The word culinary is defined as "of, relating to, or used in cooking or in the kitchen" and art as "the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles." Putting these two words together, culinary art is about inventing new ways to create something unique and beautiful for people to enjoy. In this course, you will gain knowledge that will help expand and perfect culinary to your desire. Throughout the years, the culinary arts have continued to expand from traditional homemade meals to five-star restaurants over the world. In addition, through its years of evolution, culinary arts has found a way to inspire many across the globe to try new and unique ways to find a style to call their own.
In this course, you will be allowed to focus on finding a style that best suits your way of cooking. The instructors are all there to guide you through this process as well as instruct you on certain elements of the culinary arts. Information such as what benefits for health does an ingredient have, and what other purposes does it have and how to make it stand out or balance with the dish. However, there will be some specific basic cooking methods and techniques that you will have to learn, but it is up to you to choose if they fit your style. Furthermore, instructors are tasked to help students decide which methods fit their needs and the overall appearance and taste of the dish.*
"That is it for homeroom, classes begin next week, I hope to see you all then," said my homeroom the syllabus into my bag, I got up from my seat in the back and quickly shuffled out of the classroom before anyone could get in my way.
As I reached the first floor of the building, I made my way out towards the door to get to the entrance hall of the main fine arts building. It's a simple building really-ignore the fact that Mephisto made it-one of six buildings of the fine arts campus. The main building consists of five stories, six counting the roof, with normal classrooms for basic education, such as those in general studies, teachers' lounge**, and infirmary-bathrooms too. The five stories in the building are further divided: the first floor consists of the shoe lockers, the dance and the music (musical theater) departments classrooms. The second floor consists of the rest of the music department classrooms and a few warm-up rooms. The third floor belongs primarily to the teachers and infirmary. Floors four and five contain the arts and culinary departments classrooms respectively.
The second building is the fine arts auditorium, where they held our first, technically second, orientation, and the stage for choir, band, and theater to use. The third building, which is connected to the auditorium by a hallway in the east wing, is the music department. While the building connected to the auditorium on the west wing belongs to the dance department (fourth building) both of these buildings are three and two stories respectively. The fifth building belongs to the art department which is three stories in height with a wonderful view of the True Cross courtyard and town. The sixth building which is two stories in height and has both class sized kitchens and private kitchens is the culinary department building. And, according to the instructors, the building I will be using three times a week for class purposes and however many times I want for private purposes.
As I began putting on my regular shoes on at the shoe lockers, I had begun to hear students gossip over the fact of them being able to wear a uniform that differed from both the athletics and general studies department. However, this year the dean, aka Mephisto, allowed (read: forced by his little sister) us to do any modifications onto our uniforms if we so wished as long as it was verified by the teachers. All I knew was hell if I was going to wear that annoying frilly tutu he calls a uniform.
Grabbing my bag and placing my shoes back into the locker, I began to head out of the tall building that is way too elaborate for a high school. Looking around at the students I could already see groups beginning to form, some even looked like they had been friends for a lifetime. The students had looked to be the regular happy go, lucky people, while others the quiet types who would rather observe their surroundings then socialize. I saw glimpses of students with sheets of music in their hands, others with sketchbooks or canvases walking to their respected buildings probably already having a project to work on. Their voices carried themselves toward me as both them and their shadows began to complain of the fact that they really are not going to go easy on them just because they are fine arts students. I mean, I can't blame them, my first assignment was already given to me, but from what I could hear apparently it was somewhat easier than the rest. I kind of wished for more of a challenge, the little riddle about the dumpling was just too easy to get the answer.
Walking across the campus not only could I hear the humans complaining, and gossiping I could also hear their shadows beginning to do the same. Some of it was the same, something along the lines of the humans not realizing that their representative was also the daughter of Satan or whatnot. I scoffed at these gossips, after all, it wasn't as if the humans were ever going to find that out, at least, not yet. You are probably all wondering about the shadows now aren't you? Silly humans, did you not know that shadows are demons as well? Whether it be the shadows of a human, animal, or object, demons have always been attached to you. Passing a group of gossiping girls on their faces their each saw each other's laughter and pleasure, but their shadows showed a different story. Some shadows had become distorted and ugly, like that of a monster. These shadows I knew belonged to those who would use anyone and anything to get their way. Other shadows tended to stay still, silently watching their human ready to follow them at any given time, these are the mild groups. The funny thing about shadow demons is that they are demons who have always been latched onto a human soul since the day they were conceived. In addition, the more sins a human did the more distorted a shadow would become and more than likely try to consume the human it was attached to. As I was thinking all this, a wild shadow crossed eyes with me, I let my eyes flare up to a minimum and I saw it shudder as it began to settle down. Smirking at his response, I gave a small smile, one that only those with demonic sight could see, and walked away from the scene.
Exorcist do not know that it is our job as the children of Satan, to help Father keep these demons in line. These demons were once angels as well, not as big of angels as my father and brothers, but angels nonetheless. When my family was cast out of Caelum and into Gehenna, it was these past angels who have fought to protect the lives of the humans. Even now they still try to protect them, however, sometimes, their emotions can get the better of them and they act out in the form of possession. It's not their fault, not all of it at least, but because of their feelings of resentment towards God and the humans they decided to protect they often get caught in between. Because of all this, my siblings were given different kingdoms to take care of for certain demons, one demon more powerful than the next on the account of how close they were to humans.
As I walked over one of the many, and most secluded, bridges to get to True Cross Academy's main campus, I came across Mephisto standing in the middle of the structure.
"It is about time you got here little one," he said with that annoying clown smile of his face.
"You do know I had class right? Not actual class, but still class."
Giggling, what kind of all mighty and powerful demon giggles? He began searching for something in his coat pocket.
"Here you go little sister, one cram school key for you to use."
"Thanks," I said as I plucked the key from his hand. As I did that, I heard him begin to count to three in German and a puff of pink smoke appeared in his spot.
Looking down, I saw a small white Scottish-terrier wearing a large pink ribbon around its neck with a silver trinket hanging from it. It was cute and fluffy, to say the least, but it was my brother, there is no way in Gehenna that I would ever admit to that.
"Amai-nii is by far more cute."
I could hear a small squeak of approval coming from my bag that held Amai-nii in his adorable green hamster form.
"I hate you," Mephisto said bluntly with a glare. "You too, Amaimon."
I snickered at their bickering before speaking, "So dear brother. Where is the nearest door?"
"You ready to begin?" asked Amai-nii.
"Ready to show Yukio, Fujimoto, and dad exactly what I can do. Just you wait, I'll even one-up Yukio in every subject, and exwire missions he took before."
"Well, Rin-chan, the closest door is right under our very feet." Said Mephisto as his dog form slid through the white railings of the bridge.
Looking over the railing, I saw that he had landed safely and was waiting for me to jump down. Hoisting myself onto the railing with my right hand, I jumped and landed on the green grass with my feet. Turning myself around to where Mephisto was looking, I saw a door that seemed to be camouflaged into the brickwork of the bridge, but I could clearly make out a handle and lock. The gold key in my left hand, and book bag in my right, I unlocked the door and found myself looking into a crummy hallway.
"Wow, love what the Vatican has done with the place. The unnecessary stained glass, the tall wooden doors, even the old light fixtures." I said. "I thought that they would give their future exorcist more, I don't know, special attention."
"Never going to happen, my Princess, the Vatican is too cheap to give better education conditions for the exorcists in training."
"No kidding."
Mephisto chuckled at mine and Amai-nii's banter against the Vatican before speaking up.
"As much as I enjoy making fun of the Vatican as well, I believe that your class will soon begin. I would appreciate it if you were not late for the very first day, we want you to keep up an image do we not?"
Nodding I followed Mephisto down the hallway until we were in front of a door and I nervously shuffled my feet.
"Why are you, nervous Princess?"
"This is the first time I will be ultimately surrounded by exorcists, none of which are going to protect me if something goes wrong. I know I shouldn't feel so nervous about this, but what if you do not make it time to save me if they find out? What if I somehow mess up the plan?"
"You will not Rin-chan. Father believes in your abilities, you are our little sister. If Father did not believe in you, he would not have named you as the 9th Baal of Gehenna, the Princess of Shadows."
"That and it was your plan, Princess."
I looked at each of my brothers, who were still in their animal forms, and smiled at them. They always seemed to know what to say to me, if any other of my siblings were here they would do the same.
Taking a deep breath, I turned the doorknob and walked into the room as confidently as possible.
I say confidently but the place was filthy. For crying out loud Mephisto, don't you have anyone clean up all this mess? It was a simple room if you dismissed the cracks, broken windows, and the mold that was clearly beginning to sprout in the back corner next to old bookshelves.
As I guessed only a few students, seven in total, had actually entered True Cross as cram school students. Looking to my left as I entered the classroom I saw two girls wearing the general studies program uniform. One who seemed nice enough had short brown hair and graced me with a small smile. The other one, with really weird eyebrows, took one look at me and scoffed. Who does that? Who the heck scoffs at the first time they see someone? Rolling my eyes at her I began to walk to the front desk in the middle of the room. Placing my stuff on the table I silently slumped into my chair not caring about eyebrows' stare.
I tensed up as I felt someone's, other than eyebrows, stare at me coming from behind me. Craning my neck to look who it was I saw two others sitting in the very back. The first was a male who I had seen in the second-year corridors at the main building, he was a strange one that's for sure. He always seemed to only speak to a hand puppet, strange? I know. The second figure, a guy, girl? They might have had the look of a guy, but the smell of one was off. Our eyes met for only a moment until they ducked their head down to look at a game console that was in their hands. I glanced at their shadow trying to get a read from it but I was interrupted before I could question them further.
"Hey!"
I jolted in my seat as someone slammed their hands on the surface of the table I was sitting at. Turning back around, I was met with the same pink-haired boy who was talking to me back at the courtyard.
"Hi?" He smiled at my confused reply.
"I didn't know you'd be here, I thought I was gonna have to look all over for ya."
Wow, stalker much?
"Why?" I figured that sounded rude, but seriously who the heck says that to someone on their second encounter.
"Why, you ask? Because I wanted us to share contact information!"
Oh, he was flirting. I mentally laughed as both my brothers growled at him, with Amai-nii popping out of my bag for just a moment and Mephisto standing on all fours in a defensive position. I mentally asked them to calm down, and I knew they heard me when they did just that waiting to see how I would handle the situation.
"Sure," I said in an uncaring voice. "After all we are classmates now, we may need to contact each other for future missions or some other things."
I watched as his smile turned upside down, the gaze in his brown eyes turned from hopeful to despondent as he realized what I just said. Giving him a cheerful smile, I grabbed the cellphone he was offering me and quickly inputted my number and name. As I finished I handed him his silver phone back to him and with a small smile and a thank you, he went back to his seat. I followed him with my eyes and saw him going to sit down with the other two males I had seen earlier. I waved at them as the one who had bumped into me laughed at, whats-his-name, before he mouthed a sorry to me and waved back. I was tempted to get up and talk with them, keyword tempted, but I stopped myself before I did just that for the little episode Yukio was having outside the classroom.
I could smell him from a mile away, technically more than a mile, and hear his heart just as strongly. I knew he was freaking out at being a teacher for the first time, and especially to students who were the same age as him. As much I wanted to make fun of him, and oh gosh how much I wanted to, I didn't, I remembered the little nervous wreck I was only moments ago and stopped myself from laughing. Taking a breath, as I could hear the shuffling of one of his arms underneath his sleeves, I quickly got into "punk-mode" and "oblivious rin-mode" before Yukio walked inside.
"Looks like your teacher has arrived," stated Mephisto.
"Take your seats, everyone," said a calm and cool Yukio as he made his way toward the teacher's desk.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all, I will be your teacher in anti-demon pharmacology, Okumura Yukio." Well, that's your cue oblivious Rin, I thought to myself.
"Yukio?! Is that really you?" I freaked out.
Yukio gaze and glasses glossed over when he looked at me answered in a matter of fact tone.
"Yes, that would be me. Is something the matter, Okumura-san?"
Oh hell no. He did not just answer me by saying Okumura-san. I will most definitely be giving him nightmares for a week.
"No. I, wha-whaddya mean "is something the matter?" What's going on with you!"
"I assure you, there is nothing wrong with me. Now if you don't mind, I would prefer you remain quiet while class is in session."
I gave my best shocked looked I could muster at Yukio's way as he began talking to the rest of the class. Okay, half of that shock was real because Mephisto failed to tell me that Yukio would be one of my instructors. Did I mention I was going to hang him? No? Well, I did now. For crying out loud, he didn't give any sort of heads up to mentally prepare myself for the early encounter I would have with my twin. After a whole out mental war, I had with Mephisto, I finally jumped into the conversation Yukio was finishing up. Something about calling him sensei while in class or something like that.
"Now, then. How many of you have never sustained a mashou? Please raise your hands."
Looking around I saw the only ones who had yet to have a mashou were the two of three boys I had talked to earlier that day and the brown-haired girl. I silently judged them for just now obtaining a mashou, but I also praised them. It takes guts to see the ugliness of some of the demons...no offense.
"Three of you. Well, them, I think we should begin this first lesson covering the mashou rite. Now the classroom we are in right now is not in general use due to it currently being occupied by demons known as goblins. They are a low-level type of demon, only possessing enough magic to cause minor mischief and are relatively easy to handle. However, if They catch the scent of rotten animal blood they can become agitated and ferocious."
"I'll show you agitated and ferocious," muttered Amai-nii from the confines of my bag.
"Today, I am going to use a mixture diluted with milk, which goblins are found of. I will then dilute the blood in ten parts milk, and use a single drop of the resulting liquid to draw out a few goblins and have them aid us in our rite. So if you could all wait a moment while I set this up."
I knew he was going to take the boring way of bringing them forward. I smirked as an idea crossed my mind, Yukio, don't you think payback can be a real bitch? Getting up from my seat, I made my way toward the front and slammed my hands onto the desk. The blood and milk had moved only slightly, knowing I had to cause a scene in order to get closer to the concoction I did just that.
"Quit screwing around Yukio! Explain yourself, I could care less if we are in the middle of class!" I yelled. I could feel the other students' gazes on us, the one with the hoodies staring at us more intently. My attention went back to Yukio as he let out an exasperated sigh.
"As I said earlier, I became an exorcist two years ago. My training began when I was a young boy of seven, as I received a mashou from a demon on the day I was born. I have been able to see demons for as long as I can remember. I knew all along, it was you who did not. Now, would you move aside Okumura-san?"
Okay, that was a bit too much, the cold shoulder, the cold words, the cold voice. I admit I walked right into that, but are you fucking serious Yukio? How about you replace the word demon with you in that sentence, let the rest of the humans know who I am right from the start why don't you. I would have rathered listened to all that crap you spelled out in private than here in public where seven other people could easily overhear. I grabbed his hand as he picked up the stupid test tube filled with blood and milk, and it fell to the ground glass shattering in all directions. Well, there went my plan, but now I was all emotional and shit. The scent of mixed blood and mild hit my nose and disgust hit me and my brothers. Looking up from where my eyes were directed at the test tube to where a crash had just occurred, I saw debris and dust hit the desk behind the one I had sat at.
"Hobgoblins!" yelled Yukio as he got in front of me. His two pistols were already in his hands as he began to shoot at the hobgoblins who had appeared from the ceiling crashing down. I could make out Amai-nii hissing in the background as he felt the demons he was supposed to supervise beginning to get injured.
"Everybody, out of the classroom! They are weak, but many in number and they have been driven into a frightful rage. I must apologize; this was my mistake. I'm very sorry about all this, but, if you could all just wait out here while I eliminate the demons."
Yukio began to direct the students out of the classroom, and as he reached the last one, he looked over to me directing me to leave too. I glared at him, knowing that I was going to stay, there was no way I was going to allow him to eliminate the demons that brother is trying so hard to protect. Knowing that he wouldn't leave either, I grabbed him by the shoulders, looked him straight in the eyes, and for a brief moment, I knew that he knew what I was thinking. And before he protests or shoves my hands off him, I threw him out of the classroom and kicked the door shut behind him. I could hear his body fall to the ground and some of the students asking him if he was okay, which students I don't know. I pulled the closest desk to the door and blockaded the door from allowing anyone from entering and anydemon from leaving. The sounds of Yukio banging on the door had grown more intense by now, but I paid no attention to them as I concentrated on calming down the demons behind me.
Looking around the room to see where all the mixture had spilled I took off my jacket and began to wash it clean it all up. Who the heck in their right minds would make this mixture for demons? Oh, that's right, exorcist.
"Mephisto," I whispered. "If you don't mind, get me something to make this smell go away."
I could hear Mephisto muttering his magic numbers and begin to spray something in the air. Febreze. Really, Mephisto? Really?
Coming across the last splatter of liquid I saw that the King of Earth, in his human form, had already calmed down the hobgoblins and was beginning to coax them back into the dark crevices of the room.
"Hold up, save me a small one," I said to him. His gold eyes met my blue eyes as he nodded and began to grab a small hobgoblin.
I motioned him to place the young one on the teacher's desk as I made my way to move the desk from the front of the door. Before I even made a move to open the door for the other side, which was surprisingly quiet, I made sure that my brothers were already back in place and in their animal forms. I quickly made a beeline for the hobgoblin that was beginning to fall asleep and back to the door. Grabbing the handle, I turned it and held out the demon to a surprised little brother.
"I apologize for my burst of anger in class, I hope this will make for it," I said as I bowed to the surprised class. I could feel their gazes look from behind me, to me, then to the demon in my hand and all over again.
"How did you…" the one girl with the weird eyebrows trailed off as she looked at me with an impressed look.
"Okumura-san," started Yukio. "I expect that we talk about this later?"
"Yes, sensei," I said with no emotion in my voice and a blank look in my eyes.
"Alright class, thanks to Okumura-san's ability to capture a hobgoblin for us, we will resume class in the next classroom."
My lesson: Responsibility sucks.
*This website here is where I got the info to write this: study-culinary-arts/what-is-culinary-arts/
**Do they call it a teacher's lounge in Japan?
Disclaimer here: I am not in culinary arts, so the stuff concerning about things such CA will most likely come from what I've heard from people or read.
***I like to believe that a demons/angels' five senses are above anything that a human has. In this Rin is able to smell up to 32,000 meters (about 20 miles give or take). Her sense of hearing goes beyond that. Eyesight - she is able to see the small fibers that make up anything and everything. Taste - is too good, that even she gets annoyed with it. Touch - her skin is very sensitive so she is rarely seen hugging, shaking hands, or touching people in general.
Word count: 4,318
Fine arts courses in this story: Culinary Arts (baking and cooking); Art (photography, art, painting, drawing, sculptors, etc.); Music (musical/non-musical theater, choir, conducting, band, orchestra, etc.); Dance (all-kind).
So I have a Tumblr, xHalfPrincex. I will be posting how I am doing on the story as well as notifications of when I will be posting a new chapter. Also, I will be answering any questions/comments that you may have over the story on Tumblr, so please keep up with that.
Also, this story is being crossposted on AO3, I will most likely be doing the same with my other stories. Also under xHalfPrincex.
Later in the week, I will be updating my name to xHalfPrincex so that everything matches and there will be less confusion for all of us.