Mistress of Spices

By Alice en Juin

Disclaimer: Like a friend said, that’s a good one.

Author’s note: Regarding the missing ‘the’ in the title, I just want to say that I have joined the ‘Articles are for losers club’.

For the lovely L-chan (she’s in your fandom, breaking up your OTP 3).

Kaho always smelled of sandalwood. There was something so foreign and delightful about her and Touya used to think that he could spend his whole life just trying to figure her out.

Touya remembers how he used to weave in his fingers in her thick, auburn hair. He’d find himself peering into her scalp, half-hoping to find out a secret from her past.

Kaho was of course always enigmatic. And isn’t mystery a feminine quality? Well,

Touya was sure it was. He would be tempted sometimes to ask her questions like ‘what are you thinking?’ when she’d gaze into the distance and she would let out this clear, lovely laugh and she would tell him it was nothing.

When they were dating, she would make these exotic dishes for him. You could tell that while she may not have been an expert, she loved trying out new things.

When she left Tomoeda for the first time, he knew that one of the things he was going to miss about her was her cooking.

One of the best days of Touya’s life was when they reunited on a warm spring morning. She brought back a comfortable familiarity into his life and yet living with her held this promise to him. It was like he was going to discover something new everyday. He did not need to know everything about her but he would be content with hoping to stumble onto a something he didn’t know about her before now and then.

Kaho’s a much better cook these days. It’s because of her that nowadays the kitchen usually smells of something delicious and mysterious.

In fact right now, it smells of warm hot chocolate. Touya’s sitting in the living room, patiently checking his students’ test papers. He remembers his first experiences as a teacher. He would feel guilty when a student wouldn’t be doing well in class. He felt as if he had failed that kid. Kaho would comfort him then and tell him that it wasn’t his fault and that it was really up to children to make an effort. He felt better after that.

“Your hot chocolate,” Kaho proudly announces, holding a cup on coaster.

Touya looks up from his papers, a little surprised. It’s like she appeared out of nowhere but then again he’s been working for so long.

“Oh my,” he’s a little dumbfounded. “You really didn’t need to do this.”

He’d rather not have his 8-month pregnant wife doing anything right now.

“I’m pregnant not incapacitated.” She leans into him with a little smile.

“Thanks.” He takes the cup from her and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

He is thankful that he finally got a much needed break. He takes a whiff of the drink. Letting out a content sigh, Touya sips the beverage.

“Mmm.”

The cocoa drink is hot but it’s also rich, smooth and so creamy. It also has a hint of cinnamon.

He tries to make hot chocolate like hers but somehow it’s never the same. There’s just something about the way she cooks food that makes it irresistible and unique.

“The hot chocolate’s great.”

“Thanks, my mom used to tell me that a way to man’s heart was through his stomach. By the way, how’s the checking going so far? Any new formulas or theories?”

“Nah,” he chuckles. “I think all my students studied well for the test.”

He takes another sip of the hot chocolate.

Delicious.

“You’ll think I’m just kidding but I’ve always wondered how you made such great hot chocolate.”

She lets out small laugh and her eyes light up.

“Oh come on, your hot chocolate is just the same.”

“Yeah, but it’s like you have some sort of recipe for this stuff.” His brown eyes twinkle. “You don’t have a recipe for making hot chocolate, do you?”

“I do,” she says in a gentle yet serious tone.

“Well,” he says, playing along. “Where is it?”

“I’ll tell you that one of these days, but for now,” her tone changes into a loud whisper. “It’s a secret.”

She cheerfully puts a finger on her lips.

“I thought so.”

He looks into half-empty cup with a knowing smile.

It’s moments like these that he’s reminded of why he loves living with the mistress of secrets and spices.