Candy Fit for a Demon Lord
Chapter 7-
Bars as Frail as Pocky
An: I'm going to attempt my fastest update ever. I really do need to get a speed up on things anyway. Last chapter was very interesting to write, though I felt it was a bit rushed at the end. Not much has been said about Sess at this point, and it is questionable how he is going to react. I know how I want this story to end, but I'm not sure about how it's going. Oh, by the way, if you have the ability, I would highly sujest going onto youtube, and looking up Yatta Yatta. If you see the video, then you will truly understand why it is so horrifying to have it playing!
Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha! All rights belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Hershey's owns its own stuff that doesn't belong to me and I don't own any songs that are mentioned. I don't own Yatta. I don't own anything. I don't even own my stuff. That all belongs to the government…
Flying. The word that best described it was flying. My feet moved at what seemed to be an inhuman rate. I twirled and twisted, I jumped and soared, I lifted my feet above my head, seeing the lovely teal shaded ribbons that wound up my legs. The feeling was just too wonderful. My short gown twirled around with me, clinging to my body, yet moving with a grace and mind of its own, making the dance all the more beautiful. The music was dark and yet had a note of hope and passion hidden behind its words.
As I leaped again, I was caught in strong arms that twirled me around with them. The dark black satin rubbed against my bare arms, and we continued the dance, now a duet. Around us were brilliant teal blue butterflies that seemed to glow in radiance. Just as we hit the crescendo of the song, an annoying ring met my ears. It completely ruined the dance. I tried to look around for the sound, but the arms held me insistently, and turned me back to the dance. The ringing died out after a while, but then it started again. Finally incensed, when I was lightly spun out of my partners arms, I shot out of their hold.
I blinked and took a deep breath. Looking around, I realized I was in my own room, and was hearing the sound of my cell phone in my dream. Right now, I couldn't be more pissed off that my lovely dream had been interrupted, especially, after such a long night fighting through dinner with Sesshomaru Takahashi. Looking around for my cell phone, I scrambled out of bed. My mind was still hazy from sleep, so I didn't notice that my phone was ringing, which signaled a blocked number call.
"Moshi, Moshi," I yawned into the phone, assuming it was either Shilulu or Kohaku.
"Well, well, well, isn't your voice a sound for sore ears. I haven't heard it in, what, three years? I was so hoping you would have come to see me while I was away. You haven't changed a bit from what I can tell."
I wanted to drop the phone and stomp on it, but my hands seemed to be frozen, just like the rest of me, "Akitoki…"
He chuckled, "Well, babe, I'm glad you remember me. We have so much to catch up on. Did you know that I just got released this morning? I wanted to start off where we left. You know, I really do need a-"
"SHUT UP, JUST SHUT UP! I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING FOR YOU, YOU SICK TWISTED BASTARD. LEAVE ME ALONE," I was finally able to scream. His voice sounded so close, as if he were right next to me. I couldn't handle the pressure.
"Maybe you have changed, Rin. That disappoints me. I was hoping that you would be willing to start back up again. I just want to tell you that you have more to worry about than just yourself. I don't think you would want to lose that lovely little shop of yours, do you? That is where all your money is now isn't it? Let's just keep that straight between us. I'll talk to you later sweetheart, all right? See ya darling," he hung up.
Nothing felt better than flinging the cell phone across the room, hearing it smash, and collapsing to the floor. My leg throbbed in awful pain, but I ignored it in favor of thinking about the pain in my heart. Akitoki was free, and now he was going to cling to me like a leech. I guess I was just lucky that he didn't know about the Takahashi pack, Shilulu, or anyone else involved with me. Then again, he probably wouldn't threaten anyone else's life besides my own. In the back of my mind I realized that he didn't want to kill me, just to finish his "project", which was almost a fate worse than death. Going through everything in my head just made me sick to my stomach and dizzy. I let myself fall the rest of the way to the floor, and promptly passed out.
"RIN, OH MY GOD, RIN! Wake up! Don't you dare do this to me again, you selfish bitch," I heard a voice scream. Blearily I looked up into Shilulu's face. She relaxed so fully that it looked like she was about to pass out herself. Once I had stared at her a few minutes that childish irrational side of me quickly reared its head, and made me break down into hysterical fits of crying. She gathered me up, and took me to my room. Laying us both down, she covered us with the sheets, and started to sing softly in my ear, holding me tight. (An: I know this sounds totally lesbian… Who is the romance between here, Rin/Sess or Rin/Shi? You all know the answer…)
It seemed like hours before I was a bit more composed. At some point, I vaguely remember being so hysterical that I tried to hit and runaway from Shilulu. She understood though, that I had no control at that point, and that I didn't recognize her. She had let me take out my anger, but kept firmly in place the whole time.
Now she looked at me, "Rin, what happened? I tried calling you because you were late, and the line said that there was no such number. When I got here, you were just out on the ground."
"I had… an awful nightmare. When I finally got out of it, I stumbled out of bed and passed out before I could do anything," I chocked out. A plain lie, but I couldn't tell her the truth. Akitoki was going to become an unstoppable force no matter what we did. Letting Shilulu know would just put her in harms way. She would be safe this way.
Her eyebrow rose, "If that is the case then why was your cell phone in pieces, and a dent in the wall? Don't lie to me Rin."
I panicked, "When I got out of bed, I tried calling you. I started panicking before that though, and I just threw it when I didn't remember what was going on. I passed out after that. I had no idea that I had broken it."
She gave me a skeptical look, but I continued on, "The dream was about when you had just rescued me. That, and before that… I don't want to lock it in anymore, I need relief!" I knew this was all a lie; I didn't want to tell her that I knew this was all a lie; I didn't want to tell her that Akitoki was back. So, to distract her, I had to lie and tell her the truth of the past. If suffering now saved Shilulu and my friends, then so be it.
So I told her. Every single little detail of my capture and torture was revealed. Reliving the moments of my life that were forever embedded in my memory. Shilulu's face contorted in horror at all the things I said. The monstrosities of Akitoki's slow dismemberment of my soul: piece by piece. Despite the fact that it horrified me and reawakened horrible nightmares, I showed her the pictures that Akitoki had taken, so that he could savor the memories of the feeling of my flesh in years to come. I had never brought myself to show anyone, even the police these pictures before. They wouldn't have been good enough evidence anyway, since they seemed harmless, unless explained. Shilulu took them from me, saying that I needed to let go of them, and that I should never see them again. In the back of my mind, I agreed, and let the rest of the afternoon slip away silently as Shilulu held me in tears. (An: Please don't kill me for not telling you… it's important that you don't know what happened…)
After my reliving of my life's horror, I was a wreck for the next two days. I know I probably lost hundreds of dollars in revenue when I didn't open the shop, but my other side refused to settle back into the back of my mind. I held Shilulu for the entire time, and made her life harder by interfering in her life even more. She couldn't do anything with a leech like me feeding off of her. In some of my more sane moments, I was able to tell her to leave and go on with her life. She didn't need me to be keeping her from her own dreams.
Reinforcing the fact that she is a great friend, she told me that she had already achieved her dreams and it was her turn now to help me get to mine. Some people need more of a boost than she did. It just made me want to be more like her, independent, and self motivated, not crazy, crippled, and selfish. In the back of my mind I realized that I could never be a mother if I can't support myself. It was a more depressing thought than knowing how I drag Shilulu down.
After hours of comatose sleep and many bubble baths and hugs, I was semi-fit to at least work in the back room of the Chocolate Pallet. Kohaku had apparently been informed of the tragedy, or at least me reliving it because when we went back of Tuesday, he looked at me with such saddened eyes. It was a pleasant surprise though, to hear that he and his friend, Souta, had held down the fort and was able to open on Monday without me. I couldn't thank him enough, even with all the hugs, kisses, and free cakes, for what he has already done for me.
Throughout the week, I made some progress. I stopped just working in the backroom; I socialized with Jenjiro and any of the other customers around. Shilulu wasn't quite convinced that I had made a full recovery yet, though. My Mp3 player acted as a timer, and at three o'clock I would take a break, as Shilulu commanded. She also chose the song that would play when it was time. It was some obnoxious group singing Yatta, which was the equivalent of America's YMCA. Any grown adult that heard it would wonder what the heck I was doing listening to something so juvenile. One of the many reasons I absolutely hate Shilulu.
Now it's Saturday and I have to open the shop without Shilulu because she is on her period and I'd rather have her sleep in than kill the customers. I unlocked the door and stepped inside. The clock read 6:45. I sighed and started to do my monotonous routine when something started clicking in the back of my head. Slowly, I let the rusty gears turn to figure out what the hell I was forgetting or trying to remember. I glanced about, and then it clicked. Somehow, I had totally spaced that I was supposed to be at the Youkai's Requiem literally right now!
"OH GREAT FUCKING COOKIE OF ASHAMBALA, I'M SO LATE! Oh my kami, that man is going to kill me," I screeched, unknowingly waking up half the northern hemisphere, and sounding a bit too much like Shilulu for my tastes.
With the hastiest note ever scribbled to Shilulu, I doubt she would be able to read it when she came in, I scrambled out the door and desperately hailed a taxi. In the back of my mind, I knew that I had signed my death warrant with Satan for being late. Kami forbid that anyone EVER hold up the great prick Sesshomaru-sama's schedule even the slightest bit.
When I walked through the doors of the Requiem, I could feel the gloom and malice so thick in the air that I thought I might choke. I turned around briefly to see if he might be standing behind me with a butcher's knife to maul me brutally and stuff me in one of the evening's specials. It was almost disappointing, and a little more frightening, that he wasn't.
Slowly, so as not to set off any booby traps he may have set, I made my way to the kitchens. There was soft classical music playing, and I wondered if maybe Sesshomaru had told me wrong, and that I would be working with his father instead. But that wouldn't explain the almost tangible anger…
As soon as I walked into the kitchen, a knife was pushed to my throat, as expected. For some reason, though, I wasn't afraid like I would be in any other situation. After all that had happened in my life, I thought at the very least, I would scream in terror at being attacked.
"When you agree to do something, you should do so efficiently, correctly, and on time. I have no need for people who slack off and can't bring themselves to be, at the very least, on time," he growled menacingly. Just as I had seen him on many occasions before, Sesshomaru was decked out in all his chefly gear, except with out the hat, but he made up for it with his knife, I guess. Said knife was still dangerously close to an artery, despite the fact that he had said what he needed to. Maybe he really did intend to kill me…
"Look Sesshomaru," I sighed, "I know I'm about ten minutes late, but I still want to help. I'm ready to do whatever you have planned for me. Please, let me help?" I did my best puppy dog pout I could muster, and batted my eyelashes at him. As I expected, he didn't even blink. Then, the knife slowly lowered, and he turned back to the cutting board laden with vegetables, and set back to work.
He barked, "Get over to the third table and get to work on the green tea shu cream puffs and sherbet. The recipes are posted to the cabinets, and all the ingredients are under the sink. You will be making enough for 20 people, with two cream puffs and a cup of sherbet per person. This is a basic pastry chef capability, so I hope, as you are running a business of your own claiming such ability, you don't have any questions. Get started." I glared at the back of his head for not only being a fucking Nazi about everything, that I was doing out of the kindness of my heart, but also because he didn't think I had a basic pastry chef's skills! Honestly, this man must think he is a Kami, or something.
Luckily, though the things he had chosen were time consuming, I was well rehearsed in making green tea shu cream puffs. The sherbet was a little new to me, but I can survive. I know other types of sherbet, so that should come in handy. Maybe, just to rub it in his face, I should bring some of the cream puffs I sell, and show him how good I really am!
Starting with the longest recipe, I worked on the cream puffs. Of course, the recipe was really easy, with just basic ingredients like flour, water, sugar, butter, and eggs. The dough took the longest only because you had to bake it. It was just your typical pastry dough that you mixed the water, sugar, and butter together first, then added flour, and putt in eggs. The only thing tricky about it, that I didn't follow the recipe on, was getting the consistency right.
Even if you follow the recipe down to the dotted I, it usually won't be perfect for pastry dough. When making creampuffs, the dough has to be light and not have to much loose powder in it. If it becomes too powdery then it falls apart, and won't hold the filling. It took me forever to figure that out, and my dough was always to crumbly. Despite what most people say, there is a science to baking that requires years of practice. I'm nothing more than a novice in the business really.
I had just put the dough balls into the oven, when I decided enough was enough with his classical, depressing music. Don't get me wrong, I have tons of respect for classical composers of the ages, and I love the music, but I think its time that Sesshomaru is just a little happier. Or, at least, the atmosphere around him is happy, even if he wants to kill. Then we would have a very nice little illusion.
Digging through my purse, I called over my shoulder, "Where is your stereo system?" Once I had retrieved my Mp3 player, in all it's shiny white glory, I spun round to demand his answer, and was cut off by and incredible sight.
There, before me, stood a creature of legend and mystery. Sesshomaru was hunched over a plate, a look of intense concentration stretched across his face as he added garnishes of some herb. He wasn't scowling like usual, he was just busy. It was almost like he was, happy… Did cooking really bring that much relief to this man? It was hard to snap myself out of the trance of looking at his contented face. I felt the same way when I was cooking, so maybe he and I did have more in common.
"Excuse me, Sesshomaru-san, where is your stereo system," I tried again, a little more polite. He grunted, and pointed towards his office, without looking up from the plates.
I walked into his office, and was stunned to see that it was something of a disaster zone. There were papers everywhere, clothes that looked like they were in desperate need of washing, and blankets and pillows strewn across a tiny couch. Taking hesitant steps, I walked to his desk, and saw his schedule left open across its surface, and his Mp3 player plugged into the computer. I bit my lip, trying to figure out if I wanted to snoop into his life, and decided it wouldn't hurt to take a peak. His life must be something of a circus right now if his office looked like this… unless he was naturally a pig.
Starting at the first two pages it was left open too, I saw that he had major bookings for at least five companies every day this week. If he had to prepare all of this food in advance… that would mean he would almost have to be here 24/7. Looking at the office, he probably was. I wouldn't be able to imagine having to work like that for days straight. Everybody needs a break sometimes, even obsessive, homicidal, demons like him. Flipping around, I found that he had weeks like this at least twice a month. Sheesh was it just me, or was this guy a glutton for punishment?
I heard shuffling coming from outside the door, and quickly plugged in my Mp3 player. Scrolling around, I decided I felt in the mood for some light songs from the Miazaki movies, and put on Kaze Ni Naru. Listening, I heard Sesshomaru cursing as his music stopped. Whops. I guess that he didn't realize I was taking his music off. No point in stopping now, I guess. I will just accept the consequences. Peaking my head out the door, I saw him glaring at the speakers as they played my music.
I went back to my station and started blending the filling for the cream puffs, "My music isn't that bad. I could be playing some of my annoying J-pop so quit whining."
"I don't appreciate you fiddling with my stuff. It will have human stench all over it now," he growled, as he started storing the plates for later.
I snorted, and looked back to my station. The timer beeped on the oven, and I pulled out the dough balls. They were too hot to fill right now, so I just looked around vaguely. My eyes landed on Sesshomaru, and I got an evil idea in my head. I watched him intently and didn't blink at all, and when he finally felt my eyes on him, he turned abruptly. As soon as he turned, I pretended to be to be working on the filling. He glared, and turned back to his work. An evil smirk crossed my face, and I stared at him again. This time, he noticed faster, and was going to confront me again, when I turned again. I could almost see the steam coming off him, as he went back to chopping fish. This went back and forth for a while until he caught me.
"Are you really going to be this juvenile the whole time? Because, if so, I will kick you out of my kitchen promptly before I have to deal with further distractions," he growled.
I turned around and blew a raspberry at him, "Yep. We all know that underneath it all you're just a big teddy bear. With claws…" The dough was finally cooled, and I filled the pastry sack with the filling. Squeezing the goo in was somewhat nasty, because not only did it feel wrong, it looked like I was handling snot. Green tea filling, while tasty, was not known for its attractiveness.
We continued our bantering throughout the rest of the morning, all the way up to eleven. I finished my portion relatively quickly, so I got a little treat. After putting the sherbet into the freezer too chill, he looked at me.
"You finished?"
I smiled, "Just because I like to goof off, doesn't mean that I don't do my work. I agreed to help you, so I did my portion. Need me to do something else?"
He looked a little disgruntled, "The only thing I have left to do is the hours devours portion."
I felt a little bummed, "I'd like to help. There's got to be something I can do. Cooking may not be my strong point like baking, but they're not that different." Usually, I wouldn't want to help him, but after seeing his schedule, I know he must be stressed and need some assistance. Whether or not he asks for it is another matter entirely.
"Come here then. I will teach you how to do some sushi rolls. Never in my right mind would I have a human, such as you, touch the fugu. The last thing I need right now is being sued for your carelessness," he sighed. I brightened, despite the insults at my heritage. In the end, I guess I was just getting used to them.
For the next hour, he taught me how to slice various seafood and seaweed for sushi. I wasn't completely hopeless, like I was expecting, but he also did a lot of it himself. When he was guiding my hand with the knife after a near incident of cutting a finger off, I had to hide my blush. For someone who hated humans, he certainly stood awfully close (i.e. right behind me with me pressed against the counter and my butt pressed up against his crotch) just for knife lessons. He put his hand over mine, and started slicing much more elegantly than I had before, quietly lecturing me on the proper method. I was sort of caught up in not trying to think bad thoughts of my arch nemesis to notice.
As soon as the last of the food was stored ten minutes latter, he did the most surprising thing ever.
"Rin, go sit at the table, I'll bring the sushi and fugu," he ordered, whipping out a plate from nowhere that held a small portion of the food we just made.
"Wh-what? Why," I stuttered. He pushed me towards the table, and gestured for me to sit down. Plates had already been set, and he served us before answering.
He stared at me dully, "We are going to have lunch, and sample tonight's course. I want to make sure it's perfect before we serve it."
"But isn't that a waste of the food? Someone won't get their portion," I pointed out.
He shook his head, "I had us make extra for a reason. Now, sit down, shut up and eat." He brandished chopsticks at me, and we both ate in a comfortable silence.
Going through lunch was probably one of the most enjoyable experiences I have ever had with him. Everything we made was superb, and I was extremely jealous of the people who got to eat here tonight. He had prepared an elaborate set of classic dishes, with some interesting twists. What surprised me the most was that he had made us plates that were artistic, just like the other ones, instead of just throwing it together like he could have done. There was no reason for him to take time on us. We didn't talk at all during the time, but I think we developed an understanding. If I stopped being somewhat immature and hesitant, he would start being more polite. Or, at least, that's what I hoped we both thought…
I glanced down at my watch, and my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"Oh my God! Shilulu is going to kill me! I'm so late, this is not good. Thank you so much for the lunch Sesshomaru. I appreciated it so much, and it was delicious, but I need to go, so I'll see you around," All the while, I had rushed in, grabbed my bag, and bowed to him, before rushing outside, and hailing a taxi. I don't think he knew what hit him.
My luck is terrible. As soon as I had got back to the Chocolate Pallet, Shilulu had chewed me out for all she was worth. No matter how many times I told her that I had lost track of time, she just kept lecturing me on time management. I swear that girl is more like my mother than my friend. She had only let up when Kohaku had come in and said that we were scaring off customers with our shouting. Her bad mood didn't change, but she didn't bring it up anymore.
Today was important though. Shilulu and I had agreed to add Kohaku to the payroll officially. We didn't want to keep mooching off his services anymore, and he would need money for paying for the apartment once Sango moved out and stopped paying the bills. She's been so understanding of the situation lately, and hasn't complained at all when Kohaku still hasn't been searching for a paying job. Now, he would be an official employee until he went out and pursued his actual career.
Time flew in the day, and before I knew it, Shilulu was calling back to me, "Just a heads up Rin, your break starts in about ten minutes, so you should get your Mp3 player out to remind you." I nodded and went on the quest through my purse to find said device. I looked for a couple minutes before the terrifying truth hit me. Not only had I left my Mp3 player at the Requiem, but it was also plugged into the sound system set to play the most obnoxious j-pop song in history in the ice lord's kitchen. I was doomed and dishonored for the rest of my life if I didn't get there in time.
In record time, I flew out the store, screamed the situation at Kohaku, and was in a cab bound for the Youkai's Requiem. No amount of harassing could make my driver go any faster, and by the time I got out the cab, according to the driver's clock, I was too late.
Whipping through the doors, I saw all the customers staring down the kitchen hallways curiously. That was not a good sign. I ran past the waitress, calling over my shoulder, "Emergency!" It was too late though.
As soon as I flung the kitchen doors open, I was met with the most horrifying sight. The usually orderly and fast paced kitchen had halted its entire works. While Sesshomaru stood in the corner, twitching faintly, the rest of the kitchen staff was dancing around the cooking islands to the song. I think the second in command was even making Indian whooping war cry sounds.
G R Double-E N Leaves
G R Double-E N Leaves
It's so easy! Happy-go-lucky!
We are the world! We did it!
Hyuu! Hyuu! Hyuu! Hyuu! Osu! Osu! Osu! Osu! (Ai!)
Yatta! Yatta!
Daigaku gohgaku
Yatta! Yatta!
Shachoh shuunin
Happa ichimai areba ii. Ikite iru kara lucky da!
Yatta! Yatta!
Tohsen kakujitsu
Yatta! Yatta!
Nihon daihyoh
Yannaru kurai kenkoh da.
Everybody say yatta!
Nippon kyuukyuu (demo)
Ashita wa wonderful
Ijiwaru saretemo futon haireba
Guu guu guu guu! Pass pass pass pass (Ohayo--!)
Yatta! Yatta!
Kuujikan suimin
Yatta! Yatta!
Neoki de jump
Donna ii koto aru daroh ikite ita kara lucky da!
Yatta! Yatta!
Kimi ga kawareba
Yatta! Yatta!
Sekai mo kawaru
Marugoshi dakara saikoh da massugu tattara kimochi ii--!
O-mizu nondara umee! (Yatta!)
Hi ni atattara attakee! (Yatta!)
Koshi kara warattara omoshiree! (Yatta! Yatta!)
Inu-katte mitara kawaii! (Yatta!)
Repeat
Surechigai-zama hohoemi kureta
Nido to aenaku-tatte ii kimi ga ita kara lucky da!
Heisei fukyoh seiji fushin
Reset sae surya saikoh da! Minna iru kara tanoshii--!
Yatta! Yatta!
Daigaku kyohshitsu
Yatta! Yatta!
Movie star
Happa ichimai areba ii. Minna issho da happy da!
Yatta! Yatta!
Iki wo sueru
Yatta! Yatta!
Iki wo hakeru
Yannaru gurai kenkoh da! Everybody say yatta!
Repeat
Bye-Q!
InuTaisho noticed I was standing in the door looking appalled, and straightened himself up from his position on the floor. Throughout the song, he had just been laughing his ass off, so I doubt Sess would ever forget this.
"Rin, was that your Mp3 player? If Sess is listening to this shit, I'm going to be sending him to a mental institute otherwise," he boomed. Tears of mirth were sliding down his cheeks, and I don't think I had ever seen such absolute happiness on anyone's face ever before.
I stuttered, "I'm so sorry Mr. Takahashi! I forgot it this morning!"
He laughed even harder, and embraced me in the second most bone crushing hug ever.
"Oh Rin thank you," he laughed harder, and turned to face the kitchen staff that were still dancing and chanting Yatta, "Everyone! Let's hear it for our lovely little Rin Omeiya, who brought you this entire fantastic work break!" The whole kitchen staff broke into hysterical fits of laughter, and clapped brilliantly for me. I had a full body blush going right now, and no matter how hard I tried to get away from Tai's grip, he wouldn't let go.
Sesshomaru's eyes flashed dangerously, "Rin let me tell you now, that I am going to kill you."
My eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, and he lunged. Tai was still laughing hysterically, and all he did was embrace me harder with one arm, and let Sess' attacks fall on his back. The whole kitchen continued to bawl in laughter, as our comedy act continued, Tai in excellent humor and form the entire time. My blush burned brighter, and I sighed knowing that I was stuck in this crazy pack for life now. Officially…
