The trip from Seattle to New York again to change flights made my heart sink deeper than the god damned titanic.

My mind was overloaded with thoughts about him.

He hadn't texted or called and neither had I.

After we were don't with our work in Seattle, we headed back to Tokyo.

I entered my house and I felt warm, like I just came back to mom.

Uh oh. Mom.

I called her up.

"Mom?"

"Finally. I thought you were dead."

"sorry I just came back to Tokyo"

"Okay. So I'll come to your house, let's see your boyfriend..."

"I don't have one but yes you can come by anytime you like, miss you love you bye mum"

"Love you too dear, bye"

I felt happier and lighter after I spoke to my mom.

I did all the laundry and cleaned up.

Sipping on coke and eating cup noodles, I checked my phone.

I checked the mail and nothing important was there so I took a nap.

After waking up, I went and roamed around the city in my car.

Shibu's was open but I didn't go. Instead I called him up.

"Yes" He immediately picked the call.

"I'm in front of Shibu's"I answered.

"I'm coming back tonight, can we meet tomorrow?" He asked.

"Yes of course, please tell me it's a date" I said.

"It is, 11pm at my restaurant, take the back door, I'll make sure they let you in"

"I'll be there" I answered not showing him how excited I was.

"Hmm"

I wanted to hang up because of the awkward silence but my heart responded something else.

"I missed you" I said, calmly.

He took a deep breath.

"I thought about you as well" He replied.

Yesssss.

"Bye I've gotta go" I replied quickly and hung up.

I went back home and made myself some horrible curry and had it with horrible jasmine rice.

The next day was so long but I was glad I met Nami again. I got off work early as, Martin had taken off and reduced everyone's job for the day.

I went back home and it was 10pm already.

Shit.

I hurried up and wore something decent.

I applied minimal amount of make up, but I had light pink coloured lipstick which coordinated with my navy blue dress.

I wore black strapped heals, they hurt but they were sexy as hell.

Driving the car was hard with heels. I parked the car a little farther away.

I walked down the alley next to shibu's trying to see the back door with my phone torch.

I saw a weird man pass by and when he saw me and slowed down.

I saw a knob next to a trash can and frantically tried to open it. It wouldn't budge.

I was feeling uneasy and the door opened.

"About time... you're late" Shun spoke.
I didn't answer as I was trying to calm myself down.

"At least get inside, Shizuki"

"Yeah" I managed to say.

He walked ahead of me and I followed suit. I observed that he was wearing black chinos and his chef coat.

"The back door is scary ok" I said.

He turned a little and then nodded in disagreement.

I sighed and started to see around the kitchen. It was huge.

There were so many stoves and fryers, guess that explains the warmth of this place.

There were fridges and clay ovens, knifes of every different size, wine bottles stocked up, utensils of various types of metals and colours, silicon brushes, different marmalades and sauces in transparent glass jars, and there were white drawers; probably containing spoons and serving dishes, spice bottles, champagne and mind me they had the world's best champagne here, chopping boards of different colours, patterned kitchen cloths, and several black boxes covered with unfinished wood on a certain slab.

He was in the store room and I called out to him.

"Shun? What's in these wooden boxes?"

"I use them to smoke my dishes, a very old tradition way, instead of the charcoal and closed vessel"

He walked with a few things in his hands and stood behind me.

"It gives a very authentic taste, naturally, the charcoal and vessel method gives an artificial aftertaste"

I absorbed the knowledge he shared and nodded, still a little conscious that he was more close than necessary.

Not forgetting to mention, when it was about his work he always spoke more.

His hand brushed mine while he walked off to the other side of the slab, chopping some spring onion and simultaneously looking at me through the curtain of his hair.

"What's with the dress?" He asked.

"The hell? I tried to look nice ok" I snapped.

"Ah. Fine." He said. Not even mentioning anything about how I looked.

I leaned against the counter, showing my back to him.

"Turn around" He said bluntly.

I looked at him, he was still doing something, alternatively looking at me.

Talking my phone out, I took a picture of him.

"What was that for?" He asked, weirded out.

"Look" I showed him my phones wallpaper and he smirked ever so slightly that it made my insides flip.

I heard a sizzling noise and then I heard spices pop as the smell invaded my nose.

"Achooo!" I sneezed, liking the smell but not so suddenly.

"Sensitive nose" He mumbled.

"Unexpected" I said.

"I wouldn't want you to stand here the whole time" He looked at me while he spoke in monotone.

"I don't mind" I said, clearly enjoying the sight too much.

"Your legs will hurt" He replied and sighed.

"Guess I have to show you now" He continued.

"Show me what?" I said, a little uncomfortable.

He looked at me leaning on the table and moved behind me. Before I could turn to see where he went, his hands gripped my shoulder and I closed my eyes absorbing the moment.

He pushed me further, making me walk towards the restaurant.

I looked up to see an overly dim lighted shibu's.

He left my side for about three seconds and slightly increased the lighting.

I saw a table in the middle of the restaurant, with a white carnation. I smiled to myself and he pulled the chair for me.

I took a seat and looked at him, he was gone.

This man.

I looked around the table, it was the only table which looked different, better than the rest.

There was an unopened bottle of Charles Heidsieck Rosé Réserve in a mini bucket of ice.

Pink champagne?

There were three little white containers which were closed. Probably sauce.

He came out of the kitchen, finally.

I was hungry too, but I missed his half hidden face as well.

He was wearing a dark maroon shirt, which looked extremely good on him.

"Food is served" He said, while placing two dishes in front of me.

On one side there was broccoli and Stilton soup and on the other was the main course.

The soup was in a medium sized bowl, not too much, not too less.

"The soup is broccoli and Stilton and the other is called a dream of portobello mushrooms in a bed of garlic bread, rucola and spaghetti"

I widened my eyes and raised my eyebrows at him.

He was already drinking the soup.

"Drink it while it's hot" He ordered.

I blew some air over the soup spoon, the soup was steamy.

I sipped on it, mild and creamy, paradise.

Just marry me already.

Why would he though?

I drank the soup in silence. When I was about to take the first bite of my pasta, he stopped me.

"Wait.. do you drink champagne?" He asked.

"Yeah.. but don't you think this is a bit much?" I asked,concerned.

"For a first date? Shizuki are you trying to imply something here?" He answers with another question.

"Are you trying to say, this is going nowhere?" He asked.

I didn't know how to answer about our absurd relationship.

"Pour it in mister" I replied, over confidently.

He chuckled while popping the bottle open.

"Sure miss" He replied while he filled my glass.

"It enhances the taste buds with this dish" He added.

I took my first bite and sipped a bit of champagne.

My eyes shut automatically, lost in the mind blowing sour and mild taste.

"That's amazing" I answered.

"Well... it's okay, I've had better"

"Better?" I questioned.

What could be better than this? Better than your cooking?

"Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, Saiba
Joichirou and Nigella even"

"Are you joking or you've actually tasted all their dishes?"

"I have met them and had their cooking" He replied like it was absolutely nothing.

"Saiba sama, you've met him?"

"Several times, he's my friends father"
"You are so lucky"

"I assume I am" He cooly said.

I didn't answer him as I was talking my last bite.

I left the sun baked tomato along with some of the minced garlic.

"Stack them" He said.

I kept the dishes carefully on top of each other. When I was about to pick them, he stopped me.

"We're not done" He said, taking the last sip of his champagne.

"What?" I asked, taking it the wrong way.

"Hope you have some place for dessert" He kept talking as he walked back to the kitchen.

He peeped through the door and said coldly.

"Don't come inside"

I gulped because of his change in tone.
He came back after about, 5 minutes.

Placing a plate in front of me, he was staring right into my eyes.

He looked at the plate and my eyes followed his.

There was a little cake, on flames.

There was some liquid chocolate on top of the cake with a marshmallow and the whole thing was on fire.

"It won't burn your tongue" He explained.

"It's on fire" I said, unwilling to try it.

"The fire will die, once you cut it with a spoon"

I was still gaping at it. Admiring how beautiful it was.

"You know it's more beautiful than I can ever be" I said, being honest.

He chuckled, and there was a spoon in my dish, making the fire go off.

"Now, eat" He said and went to his side of the table.

I put the spoon in my mouth and there was an explosion.

Warm chocolate sauce, walnuts perfectly diced so they'll almost melt in your mouth, marshmallow and something I didn't recognise.

I tried to chew slowly to get the surprise ingredient.

"It's few drops of rum and orange sauce" He answered the question on my mind.

"Everything you made, compliment each other so perfectly"

"I'm glad you liked it" He said, taking the plates inside.

I grabbed some of the glasses and followed him.

He was cleaning the dishes.

"I'll help" I said.

"Okay" He said passing me a cloth.

He passed me the cleaned utensils and I wiped them dry, placing them aside with the other plates and cups.

I leaned on the counter, tired from the over wiping.

"Guess we'll call it a night" He said staring at his phone.

"Is it too late?" I asked.

"2:14 am" He answered, keeping his phone back in his pocket.

He looked so attractive.

"I'd love to spend more time with you but I think I'll leave" I answered.

"Fine.." He said, with no emotions.

He never misses me?

I got my purse from the table and turned the lights off.

We walked back after he was done locking the back door.

He walked beside me, close but not close enough.

We were in front of Shibu's just like the first time we had dinner together it was dejavu except for the fact that things had changed between us.

Regular customers my ass.

He was looking at me as we halted to say bye.

"Night Shun"

"Night-" He was about to say but I interrupted.

"Misora" I said.

He smiled, almost making me get a heart attack.

"So goodnight Misora" He said.

"Thank you for the amazing night" shit I didn't mean that night.

"Technically it's almost day but it was my pleasure" He replied.

I nodded and smiled at him, not creepily but genuinely.

I started to walk off but I couldn't just yet. I needed to thank him more.

He was turning away and I called out to him.

"Shun?" I said, in a low voice.

But he heard me, because of the empty place.

The cool breeze was flowing in the air along with the smell of his cologne.

Yes we were a few steps away and I could still smell him.

I felt like I was half dog.

"Tell me" He said, not startled.

I walked closer to him, looking up to him as he was still taller than me despite the heels.

"I- um" I tried to say something but words wouldn't work here.

I moved forward and closed my eyes and kissed him. He stiffened at first but then when I was about to pull away he put his arms around my waist and kissed with more intensity.

His lips were warm, perfectly in sync with mine and his grip on me became tighter as pressed his lips deeper into my parted ones. 

We were making out, on the street, the cool breeze wasn't helping anymore as my body was heated up.

My legs were going to give up but I was glad he had his arms around me.

I broke the kiss, gasping for air.

He was still holding me in place and I hugged him.

"T-thanks again" I mumbled.

Not able to face him because of my blush.

"Don't mention it" He replied, letting go of me.

Damn, why couldn't he hold me for a bit longer?

I shuddered after he let go of me, I hugged myself, rubbing my freezing shoulders.

"Let's walk to your car quickly" He said, while grabbing my hand.

My heart was glad he was around but it pumped too much blood to my face.

He dropped me to my car and waved me off.

I got back home throwing my heels aside, thinking of how perfect my day was and the perfect guy who caused it.

Damn I'm already falling hard for this guy.