#proudly (and a little drunkenly) proclaiming how much he loves his two favorite people

[justwritesome]

Courtship Recette

Summary: by Chef Uchiha Madara.

Or a series of outsiders' perspective in the courtship between two talented chefs in a Michelin-starred hotel restaurant in Tokyo, Konoha. [madasaku!crackfic – modern tokyo restaurant au]

———

Chapter 1: Uzumaki Naruto

Uzumaki Naruto simply loves Ramen. For him, Ramen is Life. It's the ultimate food of the Gods.

He's so obsessed with ramen – his dad theorized that this probably started since he was conceived in his mom's womb – that he worked as a part-timer in Ichiraku, a ramen stall near his school when he was still a High School student. Naruto tried to learn everything he could about ramen: from creating noodles from scratch to making different kinds of soup bases and side-toppings.

In short, his obsession with Ramen is the main reason he went and studied in the prestigious Culinary School in Japan. He wanted to introduce and share his first love to the world, and let the people taste the wonder of food of the Gods.

Of course, his beautiful and best mom in the world is Naruto's biggest supporter being a ramen enthusiast like himself. His dad is proudly cheering for him in the side, but not as loud like his mom does.

Naruto was freshman in college when he met his best friends, Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura.

Sasuke-teme is from a wealthy family in Osaka. In fact, he's from that Uchiha Dining Group, so the rich duckling bastard knew chefs from his family all his life and already had a background understanding in the culinary arts.

Meanwhile, Sakura-chan, like him, loves anything sweet. Her favorite foods are dango and anmitsu, but because her parents are Dentists, growing up, she didn't eat sweets that much. But once in a while, she had drunkenly told him and Sasuke, after attending cram school, Sakura would secretly go to tea shops, cafés and dessert buffets with her friends.

He and Sasuke knew that she developed a strained relationship with her mother because of her choice to study the culinary arts instead of being a doctor like her parents.

When they became second years, Naruto chose to attend a class in Traditional Japanese Cuisine under his godfather, Chef and famous Author, Jiraiya.

Sasuke and Sakura were shock at first as they didn't expect that from him (how rude!), but they still supported his decision after the astonishment passed.

Sasuke, on the hand, found an interest in Molecular Gastronomy. He was urged by a senpai to study under the tutelage of Chef Orochimaru. As for Sakura, she went and demanded to the Queen of Pastry, Chef Senju Tsunade, that she wanted to be her apprentice. She was accepted because of her conviction.

And on their last year in Culinary School, before the three of them graduated, they had surpassed their mentors. However, before they could get their degrees, one of the requirements was to intern in the affiliated establishments of their school for six months.

Sasuke didn't hesitate and chose the hotel restaurant near the financial district in Chiyoda ward where his older brother works. It's co-owned by his relative, but Sasuke just wanted to be with his brother and show him how much he improved. Naruto joined his rival and went there too for his internship.

Initially, Sakura wanted to go with them, but instead, she decided to go to Paris and chose a shop owned by a chocolatier, Chef Shizune Shiranui, who also shared the same mentor as Sakura.

Naruto would call her often when he could and when she had the time, Sakura-chan would call him and Sasuke via video-chat while she's interning in France.

Sasuke, the in-denial bastard, always told him that he didn't miss Sakura-chan and her annoying self, but whenever she called, he'll be nearby, hiding in the shadows like a ninja, to hear their conversations.

He pointed it out, but bastard had the gall to lie in his face:

"I just happened to be there," Sasuke lied with a straight-face while they were meticulously prepping the ingredients for the chef's special that day: it was scallops from Hokkaido. "And it's not that I want to hear the both of you talking rubbish about me behind my back."

Naruto just gaped at him in disbelief when he heard that blatant bullshit, he only heard from Kakashi-nii. So, the next time Sakura called, it just happened that it's during the lunch break of the restaurant staffs, and when he "accidentally" connected his smartphone to the Bluetooth speaker was a coincidence. The two of them reminisced their early college days with Sasuke and talked trash about the bastard like the spoiled duckling had wanted… and within everyone's hearing range too. The devil-incarnate of Uchiha harshly scolded him, but Naruto thought it was worth it!

Before the six months of interning was up, the kind owner of Konoha, First Boss as Naruto called Senju Hashirama, offered that Naruto and Sasuke could work there after they graduated. Sasuke swiftly took the offer, elated at the prospect of working close to his older brother– the bro-con didn't care the slightest that the Yōkai he called his relative breathed behind their necks and found faults in every little thing since they stepped foot in the restaurant. Naruto, of course, had enjoyed working in the hotel restaurant's grand kitchen despite the Uchiha no Oni's tyrant ruling there with his cruelty and iron club, so he too, had taken the invitation.

After the three of them graduated and got their diplomas, Sakura-chan happily informed him and Sasuke that she was personally scouted by the owner of a 3-star Michelin restaurant in Tokyo. She's so secretive about the place she'll be working at, but he's just glad that they will be working in the same city.

When Naruto showed up at work as an official paid employee of Konoha after six months of interning there with Sasuke, his jaw dropped at the sight of his female best friend being introduced to the kitchen crew and restaurant staffs as the Fairy of Sweets by the Kitchen Devil himself.

Apparently, Sakura-chan made a name for herself while she was in France and was scouted by First Boss.

He and Sasuke shared a concerned look after Sakura was introduced to everyone. It's a cause of worry for the two of them since they met their sister in all but blood that the pink-haired woman is denser than coffee jelly in the matter of her own heart. For someone who indulges in romantic books and films and a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic at that, Sakura-chan is certainly hopeless and oblivious when it comes to her romance: she wouldn't know that someone is not being overly friendly, but flirting at her.

Two months. It took two months before she unknowingly charmed some staffs in the hotel restaurant. And four months for the Last Demon Boss to be accidentally caught.

The staffs? Sure. It was totally expected. They've seen how Sakura-chan's endearing qualities worked during their college days. But the last one? That, they did not see coming. Ever.

Not the slightest!

He and Sasuke almost lost their freaking minds because Uchiha "Are you an idiot sandwich?" Madara has a heart after all. It's probably black and shriveled, but it's still beating and it beats for their Sakura-chan. WHAT. THE. FU––dge.

For a week, Sasuke looked like he forcefully ate natto and had an on-going constipation whenever he saw his relative approaching Sakura. Naruto didn't know whether to laugh at Sasuke or just curl in ball and cry from war flashbacks.

One time, Naruto had to stop the dramatic Uchiha from dipping his face in the deep-fryer of tempura and kakiage when they saw (from front row seat– Naruto wanted a refund, please) the attempted flirting of the tyrant to their Haruno "oUR heAd CheF iS trULy kiNd AnD frIEndLy" Sakura.

He swore that bastard is soooo extra!

Naruto saw that too, but did he stick his head in the pot of simmering dashi? Nooo! He did not. He's just pulling away the Drama Queen: Sasuke-hime from the hot oil while shouting and calling the Last Demon Boss rude names for trying to romance their Sakura-chan. Not that the Oni knew Naruto was cursing him.

His only solace and soothed his tired heart in this hell of a grand kitchen was the ramen he could eat all he wanted during lunch break. It's truly the ultimate food of the gods! Naruto thought, until he could save enough money to start his business: his very own ramen specialty shop, he will not give up!

Despite all these troubles and hardships, he knew that it will be worth it in the end.

"Uzumaki, what in the earth's name are you doing there? Your shift break is over."

Said the Oni to the mortal enjoying his cup of instant miso chashu ramen. Naruto had to scramble from the stacks of empty boxes and crates near the storage room, slurping clean the soup and noodles as he did so.

"Uzumaki! The chicken won't marinate itself, so come here this instant!"

———

Also in FFnet

#madasaku #haruno sakura #uchiha madara #courtship recette #modern au #sorta hell's kitchen au #littlemisslazy writes

[ginnyweatherby]

I tried getting this out yesterday, but when I sat down to write, my brain just went “duuuuuhhhhh” and nothing ever came of it.  I scrapped the entire thing and started over... it ended up getting pretty long oops.  Thank you to those who gave me suggestions, although I didn’t end up using them.

This is a series of snapshots about a cat that I have such a strong headcanon about that sometimes I forget he isn’t a real character.  I even made a whole post about it.  Gaston and Lefou friendship (they’re roommates), and some slight Lefou/Stanley at the end if that’s your jam

June 19th, Cat

Gaston’s life was, in a way, marked by the cat.  The milestones of his life always seemed to be accompanied by the cat - which was strange in itself, since no one knew he had a pet.

Well, Lefou knew.  Living with Gaston made it impossible for him not to, but he was the only one who did.  Most people assumed Gaston’s social and somewhat brash personality would make him a dog person, and while he liked dogs well enough, and even wanted to have one or two as hunting companions, what he loved more than almost anything, was the small purring ball of orange fur that slept on his favorite armchair until he returned home every evening.  It was there through the ups and downs of Gaston’s life, and it managed to find its way into Lefou’s as well.

-

Lefou had been in the middle of preparing dinner when Gaston walked into the house, the door slamming loudly behind him.  Lefou looked up to see his friend holding something impossibly tiny cradled in his arms.

“What... is that?” Lefou asked, setting his wooden spoon onto the counter.

Gaston laughed.  “Surely you know what this is!  I never took you as a fool, Lefou,”

Lefou chose not to comment on the irony of his statement, and stepped closer.  “A... cat?  You bought a cat?”

“No... I found a cat,” Gaston explained, before correcting himself.  “actually... he found me,”

“He found you,” Lefou echoed in disbelief.  Gaston had never shown any interest in adopting a cat, they had walked by many people selling, or simply giving away litters of kittens.  Gaston had always passed them by.  Lefou didn’t mind, he had never had a pet, other than his horse – which was more a transportation necessity than anything else.

“He did,”  Gaston said, walking over to his chair and falling into it, the cat nestled in his lap.  “I was on my way home, and this little guy followed,”

Lefou could smell on Gaston’s breath that he had been at the tavern.  He was always much more lax when inebriated, more affectionate.  “Did he follow you, or did you follow him?”  He could practically see in his mind’s eye the image of Gaston drunkenly chasing a kitten down the town square.

Gaston waved his hand. “It does not matter who followed who, what matters is Antlers here-”

“Antlers?”

“That’s his name, of course,”  Gaston proclaimed proudly.  “it suits him, don’t you think?”

Lefou said nothing, rolled his eyes, and returned to the kitchen.

-

“Lefou,”  Gaston’s loud “whisper” startled Lefou awake.  He opened his eyes to find Gaston hovering over his bed, much too close to his face for this hour.

“What?”  Lefou rolled over onto his side.

“You have to see what Antlers has done,”  Gaston said, roughly pulling the blankets off of Lefou’s body.

Lefou groaned loudly at the early morning sunlight coming through the window.

“He’s a cat, Gaston,” Lefou said, but he sat up.  “he eats and he sleeps, that’s all he does,”

“Yes, but come see how he’s fallen asleep!”

Lefou blinked at his friend, his vision slightly blurry from sleep.  “You mean to tell me,”  he said as he followed Gaston into the living room.  “you woke me up because of the way Antlers fell asleep?”

Gaston nodded, pressing a finger to his lips as they found Antlers, sprawled out on the couch, all four of his legs going in opposite directions.  “I’ve never seen him sleep like this, usually just in a little ball,”

Lefou wanted to make some sort of witty comeback, but he couldn’t deny that it was an adorable sight.

-

The day Belle had rejected Gaston had been harder on him than he’d cared to admit.  He’d always had plenty of admirers, fawning over his every move to gain his affection.  He put on a front, and Lefou could tell.  He acted as if he were unfazed, that the fact she had denied his advances made her attention all the sweeter, but Lefou knew better.

He especially knew better when he found Gaston brooding by the fireplace, Antlers sitting regally on the arm of his chair.  Gaston slowly stroked Antlers’ body, from his little orange head to the little spot of white at the end of his tail.

Antlers was usually a rather excitable cat, jumping from the chair to the sofa, climbing on counter-tops and walking across the top of the highest cabinets. Yet, here he sat calmly, while Gaston moped pathetically.  He seemed to sense that his master (or, as Gaston referred to himself privately when he thought Lefou wasn’t listening, “Papa”) was feeling low and offered his own feline way of comfort.

Lefou pushed a plate of food at Gaston, who wordlessly accepted it, offering a small bit to his furry companion.

-

Gaston had fallen.  He hadn’t survived the plummet.  Lefou was mourning, but he also felt a strange sense of... relief?  He didn’t know what to make of his mixed emotions, and he couldn’t stay in their home (his home?) any longer.  He felt antsy looking at all of Gaston’s belongings in the rooms.

There was a small cottage just outside of the town, though he could still see the bustle of the village in the distance.  He bought it – along with a considerable amount of land – as soon as he possibly could.

He sighed as he fell in front of the fireplace.  He hadn’t worked up the courage to move his things yet, only grabbing a handful of clean clothes from his wardrobe before making his way to his new property.

It was empty, but that was almost comforting.  He didn’t have the reminders of his former friend.  There weren’t half-empty glasses littering any tables, there weren’t red footprints staining the floors from where Gaston wore his hunting boots indoors, and there weren’t any prized heads or antlers hanging on the walls.

Lefou froze.  Antlers.

He and Gaston might have been in a poor place when Gaston had died, but the cat didn’t deserve to starve in that house.  It had been three days, already, how long could cats survive without water?

He raced as fast as he could to his old home, in his haste he threw open the door with such force that it didn’t hang right.

“Antlers...?”  He called, warily, walking into the living room.  “Antlers...?”

A crash was heard in the direction of the washroom, and Lefou let out a sigh of relief.  He didn’t know what the cat had knocked over, but he was still alive.

He found Antlers, balanced on the edge of a wash basin, which still had a bit of dirty water inside.  Lefou crinkled his nose in distaste, but at least the cat was staying hydrated.  “Alright, you,” he gently lifted Antlers into his arms, “we’re going to our new home,”

-

“You like cats?” Stanley asked, as he watched Lefou seat himself on his sofa, Antlers perched on his knee.

“Well, I have one,” Lefou said, simply.  They had been secretly courting for a few weeks now, but it was the first time Stanley had been to his cottage.

“What’s his name?” Stanley sat next to Lefou, slowly stroking behind Antlers’ ears.

“Antlers,”

Stanley raised an eyebrow, causing Lefou to laugh.

“He was Gaston’s,”

Stanley said nothing, and stopped petting the cat.

“Just because Gaston died, doesn’t mean that Antlers doesn’t deserve a home,”  Lefou explained, “besides, he loves his Uncle Lefou, doesn’t he?”  He lifted Antlers and held him at arms reach.

“Uncle Lefou?”

“Gaston insisted,” Lefou said.  “Would you like to be Uncle Stanley?”

Stanley shook his head as he rolled his eyes, reminding Lefou of all the times he had done the same for Gaston.

No matter, he thought as Antlers let out a loud meow.  Antlers would wriggle his way into Stanley’s heart eventually.  He had a knack for it, after all.

-

#disney #beauty and the beast #i don't know if i should tag this as #gafou fan fiction #or #stafou fan fiction #gaston #lefou #stanley #random ramblings #weatherby writes