Ch. 9

"Do you have to leave?"

Tomoko laughed as he gently pried Ginta from off his shoulders. "For now. But, if Mr. Wonka agrees, I would be happy to visit again."

"Agrees? I insist!" Mr. Wonka tipped his hat to the bat demon. "Any friend of Ladahlord's is a friend of mine and I should be happy to have your company at any time, Tomoko-san!"

"He means it. Believe me, I know."

"And the same goes for you, Ladahlord. Don't forget, it is my job to worry about you."

"No hold on, I'm pretty certain I'm older."

"Ahh? And did you first feel the earth?"

"Or first see the sun?"

Together, the brothers finished with, "Or did we both come to life when time first begun?"

Both Mr. Wonka and Ladahlord laughed before sharing one final embrace. The candy maker patted his brother's shoulder one more time before saying,

"Take care, brother. Do take care."

"I shall. And should anything arise, you know how to contact me."

"And me as well." Tomoko stepped forward, arching his wings. "Please, should you require my help in anything, you need only ask."

"Arigato desu." Mr. Wonka bowed to the demon. "Be well, my friend."

The Oompa-Loompas called out their goodbyes, waving happily as the two friends moved some distance away.

"Shall we?"

"Indeed."

With a final bow and wave toward Mr. Wonka and the Oompa-Loompas, Ladahlord and Tomoko faced each other as Ladahlord cast his transportation spell. The chocolate smell of the Wonka factory lingered for a bit longer, then vanished as the demon and the sorcerer were swept away by the powerful magic. A few seconds later, the bright sun was beaming down out of a blue sky and spreading its rays over a bustling city. Tomoko and Ladahlord were standing on the roof of one of the larger buildings, but even their perch was dwarfed by the enormous clocktower standing proudly over them.

"Welcome to London, Tomoko."

"So this is London." Tomoko peered down at the streets below. People jostled back and forth, some carrying bags and packages, some browsing the windows of the may shops and some sitting on tables and enjoying a late morning treat. Buses and cars dominated the streets while bicycles stuck to the sidewalks. The city was filled with noise- human, animal, and mechanic- but Tomoko could hear everything, even the ticking of clockwork toys from a children's store and the scamper of mice and rats in the sewers.

"It certainly is lively," the bat demon noted. He was trying hard not to breathe hard through his nose. Lively or not, the city positively reeked. But, Tomoko had to admit, that was to be expected. A lot of people lived here and their various scents were at war with the smells of animals, machine oil, food- fresh and spoiled- and the unmistakable stench of hot tar from a street or two being paved. For someone who had spent nearly a century surrounded by forests and fields, the scent of a city was certain to be somewhat disagreeable.

"Lively indeed. And quite the change for you, I expect." Ladahlord shielded his eyes with a hand as he viewed the hustle and bustle below. "Ahhh and there's my next assignment."

"Where?"

"There. See?"

Ladahlord pointed down at a street corner. A young boy was cleaning the windows of a small store, working hard to bring the glass to a polish. Tomoko could hear the boy whistling as he worked; clearly the fact that his jacket was patched and his hat a bit raggedy didn't bother him a bit.

"He seems cheerful."

"Indeed. He and his family have fallen on some hard times; their little bakery has suffered a bit. They've had to deal with a broken oven, a a small flood in their basement and now one of his younger brothers is just getting over pneumonia, so that means a hospital bill. Add on the fact that customers just aren't flooding in like they used to and you have a family on the verge of bankruptcy. But young Luke doesn't let it deter him. Now he just needs a bit of help." Ladahlord took a bottle of a bright pink potion from one of his many pockets. "And a bit of help is just what I'm going to give him."

Before Tomoko's eyes, Ladahlord vanished from his side and reappeared in the shade of the alley next to the little bakery. Luke had just moved to begin polishing the window when Ladahlord spoke to him. Tomoko smiled and watched as he listened in on the conversation.

"Tell me, Luke, does your mother still make the best chocolate chip biscuits in town?"

Luke spun around and saw Ladahlord- still wearing his top hat, red velvet jacket and dusty trousers- lounging against the brick wall of the alley. The boy touched his cap respectfully.

"That she does, sir," he said. "Would you like some? We have a fresh batch ready for sale."

"I know." With a snap of his fingers, a shilling appeared in Luke's hand and a fresh-baked biscuit sprang into Ladahlord's. The sorcerer bit into the treat with a huge grin. "And still warm too. I'll have to take a baker's dozen."

"One biscuit is only a penny, sir. You've given me too much." Luke offered the shilling back to Ladahlord.

"Honorable child," Tomoko whispered. His nose twitched as he caught the scent of the sweet pastry and the rich chocolate. He hoped Ladahlord wasn't joking when he said he intended to buy a baker's dozen of those biscuits!

"On the contrary, Luke, I haven't given you enough help," Ladahlord was saying. Swallowing the last of his biscuit, the sorcerer held out the botte of pink potion. "A bit of this, my boy, and your family's fortune will rise like the breads that nourish the city. And all you have to do is smear a bit of of this potion on the front doorway of the bakery at the end of each day for three days. That's it; that's all you have to do. And then... well, you'll see."

Luke studied the potion before looking up at Ladahlord. "And it'll help my family? My mum and dad won't worry about me or my brothers not having enough food or proper clothes or anything anymore?"

"Never again, Luke, never again. But I'll let you in on a little secret. The magic is only the first step. The rest, why that's on you. You haven't let the hardships your family has faced dampen your spirits, Luke. Continue to show the world your kind spirit and it will pay you back in kind. I promise."

Luke's eyes were shining as a grin stretched across his face. "Thank you, sir! Oh, thank you so much."

"My pleasure. Good luck, Luke. I look forward to seeing your bakery flourish. Which reminds me." Ladahlord flicked his wrist and a sealed box tied with a neat bit of twine was suddenly nestled in the crook of his arm. At the same instant, a soft patter of coins was heard as Luke felt his pocket. "That should cover the cost of these delectable biscuits. And keep the change, of course!"

With a laugh, Ladahlord teleported right back onto the roof next to Tomoko. Untying the string, Ladahlord reached into the box and handed Tomoko a biscuit as they watched Luke stow the potion carefully in his other pocket before running inside. He emerged a few minutes later sans the coins and resumed his job of polishing the windows, whistling even more cheerfully than before.

"That boy's smile is going to outshine the sun," Tomoko noted. He bit into the biscuit, closing his eyes in pleasure as the sweet taste filled his mouth.

"And his family's bakery is going to outshine quite a few others. But they have put in the hard work to keep their business afloat and when Luke grows up, I've no doubt he'll do the same should he marry and have children."

Tomoko smiled as he swallowed the rest of the sweet morsel. "Well, I certainly cannot deny that his mother does make the best chocolate chip biscuits I've ever tasted."

Ladahlord's reply was cut off by a loud crash and an onslaught of screaming. Before Ladahlord could register what was going on, Tomoko had jumped from the roof, wings spread wide and was soaring off into the fray. Ladahlord started to follow, then shrugged and reached into his box for another biscuit.

"Perhaps I should have mentioned that England isn't used to demons leaping forth to save the day. But if there's anyone who can change minds, it's Tomoko. Now, let's see what unfolds."