Warning: grammar

Disclaimer: no character is mine.

It's Cooking Time!

Part 25

Yesterday dinner turned into alcohol party had been a blast. After the strange gyro, Shun had also cooked fried rice, the one that he steam just in case 'Sherlock' didn't manage to recover the meat. Well, since no one except Aiolos who take third on the gyro, the simple fried rice was welcomed. But the dessert that Aiolia bake with Alderbaran which is baklava by the way, was a hit. Though it looked a little burn, nobody noticed, after all alcohol helped dulled the sense slightly. The beginner chef was very pleased that his dinner had been a success and maybe… just maybe he should learn how to cook just to entertain his friends. He never knew the fun of cooking for someone before.

The morning after... All the bronze saints had all arrived for breakfast while the gold saints consist only of Dohko, Shion, and Deathmask. Alderbaran, Aiolia and Aphrodite also arrived fifteen minutes after that. The other seemed to skip breakfast all together due to hangover or sleeping a little late.

The Goddess didn't mind and was so cheerful too today. She was surprised when Deathmask, the cancer saint, the today chef walked toward her with a proposition. He said that he would like to invite Minos, the specter. Of course, the crab sign also told her what happen yesterday between him, Aphrodite and Minos.

Saori-san had been thrilled with the idea. If she and Hades could spent time together at the spa and enjoy dinner, why not the saints and specters? She even extended the dinner invitation to Persephone since she is also Sicilian. The queen of the underworld might also miss her Italian cuisine. She had thought about inviting the other two judge specters but for now, Minos as a start would be good since two of her saints had actually being civil with the judge yesterday on salami hunting.

So as soon as Deathmask got that permission, he dragged the sous chef into the kitchen and ordered him to inform Hades about the invitation. He said: 'whatever method you likes' since the God hadn't been inside the said mansion while the gold saint himself would be out to do all the shopping. That's why Shun had been frowning since after breakfast. The gold saint was supposed to be the one that had skill to send people to Acheron anyway!

"… Well… I guess it's time to use my pendant, huh?" Shun sighed, he reluctant using the necklace that had been given by Pandora to him since he was a baby; a mark that had been carried by him unknowingly. It was given back to him by Hades after the ceasefire started. To be able to travel back and forward to Acheron, the God said. He never knew why Hades would take him/his body back and forward to Acheron even if the underworld king had been able to appear in person (the fact which his brother just knew several days ago…). But anyway… here goes nothing… finger crossed.

The underworld castle of Hades…

Minos had been able to dodge another flying chair. Geez… and he thought being immortal couple; one would never do something like this. Yesterday he was able to find that salami, thank to the gold saints… (Dear Hades, please don't punish him for being thankful to his enemy… um ex-enemy turn acquaintance?). This morning he walked to the dining room, finding only his fellow judges and Pandora, he decided to wait. He was about to greet his peers when he heard the door opened. Then the problem started...

Hades walked in into it, followed by his wife. Persephone face was red with anger. She shouted something like Dionysus being her brother. To tell the truth, given the history of incest, polygamy, etc between God and Goddess; Hades had his fair share of concern. It was so strange actually, unlike his brothers Poseidon and Zeus; the underworld king was one of the Gods that didn't play around with women, being truthful and loyal with his one and only spouse.

Another chair just zoomed by his head, he could see Aiacos also jumped from the flying candles chandelier, Radamathys also ducked away under the overturn table, shielding Pandora in process. And no, Hades wasn't doing anything except repelling any objects that being thrown to him by his spouse. It was Persephone who was throwing and shouting angry burst here and there, but Minos had a feeling that the God's patient had been running thin by minute.

"Can we stop this?" Aiacos had finally ducked under the makeshift table fortress that Minos had dragged using his strings.

"Do you want to?" The silver hair asked back, this was Persephone they were talking about. She was so notorious for being childish, personality that developed being protected heavily by Gaia. The garuda hesitated for a second before he shook his head. The dark hair specter peeped up but quickly dodged back, one white plate filled with pastry zoomed inch from his hair. "Nope."

It was going for another minute before most of them sensed something; one human size black hole like circle had appeared near the God. Hades twitched his eyes a little while Persephone thrown another big chair toward him. One figure came out from it, just in time to see that chair coming; the green hair saint gawked in surprise. Thankfully, the God had managed to repel it toward other direction and it crashed into the fortress that Minos built, pushing both specters flying to the wall.

"What's going on?" The boy asked innocently. Hades look at him with his usual bored eyes before teleporting him without answering to where Pandora and Radamathys are. "Huh?" A blink.

"Hello, my 'brother'." The girl looked at him blankly and the Wyvern just giving him a nod.

"Um… hi?" Growls were heard from his sides, both Minos and Aiacos, both had angry swollen bulk on their head, had sneaked toward them and once again the silver hair specter used his skill to strengthen the new fortress. There was a pause before Shun let out a sigh. "I should have just stay in the mansion and asked Athena to deploy Hermes instead."

"And add another God power into the fray?" The black hair specter groaned. He loved his master and misess dearly; but being in the middle of the fighting couple (to make it worst, couple with massive cosmo) had depleted his life, not that he could die though...

"What are you doing here?" Aiacos tried to remain neutral, though he could still feel his teeth clenched unconsciously.

"Giving invitation." Shun said.

"Invitation?" The only girl in this hiding group perked up, she was now curious.

"Yes. We… the gold saints take turn on cooking for dinner."

"Ah, you mean what Aphrodite and Deathmask said yesterday." Enlightenment came to Minos while the other specters looked at him questioning.

"The Pisces and Cancer? You were with them yesterday?" Aiacos said, he felt another chair just zoomed by from his side. Lucky for them, Pandora was there so Hades usually a little more careful in choosing his fend-off route.

"The crab even played wrestling with me."

"Huh?!" There were unison confused look between two specters and the girl. Shun though let out a chuckle, he quite understand what that mean.

"Anyway, Deathmask said the invitation still stand."

"Hrmf, as if." The black hair specter nearly spat fire. He didn't like the gold saints at all, particularly that Scorpio and the younger Gemini. Both of them had disgraced him; the former happened 250 years ago, the other… not long ago.

"Actually, I am asking permission for it."

"WHAT!" Radamathys was quite furious; specter shouldn't be mingling with enemy.

"That Pisces also 'killed' you 250 years ago!" Aiacos said as matter of fact.

"So?" Minos actually quite indifferent, he knew it would be awkward being specter inside gold saints domain like that. But yesterday excursion was fun. Beside… Hades was also there, it could become an excuse of guarding the God. While they were arguing, the crashing and screaming had already stopped.

Hades had approached his wife, uncharacteristically embracing the woman. "I'm sorry… I shouldn't have doubt you." It pained him every time he sees Persephone that upset. Although he wouldn't want to move near her whenever she was furious and patiently waiting until she calmed down.

"Stupid hubby." She murmured lightly, burying her face into his chest, hugging tightly. There were comfortable silent between them; Hades moved his hand to her chin, tilting her lightly. He let out a ghostly smile before moving down, capturing her lips in feathery kiss, the one that could put a smile on his wife every time. He had forgotten that the judges, his 'sister' and his 'vessel' were all there until he heard a little shouting match. He blinked, detaching himself from the girl but kept on holding her hand. With a flick of his fingers all the scattered damaged items (excluded the food since it practically ruined, Cerberus will be happy) were back to its position.

"…" There was pause as the King and Queen of underworld looked at the fighting cloud, 2 vs 1 with one saint trying to break up the fight with no avail. One score for the teen bravery, handling 3 judges alone. Unlike the disagreement wrestling fight between gold saints that he had seen in the mansion, the judges actually resorted into fist fighting.

Pandora sat on the floor near the fighting males. She patted her skirt and walked toward the God. Eyes was checking him up and down, looking for any scratch or wound. Satisfied there were no wound occurred, she walked back and sat on one chair surprisingly undamaged and watched the fight as if it was occurred daily. Hades once again flicked his finger; this time all judges suddenly face planted onto the ground, not too lightly. Shun gasped as he turned around. Multiple groaned could be heard below him.

"So, what are you doing here, my vessel?"

The Andromeda looked down at the specters in worry, he let out a glare. "At least, let them go first?" Hades smirked; his 'vessel' really had that heart of gold, even worrying his enemies… ex enemies for now

One explanation and invitation later...

"Oh, wonderful! Hubby? Italian food." The Queen of underworld eyes sparked up with glee.

"Very well, we will personally attend." There was no use in arguing when his wife already set her heart on it. Moreover, if it is the food that came from her home, that's it.

"Invitation also extends to Minos." Hades glanced to his subordinate.

"Minos?"

"Yes, Hades – sama."

"Explain." Thus the event with Deathmask and Aphrodite was explained excluding the minor detail of him helping pulling out roses and fighting with the crab star. Hades paused contemplating if the griffon would be all right in the nest of gold saints. Even if he didn't usually show it, it didn't mean he didn't care about his specters. His brilliant blue eyes shift from his subordinate to Shun before back to the said judge. "… you are on escort duty." He said, which mean Minos would be there with Persephone.

"Thank you, Hades – sama."

"Let's go." The black hair God unlinked his hand from his wife.

"Huh?" The Andromeda saint was confused but it was too late that both he and the God suddenly disappeared from the underworld. On the same time Persephone pouted.

To be continue

Authoress note: Thank you for the review, Gemini Owl and Lady Moonlight Owl. Thank you for all reader. Before that Happy Belated Merry Christmas to you all and Happy New Year 2020