, right in front of him. “You…”
“Oh, Baker-san. Sorry, didn’t see you there too.” Byou tilted his head slightly in greeting. “I was about to drop by your shop too. My brother misses your bread.”
“Ah…I was on the way back to my shop as well…and…brother?” He blinked curiously at the other man as they both walked towards the bakery.
Ah, slip of tongue. Byou cursed inwardly. He didn’t want his little joke spoiled that quickly. “Ah…I mean…ah well, don’t tell the others, but…” he scratched his head with his free hand. “That girl that the guys supposedly saw is actually my younger brother. He looks a tad feminine from the back, so a lot of people mistake him for a woman.”
“Oh…” Jin blinked, and then grinned. “Got it, I won’t tell them.” Byou gave him a grateful look. “My brother and I got the better features from our mom, but I would say he got the most of it. At some point he really hated that people kept mistaking him for a female, but he’s a lot accepting of it now.”
“Resigned to it sounds more like it, doesn’t it?” Jin chuckled.
“What can I say…he’s a modern day Snow White. Don’t tell him I told you that though, he’s got a bit of a temper.” Byou threw a wink in his direction. Jin blinked again before looking away, feeling a little flustered.
I’ve got to say…he’s indeed quite good-looking…Jin snuck a look up at the taller man. As if sensing his gaze, Byou turned to him. “Is something the matter?”
Caught, Jin quickly looked away, his face burning from embarrassment. “Ah, no…nothing…my bad…”
Amused, Byou chuckled. “You aren’t a very honest person, Baker-san. Although your facial expressions are like an open book.”
“No they aren’t!” Jin protested, Byou merely shrugged, but Jin saw a smirk on his face.
As they neared the bakery, Jin looked up at Byou.
“…am I really like an open book?”
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“Isn’t Jin taking quite a while to return?” Rui turned from the cashier as a customer walked out with her purchases. “He must really be out of ideas…”
“Well…” Kifumi looked thoughtful. “I had an idea earlier while we were making the bases for cookies earlier, but Iet’s wait till…” he trailed off as said person walked through the door. “Jin, you’re back!”
“Yea, hi guys.” Jin gave them a tired wave. “Thanks for the work today.”
“Welcome…oh, hey there, ikemen-san!” Kifumi greeted as Byou appeared behind Jin. “Been a while since we saw you here!”
“Yea, we kind of ran out of bread so I’m here to restock.” Byou looked around the shop. “Shop looks the same as ever.”
“What, those bread lasted you and your girlfriend for a month?” Rui’s eyes looked as if they were about to pop out anytime. “It won’t be fresh within days!”
“Nah, we polished them within a few days. After that we didn’t drop by so much because we were eating proper meals.” Byou clarified.
“You mean, this is the second time you’ve been here.” Kazuki came out of the kitchen and peered at Byou’s bag of groceries in interest. “Hen-pecked, aren’t you? Shopping and all for your girlfriend…”
A snort.
“Uhm…” Jin coughed, nearly forgetting that he wasn’t supposed to give away the joke when everyone glanced in his direction, especially Byou. “I kind of choked on my sneeze…”
“Anyway Jin, how did your little trip go, any ideas?” Rui queried. At this reminder, Jin sighed. “Not a productive day, I’m afraid…”
“What, Baker-san is running low on ideas?” Byou looked at Jin in surprise. “That’s a first.”
“People run out of ideas too, hello.” Jin huffed. “My brain can only churn out so much after all…” Byou shrugged and proceeded on his business, Kazuki trailing behind him, helping him to carry his tray of bread while pestering him about things Jin was sure was related to Byou’s “little girlfriend”.
“Desperate, isn’t he.” Rui grinned as he looked at Kazuki and Byou. “Still, you and him looked like you were having a couple’s tiff.” Jin’s eyes widened as both Kifumi and Rui grinned widely at him. “What…what are you guys saying!”
“Speaking of which, how come you two were together?” the smirks certainly weren’t leaving their faces.
“We bumped into each other while I was doing hen-pecked shopping.” Byou answered, Kazuki setting the tray on the counter, looking sulky. Jin had the impression that either Byou hadn’t entertained his questions or had blown Kazuki off entirely. “That will be all, thanks.”
“You should drop by here more though, with your girlfriend…we would like to meet her.” Kifumi piped up as he helped Rui pack the bread while Rui tapped on the machine.
Byou just smiled. “I’ll see how. Oh yes…” Byou’s hand shuffled through the grocery bag before pulling out a carrot and giving it to Jin. “Here you go.”
Bewildered, Jin took the carrot. “…what are you giving me this for?”
“You’re stuck for Valentine’s cakes aren’t you?” Byou tilted his head towards the carrot. “See if this carrot helps you kickstart those little gears in your head. Well then, thanks for the bread as usual, see you guys around~” he gave a little wave as he walked out of the shop.
Everyone looked at the door, and then at the carrot, and then at Jin.
“Well…” Jin looked at the carrot. “Here’s some food for thought at least.”
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“I’m home…” Byou called out, smelling the smell of broth in the air. “Manabu?”
“In here!” he heard his brother call out from the kitchen.
“You’re done preparing the broth I see.” Byou looked at the boiling pot on the dining table before walking into the kitchen. “Stuff for the nabe, and breakfast tomorrow.”
Manabu took the grocery bag, peering at it before taking out the contents. “You sure bought lots of stuff.”
“Might as well have a feast while we’re at it.” Byou shrugged as poured himself a cup of water. “Plus we could always have another pot of it for lunch tomorrow.”
“Say, Nii-san…”
“Hmm?”
“You didn’t get any carrots?”
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A/N: Andddddddd Chapter 2 is up! Sorry it took so long, its been a tad hellish for me with exams and all and other stuff…
Anyway, hope you enjoy the story! ^^