Valkyria : I never expected this story to be so well received. You guys have my thanks, really. Well, in celebration to the twenty-five reviews I got for the first chapter. Here's another one for you! So, enjoy, okay?
Disclaimer : I claim no rights to the anime/manga Yu-gi-oh!
Current Song : Crazy Rainbow by Tackey & Tsubasa.
"Being a chef, it has given me a chance to see people's expressions of joy, awe and even ecstasy as they ate what I tried so hard to cook. But, despite these happy moments, I also learned that no matter how good the food is, you still can't put a damn smile on some people's face. Oh well, you can't satisfy everyone."
- Jounouchi Katsuya.
Chapter Two : Adventures of the Scarlet Chef and the Cold Businessman.
Jounouchi Katsuya, head chef of the Scarlet Moonlight restaurant, stepped into the main kitchen to hear the sounds of laughter, the chopping of vegetables and the sizzling of meat. His nose twitched when one particular smell hit his sharp nose.
"Oi! Mendo! You've been smoking in here again?"
Even over the sounds of orders being yelled out, Jounouchi was still able to hear his cook's low curse and quiet coughing.
"Sorry, boss!"
"No he's not, boss!" another cook, Amelda, cried out. "He's just going to smoke again after you leave for your break!"
Jounouchi's lips twitched with barely suppressed amusement when he heard Mendo curse again. This time the word being directed towards Amelda, the crew's own resident snitch.
"Just put it out and don't get caught by a customer." walking over to the sink, Jounouchi rolled his sleeves up and started the water to wash his hands. "You know how they are."
"Yeah, yeah,"
Dipping his hands in the near scalding water, Jounouchi grabbed the soap and washed his hands and fingernails thoroughly. It wouldn't do to have all his dishes smelling like fish and garlic.
"Hey boss?"
Jounouchi turned to see one of the server's, Rex, standing behind him wearing a disgruntled expression. He suppressed a groan and mentally prepared himself to hear the younger man's latest complaint.
"What can I do for you, Rex?"
"Would you mind telling Weevil to stop bringing his nasty bug experiments into the break room? I like to open the refrigerator one day and not seeing some kind of ant hill or cocoon next to my sake. Those bottles are the good stuff."
Shuddering at the thought, Jounouchi nodded. "Sure thing, I'll make sure to talk to him and Rex?"
"Yeah, boss?"
"Stop drinking so much, alright? You maybe legal but it doesn't mean you can nuke your liver. You're one of my best servers. I don't want to fire you if you decide to come in drunk one day."
Rex looked mildly offended at his words and Jounouchi wanted to apologize, but Rex merely nodded his head in acceptance.
"Sure thing, boss. Can't promise I won't sneak a bottle or two on my day off though."
"I can accept that."
"Rex!" Amelda called impatiently. "Your order is up! Hurry up will ya!"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming you snitch!" Rex tossed him a grin and strolled off, apparently not giving a damn about Amelda's impatience.
'Really," Jounouchi thought, amused. 'I don't know how we've been voted one of the best restaurants in the city with this motley crew.' he watched as Mendo and Amelda glared at each other. While Mendo and Amelda were some of his best cooks. It still didn't negate the fact that Mendo was a chain smoke and a womanizer and Amelda was a perfectionist and an action figure collector -who sometimes brought them to work and set them near the orders for God's sake!-
Thank God their inspectors didn't come in randomly or they would have closed a long time ago.
"Jounouchi-san!" the door to the kitchen burst open and Miho, another one of his servers, came through like a tornado, knocking a few busy boy's to the floor in an effort to get to him.
"Miho-chan." Jounouchi greeted wearily. "What's is it?" he could never understand how many problems could arise when he just stepped through the door.
He honestly had the worst luck sometimes.
Miho placed a hand over heart, panting. "W-We have a costumer complaint!"
Instantly, the clanking of pots, and Mendo's loud voice came to a halt at Miho's words. Jounouchi stared down at the small woman and sighed. He bet all the yen in his wallet that it was some businessman or woman.
Better yet, maybe it was a lawyer.
"Who is it?"
To Jounouchi's surprise, Miho let out a dreamy sigh that reminded Jounouchi of his sister when she saw her favorite actor on TV. It unwillingly brought a small smirk to his lips.
"Miho?" he asked again. "Who is it?"
"Oh?" Miho blinked rapidly. "He said his name was Seto Kaiba or something."
At the name of the complaining customer, Jounouchi felt himself grow numb and he vaguely heard Mendo choke on his unlit cigarette and Amelda drop a pan of sauce.
"S-Seto Kaiba?" Jounouchi repeated. "The CEO of Kaiba Corp?"
"That's right!" Miho clapped her hands twice as if Jounouchi won some prize. "He said he wanted to see the head chef immediately."
"I just got here!" Jounouchi couldn't help but blurt out. "What happened?"
Miho frowned and placed her finger against her chin. "He said something about his steak being overdone and his mashed potatoes were made wrong." Miho snapped her fingers. "And the wine was warm."
Jounouchi's eye twitched after Miho finished the list of complaints. He whirled around and pinned his gaze on Mendo who's usually tan skin was quite pale.
"Mendo?"
"Y-Yeah, boss?"
"Who did Kaiba-san's order?"
"I-I did," Mendo held his hands up in a surrendering gesture. "I swear I did the order right, boss! Nothing was wrong with it when I sent it out."
"Are you positive, Mendo? Absolutely positive?"
"Absolutely."
A forceful sigh escaped Jounouchi's mouth when he saw the honest expression Mendo was wearing. If it was one thing the cook was known for around the restaurant, it was his honesty. The man never lied about anything unless it was smoking habits.
"Jounouchi-san?"
Patting Miho on the shoulder, Jounouchi gave the server a small smile. "I'll take care of it, Miho-chan. You just get back to work, okay?"
"Okay!"
Making sure his chef's jacket was straight and his pants weren't wrinkled, Jounouchi stepped out of the kitchen and into the cool air of the restaurant. He blinked to adjust his eyes at the low lighting before moving through the perfectly arranged tables.
Nodding his head at the few customers who were quietly eating, Jounouchi scanned the room until he noticed a tall man wearing an obviously expensive three-piece suit wave him over.
'That's must be him. Seto Kaiba.'
Pulling his lips into a tight smile, Jounouchi made his way over to the table, stopping when he was standing a few inches from the chair.
"Kaiba-san?"
"Yes," Kaiba waved a hand at the chair. "Please take a seat."
Jounouchi opened his mouth to decline the offer when Kaiba gave him a stare that could've froze his blood. Hand shaking, he pulled the velvet covered chair back and sat.
"Now," Kaiba began, lacing slim fingers under his chin. "I take it you know why I called you out here-What's your name?"
"Jounouchi Katsuya."
"Jounouchi-san." Kaiba continued. "Miho-san has told you about my complaint?" Kaiba waved a hand at the half-eaten plate. "Correct?"
"That's right." Jounouchi scanned the plate which consisted of a half-eaten steak -medium done- and mashed potatoes ladden with gravy -almost gone- "I don't see a problem, Kaiba-san."
"Because there isn't, and please, call me Seto."
Jounouchi stared into Kai-Seto's deep blue eyes and then down back at the plate. It took another twenty seconds before it clicked what the businessman was doing.
"You mean to tell me," Jounouchi began softly, pushing down the rage that was bubbling to the surface. "You risked the reputation of my restaurant, my crew, my food, just to see me?"
Seto shrugged and gave him a look of nonchalant which made Jounouchi see red. It wouldn't do to reach across the table and knock a few of those perfect teeth out of the CEO's mouth.
It wouldn't do at all.
"I've heard a lot about the 'Great Chef of the Scarlet Moonlight.' Seto raised an eyebrow, looking him up and down. "You'll have to excuse me when I say I don't see much."
"Son of-" Jounouchi quickly stifled the insult when a few customers and a worried Miho glanced his way. Taking a deep breath, he leaned against the velvet chair, letting the fabric sooth his frayed nerves. His hands itched to reach for the bottle of wine sitting in the middle of the table. A drink would definitely help.
"What do you want?" Jounouchi asked, feeling exhausted from being around the CEO. He wonder if the man's colleagues felt this way.
"Simple." Seto said softly, glancing around the restaurant. "I want your services."
"Services?" Jounouchi repeated slowly. "Can you be more specific than that?"
Picking up the fork, Seto pointed down at the half-finished plate. "Compliments are due for this meal, Jounouchi-san. The steak is so tender it melts in your mouth and the mashed potatoes and gravy are the best. And trust me, I've been to plenty dinners where the food was absolutely crap."
Jounouchi wanted to flush with praise at the compliments, but he had no right to take credit of one of his other cooks.
"I didn't cook it." Jounouchi grinned when Seto eyes told him to explain. "One of my cooks, Mendo, made it. He was quite upset when you sent that complaint in, Seto-san."
Again, much to Jounouchi's frustration, Seto looked nonchalant. This guy must have one hell of a poker face.
"You said you wanted my services?" Jounouchi asked curiously, picking up where they left off. "You need some catering?"
"Yes, for my little brother's party."
"Ah, I see," Jounouchi smiled and rose from his seat. "You will have to see Schroeder-san then."
"Schroeder-san?" Seto's eyes narrowed. "Seigfried von Schroeder?"
"Oh God no," Jounouchi shuddered. "His little brother, Leon von Schroeder. He's in charge of catering. We have another set of cooks that takes care of it. I'm specifically assigned to the restaurant, the bar and the blackjack tables."
"You work two other places?" Seto's voice was amused. "What? They don't have enough workers?"
"No, I'm just talented."
"Talented?" Seto purred, causing a shiver to run down Jounouchi's spine when saw how dark Seto's eyes had become. "How talented are you, exactly?"
Despite his darkening blush over his cheeks, Jounouchi frowned. "Talented enough to get away from propositioning businessman like yourself." he grinned at the sudden scowl Seto had on his face. "If you'll excuse me, I have to head back to the kitchens. Are we finished here?"
"Yes," Seto narrowed his eyes. "But this isn't the last you've seen of me, Jounouchi Katsuya."
Placing the chair back in its proper place, Jounouchi snorted at the threat. "I'm sure it isn't, Seto-san. I'm sure it isn't."
Tossing a lazy wave in the businessman's direction, Jounouchi made his way back to the kitchen only to see his entire crew, busboy's, servers and cooks, standing in the kitchen. All of them wearing worried looks.
"Well, boss?" Rex asked, breaking the silence. "Mendo in trouble?"
"Hey!"
Jounouchi raised his hands and chuckled. "No, no trouble for Mendo or anyone, okay? Just one big misunderstanding." he clapped his hands loudly. "Let's get back to work, people!"
"Yes, boss!"
Jounouchi watched his crew scatter in different directions leaving only him and Mendo. He grinned at the still worried look his friend was wearing.
"Everything's fine, okay?" he walked forward, placing a hand on the shorter man's shoulder. "Your food is still wonderful as always."
"Thanks, boss," Mendo flushed lightly. "I'm going to take a smoke break, alright? This whole thing has frayed my damn nerves."
"Sure, go ahead, just remember to take off your jacket, alright?"
"Yeah, yeah,"
Jounouchi watched the cook walk out of the back exit with a weary smile. It didn't take much to scare Mendo, but when it did, the man became clearly shaken. He clenched his fists when Seto's nonchalant expression came to the forefront of his mind. Did the CEO honestly think it was okay to come in here and do something like that?
He would get that arrogant bastard back. No matter what it took.
A/N : Well? Did you guys like Jono's and Seto's introduction? I hope so!
*Mendo Cinna - A card professor from the Yu-gi-oh R! Manga.
Next Chapter : The Smitten Soldier and the Shy Curator!