Honey Glayzed 29

Day by Day

Ryo washed his hands. He adjusted the collar of his jacket. The blue panels on his shoulders matched every other male standing in the line. She, April, was staring at him. Ryo refused to turn around and acknowledge her. But he kept his hands folded and resting on his lower back shielding his bottom. Three more times he had been molested. It was the only word he could think of. He still had no clue as to who it was. He had a few guesses, but could make no accusations. Without proof he would get nothing but denials. Ryo frowned reminding himself to pay attention. Chef Ramsey was assigning stations. Meat. Ryo nodded heading off to his station. "All right Jean Phillipe, open Hell's Kitchen." Ryo got the range started.

Break

Mihnea sat back in his chair watching the high king of Arcadia, Zarro the great White Lion. He was munching a bowl full of fresh plucked flowers. Mihnea had been out in the queen's garden three times now to get just the right blend. Victoria had a section of her garden just for her husband's snacking habits. "Now," Zarro dragged his tongue over his large canines. "Tell me about what happened in your kingdom." Now? Mihnea thought to himself. He had been here for three days and now Zarro wanted him to get on with what he had come to do. Mihnea shook his head then began to recount the events.

Break

Ryo headed up to Ramsey with his dish. Turning around he was headed back to his station. So many times tonight Chef Ramsey had resorted to swearing, kicking and yelling at the chefs. He had thus far escaped the censure, but he did not know how long that would last. No sooner than he reached his station he was being called. "Randy! Ryo! Whatever your name is come here a sec."

"Yes Chef," Ryo kept a congenial smile on his face.

"What the bloody hell are you smiling about? Look at this meat." Ryo looked down at the well cooked beef steak. "You don't see anything wrong with it?"

"If you would tell me what the problem is, Chef, then this would go a lot quicker and I could get back to cooking." Ryo could feel every eye in the kitchen turn to him. He sighed. Approaching Chef Ramsey as he would the commissioner was perhaps not the best move. But he could not take it back. Not that he would. He would offer respect for the man's accomplishments, and his role as his superior for the time being.

"Back to cooking, you say?" Chef Ramsey raised his voice. "This is supposed to be medium rare, it's well done. Do you listen?"

"My mistake Chef, I will start over." Ryo issued a curt bow then headed back to his station. Chef Ramsey threw the original plate in the trash can. Ryo rolled his eyes at the tantrum then started to cook again.

"You okay?" Sam asked from his station of garnish. He had been yelled at twice already, while Larry on fish had been kicked out of the kitchen.

"No worse than the chief on a rampage." Ryo tried to control the heat. But the fire was responding to his presence. Twice now he had fight to keep it under control. With his emotions so off kilter the flames were nearly out of control. Ryo pulled the meat from the pan just in time. He breathed a sigh of relief as he set it on the plate to carry to Chef Ramsey.

"It's about time, Randy. It's about time." Chef looked the meat over. "It's perfect."

"Thank you Chef," Ryo nodded as more orders were called out. All he had to do was keep the flames in check. Ryo sighed looking at his wedding ring. He missed them.

Break

Lord D listened as his father examined his youngest son. "He is healthy, and a good size." Sofu D sat his grandson in his bassinet. He stood then gasped when he saw that Lord D was eating sliced peaches.

"Do you want some?" Lord D held them over. Sofu attempted to smile at his son. He could feel his body rejected the scent of anything that he could consume at the moment. Lord D waited with his arm outstretched holding the treat out in offering. He took a closer look at his father then moved aside when his father turned an alarming shade of green. "Oh, you need..." Sofu refused the aid to get to the bathroom.

"I am fine," He said. Sofu sat in a chair taking deep breaths. This was as intolerable now as it was two thousand years ago. Looking at his son, Sofu D did not have regret. Sofu D patted his grandson's head, and then stood to his feet. "There now, you see? All done now." Sofu smiled in order to put his son at ease. He had not eaten a full meal since this pregnancy started, but he knew it would get better. Lord D was dozing when Sofu left the room. JJ gave him a knowing look. Sofu found the detective insufferable at times. He saw so much. Too much.

Lady Aurora came upon her husband leaning on the wall. "Come along my love," Aurora pulled his frail arm to her. She was gentle, mindful of her extreme strength as she handled her precious Kami. "Come to bed. Let me be your support." Lady Aurora thought of all the centuries she had loved this person. He had never made her feel slighted for her dwelling in the darkness. He became her light. She did not miss the sun as long as she had him. "I love you so." Aurora supported his weight all the way to their bedroom where she tucked him in. Lying beside him on the bed, Aurora stroked his back and sides. She stroked his stomach and his cheek. Sofu D fell asleep in his wife's arms.

Break

"George!" George turned around when he heard his name called. Rain came up to his side carrying his backpack. "Getting Wali ready for school?" Rain smiled at the smaller boy. Wali grinned waving at Rain.

"We are same room?" Wali asked hoping that he would be able to communicate with someone.

"Sorry Wali," Rain shook his head. "I am in my third year, you are first. We'll be lucky to get lunch together. But Chris will be with you. He's a page too, okay." Wali nodded looking around at the large humans that traipsed around the enormous building. He held on tight to George's sleeve.

"We don't have to do this now," George assured the young creature clinging so sweetly to him. "You can wait until next term." George smoothed the hair that seemed to make a halo of light around Wali's head. At least, George hoped it was his hair. Looking closer at Wali George frowned. His eyes seemed to take over half of his face. "Wali," George turned his face up. George sighed, sometimes at night, Wali would awaken with nightmares. He never told George what he dreamed, just preferred to hold on to him and rock. "I have no problem with you staying at home for a while."

"No, Georgie," Wali's large gray eyes met George's. He had to do this. He had to live as a human. He knew that neighbors would pry into their life and wonder why he was not in school. It was his job to be human now, or at least as human as possible. Wali firmed his chin. "I am ready. I can do this. I will make you proud."

"I am already proud." George smile petting his head. Jhaymes came over to join them then.

"All set?" Jhaymes asked taking George's hand.

George gazed at Wali for a while. Seeing the fluffy blond hair, so light it was white in some spots and his enormous eyes, George waited. Wali's nod had a solemnity beyond his supposed 13 human years. George turned a smile up to Jhaymes. "All set." George entered the principal's office with a smile on his face. For a moment, the man stared in awe. First there was beautiful Ryo, now this. What was the world coming to? He did not care. These children needed somewhere to go. If the straight majority could not take care of the lost lambs let them go to someone who could. At least they were well dressed and cared for. Wali was clinging to George still but he was smiling.

The principal stood and shook their hands. He had been fortunate since accepting this post. He had met and formed tenuous friendships with royalty, nobility ambassadors from all over the world. He saw pop and rock stars on a daily basis walking down the halls. It was with a bright outlook that he rose to his feet. "Hello Mr. O'Dowd, Mr..." The Principal waited giving Jhaymes a long look.

"Oh," George laughed. "How rude of me," George laughed again with pink cheeks. What an enchanting creature. The principal thought to himself. He was extremely straight but he could appreciate beauty when he saw it. "This is Sir Jhaymes, a knight of Arcadia and my consort." Jhaymes shook the smaller hand of the principal careful of his strength.

"Wonderful to meet you," The principal acknowledged Jhaymes. He turned to Wali at first he was lost for words at the light gray eyes. "What is your name?" He managed to force out after looking upon the slight boy.

Wali looked at the smiling human adult then at George. George smiled at Wali then nodded. He hoped that they were not doing this too soon. The school year was almost over. It would not be unseemly for Wali to wait for a new term. "Walerian Patryk," Wali stated his name. "My family says to me: Wali," Wali beamed at George. George was quick to take his hands as pearls appeared in the palm. George pocketed the gems with a strained smile. This was a habit that, he would have to remind Wali; normal humans cannot do or understand.

"You seem to have a heavy accent. Is English a problem for you?" The principal asked.

"Learn to speak proper, I have." Wali nodded his smile bright. "Work hard, I do."

"But I would still put him in the ESL classes for a time." The principal said to George and Jhaymes. He pulled out a scratch card with Wali's schedule. "Most of the children in the class are Hispanic. We have a new girl from Brazil, she is learning as well. Her father is an ambassador. I feel like I have a private school here with all the top notch children here."

"What makes Wali more top notch than other children?" George asked with a smile. "Whether a child is royal, noble or commoner, they are still children and deserve the best care possible. If we did not believe that they were receiving that care, they would not be here." George shook his hand again.

"Right you are sir, I mean your highness," The principal recalled that George was a dragon prince now. He hoped that he had the best care here. He would try. That pale child looked like he needed a lot of care. The principal paused, wondering what kind of hell he had come from. All the things he saw in that young boys eyes were reflected in the eyes of most of the children that were rescued.

Break

Ryo took a deep breath at the words, "All right shut it down. Hell's Kitchen is closed." He had escaped the night with only two infractions with the finicky head chef. But it was no worse than Commissioner Rose on a hot streak, especially is Jeremy was holding out on the sex. It had been tough when Chef Ramsey started to kick chefs out of the kitchen. Working with the women had been okay. Ryo felt that April spent too much time looking at him, but she manned her station well, he could not fault her for that. "Congratulations, Chefs," Chef Ramsey said with a smile. "We made it through the first dinner service. But it should not have been so painful."

Ryo nodded his head that it had indeed been painful. Not to mention he had misplaced two knives. He could not find them anywhere. He had not been molested during the dinner service, but his frustration over the knives had caused an overcooked piece of beef, but it was not burnt, just well done. In a world of rare beef, well done was a crime. "I have to say, the men had the most members of their team remaining, so they won." Ryo took a deep breath at that announcement. Now I want you women to go upstairs, back to the dorms and think of two chefs who should be up for elimination."

"Yes Chef," Was a chorus as the ladies adjourned to the common room of the dorm.

Ryo excused himself from the line to head back into the kitchen. Where were the knives? He had to find them that would drive him insane. He did not lose them. He knew he didn't. Chef Ramsey was halted by Ryo's action. "I think he lost something." Chef chuckled a bit as Ryo searched. Coming up empty handed he went back to the dorm. He could feel the pilot light on the oven, banked for the night, attempt to flare. Ryo took a deep breath calming the flame. That would not be good. He was here to protect Chef Ramsey, not burn down his restaurant.

Break

Rain marked off another day on his calendar. There was a big red circle around the day that Ryo would return. He would count it down until that day. Tonight Ryo had tasted aggravated. Rain had sent an embrace on the wind to him. Rain needed to get some sleep, he had a test tomorrow. Rain rolled over pulling Slyphe to him. The feline cuddled up to her human. He had been so down lately. Slyphe licked his chin. He would make it through this. Her human was strong. Just in case she would stay close to him.

Break

George stood at the sink drying his hands. He turned to see a bottle of skin cream. "Nari," George looked for and found his husbands squire by the door polishing one of Jhaymes' long swords.

"You have such soft hands," Nari said without looking up. "I will have the dishwasher repaired tomorrow so that you will not have to wash the dishes. "Or I can do them for you. You are a prince, highness, you should not be…"

"If I could not do a few dishes every now and then, I would be an insult to my mother." George laughed as he picked up the cream and spread it on his hands. "Thank you." George pulled a pot down. It was carved from porcelain with intricate designs. While Jhaymes ad made the pot, Lord D had painted. Ceramic work was one of his favorite past times. The teapot was George's favorite. George found it odd. He went from a life of excess and parties to serene family and complete love. It was funny how life could change. Before, by this time of night, he would be too engrossed in the scene around him to focus internally on the pain he was trying to escape. Now, here he was, having sent his fostered son off to bed, making tea.

"What are you thinking?" George leaned back into the strong arms of Jhaymes.

"About you, Wali, our life." George answered without hesitation.

"Hmmm," Jhaymes nuzzled George's neck. "You always smell so good."

"Can I have my tea first?" George laughed after wallowing in the pleasure of Jhaymes lips. The sound of the pot whistling broke them apart.

"Oh, so sorry, that I am," Wali turned a dark maroon color. "I am thirsting. I see you have a desire to be by yourselves."

Wali made as if to leave but George called him back. "I was just making some tea. You could join us." Wali looked between George and Jhaymes as if to ascertain the truth of the words. After a moment, he smiled and walked into the kitchen. "I thought you were sleeping," George said pulling several cups from the cupboard. He poured tea for himself, Jhaymes and Wali. "Is everything all right?" Taking two lumps of sugar for himself he added one to Jhaymes cup then dumped the rest of the full bowl into Wali's tea. George returned to the table with the intricate little tray that came with the tea set. Wali took his spoon and stirred. With a sip, he got the familiar smile when he tasted something sweet. George noticed, underneath the smile, Wali's eyes were haunted. "Tell me about it."

Wali looked up into George's eyes. They were so beautiful, yet he restrained the urge to produce matching jewels. George had spoken to him for a while before he went to bed about human abilities. Wali sighed; he brought a shaking hand up to fluff the wild mop atop his head. Tears gathered, but he banked the emotions not wishing to burden his new family. "Wali?" Jhaymes lifted his face. "Whatever it is, you can tell us about it."

"When I sleep," Wali began after a long, deep breath. "There are things that I see. Things that I do not wish to see."

"What kind of things?" George asked taking his hand.

"My mother," Wali's voice was pained whisper. Tears were a waterfall of anguish when the slight frame fell into George in a desperate embrace. "I see…hic…my mother… hic… and… sob… the… demon…" Wali broke down in George's embrace. "I see the demons that ate her. They ate her right in front of me."

"Oh…" George began holding the boy tight in his arms.

"My God," Jhaymes finished the sentiment for George.

To be continued

Author's Notes: Some of you might be wondering about Walerian's speech patterns. To someone of Arcadian descent, he sounds normal. But to the typical human, he sounds like a thirteen year old Yoda… An Arcadian knows what Wali is saying, a human hears what he says, if that makes sense. As for Ryo, who is harassing him?

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