Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 3
Chapter 20: The Ramen Master and the Apprentice
(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.)
I was at the laundromat as I was helping Reiko get our clothes clean before returning home to Kanto Village. Still, we were here in Trainfell as we were most likely to be going home as planned in order to be with the rest of our family. When I got our load of clothes out of the washer and transferred them into the dryer, I closed them up as I used my change to operate it the moment it started up. Patience with the washer and dryer going as I sat down in a chair by the window while I was writing in my journal. With the summer heat getting to everyone in this city during the Ramen Festival, it was also a time to take a dip in the stream, but I didn't pack any swim trunks or sunblock with me. I was stuck in my normal clothes as I was watching the clothes in the dryer spinning constantly, for it was the only entertainment in the laundromat so far.
When I noticed Reiko coming here with some breakfast, I noticed her bringing out some crepes with strawberry and cream cheese filling in them. It was something that I was savoring as I grabbed one and took a bite out of it. The taste of the crepe was more than enough to put any bakery in the galaxy to shame as I was happy that I got to taste it so readily. When Reiko got into her own crepes, she loved the taste of them as they were the best that ever graced Alecrast so far, for they were like nothing we ever tasted in Kanto Village. By the time we finished up our breakfast, we were noticing the dryer done with our clothes as we got them out and began to fold them up and put them in our laundry bags for us to take back to the temple. By the time we were finished up, we noticed Gabriel sitting in another chair as he was staring at the frontloader washer that was doing some clothes in. In a broad sense, I also noticed him dressed up in a blue Hawaiian shirt and black shorts as he was simply on point with the summer weather indeed, for it was something that most people dressed up in.
"It's been a great morning," he said as he was looking at the clothes that were in the frontloader washer. "Sounds like that you two are going home, aren't you?"
"As soon as we get our clothes done, we'll be returning to Kanto Village to see our family," said Reiko. "I hope that the twins are okay..."
"I'm hoping the same thing," I said. "I know that being here in Trainfell is only good for the night, but I have a feeling that there isn't gonna be time to see all the art of ramen in the streets."
"C'mon, Sammy, what's gonna go wrong?" asked Gabriel as he was changing his laundry over to the dryer. "Besides, you and Reiko have all that time to muster before going back to Kanto Village when you up and leave."
THUD!
I heard the sound of a laundry basket being plopped on one of the counters as a muscular, burly man was staring at me for some odd reason. The man himself was ready to pounce as he was most likely to be giving me a lecture after he folded up his clean clothes he got out of the dryer. After he was finished, he walked towards me as he seized me by the scruff of my kimono while I dropped my journal and pen on the floor. I saw the man up close as he was ready to let me have it in the stare that he gave me, for he was someone that I didn't want to mess with here in Trainfell.
"Are you saying that you don't have time to look at all the ramen here?!" he yelled. "Every form of ramen contains its own soul in the form of graceful cooking and preparation and you say that you're leaving this place?" He lets go of me as I pick up my journal and pen from the floor. "How dare you take off in the middle of a festival that has celebrated the art of ramen at a time like this?! You're out of your mind, buddy!"
"Sir, I don't mean to offend you, but my wife and I were only here for a day before going home to Kanto Village," I said. "Besides, I can always come back here at any time whenever my services are either needed or put into motion."
"Is that so, tough guy?! Well, let me show you what you've been missing!"
Without warning, the burly man grabbed me as he whisked me out of the laundromat directly in which Reiko and Gabriel didn't know what to think. Still, my stay in Trainfell was extended in which I was about to be schooled in the art of ramen making, regardless of my decision to get up and leave for Kanto Village as planned…
Nimi was up and alert as he was dressed and ready to go after taking a shower. In the strangest notion, he never expected Noldorin to appear all the live long as he simply loathed his company due to their sour relationship with one another. Still, he had to deal with the flighty Arrancar who showed up without notice as there would be further danger crawling in the distance. By the time he was about to leave his hotel room, Nimi noticed Noldorin sitting on the sofa as he was waiting for him to get going in order to track down any possible leads about the Elect and the Children of Azazel altogether. It was a daunting task, but they had to make sure that neither one would fall off the deep end the moment they spot either faction who is adamant into taking over Alecrast without mercy.
"Your timing is bad, Nimi," said Noldorin as he was sharpening his sword with a whetstone.
"Yeah, yeah; keep talking, princess," he said as he was starting to get a little irritated.
"The Children of Azazel are on the move and they've struck an unholy alliance with the Elect of all people."
"I know all about them since they were let out of their prison, only to cause havoc on the human population here on Alecrast. Hell, I even saw them in a vision in which they would enslave everyone in order to do God's work."
"From what I gathered was that the Elect are known for their psychological torture on the humans here in which they suffered from insomnia during such mind control. It was demonstrated in both Heinlein and in Chekiang, but the presence of the Elect have diminished in both towns."
"The next lantern on the list is in Mossy Castle, which is in a town in Kandaris called Swamp Bottom. It's a place that's been abandoned for years, but no one has ever dared to enter there and live to tell the tale."
"Then after this, we must alert Sam and Reiko about this or else all of us would end up kissing the Elect's asses if we end up losing this battle. I've seen it in a nutshell the moment I noticed the unholy alliance getting ready to make their next move since the first two lanterns to overpower them were lit in both Shironami Temple in Heinlein and Skyward Temple in Chekiang. I'm hoping for is that the Destiny of Worlds would step in and nip it in the bud against the unholy alliance that's been hectic so far."
Noldorin made his point clear as he wanted to get at the rest of the Children of Azazel as he bore a grudge against them due to their lineage from their dark father. Still, the stigma of him being forced to drink the main progenitor's demon blood both haunted and enraged him as he wanted to see all of Azazel's legacy eliminated for what they were, for they were a danger that turned the tide in the Demon War while striking up an unholy alliance with the Elect as well…
I was tossed into a restaurant in which it was a place that mainly served ramen every day. Getting up on my feet, I stared at the burly man who nabbed me as he was ready to school me into the inner workings of perfecting the art of making a decent bowl of ramen before I was ready to go. In due time, I couldn't get away from my captor as he was adamant into not letting me leave right away, for he was most likely to be forcing me into doing something that I didn't have time for so far. In a lighter sense, I noticed the restaurant clean and decorated with lanterns, beckoning cat figurines, and daruma heads as I never seen anything like it before until now, for this was a start of my training to be creating a ramen bowl of my own. It may be a tough start, but I had to deal with it as I was under the whim of my burly captor who didn't want to take no for an answer, no matter what I intended to do, even if it meant by fleeing Trainfell altogether.
"So, what do you think?" he said as he was showing me the place with such gusto. "It's cheesy, but it's something that I got used to. By the way, my name's Bunta and from here on out, you will call me sensei here."
"Sir, I appreciate your gesture, but I can't stay in Trainfell for too long," I said.
"Is that so? You're still trying to fly the coop back to Kanto Village, aren't you? My brother went over there since the relief effort into putting it back together, but I'm still here in this ramen shop."
"I hate to break it to you, but I have to get back to Kanto Village anyway because of-"
"You're not going anywhere!" The sound of Bunta's voice shook me as I was stunned in my tracks in this ramen shop. "There's no way in hell that you're gonna run away with your tail between your legs in the art and mastery of ramen, so I suggest that you get your head out of your ass and listen to what I have to tell you! Is that clear for someone like you?!"
"I'll do it. I'll master what you have pointed at me, but after this, I have to go home anyway because I have family waiting for me."
"Oh, I'm gonna teach you the steps of making the best ramen that ever graced the corners of Alecrast and beyond."
And so, I was at Bunta's mercy as I was most likely to be put through extensive training into looking into the art of crafting ramen and all its ingredients. It was a daunting task, but I had to go through with it, regardless of the matter at hand so far...
Two Thousand Years in the Past...
Sam was busy putting things up in Bobby's house as he was most likely to be going outside in the back part of the junkyard to be alone after nearly losing it in that slug roe home four days ago. In due time, he was still forced not to look into any more loopholes into the past discretions he had while he was soulless at the time. The depression he suffered from hit him hard like a ton of bricks as he didn't want anyone to bother him until he noticed a cookbook that was brought here by Miss Mik not too long ago. He looked at the Japanese writing in it as it was a book that taught the basics of making ramen noodles and the broth that was famous. Even though he was curious about looking into it, he didn't want it to overpower him as he decided to take the cookbook towards the porch. By the time he set it down, he was ready to go back to his usual spot until he noticed Dean standing in front of him in which he was fully concerned about his mental state in mind.
"I take it that you're still depressed, even after Satan's left the building and you got your soul back," he said. "Hell, you've even felt so miserable that you even resorted into self-mutilation and taking cold baths as well and you're still not doing too hot even when you made an effort into coming out of your shell."
"I just wanna be alone, Dean," said Sam. "It's just that I can't just shake the fact that I did all that horrible stuff to you and Bobby."
"Look on the bright side, at least you're not T-1000 all the live long hoping that you didn't open fire."
"Very funny..."
"Hey, you should be happy, Sammy. Besides, you should take your mind off of pondering about searching about what happened in the past year."
"Yeah, and you're afraid that I would kick at that wall in my mind again, aren't you?"
"Hey, you're not gonna be sitting alone out here, are you?"
Sam sighed heavily as he wanted to make up for his past mistakes during the past year. He was desperate enough to redeem himself as he couldn't take it no more. Just as he was about to sit down on the porch, he noticed Bobby coming out of the house as he brought out a tray full of three containers of Cup Noodles as he sat down with it. Even Dean was noticing the presence of the noodle cups and chopsticks in the tray as he was most likely to join Sam and Bobby on their lunch break. All three were ready to have lunch as they grabbed one cup for each of them along with a pair of chopsticks to eat them with, for they were most likely to be getting together for what they had in their hands.
"You sure managed to skip the canned chili today," said Dean as he took a bite of his noodles.
"You can thank that idjit, Totsuka, for bringing these things here," said Bobby.
"And what about you, Sam? You still under the boring slump as usual?"
Sam didn't say a word as he took a bite of his noodles.
"Ha-ha, very funny..., but seriously, you need to broaden more things or else you'd end up getting tossed in a blender while someone hits the frappe button."
"Hey, ease up on him," said Bobby. "He's been through enough crap as it is, but he hasn't been getting the lead out when I caught him clawing up his arms one time."
"Yeah, and I damn near killed you while being soulless," said Sam as he felt the stinging guilt take over. "I can't forgive myself for that, no matter what I do and I'm not going to. All I can hope for is to fix what I can."
"Don't you be pulling your guilty crap. I know that you feel guilty about what you did to Dean and me, but I suggest that you eat your Cup Noodles and forget about the rest of your junk. I mean it, Sam! I know that you feel guilty into watching Dean get turned into a vampire and nearly taking me out while you were soulless, but you can't just let all that guilt and resentment build up or else you'll end up in a mental home just staring at the window all the live long. I know that you don't want Dean or me around you after all the trouble you put us through while going around without your soul, but you need to keep your head above water if you're gonna live through what you got so far. Yes, you've been forgiven, but you refuse to forgive yourself as if it's a 'Get out of jail free' card or something. Now, if I were you, I suggest that you eat your noodles and quit worrying all the live long."
"He's right about that one, but we're in good company here," said Dean. "We've had our differences, but nothing brightens my day but having lunch with the one person who got his soul back."
"And it can suck..."
"So? At least we got your back, but you need to quit worrying too much, alright? I know that I didn't want you to go and find out what you did in which too much of it could kill you, but you need to let it go, alright?"
And so, Sam reluctantly agreed as he was grateful that he had his soul back at last after being depressed from having it returned to him. After he finished up his noodles, he stared at the cookbook that he set on the porch as he was looking at it without suffering from either guilt or resentment he had within him. Still, he couldn't let too much to him as he was reminded that past stood in the wind, so he decided that he didn't want to kick at that wall ever again, even if it meant by suffering from the repercussions that came along with it...
Meanwhile, back in the present...
I was in the kitchen of the ramen restaurant that I was tossed into as I was reading a cookbook that was used in the basics for making noodles and broth. Even though the text was one of Earth's foreign languages, I deciphered it as I was reading into how to make a very best noodle soup that can be made for the masses. In due time, I had to make the best of my predicament as I was dressed in an apron with a cap to cover my hair. It was bizarre, but it was mandatory as it was needed for food safety as well. Still, I wasn't about to leave Trainfell just yet as I had to assess everything not only as a member of the Order, but as someone who had to have more skills at one's disposal as I had to keep up with what I had with me. And yet, I was trapped in the kitchen of the ramen restaurant as I had to make due with what I had in here, for there was food to be prepared in this establishment soon enough.
When I looked at the huge pot that was boiling near a roaring fire in a fireplace, I smelled the scent of beef bones being cooked while made into a stock for the broth. The smell of it was something of a treat as I observed the cooking of the bones that have been put in there for hours. With the added scents of soy sauce and plenty of other things in it, I was most likely to be making the noodles that went with it as I noticed Bunta coming into the kitchen to check up on the mainstay that has been cooking for hours on end.
"It's almost done just in time to serve to the customers," he said as he smelled it.
"Normally, a ramen broth is based on the stocks of either pork or chicken," I said as I observed the pot of boiling ingredients. "Yours is made from beef stock, but it is added with soy sauce, miso, onions, shiitake mushrooms, salt, kombu, and katsuoboshi added into it."
"If you're talking about the tonkotsu, I don't serve it here. In this establishment, no pork is allowed on my watch. As for the chicken part, I serve it with plenty of schmaltz that gets added into the miso ramen that gets served up on a daily basis. As for the seafood part, some of my family go for it while the rest of us avert it because of our Jewishness that we have in us. And for the fish part, what ingredients are being derived from it? I've got niboshi, katsuoboshi, and kamaboko just to add into what I've got in the pot. In the long run, being Jewish may be a pain in the ass, but we've been through a lot in which we stay together throughout the danger."
"I see..." I notice the kosher seal on the wall. "You don't serve pork because of your Jewish blood, do you?"
"Yes, and I also observe the Sabbath as well. You know about the Judah Initiative, don't you?"
"Yes, and I have seen the Golem and his tamer, too."
"My niece may have been chosen to keep that hulking lump of clay, but it's also a symbol of what we went through over the centuries as well. Now, if you'll excuse me, we've got work into crafting the noodles that are about to be put into the shoyu broth that's been cooking with a side order of kosher beef slices, seasoned boiled eggs, and the occasional spiraled kamaboko slices that are used for garnish. You can even add green onions and other vegetables in it as well."
I was astonished at Bunta's burly wisdom as I saw him get out the ingredients to make noodles to go into the ramen broth. Before the preparation, we went towards the kitchen sink to wash our hands in order to do this as we dried them off with a towel that was hanging above it. In all due time, we were ready to tackle the art of noodling as we were ready to work with the ingredients that were about to be turned into what was going into the boiling broth. I was most likely to be schooled into creating the noodles as I watched the ingredients go into a bowl first. First, I saw the alkali that was derived from cooked baking soda as it was added with water in which it was mixed and put into two cups of baking flour with an egg and a pinch of salt added that turned yellow after mixing it slowly. Second, we were slowly mixing the tough dough as it was binding with such precisiveness in mind.
I was watching Bunta get to work on his dough as I did the same in which mine was more finer and much filled with care with my gentle hands. In one fell swoop, I was even rolling it out with a rolling pin to keep it much firmer with the ingredients that were there at my disposal. Bunta never seen me do that with such greatness before as he watched me be hard at work with the dough that was finally bound and ready to rest after preparing it. When I finished it all up, I noticed Bunta bringing me some plastic wrap as he took the dough and wrapped it up in order to be put into the fridge for an hour before anything else.
"You look more like a pro at this," he said.
"Actually, it's my first time doing this," I answered.
"You sure know how to blend ingredients with gentle hands that made the dough rival my own." I notice Bunta wrap his own finished noodle dough as he placed it into the fridge to chill. "It's strange that someone like you would be forced into making ramen noodles, but..." I notice him get out some chilled ramen dough from the fridge. "...the noodling process is something that can't be taken lightly here."
"I looked into the cookbook that was here, but it's really old and ancient due to the text into making such delectable food for the masses."
"You can thank that furry tabby cat for bringing it here. He's no slouch after being reborn to the way he is today, but he's a spry old one, I can tell you that. He even caused a breakout in Heaven once until he got put back in just to read his silly books about some blond crush he watches."
"That is so much like Bobby..."
Speaking of Bobby..., I saw him skittering from the back door as he jumped onto a stool. Still, he was a cat who came and went as he smelled the scent of beef bones being boiled in a broth with other ingredients. It was very unlikely of him to show up over here as he was most likely to be seeing me hard at work into making the garnishments that were essential into making up a decent bowl of ramen that is meant to be served to any customer who wants it. With the chilled dough out in the open, I watched Bunta unwrap it as he was bringing out some flour to sprinkle on the cutting board and a rolling pin. I did the same with some chilled ramen dough that had rested in the fridge as I grabbed a rolling pin and began to roll it onto a cutting board that was sprinkled with flour and salt. With the dough rolled thin, Bunta and I were hard at work in both ways as I noticed him use a pasta making machine to stretch out his dough and shred it while I folded mine and used a knife. Even Bobby noticed us doing all the work as he remembered a time when he sat down in his junkyard eating a cup of instant ramen with a glass of whiskey back in the Elder Days.
"I take it that you two are like duelling banjos," he said as he was staring at us.
"We have different styles while dealing with making ramen noodles," said Bunta.
"Well, Sam's more of a pro at folding the dough and cutting it while you put it through that pasta machine that looks like something out of those Saw movies."
"That pasta machine's been in my family for years, but I took it with me because the rest of my family didn't want it."
"It seems that you didn't want to part with that contraption here, but it's an heirloom that can never go away at any time now," I said.
"In due time, I've been maintaining this ramen shop since my wife passed away ten years ago. It was also at that moment that I wanted my sons to take over when I up and died, but due to what is strict on this planet, they were drafted into the Alecrian Army in which if they even dodge the draft, they would be caught and charged with a lot of offenses in which they would end up going to prison, such as desertion. I know that they wanted to stick with me in the family business, but duty to the army trumps everything else."
"Have you talked to the draft board about changing their minds about that?"
"If I did that, then I would end up losing my licenses to running my restaurant. It's harsh, but I'm hoping to God that my sons come back and run this place when I'm gone."
I never expected Bunta to open up like that before as I felt sorry for him when he talked about his sons still being in the Alecrian Army all the live long. Still, he faced hardship while running this ramen restaurant, but he wanted to make due of what he was teaching me. By the time we set our noodles in two separate bowls, we were ready to cook the other ingredients as I noticed Bunta getting out a roast that was wrapped in plastic. When he unwrapped it, he placed it on a cutting board as he grabbed a knife and cut the roast into strips in which they were about to be seasoned and put on the grill. It was hard work with the meat, but I was busy getting out the green onions as I cut them up delicately for the ramen. In due time, we were even getting out the rest of the ingredients for making a decent bowl of ramen as we had the eggs boiled and the kamaboko brought out and sliced. After all that hard work, heard footsteps approaching as we went towards the counter and saw Reiko coming in here of all people. I never expected her to see me like this, but I had a feeling that I would be serving her something that I helped work for.
"Excuse me," she said as she sat down on a stool near the counter. "I would like a bowl of ramen for lunch, please."
"Well, good afternoon, Miss," said Bunta as he came towards the counter. "What kind of ramen bowl would you prefer?"
"I would like a shoyu bowl, please."
"One shoyu bowl coming up."
Reiko waited patiently as she saw Bunta go back in the kitchen in which he saw me put the noodles I prepared into a strainer. When I put them into a pot of boiling water, I was busy cooking them as I was getting the hang of it, but I was also making sure that the noodles didn't stick together. By the time I was finished, I placed the noodles into a bowl as I got out a ladel to put some of the broth into it. With the slices of beef, a kamaboko spiral, some green onions, a small sheet of nori,and a boiled egg half, the garnishments were put into the bowl of ramen as I got it set out and showed it to Reiko. With some chopsticks in her hand, she got a taste of the ramen as she found it to be very good in which the noodles she tasted were very delectable in mind.
By the time she was finished with her ramen, she drank the broth as it was a very tasty one indeed, for she noticed it to be a very kosher one due to the beef bones that were prepared in it. When she was ready to pay for her bowl of ramen, she noticed me come towards the counter as I saw her get out her coin pouch to set some change out. I was happy that she was here as she was content with the bowl of ramen that she ate for lunch. It was something that kept my eyes on her as I simply wanted her all to myself the moment I returned back to Kanto Village. Just as I was about to talk with her, I saw a strange alien approaching as he was walking towards the counter. The alien was humanoid, but he had light blue skin complete with a dark blue comb on his head while dressed in unusual clothing. He was a strange one, but he was starting to get hungry as he was ready to order up a bowl of ramen that can satisfy his hunger.
"What can I get for you?" I asked.
"I would like a bowl of ramen, please," he answered.
"What kind of ramen? We serve miso ramen, shoyu ramen, and shio ramen, but no tonkotsu due to this establishment's kosher restrictions."
"I'll have the shoyu."
"One shoyu it is, then."
I went back into the kitchen as I got out the ramen noodles that Bunta put through the pasta machine earlier. When I put them into the strainer, I was boiling them into the hot water for a few minutes in which I was also making sure that they didn't stick together during the process. By the time I was finished, I put them into a bowl as I got out the ladel and scooped up some of the broth to put into it. With the slices of beef, boiled egg and spiraled kamaboko put on top of the noodles, I placed the sheet of nori and the green onions for last as I brought out the bowl towards the strange customer that was sitting on a stool next to the counter. When he tasted it, he found it to be the best ramen that he ever had as he was ready to pay his tab with the change in his hand.
"You're an odd looking fella," said Bunta as he saw the customer get out some coins to pay for his meal. "I bet that you're far away from home in one of the many planets here in the Ashizoka System."
"I don't come from there, for my kind are from a different system that was destroyed eons ago," said the customer. "Like the Terrans, we have no home to go to except for this abundant system that houses most of my kind."
"You're a strange person to come here on Alecrast," said Reiko. "Do you have any family here?"
"No..., my family was killed by a man who led an army of demons to slaughter most of the folk here when I was staying at Buckner Grove at the time. I'm the last one, but I can't let myself go down in vain. My father, mother, and sister were all I had, but we stood together into cooking food for everyone where we lived at until the man with the prosthetic arm came forth and killed my family, along with some of the people who lived in Buckner Grove."
"I'm sorry for your loss," I said. "I know that losing your family is tough, but you stood through the thickness of what you had in you."
"I'm also looking for work here, so I can get some money saved up. It's the least I can do for now."
I remembered Severin's reign of terror as it was hell when he came here and caused slaughter to the seven towns that he went to since Kanto Village was burnt to the ground nearly three months ago. It was something that wasn't taken lightly as I remembered the stigma of what happened to some of the survivors in which I was thinking about Carly the Cat Sidhe girl who lived in the shed while munching on melons and the karasu-tengu couple who fled the violence as they were refugees that were traumatized by such horror in mind. It was a time that was never forgotten as I sensed the tragedy in those who lost loved ones that died at the hands of Severin's wrath that came with the Army of Cain invading this planet.
"Son, I know that you lost your family, but I can take you in as my apprentice here," said Bunta.
"Thank you," said the customer. "By the way, my name's Nashkezar Eleazar and my race is simply known as the Draaza. "I was also guided by the Terran God in which He told me about the presence of the two chosen to become the Destiny of Worlds here in Trainfell. I'm not finding work in this ramen place just to earn money, but to see my family's legacy in food and cheer not go to waste."
"And you'll find happiness here in what you can do," I said. "Perhaps you can learn from Bunta about the steps from ramen making in both ways."
"And both ways count because the noodles that are made can be either folded and cut or be shredded by a pasta machine," he said. "Still, noodles are noodles, but there's also a cookbook that Sam found that can bring you the basics into what you can do here."
The customer was smiling brightly as he was grateful to have work since he fled from Buckner Grove. It was something that was meant for him as he was most likely to start his work while under the apprenticeship of Bunta, who was adamant into teaching him the ropes into what makes a good bowl of ramen. I was also grateful that the young Draaza man was there as he was never discouraged from his path of happiness, for there was light at the end of the tunnel after enduring such tragedy that occurred in the form of Severin and his unholy Army of Cain faction.
"So, how does it feel to get started?" I asked.
"It's gonna be rough around the edges, but I'll be fine," said Nashkezar as he was ready to accept the job at the ramen shop. "It's the least I can do to bring such happiness that I have with me."
"And you'll have it," said Bunta. "As for you, Sam, you're a beacon of hope that never goes out, even if it meant for me to drag your ass here to learn more about ramen."
"And I'll come and visit some time," I said.
"Master Bunta," said Reiko. "Thank you for teaching Sammy how to make ramen here. I'll make sure that he doesn't forget your wisdom."
Reiko and I took our leave as I even shook hands with Bunta before going out of the ramen shop. The art of making ramen was something that was now ingrained in my head as I vowed never to lose focus of what I had and that was the happiness within me. I couldn't let all of it go to waste as I had so much at stake at this moment, for I had to go up against the Elect in all their glory soon enough...
Nimi and Noldorin were on their way to the ramen shop that I was dragged into as they were most likely to be alerting me about what the Elect was doing right now. Still, they wanted to tell me everything about the one who fled from the Le Guin Mountains in which there would be danger coming in the form of the wayward renegade angel who is most likely to be biding his time so far. Both Arrancar were on high alert about what would happen if Eshkalon manages to flee Tanzaku before the rest of Castiel's arsenal gets there to subdue him. It was something that they weren't expecting, but they had to go and report to me directly.
"Of all the places that we walk to, why did it have to be a ramen shop?" said Noldorin.
"You got any better ideas, princess?" said Nimi.
"You know that Sam's not gonna be there until-"
"Speak of the devil, there he is now with Reiko." Both Nimi and Noldorin notice us coming out of the ramen shop as we were ready to get back to the temple on the hill. "Hey, how's the ramen craft going?"
"I had my fix, but sooner or later, I'm gonna have to make some shoyu ramen when we get back to Kanto Village," I said. "It's the least I can do for now."
"So, you're up on your feet again, Sam," said Noldorin. "Word has it that you performed miracles with your abilities and that raw power that you got."
"He's had a few rough patches, but he'll pull through," said Reiko hopefully.
"It better be soon 'cause after you get your asses to Kanto Village, we're gonna have to plan things in order to get to Swamp Bottom after that," said Nimi. "According to what we know, the Elect and the Children of Azazel aren't no slouch since they suffered losses on both sides. Still, we're gonna have to pull together on this one so we won't fall down like a stack of dominoes here. It's the least we can all do for now."
It was all too much for me, but I had to deal with it as I had a feeling that Eshkalon would end up making his next move in his mayhem that blended with the unholy alliance between the Elect and the Children of Azazel. Still, there would soon be a time when I would be forced on the battlefield in a crucial time of need that would shake up Alecrast to its core. In a broader sense, we all had to be on board about what was yet to come, for the unholy alliance would soon make their mark onto us without warning...
Gabriel was waiting for us at the temple as he was busy sitting on the steps while chowing down on instant ramen and looking at nudie magazines. It was more than enough for him to pass the time until he sees Taraniel appear out of nowhere in which there would be bad news ahead. Even though Gabriel himself never wanted to steer away from his fun, but he had no say in the matter as he was most likely to be alerted about what was going on so far.
"I see that you're into porn mags again," said Taraniel.
"I always do this to pass the time," answered Gabriel.
"Which do you prefer: Playboy, Penthouse, Hustler, or Busty Asian Beauties just to pass the time?"
"C'mon, Taraniel, I dig this stuff when I'm bored?"
"Yeah, and you simply deck out as a mustachioed lothario from those cheesy Casa Erotica pornos and you call yourself an archangel of all of Father's beings?"
"It could've been worse..."
"Eshkalon is on the loose in Tanzaku and Castiel's allies have been tailing him since he left Chekiang. Even that potty-mouthed Arrancar's been on high alert the moment he heard about the Elect stamping their nasty seal of approval all over the place. Furthermore, we need to do more to secure Alecrast from the Elect's influence and it does more than just light the five lanterns to put a damper on their power trip. There are old places like this temple that act as beacons the moment Sam and Reiko bring themselves to such sexual prowess during their lovemaking in strange places that require it or else a whole lot of bad omens would occur without warning."
"That's one way to cramp one's lifestyle if we're not careful..."
"I'm telling you that you need to stick your ass in the game, Gabriel. Right now, the Elect are in an unholy alliance with the Children of Azazel in which it makes the dangerous game involving Uriel, Zachariah, and Raphael look like a kid's birthday party with the clown and pony being zapped into dust. From what I noticed, Cass took out one of the Elect while one of the Winchesters took out one of the Children of Azazel, but the battle ain't over the moment Esau decides to go off the deep end and melt the eyes of innocent bystanders in his wrath. As for Sam, he's gonna have to up the ante into honing his skills he put away over the years or else Esau and his cronies will use this to their advantage and turn this planet into something that makes 1984 look like an out-of-control carnival ride that even features the tilt-a-whirl."
"Dude, don't get me started with channeling the Jerky Boys."
"I'm serious, Gabriel. Right now, this isn't a joke or a debate 'cause the unholy alliance are most likely to be controlling the human population on Alecrast to their own advantages and ideals. It sucks to see them crawling all over the place by forcing innocent people to obey their sick twisted form of our Father's word with a side order of Lucifer's antics that made it hard for anyone to function up in Heaven. All we have is the Destiny of Worlds to fill the void and banish the darkness or else we'll end up being trapped in a Second Apocalypse. It's harsh, but if we lose faith in the ones that were fated to destroy the darkness, then we're screwed, so I suggest that you fight for what you believe in or else you'd die all over again."
Gabriel thought it through as he was staring at the plethora of porno mags he was reading. He was in it for the ladies and other things as he didn't want the Elect and the Children of Azazel to ruin his fun. It was all that he had as he was now rooting for me and Reiko in which he wanted us to put the unholy alliance in their place soon enough...
To be continued...