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Post by Byleistr Vacanze on May 28, 2015 19:31:08 GMT -6
Vacanze shook his head at Ichigo's father's craziness and turned back to the cooking food.
He was in the kitchen helping with dinner. Being prepared was a large pot of chicken udon noodle soup, a large platter of dumplings, three kinds of yakitori, and several other side dishes. With each passing moment they cooked and the udon simmered, sending delicious smells floating around the kitchen, Vacanze's stomach growled and he became hungrier and hungrier.
"Ugh. When is all this going to be done already? I'm starved!"
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Post by Yuzu Kurosaki on May 28, 2015 19:42:22 GMT -6
Yuzu finished helping Karin cover the cake and hide it, ordered her brother to put the dumplings in the oven next, and scooted over to Vacanze and the rest of their meal. She wafted the steam towards her, taking a large breath of the garlic and green onions, and then smiled at V. “I think we are very close. Will you stir the noodles for me while I check some of the other dishes? Oh! Just a minute!"
She stood on her tiptoes to reach the thyme on the spice shelf and poured a handful into her hand. "Now, you can stir." She added some pepper and then sprinkled the thyme and red pepper as Vacanze stirred slowly. She smiled, eyes bright with happiness, as she added another pinch of soy sauce. "Thank you. I will be right back." She skipped to the rice cooker and turned it off, just before her beeper went off.
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Post by Byleistr Vacanze on May 28, 2015 19:53:25 GMT -6
Vacanze nodded at Yuzu. Slowly stirring the soup, he took a big whiff of the aromatic comfort dish. He hummed and forced himself not to taste it from the ladle. The smell was amazing.
He turned to Ichigo. "Your sister is a drop dead amazing cook. And she's so young. How long has she been at this?"
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Post by Ichigo Kurosaki on May 28, 2015 20:02:09 GMT -6
“She picked up everything around the house when our mother died,” Ichigo replied, setting up the drink table. “She mastered most of it before she was a teenager, keeping us sane, clean, and fed.”
“Really, that’s either insane or awesome!”
Ichigo grinned. “It is.” He sighed in remembrance. “Karin stopped crying, not wanting to worry us, and Yuzu took over for Mom. It probably made the grief easier, too. I don’t think dad and I would have managed without either of them making those decisions.” He chuckled. “And now, Karin chases away no good men from the high school and community college - those just interested in her house skills. She protected us - now we protect her."
He turned as the doorbell rang. "Come in! It's open! Unless you're Renji. Stay out there where you won't eat the food."
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Post by Lt. Renji Abarai on May 28, 2015 21:18:40 GMT -6
Renji kicked the door open, arms filled with indigo, sky blue and purple blooms. “That’s some way to talk to someone who helped decorate!” he snapped. “These aren’t exactly light, you know.”
He stood up straight as Yuzu pushed past her brother and bounded right up to him. “Thank you, Abarai,” she said. “I thought Yumiko and Vale would need a hand.” She raised the chocolate spatula. “Set that vase down right there by the door, take the smaller ones out and slip them in the vases on the tables, and then you can have this for your hard work.”
Renji grinned at Ichigo. “See! Your sister appreciates me!”
Ichigo folded his arms. “You shouldn’t even be included in this part of the party now that you and Rukia are officially together.”
Renji rubbed his head. “Not officially. I have yet to meet the Kuchiki clan.”
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Post by Yumiko Ryouma on May 28, 2015 21:26:24 GMT -6
“Nobles are slow when they want to,” Yumiko commented from the hall as she followed her own instructions and Vale slipped past her with his sack for the outdoors. She smiled and brushed the soil away from the shimmering overlay of dress, a sleeveless blue and white floral sheathe with a low neck. Her hair was tucked up and then cascaded down her back. She smiled as Vale returned and set a hand on her hip before turning back to Abarai. “The fact that they haven’t said anything is a good sign.”
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Post by Lt. Renji Abarai on May 28, 2015 21:30:16 GMT -6
Renji chuckled. “That's good to know, but I don’t care if they approve or not. I wasn’t out to impress their asses. It was her brother, and so far, besides a much busier load of work and some new responsibilities, he hasn’t pushed her away from me. So I think I am good.”
“Besides,” he smirked, “if I can’t be here when I am with Rukia, how come you can be here when you’re with Orihime, Substitute?”
“It’s MY family’s house,” Ichigo retorted. “And she’s still a good friend.”
“And she still one of mine. Better than yours, I bet.”
“Not on your life.”
Renji stepped forward, ready to grab Ichigo's jacket when Yuzu leaped in to intercept them.
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Post by Yuzu Kurosaki on May 28, 2015 21:34:43 GMT -6
Yuzu quickly gave them both cake spoons to lick. “No fighting. Five minutes, and they will be here.” She pointed at Ichigo. "Go get the kids playing in the back. Hime needs another lemonade too." Ichigo gave a nod and started towards the drinks. Yuzu then smiled at Yumiko. “Thank you for the help with the preparation last night. Will you help me finish the last dishes?”
Yumiko nodded. “Of course, though it seems Vacanze is a wonderful helper.”
Yuzu nodded with a hum. “He is! And he gets the cake bowl for it.”
Ichigo nearly fell over. "HEY! That's mine!"
Yuzu giggled. "Not anymore it is~" She turned around and sashaying her hips, walked over to the oven to save Vacanze - as Karin finished setting the yakitori and dumplings on the table.
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Post by Seto Tetsuya on May 28, 2015 22:00:07 GMT -6
"You whine about a bowl of left over cake batter, Kurosaki." Vale let his hand fall from Yumiko's hip, as he chuckled at the fumbling Ichigo. "I get all the sweets I want from Yumiko. And, more." He winked at Ichigo, letting his hand find Yumiko's hip again. He leaned close, resting his chin to her shoulder. "I should go, love." he whispered in her ear.
Yumiko blushed and then shivered at his sly words before turning slightly to look him in the eyes when he fumbled. “You could stay,” she murmured. “You’re as welcome here as I am now.” Her hand reached up to press against his cheek and she leaned up to kiss his eyelid. “It’s your choice,” she whispered.
Vale nodded as he released Yumiko and picked up his knapsack. "I'll see you when you get home." He crept away from the group, leaving without anyone but Yumiko noticing.
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Post by Byleistr Vacanze on May 28, 2015 22:30:39 GMT -6
Vacanze took the cake bowl from Yuzu, musing the top of her head with a smile. "Thanks, kiddo." He then turned to Ichigo and stuck his tongue out, wrinkling his nose at him. He smirked at him. "See? I was most helpful, so I get the best part. Next time, YOU can be in the kitchen helping your kid sister if you want to lick the bowl."
He patted Yuzu's head once more and slinked off, sticking his fingers in the cake batter covered bowl then shoving them in his mouth, humming. "Now this is one human food I can never get enough of."
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Post by Urahara Kisuke on May 28, 2015 22:50:57 GMT -6
Kisuke walked up to the door with Yoruichi, Kenji and Sojiro. Both boys had their arms full of gifts from their family. Kisuke of course was carrying the food, a couple of dishes prepared by Tessai. A full tray of Dango and sweet Mochi, all of different colors and flavors to fit the festive occasion. Yoruichi pushed open the door when they heard someone call out to them to enter when she knocked. Kenji and Sojiro walked in first with two full bags of gifts for Kita. Kisuke just hoped they grabbed all the ones they were told to grab. After all, there were Kenji’s and Sojiro’s, his and Yoruichi’s. Tessai’s, Vacanze’s and Yorusuke’s. Kisuke hoped they did not miss any with them rushing around at the last minute from waiting on Kita and Gin to come from Gin’s room.
Once they had entered the home they left the door open for the lagging Tessai, Kita and Gin. It seemed Gin was not as ready for the walk as he thought after his romp with Kita in his room. Kisuke looked around the house as Vacanze walked up to him helping relieve him of his arm full. The boys took off toward the gift table sitting all the gifts they brought to the table with the others.
“Looks like everyone is here.” Kisuke said adjusting his hat as he looked around seeing Isshin and Juushiro out back with Evita, Orihime and Yorusuke.
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Post by Yoruichi Shihoin on May 28, 2015 23:02:24 GMT -6
"Well," Yoruichi smiled, putting her hands on her hips. "This should be a grand old time. Let's hope everything goes smoothly today."
"Yeah. I'm hoping so too," Vacanze said as he placed the bowl in the sink and ran the water. He washed his hands free of the sticky substance. "And Ichigo and I will be on alcohol duty today."
"Damn right we will be!" Ichigo shouted. "Yuzu, I'd make two separate bowls of punch, just in case someone gets a bright idea and decides to do something stupid to the punch."
Kisuke laughed at Ichigo and Vacanze's antics and kissed Yoruichi and Kenji on the cheek as he head to the back and outside with the other men.
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Post by Yorusuke Nagano on May 28, 2015 23:21:12 GMT -6
Yorusuke walked in from the back yard and looked around the room as he walked over to the drink table. His eyes then stopped on Ichigo with his bold statement. "I have faith that you can control the drinking with this group. The only three here you have to worry about are Isshin, Kisuke and Yoruichi."
Yorusuke looked over to Yoruichi then back to Ichigo, "But if you're trusting her to help you keep the crazy ones in line when they get here after dinner--" he shook his head. "You're crazier than the Captain of the Fifth division."
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Post by Byleistr Vacanze on May 28, 2015 23:30:03 GMT -6
Vacanze rolled his eyes at Yorusuke's comment. "Yoruichi is a grown woman, not to mention a mother. She can take care of herself. Like so," Vacanze pointed to Yoruichi who was smashing Yorusuke's face between her breasts as retribution for his comment. He flailed and tried to push her away.
"In any case, it's not the people who drink too much we have to watch out for. It's more or less who gives what to whom. Some people like to push more alcohol onto others who have already had enough, or don't want to drink at all." Vacanze saw Ichigo nod out of the corner of his eye and instantly knew he was picturing the same thing he was. Vacanze shuddered. "I dare even think of it..." he whispered to himself.
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Post by Karin Kurosaki on May 28, 2015 23:48:29 GMT -6
Karin folded her arms. “You know, I don’t want to know. There’s enough alcohol messes at high school binges, college dorm parties, and such. I don’t need to know your stories.”
Coming down from upstairs with the last chilled dish, Yuzu halted. “Any trouble with alcohol will stay out of the house and away from my punch.” She smiled. “After all, we’re a respectful bunch, aren’t we?” She continued on her way out. “The food is ready.”
Karin grinned as Renji flinched, looked to her brother, and followed her twin outside, where Yumiko was conversing with Juushiro, already sitting in the sunniest place at the table. She walked over to Yuzu and pet her hair. “Looks awesome, Yuzu.”
Yuzu gave a slight bow and a serene smile. She was now dressed in a full light green skirt and a cream lace top. Emerald drops glistened in her ears. She’d tucked her hair into a quick side braid. “Thank you, Karin.” Her smile fell a moment later. “I only wish it is enough. She could be beaming now, but with Ichimaru….”
Karin set a hand on her shoulder. “I am sure you’ve done everything you can.”
Yuzu hugged her. “I hope so,” she murmured. “I want this to be a success.”
“And it will be.”
“You should have worn your navy evening gown,” Yuzu muttered as they pulled back from each other as the yard began to get crowded.
Karin huffed. “Please, I would trip over myself the entire time. I’d rather not do that now. Besides,” she pulled back a lock of her hair. “These black pearls are better with this outfit."
Yuzu threw up her hands in defeat as their father called for everyone’s attention.
Karin smirked to herself and threw her hair behind her shoulder before taking her seat.
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