Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 2
Chapter 2: A Modest Thanksgiving
(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)
It was the day before Thanksgiving as I was hard at work preparing desserts for tomorow's feast. Even though I started early, I was ready to make some cheesecakes as I was working really hard in doing them. Just as I was about to do so, I heard footsteps approaching as I turned around and saw Shotaro and Tenar standing in front of me. Even though they viewed me as a loving husband to Reiko, they didn't budge as they were wanting me to spend more time with her on the spot. Their motives into bringing us to a much more mutual marriage was about to become more challenging. They didn't move one bit, for they would eventually stop at nothing to get me to be more intimate with Reiko soon enough.
"Looks like you do a lot of work in the kitchen too much," said Shotaro.
"I do what I can when Reiko's enduring a pregnancy like that," I said.
"Is that what you can think of, Sam?" asked Tenar sternly.
"I vowed to watch over her with my life, even if it means sacrificing myself to save her."
"That's not the case. By the way, have you considered to be on the receiving end in the bedroom?"
"I don't do that with Reiko because of the babies inside of her."
"Sex during pregnancy is a natural thing," said Shotaro. "Most of the time, it's the man on the receiving end with the woman on top. Besides, you might even like it the moment you see Reiko enticing you with her glowing body." I saw Shotaro fish out a small box of condoms as he gave them to me. "Go and have your way with her. It's better than wearing a chastity belt all the time."
"But I have work to do."
"Herschel and that kid will do the rest. If I were you, I suggest that you go upstairs and play with my sister after doing all that hard work."
I was put in a bind as I walked out of the kitchen with the box of condoms in my hand. Even though I wanted to work hard in the kitchen a little bit more, I simply went upstairs to where my room was in which I had been sweating over a hot stove and then some. When I went into the bathroom, I stripped off my clothes as I went towards the wash basin. When I was washing myself with the soap and water, I was cleaning myself up as I was thinking about Reiko so readily. By the time I rinsed myself off, I got into the bathtub as I put the plug in and turned on the hot water. I was simply needing a break after getting things ready in time for Thanksgiving as I was relaxing in the tub where the hot water went to the top. Turning it off, I was simply lounging away as I felt more calm after doing too much in one shot.
After spending a good thirty minutes in the tub, I drained the water out as I got out of the tub and dried myself off with a towel. Dressing in a white kimono and underclothes, I cleaned up my mess as I put my dirty ones in the hamper. Before I left the bathroom, I was staring at the box of condoms that were given to me as they were made for both protection and sexual stimulation. I was staring at the box that said, "Casa Erotica" on it in bold letters. When I slipped on my robe, I left the bathroom as I was going towards my room. It was at that moment when I saw Reiko walking towards me as she grabbed my arm and went to where we needed to go into. I was pinned to the bed as I felt the memory foam on the mattress mold me into it. I was seeing Reiko in front of me as she laid close to me. She was beautiful as I even saw the baby bump that was protruding from her dress. I was staring at her as she wanted more intimacy between us before our twins were born, for she wouldn't do it again in the later months.
I was feeling at the baby bump as I found it to be very enticing to the eyes. Still, it was awkward that I was about to be on the receiving end when I noticed Reiko spreading out my kimono and robe, only to reveal my underclothes. It was at that moment when I saw her pull them down to reveal my member as she found it to be out of use since the start of her pregnancy. I was becoming the one that was laying down as I saw Reiko get out the box of condoms and opened it up. The condom in the packaging was something that was keen on the eyes as I saw my wife starting to stimulate my member with her gentle hands. With a heat of excitement, I was fully pleasured as I felt my member hardening up. By the time I saw Reiko strip off her bloomers, she was ready to unwrap the condom as she put it directly on my member.
With her body coming on top of me, I felt welcomed as my member was deep inside of her. I was overwhelmed by the senses within me as I was feeling the erotic pleasure drowning me with all its strength. My body was roaring with such power as I saw Reiko on top of me with her baby bump in front. The intense pleasure from this pregnant sex made me want more of it as I was feeling the effects of what I was dealing with. My heart pounded as I was feeling more powerful on the receiving end, for I was most likely to be enduring this kind of pleasure during the second trimester of Reiko's pregnancy. After spending our energies mingling with one another, we were both tired as I saw Reiko uncouple with me and removed the condom and put it into the wastebasket. When I saw her return next to me, I pulled up my underclothes as I closed my kimono and saw her smiling at me. She was glowing as I even saw her breasts become slightly larger due to the pregnancy that she was having.
"My God, you're beautiful," I said as I was staring directly at my wife.
"I've never seen you so incredible before," she said.
"Perhaps this form of intimacy was something that we do sometimes, but there's also the fact that our twins are safe from harm."
"I heard Tenar telling me that a lasting marriage should never be sexless, even if I'm pregnant."
"Just look at you, Reiko. Ever since we created something precious, you've been glowing as if you were blessed with something more than just being with me. It's the fact that you're more beautiful than anything in which you even made me blush when I first saw you."
"Sammy..."
I looked into Reiko's eyes as I could never turn away from her, no matter what factor was coming at me. She was someone that would bear more children for me as I vowed to protect her from harm. It was my way of showing her that I will always be there for her, even at the cost of my life. The start of our family was something that I was looking forward to, for I was also someone that would stop at nothing to stand firm to protect it...
Dean was looking at the Impala as he was simply wanting to take a test drive into it the moment spring comes along. He was staring at that thing as he even wanted to take it out towards the roads, but it was forbidden to do so. All along the roads, he mainly saw carts and carriages being pulled by horses and oxen as it was a primitive way to travel on the dirt roads. If he were to travel on a real road trip, he would take the Impala on a spin when the spring weather hits, but for now, he had to deal with staring at the sleek black chariot that was itching to go out into the world. Just as he was about to leave the shed, he heard footsteps approaching as he turned around and noticed Magda standing behind him. She knew that he was pining for the Impala as she stared at him directly.
"You're still staring at that car, aren't you?" she said.
"It's a pain in the ass when you see something like that sit in there for ages... or perhaps centuries just to collect dust," said Dean.
"If it were on one of those dirt roads, it would be the envy of all the peasants with their animals carrying the carts and carriages."
"Oh, when will that thing come out of the shed?"
"Dean, you sure pine for that thing."
"It's also the same place where we consummated our marriage while making out to Bad Company."
"I bet that Sam would be staring at you if he saw you going for that car."
"Hey, he's got the castle, but the car's mine. When spring comes along, Baby's gonna be on her maiden voyage."
"You can worry about that later. We're gonna have to help Sam out in the kitchen soon enough."
And so, Dean followed Magda out of the shed as they were about to help out with the dinner fixings for Thanksgiving. It was a great time for family to hang around as it was also an early start for winter as well. After the holiday recess, it would be back to work for all of us as we still had much to do in the Order of Letters. We all had our reasons to be with family, for it was the strongest form of connection that ever lived...
Later on, I was back in the kitchen as I was still hard at work making the cheesecakes for tomorow's feast. After that break, I was simply baking away as I was making the no-bake cheesecake filling while I put it into the graham cracker crusts that were on display. At a single glance, I found the cans of berry filling that Reiko made from the ones that were harvested as I opened up the glass jars and put them on the plain cheesecakes that were now filled up and put into the fridge for tomorrow. I was even having Dirk and Herschel help out as they were making the cakes and pumpkin pies We were getting geared up for such a feast as we were even getting some extra things here. Still, we had a lot of people stopping by until Dirk heard something coming in through the kitchen. I also noticed the familiar face standing in front of all of us as he was dressed in winter garb.
"Long time, no see, Sam," he said as he took off his boots.
"Ippei?" I said. "What made you come over here?"
"It's the first holiday recess, but I decided to come over and visit you anyway."
"How's everyone at the teahouse?"
"Ellen's been working non-stop with the many travellers and customers coming and going. As for my foolish grandson, he's taken on a protegee with him on his hunting missions while encountering Kansas Tang, who has a bone to pick with his bumbling sons."
"Hey, aren't you supposed to be older?" said Dirk out of curiosity.
"I'm five hundred and forty years old, but I'm still young at heart."
"Oh, man...," said Herschel as he was finishing up the pumpkin filling that was going into the pie crusts. "The jig's up. Our old man's gonna be here and Nicholas and I are about to get nailed by him."
"Kansas isn't the kind of guy that can believe someone like you to make up a lie just to prevent Magda from marrying Dean. He's also the guy that is most likely to be fighting against a common threat that appeared the moment SucroCorp returned again. From what I heard, the threat's more real in the outer planetary system than our own."
"I heard about the outer planetary system before," I said. "It's far more different from our own, but the head honcho there is-"
"-Ryosuke Ashizoka? He's Ginryu's twin brother and someone that stays on things. Still, he's in it for the long run just like the rest of us. Still, we have to deal with the top threat that came along the moment we cooperate with Ryosuke."
I had never expected someone like Ryosuke to come here as I was still hard at work helping out in the kitchen. We were mainly getting things done as we were ready to have a great feast that would bring anyone here. It was something that we all had to deal with, but with tomorrow coming, it was also a great opportunity to cook the turkey early in the morning. I was staring at the bird that had been thawed out as I began to get to work on it. Washing my hands, I started tearing the turkey from the package as I dug out the giblets and neck while putting them into a different pan. I even placed it into the huge roaster pan as I was putting butter into the skin along with some seasonings that were stored in the cupboard along with some salt and pepper. With the oven preheated to the right heat, I placed the lid on the roaster as I put the turkey into the oven.
Washing my hands again, I dried them off as I was going back to work into helping Dirk and Herschel finish up the desserts. With the pumpkin pies done, I helped into taking them out as I put them on the counter. The smell of them was something that had been savored in the fall and winter months as we were all done for now. When I left the kitchen, I went upstairs towards the fifth floor as I was in a lounge where it had some recreational stuff in it. The sight of a ping-pong table was something raucous as I noticed the paddles on it along with the balls. There was even a go board and several slow games such as checkers, chess, and shogi. I was in the game room as I had fond memories of being in here playing before going to Gehenna years ago. To my surprise, I heard the door open as I turned around and saw Dean standing in the doorway.
"It's been ages since we were in here," he said as he was going towards the ping-pong table.
"We're not kids anymore, Dean," I said.
"So? That doesn't mean that we can't play ping-pong for a while."
"I would play ping-pong, but I'm not interested in it right now."
"Well, why not?"
"I have too much on me that I have no time into playing games right now."
"When was the last time you played a real competitive game?"
"I don't have time for it. After I reminisce with the go board, I have to go back downstairs to check on the turkey."
"Well, that's an epic fail..."
I watched my older brother play with the ping-pong table as he was wanting me to play a round with him. Still, I had so much to do as I was most likely to be goaded by fate to play a round so Dean wouldn't be bored...
Many years ago...
I was running into the recreational room as I was staring at the ping-pong table. It was something that was fun for Dad and Dean, but it wasn't for me because I was too short as I simply sat down by the go board by the window. I was just staring at the square block with black and white pebbles in separate pots as I was starting to get bored. I was just playing with the tiles as I was making a mess out of them. It was something that I did as I was too short to play ping-pong. By the time I saw Dad finish a round of the game, I saw him sitting down next to the go board as he noticed me pick up the pebbles and put them into where they went. He saw the jeweled sigil on my forehead as he viewed me as something important to everyone, for I would be a part of the Order of Letters just like him.
"You sure know how to make a mess and pick up after yourself, don't you, Sammy?" he said.
"The black pebbles go in the with the other black ones while the white pebbles go with the rest of them," I said.
"You got a sharp memory, don't you?"
"Sammy's always had a sharp memory," said Dean.
"And I read every book in the house," I said.
"No you didn't; you read the cookbooks in the kitchen as well as those other books in the nursery and library."
"Hey, don't try to judge him too low," said our dad. "He may be your little brother, but he's got a lot of potential in mind."
"But, Dad, I'm not that special," I said. "All I do is read books and make messes and the other kids make fun of me at school because of that jewel on my forehead."
"No, you're not hiding the damn thing this time. Last time you hid that thing, you used a bandanna to cover it up and just yesterday, you covered it up with a bandage. There's no point in hiding what you have on you because it's a godsend that it's there."
"What's there?"
"You'll know when you're older, but it's almost time for dinner, so I suggest that you boys go in and wash your hands."
And so, Dean and I left the recreational room as we went into one of the bathrooms to wash our hands for dinner. We were having fish with seasoned vegetables as it was our meal before Thanksgiving. We had a lot of great memories here in the castle as we were happy at the time. Still, Dad was staring at me as if he viewed me to be some sort of god or something when he was fully thankful that I was born. It had been years since Mom passed away, but Dad dealt with it as he was off to his next mission after dinner. He wanted to spend more time with us on Thanksgiving, but once he was called on a hunt, he didn't refuse as he would soon return home with us when it was over.
"Boys, I hate to tell you this, but I have to go," he told us.
"But you can't," I said.
"Sam, listen to me; I don't like this any more than you do, but I have to deal with it whether I liked it or not."
"Aren't you gonna watch us?" asked Dean.
"You're old enough to look after your brother, but the two of you need to stick together. I'll even dispatch Cynthia to keep an eye on you."
"Dad, be careful," I said.
"I will because I'm a member of the Hunter Corps and once I'm on a mission, I can't ignore it. Still, if anything were to happen to me, I want you two to be in Cynthia's care so that nothing worse would ever happen to you. It's the least she can do for you two."
That moment didn't turn out to be when Dean and I were later taken out of Alecrast and onward to Gehenna after that. Still, we had to stand firm in which we had to deal with our situations so readily. It was also something that we were put out to do in the long run, but it was a burden that we bore with our lives...
Meanwhile, back in the present...
I was still in the recreational room as I was still admiring the go board. It had been years since I played with it as I made a mess out of the black and white pebbles long ago. Still, I noticed Dean staring at the ping-pong table as he was wanting someone to play with. I was eager to see the ping-pong table, but I wasn't interested in it as the game itself wasn't fit for me. Back then, I was too small to play as I was even too short at the time. Now, that I was tall, I was most likely to be playing the game of ping-pong, but I didn't have time to do it. I had to check up on things as I had that turkey in the oven slow cooking. Getting up, I was on my way out the door until I saw Ippei barring the doorway. He was there to visit, but he was also concerned for me as I had too much on my hands. It had been four months since I came back home, but I was about to get an earful from the one known as the Sword of Alecrast.
"So, you're going back downstairs to do more work, aren't you?" he said.
"I don't have time to play games right now," I said.
"Sam, I heard from Dean firsthand about how you didn't wanna play with what was on display. You played go with me at my place, didn't you?"
"Yes, but ping-pong isn't for me."
"Hey, don't you be dissing ping-pong," said Dean as he was staring at it out of boredom.
"I was too short at first when I saw you and Dad play it and I was forbidden to play it while we were living on Gehenna over the years. Hell, I was even cleaning up in the recreational room at the fort, but every time I wanted to play the damn game, I got chewed out by Sylvanus over and over again. Sorry, but I have to get back to work."
"Sam," said Ippei. "You have to face the obstacle in front of you, even if you don't like it. Do you want Lucifer to come back and taunt you again?"
"No, but-"
"Here," said Dean as he gave me a racket that went to the ping-pong table. "It sucks to play alone, but with two, it's gonna be fun."
I sighed heavily as I was going towards the ping-pong table and was ready to face my worst obstacle that was standing in front of me. I had neglected the fun of that trivial game for so long that I had a feeling that it would trigger bad memories from Gehenna during our time at the fort. It was something that I had to deal with as I was most likely to be put to the test of what I learned so far...
Many years ago on Gehenna...
I was hard at work cleaning up the fort as I was simply getting things done for the day. The daily chores here were getting intense as I was busy dusting the halls while the rest of us servants were busy getting the rest all in tip-top shape. By the time I was finished, I was on my way to the recreational room as I was cleaning up after the soldiers were there just indulging themselves after training missions. It was at that moment that I saw a ping-pong table standing there as it was about to be cleaned. I was dusting and cleaning off the ping-pong table as I was reminded of the games of it that Dean and Dad played long ago. By the time I was finished, I went on cleaning the rest of the recreational room as it needed to be spotless by the time the soldiers got back.
I was hard at work as I was cleaning up the recreational room up to tip-top shape. It took me an hour to pick it up as I had the place cleaned and spotless. It was tough, but I had to keep it up to standards as I was going out of the room in order to go to my own. Just as I was about to do so, I saw Dean come into the recreational room as he was about to take a load off. After all that training exercise, he wanted to take a break as he was staring at the ping-pong table that got cleaned up earlier. He remembered the days when he and Dad were busy playing that game as I mainly watched from the sidelines, but he wanted someone to play with and that someone was me.
"Once again, there's the lonely ping-pong table," he said.
"I can't play with it, you know," I said as I was on my way out of the recreational room.
"Hey, you can't opt out on playing that game and besides, one can't play alone."
"If Sylvanus catches me doing that with you, you'd be in trouble. I can't chance it right now."
"Well, let him catch us. For instance, I'm getting sick and tired of him treating you like a doormat"
Too late! We saw Sylvanus enter into the recreational room as he was spotting me trying to play with the ping-pong table. He didn't want any servant to mess around with the equipment that was in there as he was grabbed me by the scruff of my kimono and yanked me out of here. It was hell for me as I was brought into the training grounds where it was empty for today. I was in for it. I was most likely to be put under another form of punishment when he got out a washtub filled with fresh snow. I had a feeling that I would be going into that as I was used to the punishment that I endured.
"You know the rules, Sam!" roared Sylvanus. "Only soldiers play in the recreational room, not servants! As for your punishment, you'll be standing in the washtub of snow for two hours. That'll teach you not to get into things!"
I took off my slippeers as I was about to go through another form of punishment that was staring at me. I stepped into the tub as I felt the snow freezing my feet in which I saw the sky with the rest of it falling down. Sylvanus was relishing the moment I was put here as he was standing in front of me just seeing being me humiliated by my folly. I was shivering as I felt the chilly air freezing me all over. Still, I couldn't get away as I was wanting to get out of the washtub before another blizzard hits into the fort, but I had Sylvanus just staring at me with a smile on his face.
"It's ironic that you of all people thing you're special, don't you?" he said as he was wadding up some snow in his hands. "Well, you're not special and I really don't give a rat's ass about you anyway. Dean's got better potential than you because he's a soldier. You're just a servant and like you, all servants don't shirk their work. Your presence in the recreational room is yet another mockery on us soldiers and it makes me sick. Today's Thanksgiving as you're not invited to the turkey feast because you're gonna spend two hours of standing in the washtub for your insolence." He throws the snowball at me as it hits my face. "By the time your punishment's over, there will be no food left and all you'll ever have are the crumbs and table scraps on the floor."
I saw Sylvanus leave the training grounds as I was shivering from the cold. I wanted to think about Ginryu's words I heard of two years ago, but I couldn't shake the fact that I was still a servant and doormat. I was never special from the beginning, but more and more, I was beginning to see that I didn't matter to anyone as I was freezing from the weather that had been pouring down outside. It had been an hour as I felt my feet being numb as I was wiggling my toes in the snow. I was even suffering from another bad cold. I had to face the cold until I spotted Ginryu coming towards me as he noticed me suffering from the chill of the weather.
"You shouldn't be standing out here, you'll get pneumonia," he said.
"I can't get out of the washtub after Sylvanus forced me go go into it," I said.
"Is that what he told you?" I nodded. "You can't be out here or else you'll freeze to death."
"No, I'm not coming in, you hear me?"
"Sam, if I'm here, Sylvanus will not harm you."
"So? He'll always get at me because he treats all the other servants and soldiers as equals."
"You're coming into the mess hall whether you like it or not. The training grounds is no place to celebrate Thanksgiving in."
"I have to obey Sylvanus and take my punishment or else he'll do worse to me."
Without no further say, Ginryu grabbed me by the arm as he dragged me out of the washtub. He even gave my slippers to me as he wanted me to put them on. I didn't want to become the face of bad behavior as I was going towards the washtub of snow that was staring at me in the face. I didn't want to face another bout of Sylvanus' wrath as I was about to step into the washtub again to serve out the rest of my punishment.
"I can't go with you," I said as I was stepping back into the washtub.
"Sam, you can't be bound with Sylvanus' punishments forever," said Ginryu.
"If he finds out that you're doing that, he'll end you."
"No he won't because I'm in charge when I'm here. Come on, now; let's go back in the fort. Your brother's waiting for you."
"A soldier can't have attachments and I'm making sure that Dean doesn't have any burdens to bear."
"Is that what you've been hearing from Sylvanus? No, he may say that a soldier can't have attachments, but matters of family trumps all. Now, are you with me?" I shook my head as I feared retaliation from the head honcho. "Sam, there's a blizzard coming and the nightly weather can reach a bonechilling minus twelve. Are you willing to serve out your punishment for trying to please yourself?"
"I can't disobey Sylvanus again. I have to do this so I won't face another bout of Sylvanus' wrath." My voice broke as I was feeling the pinch of my errors. "Even though it's Thanksgiving, I can't go in the fort because of what I did earlier."
"What did you do?"
"I was about to play ping-pong with Dean, but I got caught by Sylvanus. I can't do that again. I can't play games anymore or have my means to treat myself to anything because of this curse on my forehead. If I had it removed, I'll be like everyone else and not get pinned down all the time."
"If you did that, God would eventually punish you for it. That 'curse' is something that will be useful to you. Remember that." He grabbed me away from the washtub as he didn't want me to suffer the bitter cold. "You can't be outside freezing forever, Sam. I'll always be with you because you're more unique than anyone that I know of. As for that 'curse,' it's something that you're blessed with. Come on, let's go back inside."
I reluctantly agreed as I put on my slippers and followed Ginryu into the fort. By the time we came into the mess hall, we saw the soldiers dining on turkey and stuffing as I was starting to get hungry, but I was refusing the food because it was made for soldiers. I even saw Sylvanus at the end of one of the tables feasting on roast goose as he was sipping a goblet of wine. I didn't want him to see me as I was about to leave the mess hall until I was stopped by Ginryu. He didn't want me to be left out as he decided to allow me to sit in here with the rest of the group, but at a separate table by the window.
"So, what do you think?" he asked me as I sat down.
"I have no idea, but I'll try to fit in," I said.
"You should fit in with everyone, not by yourself. Besides, you can't be left out forever."
It was at that moment that I saw Dean bring out some food from the kitchen as he gave it to me. I was dreading the wrath of Sylvanus as he was too busy eating heartily with the roast goose while the rest of us were eating turkey and stuffing. I saw the food on my table as I was starting to be thankful at what I had. Even though I would end up being punished for trivial matters, I had to be used to it as I had my reasons to be thankful right back. I had Dean watching out for me along with Ginryu as they were making sure that I didn't fall through the cracks, for I was someone that was special at what I had...
Meanwhile, back in the present..., again!
I was staring at the racket in my hand as I was being worried about the bad memories that I had on Gehenna. I sighed so heavily as I noticed Dean rolling the ball around on the ping-pong table with his racket. I didn't have time to play games at all as I was about to put my racket down and leave the recreational room entirely. The awful memories from Gehenna were about to take over until I saw Ippei stop me at the last minute. He was serious about what I was doing, but I had to deal with it, even if I didn't like it.
"You can't just walk away from what you're facing," he said.
"Sorry, but I have to get back to the kitchen," I said.
"You're trying to wriggle out of a game of ping-pong, aren't you?"
"Last time I was goaded into playing, I was punished for it by standing in a washtub full of snow out in the frozen weather. I don't wanna be reminded about that dreadful time."
"Sylvanus was troubling you, wasn't he?"
"Yes, and Sam's always been his target of being pushed around all the time," said Dean.
"I knew it... The very reason why both you and Sam were taken to Gehenna was to simply do further harm to him with you watching on the sidelines."
"Anyway, I'm glad that the bastard's dead, but-"
"Sylvanus wasn't the one who ordered you two out of Alecrast after John's funeral."
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"The real culprit that authorized your departure from this planet is a man named Sawney Masbath. He's the worst in the Order in which he didn't like the fact that the Winchesters were becoming a nuisance. You of all people should watch your back, Sam. He's someone that often resorts to blackmail just to keep things in line."
"So, it wasn't Sylvanus that took us to Gehenna and put us through hell over the years and I took the full brunt of it. All those years of him pushing me around like I didn't exist had did nothing for me."
"Sam, what was past stood past. You should move forward and not be held back. In fact, Ginryu consulted to me about what he saw at the fort and he made sure that you didn't fade away. You may not know it, but he was keeping tabs on you about the most absurd punishments that Sylvanus ever thought of. He even caught you sleeping and freezing in the chicken house at the time. I know that you dread the fact that you have to deal with something like that ping-pong table and not playing with it, but you don't have to dread it anymore. Now, are you free to play the game?"
"Fine, I'll do it, but after this, no more."
I was staring at Dean as he was still fiddling with the ball that was on the ping-pong table. When he was finally pitching out the ball, he was expecting it to fly and land against the wall until I hit it back. I was playing the game for the first time as I was hitting the ball and back. Even though Dean was hitting the ball first, he was aiming it at me as I hit it with my racked and went past him. Picking up the ball, he served it as I hit it right back. We continued to hit the ball back and forth as we were going at it until one of us won. It was at that moment that Dean didn't see me smile or enjoy the game as I was still plagued by those bad memories on Gehenna over the years.
"C'mon, Sam," said Dean as he was serving the ball. "You gotta enjoy the game here. It sucks that you have a frown on your face."
I didn't say a word as I continued to hit the ball until I saw it land behind a table where the shogi board was at. I walked over there and picked up the ball as I put it back on the ping-pong table and put the racket down. By the time I was about to leave, I was stopped by Ippei as he didn't let me through. I didn't have time to mess around in the game room too much as I had so much to do for tomorow's Thanksgiving dinner, but I was being detained in this recreational room against my will.
"I already played a game of ping-pong, alright, so please, let me through," I said.
"Sam, you lacked enthusiasm when you played a game with your brother," said Ippei.
"He's been frowning the whole time, even though he won the game," said Dean.
"I already played one game," I said as I was starting to get irritated. "I don't need to play another one."
"C'mon, Sammy, don't crap out on me now. We were getting started."
"No."
"You were getting good, but-"
"I told you before, Dean. No means no."
"Sam," said Ippei. "You're starting to fear the worst. You're afraid that you'll get punished if you were taking too much indulgance. It's also known that you developed a fear of playing in the recreational room over the years."
"And every year, I got punished, so I avoided everything in there while I picked up after everyone. I already played ping-pong, so I have to get back to work."
"If you keep dwelling about all those bad memories of being on Gehenna, you'll undo yourself in one huge twist."
In that moment, I went back towards the ping-pong table as I was playing another round of it with Dean. I didn't want to be around it as I was hitting the ball back and forth. I had to get back to work. I didn't have time to screw around as I was hitting the ball again. As the game was about to finish, I stopped as I put my racket down and leave the recreational room. I didn't have time to indulge on too much things as I went downstairs towards the kitchen. I was in there checking on the turkey as it was slow-cooking very nicely. I had my responsibilities to uphold as I didn't want to shirk them too much, for I couldn't leave things unattended not for a second. I had so much on my mind as I had to utilize them directly. When I was about to leave the kitchen, I saw Tenar standing in front of me as she wasn't too happy with me leaving the recreational room.
"I don't have time to waste right now," I said.
"You left in the middle of the game of ping-pong, didn't you?" said Tenar. "Didn't anyone tell you that it's rude to walk out on a game?"
"I can't just sit in that room playing that thing. It's stupid and meaningless. As of now, I won't play that game ever again because it's nothing more than an inconvenience."
"How dare you!" Tenar grabs me by the scruff of my kimono as she pits me against the wall. "A person can't live on responsibilities alone! You of all people have to get a little time for yourself, but you simply call it an inconvenience. Admit it, you were forced not to play at that ping-pong table when you were on Gehenna, weren't you?"
"Yes, and that thing brings back bad memories. Sorry, but I won't play ping-pong no more."
"Idiot! A man of the house has to try new things, but you simply call them an inconvenience! And you call yourself an Elder of the Order! I've seen Reina Kratedes go skinny dipping in the main headquarters pool and Ippei just go and play chess, but you have too much on your hands that it's depressing! Here's my advice to you: the less you try new things, the more it weighs on you, remember it!"
When I saw Tenar leave the kitchen, I was stunned by what she told me as I decided to go back upstairs towards the recreational room. I had a feeling that Dean and Ippei were not too happy with me after leaving in the middle of the game as I noticed that no one was there. It was quiet as I was staring at that ping-pong table with the ball and rackets. I wasn't interested in playing the game anymore as all I could do was stare at it. At first, I was too short to play, but now that I am tall, I was eager to do so until the bad memories resurfaced. I was hearing Tenar's advice in my head over and over again as I took the racket and served the ball until it landed near the shogi board. When I went over there to pick it up, I saw Dean sprinting into the room with some snacks in his hands. He saw me playing by myself with the ping-pong table as he set down the snacks on the floor and joined me in order to resume the game.
"I thought you bailed on our game," he said.
"I had a little intervention," I said.
"Hey, I know that you suffered from Sylvanus' crap, but you gotta put it behind you. By the way, you did help save the rest of our comrades of the fort from the Leviathans."
"So, tomorow's Thanksgiving, but we-"
"Hey, don't pull that negative crap, Sam. You can't just dwell on all those bad memories forever. Besides, we both survived the fort on Gehenna and it's about time that we start thinking about the future ahead, are we good?"
I nodded as I served the ball near the ping-pong table. Dean hit back as I hit the ball on the table that was never been used for years. We were finishing up the game that I walked away from as I finally served the last move. It wasn't long until we saw the ball roll towards the go board as we were having fun here in the castle. With our game ending, we sat down at a small table as we were picking up the snacks that were brought in earlier. It was a memory that had me ignore the bad things that happened to me as I was staring at the ping-pong table. I wasn't afraid of playing it anymore as I was taking such free time to heart. All along, I thought the game of ping-pong had been and inconvenience, but it was something that I had to try soon enough and I did. I won the two games that I played as I felt elated that I wasn't punished for it. I even vowed not to fall under the shadow of the bad memories of the fort on Gehenna as I was ready to maintain my role as an Elder of the Order...
The next morning, I was up as I was rushing to the kitchen to check up on the turkey that was cooking in the wall oven. When I opened it up, I uncovered the roasting pan as I noticed the turkey well done in which it was falling apart until I saw the stuffing inside of it done and golden brown. I had a feeling that someone had a hand in it as I saw Reiko coming into the kitchen in which she was eager to check up on the turkey as well.
"Good morning, Sammy," she said.
"You finished the stuffing, didn't you?" I said.
"You were tired after playing with Brother at that ping-pong table last night, so I made the stuffing and put it into the turkey when it was in the oven. It was falling apart, too."
"I bet there's not enough turkey to feed everybody here."
"There are other people coming with food with them, too."
I went out of the kitchen as I noticed Ippei standing in front of me. He had a feeling that I had overcame my fear of the bad memories on Gehenna as he also brought some of the people from his home to help out with the Thanksgiving dinner that was prepared just in time. I was now having a full house in the castle as this was the first Thanksgiving dinner on Alecrast that I had in a long time. I wasn't on Gehenna anymore as I was happy to be here in my homeworld. I wasn't alone. I wasn't left out in the background as I was grateful that I had all that comfort here in this castle. Thanksgiving wasn't just about food or family. It was all about being home with everyone around you.
"I take it that you are overcoming your bad memories of what you suffered from on Gehenna," said Ippei. "I knew that you would be persuaded to go back and try again."
"If it wasn't for Tenar telling me off, I would've faltered even further."
"It's great that you got motivated, but there are times when bad memories return to the fray."
"I see what you mean, but after seeing that ping-pong table, it brought back all those memories of being left out in the fort on Gehenna. Still, if I wasn't reminded that I should try new things, I would end up being on the sidelines."
"You don't wanna go up against Tenar. She'll end up kicking your ass if she finds you not enjoying everything around you. By the way, Dean and Magda were up early cooking a brisket out in the backyard, even if winter's still coming early."
"I hate to say this, but I'm glad to be free from Sylvanus and he won't hurt me or punish me, either. It's a new day that I will have with me, but first, we should have our dinner when it gets done."
I smiled as I was smelling the food being cooked and served at the same time. I had a nice Thanksgiving after all as I was grateful that I had people to steer me on the right path. I was an Elder of the Order, but I also had to have something to do as I saw Reiko go into the kitchen and quickly came out of it. I even noticed her grab a leg of turkey as she was eating at it. Even though she couldn't wait, she was very hungry as she was even feeding the twins inside of her. I didn't get mad at her as I had a feeling that her cravings would kick in the moment the food's served. I was happy here as I wasn't on Gehenna anymore, for spring would come after winter when it was over. There was family coming here as we all saw others with food in their hands. It was the best Thanksgiving that I ever had, for it would be one to savor in the later years...
To be continued...