Iron Chef

Chapter 1

It took long enough, but she finally did it. Thanks to Okami and Taisho she was able to pull herself out of the place that she'd been in all of her life. It had been difficult those first few years. She had thought of nothing but revenge against Shotaro, but one day something just clicked and she'd decided that he wasn't worth it anymore. Wasn't worth even a single one of her thoughts. She laughed at herself for even considering his challenge when she was younger, and now she was glad she didn't take him up on it. If she had, she wouldn't be a first-class chef or be the owner of one of the most prestigious restaurants in Japan at her age. Twenty years old and they were begging for her talents on one of the most televised international popular cooking competitions.

If she accepted the invitation and won, it would mean that she would be world renown and it would also mean more publicity for her restaurant. It would mean that she would have the money and fame to open more, branch out. Maybe even open a couple of them in America. The thought of that alone sent butterflies surging through her veins.

If she thought of it for any length of time, she would laugh at the reality that she was indeed more well known for her cooking than Sho was for his music. While she was trudging through culinary academy, Sho had been crashing and burning in his battle with some weird new group called Vie Ghoul. She almost felt a little sorry for him and a little put out that she hadn't been the one to teach him that the world of entertainment could be a harsh and fickle place to live. However, she had her own life now and he just wasn't anywhere near it. Hell, he couldn't even afford to eat her food now, much less meet with her.

She walked out on the balcony of her 20th floor apartment and looked out over the Tokyo landscape in thought. "I wonder what it would have been like if I had done that?" She shook her head and laughed before taking a sip of her hot green tea.

"He probably would have used it to his advantage somehow." She grimaced a little at the thought. He had been good at that when they were growing up. He surely would have used the pain and anguish that she'd suffered from at that time, to his advantage. Regrettably she probably would have encouraged him somehow to surpass Vie Ghoul and even would have had a hand in boosting his image in some way. No, she was happy as she was now, and happy that she was able to get past that dark period in her life when he had tossed her to the curb when finished with her, and her mother had even had the gall to deny her existence.

She sat on a patio chair and placed her cup on the little side-table before picking up her invitation, once again, to read over it. It was cute, in her opinion. It seemed as though they knew just what she liked. That certainly had been no secret. Anyone who actually knew her, knew that she liked butterflies, fairies, and other such fanciful creatures. Her fingers traced over the watermarks, gold embossed lettering, and little fairies that decorated the parchment. It almost looked like a wedding invitation. One that would have sent her into little flights of fantasy when she was younger. She pulled out her smartphone and dialed the number included on the R.S.V.P., then waited with bated breath. She would do this, otherwise if Takatsuki-san found that she didn't, he would fillet her good and proper, then give her a nice long lecture about how he'd wasted his time on her over the years, and that was not something she wanted to sit through. He and the Okami were the parents she'd never had, and they were there for her when she needed them the most, nurturing her soul, her talent, and her dreams. They were real parents, unlike her mother or the Fuwas and she wanted nothing more than to make them exceedingly proud of her.

"Yes… Thank you very much for this opportunity… of course, it really shouldn't be a problem… I'll arrange my schedule for it… Not to worry, (She laughed) that's what we have sous chefs for… Yes… Thank you very much and it will be a pleasure working with you." She finished her call, considerably less anxious than she'd been. The call was very cordial and she was now more excited than before. She could hardly wait to call her adoptive parents and give them the good news.

"Oh my goodness, Kyoko-chan. I'm so happy for you." The Okami breathed out with pride.

"It's about time they recognized your talent." The Taisho mumbled.

Kyoko smiled bashfully. "Thank you. Thank you both. I couldn't have made it this far without you." She confessed.

"Nonsense. It might have taken you a bit longer, but we both know that you would have been able to achieve this." Okami scolded as her husband heartily agreed with the assessment.

"How does this work?" He questioned.

She grimaced a little, then sighed. "They want to change the format into an actual competition."

They gave her a confused look.

"Well… Originally, it was all basically a staged cooking show, but they told me that the fans discovered that it wasn't real and demanded that they make it so. So… Now… I'll be actually competing against others for a chance to go against other chefs for a chance to compete against their elites." She explained.

"Is there even a reward or prize involved?" Taisho asked a little disappointed and gruffly.

She perked up. "Yes! They're offering to finance expansion to the winning chef. If I actually want to be an Iron Chef with the status that comes with it… I'll have to compete and win against the current Iron Chefs that hold the title. They also have the opportunity to challenge me if they deem so." She explained.

"How would that affect you if you decide to go that route?" Okami asked with interest.

Kyoko shook her head. "I would be offered a contract for the show and be at their beck and call for whenever they wanted me. I'm not sure I want to be tied like that or how that would affect The Meadow…" She paused. "I've worked so hard to make it what it is. I'm not sure I want to give it up for something like a TV Show. I'll accept their challenges if it boils down to it, but I don't think I'll enter into a contract like that."

Taisho nodded in agreement. "You have worked hard. Every day for the past four years, you've given everything for your dream and The Meadow. I wouldn't want you to give that up for a little bit of fleeting fame. The Meadow and us will always be there for you, no matter your decision, though."

She shook her head. "I've already decided not to go for the contract with them. I've already seen what fame can do to people and how temporary it can actually be… Unless, you're a world-class actor or one of the old classical music composers. Even then fame doesn't actually treat you kindly until you're long dead anyway." She giggled. "I really don't need that kind of notoriety to validate my existence. I have my wonderful parents, who care about me for that."