Light sighed as he brought the mail into his family's home, staring at each letter before dropping them on the table mindlessly. He sighed a little louder when he dropped the last letter onto the table. He then collapsed into a chair limply, proceeding to prop his face up with the heels of his hands. "This blows… Three months..."
Sachiko went to her son's side, smiled matronly, and set a cup of tea in front of him. "Still nothing, dear?" She asked softly. Light shook his head, his brows scrunched and the corners of his mouth turning downwards. 'Thanks, Mom. I totally needed reassurance that no restaurant wants me to apprentice for them…' He stared at his reflection in the tea cup solemnly, a face of annoyance and disappointment looking back through green-tinted caramel eyes. "I read that you shouldn't let it get to you, Light!" Sachiko reassured him. "Also to expect anything! I also read that some places require you to pay to work for them! Wow!"
Light nodded slightly but didn't unlock his gaze from the tea. He knew what his mother was saying was true, but he couldn't help but be a little crestfallen. Just as he let out another sigh, Sayu walked in, holding an expensive-looking letter. "Hey, Light? Are you looking for something like this?" She held up the textured envelope.
Instantly tearing his gaze from his drink, Light jerked his head to his sister and widened his eyes. Springing to his feet, he leapt over to Sayu and ripped the envelope him her hands, nearly knocking both the chair and her over. "Yes!" He tore open the fine paper and an expensive piece of parchment dropped onto the table. "Mr. Raito Yagami." was written on it, in a fine cursive script-like handwriting. Light blinked a couple of times and nibbled on his bottom lip nervously, his eyes full of fear. 'What if it's a rejection letter?' He thought in foreboding.
Sayu rolled her eyes upon seeing her brother's expression and gently unfolded the piece of paper for him. She blinked in surprise. "Wow. This person has super nice handwriting!"
Light narrowed his eyes and knit his eyebrows in annoyance. "Sayu!" He scolded, snatching the paper from her. His eyes fell unto the beautiful letters. Sayu was right; every letter was in perfect cursive, the letters gracefully slanted and delicately illustrated. The letters were identically looped and nearly obsessively neat.
Raito Yagami,
As a restaurant owner in Paris, you could imagine my skepticism of taking on an apprentice from Japan. I have called upon all the references that were left in your letter of internship, and then some in the area that I assumed would know you on a personal level.
They all have high remarks and regards. This being said, I extend the invitation for you to come to our restaurant here in Paris. However, room and boarding, as well as traveling here, will be at your personal expenses. Nevertheless, I will be willing to pay you, should you find yourself proving to be useful.
You will be working directly under my Head Chef, whom has also enclosed a letter of things he expects from you as well as what you'll need to have with you on your first day, should you accept. I hope you have thick skin. I expect to hear back from you within a weeks notice of you receiving this letter.
Respectfully,
Restaurant Owner of Epicurious,
L Lawliet.
Light's eyes slowly dragged from the letter, and a tiny smile slowly spread a grin that seemed to engulf his whole face. "They want me!" He exclaimed. Sachiko smiled widely at Light as he scooped his sister up into a tight hug and spun her around. Both laughing loudly.
Light stopped spinning Sayu and opened the second letter. This handwriting was a lot different. Although still cursive, the letters were sharper, and the loops were more of pointed lines, and less slanted.
Aspiring Chef,
You'll be a pain in my ass; don't think I'm excited or pleased to do this. Fact remains, should you survive, you'll be one of the best. I intend to make you that way. Learn from me quickly. The faster you can stand on your own two feet, the faster I can see you for the growing chef you could become and begin to respect you for your own abilities. If you can't learn fast, get out of the way, pack up, and return home.
I will provide you with all the basics. You'll use what I give you. I don't care how precious your grandfather's mother's knife is. You'll use the ones I give you in your time here at Epicurious.
Expect basic work, the more I respect you the harder your job gets. If you can manage to survive, we'll go about getting your visa to stay in the country for longer than ninety days.
Looking forward to making your life a living hell,
Epicurious Head Chef,
Beyond Birthday
Light traced his finger along the signature. The two capital B's were evidently larger than the rest of his signature. 'No wonder he acquired the nickname Chef BB.'
Shaking his head to clear it, Light smiled brightly and looked up to his mom. He announced proudly, "I get to work with the head chef!"
His mother was reading the first letter over with a pair of reading glasses sitting on the edge of her nose. "I see that!" She replied. "This is wonderful, dear. I'll call your father! You best go pack!"
Light nodded and ran up the stairs, skipping some steps in his elation as he did. He bursted into his room, pulled a suitcase out from below his bed and started throwing clothes into it. Sayu smiled from his doorway and chirped, "Which chef is going to be working with you? I bet we could look him up!"
Light startled as he was folding his shirts into the oversized case. "Uh… Yeah. That's a good idea…" Light walked over to his computer and pressed the power button, then turned to pack more of his belongings with the help of Sayu while waiting for the computer to start. "Clothing? Check. Hairbrush? Check. Toothbrush?" Sayu came running into his room with his toothbrush. Light took it from her with an appreciative smile, "Check."
Sayu squealed and stood next to Light as he sat in his computer chair, "Alright, so the letter said his name was Beyond." Light typed into the Internet search bar, his eyes widened when a webpage was brought up. "Holy…"
Sayu raised an eyebrow, "What does it mean to 'Stage under'?"
Light over exaggeratedly blinked a few times, "Well, that's what I'm doing, I'm technically staging under Beyond. It's the term used for internship or apprenticeship in the culinary world."
Sayu nodded, "Oh! Alright! Wow, so I guess he's done what you're doing a lot… Who are those people?"
Light stared wide eyed in disbelief at the computer screen, his mouth hanging open slightly, "They are some of the top chefs in the world… Wow, Gordon Ramsey, Bobby Flay, Emeril Lagasse, and Alton Brown… That's just the top names on this huge list…"
Light scrolled down and they stumbled upon a picture of Beyond, Sayu gasped slightly, then squealed, "Oh he's hot! I want to go too!" Light studied the picture of his soon to be Chef. Onyx tresses fell over his piercing scarlet eyes slightly. Though beautiful, they held a dangerous air to them. A single corner of his mouth curved up into a devious smirk. 'No mistaking it, he's definitely aggressive… I'll have to have to be on my top game at all times to keep up with him…' "Oh look! A video!" Sayu excitedly pointed at the screen.
Light raised an eyebrow and shrugged, he clicked on the link, he smiled slightly when the camera focused in on Beyond who was smoking a cigarette. Beyond glanced at the camera and gave a rather bashful smile, "Is that necessary?" Light blinked a few times in surprise to his accent, 'He has an undeniable British accent and he has a cute smile.' Light shook his head slightly and listened to the interview.
Beyond bit his lip as the interviewer asked a flurry of questions, he sighed, "Look, lady. I'm a chef, not a goddamned recording machine. I'll answer one at a time. You asked what I liked most about being in the kitchen…" They watched his eyes narrow slightly in thought, "Probably the pace… I just can't work slowly, never could." The mischievous smirk seen in the photograph spread across his lips.
The reporter asked another muffled question, and Beyond raised an eyebrow. "Would I ever train anyone? Sure. If they have the right stuff. I won't train anyone that someone else picked for me though. I will be the one choosing."
Sayu squealed, "Light! That means he's the one who probably picked you!" Light could feel a creeping heat grow on his cheeks, 'So he thinks that I could have the right qualities…' Sayu nodded and patted Light's shoulder, "So! No matter how mean he seems or how rude he is! Just remember, Onii! He picked you because he thinks you can take it!"
Light smiled and nodded, 'I can only hope to withstand his intensity…' Then, Light read through the reviews of him as a chef.
['A holy terror to work for! The garbage disposal had better people skills!']
['Fast and furious in the kitchen! The definition of "get shit done!"']
['Lean, mean, making you cry machine!']
Light audibly gulped after reading some of the text. "Heh, makes you a little nervous." He then stopped and read the final review.
['I had both the pleasure and the honor to be accepted as a stage for him. He's intense, he's fast, but everything he does, he has a purpose. I'm a stronger chef to this day because of him. There isn't a single customer or fellow chef I fear. He equipped me with the skills and techniques that I need to be at the top of every list in my home country. If you're reading this, Chef BB; thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for kicking my ass into shape! If you, whoever is reading this review, if you've been accepted to be a stage for him, you're one in thousands of requests that float through his kitchen. Don't run away. He's mean, he's scary, but he's the most sincere person you'll meet. Very passionate and strong. Respect him for face value, because by the time he's done with you… That's what you can bet to be as well.' – Chef Jamie Oliver.]
Light smiled. He turned to Sayu and laughed, "Well! I think I'm ready to have my ass handed to me!" Sayu giggled and clapped in celebration. Light smiled and set his suitcase down next to his door. "Now I just have to talk to dad about getting there." They both laughed.
Sayu smiled and spoke in a sincere hush, "Light, you can call me at any time if you need someone to talk to, if something happens. I don't understand what you're going to go through, but I'll do my best to be a sympathetic ear."
Light wrapped her in a tight hug, "Thanks, Sayu."
Thank you to my lovely Betas!
SynesthesiaSymphony, my mistress of adjectives!
OliOctane, who is also a chef and a good source for my facts!
A/N: This story strikes close to home for me, a truly special place in my heart... Light is living my dream... I'm not kidding, it's my dream to Stage under a chef in a foreign country.
