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Chapter 6: Watch the Stove

"You sure you're ok?" Kagome asked biting her abused reddened bottom lip in her office. She listened as the young demoness on the other end spoke with such lightness in her voice on the video chat app displaying live on her phone. Shiori held up a purple pajama clad Rin who signed how much fun she was having with her new friend. Rin showed off her new pink monkey that Shiroi got for her from a store they went to that day much to Kagome's surprise. Shiori reported there were no tears other than when Inuyasha tried to leave them in which he came promptly right back to accompany them around Paris. This was of course the twentieth time Kagome had called to make sure everything was alright and to see if Rin was too much of a responsibility. But, Shiori was managing quite well and had her all ready for bed. Shiori reported that the two found a way to communicate through a combination of small guttural noises and hand signs along with every detail of the day they had together. Kagome sighed in relief that she finally found some light at the end of the tunnel after the hell of day she had.

Kagome returned to the restaurant after her talk with the national bank a little tired. Of course, she knew very well her circumstances but it was an entirely different experience to actually hear someone say it to you. She had roughly a few months before her money would go on a decline and she would begin dipping into her savings. For a second opinion her most trusted accountant went to sit down also with a banker to discuss a safety net of investing options and information about buying additional stock. The accountant gave that as an option but still advised her to cut off her big expenses that aren't a necessity because she would not immediately benefit from the funds gained by investing or purchasing more stock. Also, those take time to grow and really build worth. If she was to cash out in the near future she wouldn't be any better than she is now. Her investments would be worth very little at the moment. Her accountant took off his round glasses and she knew when he did that he was going to lay the facts down. She had to make a decision on what to cut and time was running short.

Kagome blew her kisses and told Shiori that she would bring her food tonight for her efforts and pay for her cab home. Seeing Rin safe in their small home with Shiori who looked quite fine in the small space made her feel so much better. Kagome hung up and went back to her kitchen immediately jumping into the fire and throwing seasonings around like pixie dust. The loud chatter coming from the dining room was infectious that night as everyone dined and toasted to various occasions over their delicious meals and paired wines. Everyone was joyous and enjoying their nice evening with good food and good people. And beyond the double doors were the hard working team of the Shikon Jewel roasting meats and turning creamy soups on various burners lit with the gas fire. The heat in the kitchen was as hot as always rising to lick the surfaces of red beat faces and concentrated eyes.

Bank's loud knife hitting the chopping block was heard as he trimmed his prize he had got at the market that morning. He looked at the layer of fat on the butchered cow making sure with excellent precision to cut the right parts and prepare it to be broiled. His mouth had a toothpick hanging from the side of his lips and the bangs of his sweaty black hair were getting in his way. He regretted not putting on a hat but then realized his man bun wouldn't fit. He smirked seeing his crusted salmon was lightly grilled and ready to be taken off the rack to go down the production line. His hands worked fast seeing to the grilling of another piece of meat making sure it was up to his standards.

"Bank!" He quickly wiped his hands on a towel and looked up to see Kagome point at his pork as she sprinkled a bit of parsley on a fresh appetizer of steaming scallops. "Not too long on that pork!"

Bank took out his toothpick and held his hands out wide. "What! You want it served raw!" He yelled. "I got this over here. You stay over there." His thick American accent carried over the noises. He turned around muttering a string of things under his breath.

Kagome saw to another dish that went out before Suikotsu came strolling into her kitchen. "Guys we got a birdie! Sara nearly fainted at the podium when she checked them in. Some famous guy apparently got her panties wet and she can't even get a name out. And have you seen Myoga? We could use him at the front."

Kagome shook her head. "He says he's feeling under the weather, poor thing. He will be back in two days."

"Yeah right! He's probably out drinking and telling everyone's business like he usually does!" Bank responded passing the roasted pork to Miroku. The monk began slicing the juicy nearly raw textured meat and poured its drippings in a bed of fluffy steaming couscous with truffles on top.

"Who's our birdie?" Kagome asked focusing on pan searing a fillet of seasoned stuffed chicken breast in red wine.

"A big fat one!" Suikotsu exclaimed crossing his large arms over his chest. He could feel the powerful aura out in the dining room as it was strong and truly had made a statement. "Paparazzi is swarming the place! It's crazy outside."

"Momiji and Botan quickly scope it out!" Kagome called and pointed to the door with her thumb while continuing to plate her dish. Suikotsu watched as a waiter came to take the plate and he followed them out giving them an assignment to the special guests.

The two twins saluted to her in a militant fashion making sure their breads and desserts were safely cooling and/or still baking. Kagome nodded knowing the girls had skills besides baking. They knew everyone who's anyone important. She found this after walking in on them having a rather thorough debate in the breakroom about Johnny Depp's appearance at her restaurant with a new girlfriend in which they confirmed themselves was the case. Miroku joked one time that they were Kagome's recon squad as they seemed to know everything about anybody upon her request. Both twins rushed to the door quickly and opened it to peek out into the dining room. They gazed out around the room looking at faces and not recognizing any new faces. Their eyes continued to travel until they landed on a gleam of silver hair. Kagome listened as both of them let out audible gasps of excitement and infatuation.

"Report!" Kagome yelled calling them back to the kitchen as she placed her plate down to be picked up by a waiter. Both girls turned around and gave their report.

"Sesshomaru Tashio…reigning Lord of the Western Lands of Japan as well as entrepreneur and food critic." Momiji spoke rushing back to her dessert dishes as a timer rung. Botan turned to peek out the door again to get a better look at his party.

"Sounds yummy." Jac said as he poured oil into a pan ready for garlic and herbs. His tongue came out and licked his lips just thinking about the well-known demon that was currently the talk of the country due to his recent engagement. Jac turned around pointing a wooden spoon at Kagome with a smirk. "You know, you got to get out of this kitchen more often hun and guy watch. Sesshomaru Tashio has made many women orgasm just from the sight of him."

Bank rolled his eyes at the little speech his brother gave. He curiously came over to peek out as well scuffing his nose with his thumb to see what all the fuss was about. His height towered over Botan making them look like quite the odd pair as he looked about before frowning. "And he's brought with him Sideshow Bob."

"Who?" Kagome asked not getting his American pop culture reference of the famed crazy Simpsons character.

"Kaguya Otami." Botan responded looking up at his tall frame with wide eyes. "She's heir to her family's fortune in Japan and a model. Well she's not much of a model but magazines have claimed she's a social climber. Despite what she says, her engagement to Sesshomaru Tashio is just a complete scam for power and status." Botan explained looking back out at the room at their table.

"Didn't she get denied to come in because she didn't have a reservation?" Shippo asked wiping his forehead and turning a pot of fish broth down to simmer while he dealt with a freshly steamed meaty red lobster.

Botan continued to look before her sister came over and switched places. Momiji took a look at the table and nodded her head. "Oh I get it! Very clever!" Momiji looked up at Bank as he stared down in shock wondering when the twins switched. "She's scored a table with John Sennin Galt and his wife. Very clever."

Bank took the toothpick out of his mouth before going back to his hot stove and grill. "She brought her dog along to bark at us." He stated looking at the next order of meats to be cooked and styles.

"Well Chef, what do we do?"

Kagome hummed stirring a pot of fresh tomatoes to be prepared later into a paste. She looked up and did a double take to see everyone paused in their actions to gaze at her waiting for her to say something. She turned the pot down on low and roughly wiped her hands on her blotched white apron. She wandered pass the counter avoiding eye contact with her staff. Her head was held high as she carefully opened the door to take a peek for herself into the dining room. Her large eyes surveyed her guests until she saw silver hair in which she thought belonged to Inuyasha. She opened her mouth to say something but upon closer inspection she realized she had mistaken. The demon that captured everyone's interest was sharing a table with John Sennin Galt; a very loyal and well-known patron of hers since she first opened. The cloud demon was quite the philosopher during the 1800s when he promoted free thinking and the power of the mind. Upon her time in France, he made it his mission to dine at her restaurant every month purely because he loved her food as it brought him fond memories of his childhood. Of course their short conversations only added to the appeal of his dining experience. She looked to see the older man speak with the seemingly stoic Inu demon with fondness while the wretched woman she was slowly coming to hate sat stiffly next to him trying to hold a conversation with the married idealists. Sesshomaru's hair was as long as Inuyasha's but thinner and pulled into a high ponytail. Bright eyes bounced between John and his wife Flora as they animatedly spoke about something that went over Kaguya's head. The proud magenta stripes and lilac crescent moon markings of his pedigree were on his face as he sipped a red wine casually seemingly enjoying its taste. His black suit looked very fine indeed completely showing up his date who sat to his side in a short purple number.

"Hm." She mumbled closing the door and turned around to face her staff. The waiter assigned to their table came in with the order. Kagome took it from him gently and read it quietly to herself. She nodded triumphantly before sticking it up on the order line. She turned around to see her staff cooking but obviously waiting on her words.

"Well, I don't pay you all to stand around!" She said whipping them back into shape. Everyone went back to their task with the same vigor as before with a sea of 'Yes chef!' calls. Kagome looked back at the ticket again wondering who ordered what. "They get the same treatment as everyone else."

"Yes, Chef!"

"Now, I need a tomato bouillabaisse with basil rouille, a moules marinières, blanquette de veau, and a pan-seared foie gras." She yelled as every station prepared their part of the dish along with many others. The heat and smells of basil and saffron filled the air. Shippo began making the base for the seafood bouillabaisse with shaking hands. Jac was immediately cleaning shellfish and crab preparing them to go into a pot to stew. Already Miroku had the mussels steaming and Bank was tenderizing the veal. Another staff member went to help with the duck was Bank kept a watchful eye on the techniques used to prepare it for the pan-seared foie gras.

Pots were simmering and pans were being shaken with vegetables and seasonings inside. The kitchen smelled like a foodie's nirvana. Kagome watched and helped plate all the dishes to perfection. Her spoon had tasted everything and she found it to be absolutely superb. The duck was cooked with juicy meat still sizzling next to bright fresh asparagus in a Dijon-lemon sauce puree. The moules marinières was steaming with fresh mussels resting in crème and white wine base of mixed parsley, bay leaves, leeks, and sliced shallots. On the side rested two freshly baked triangles of sourdough bread to be used for dipping. A small black dolsot pot of blanquette with a round all of fluffy white rice in the cent bubbled cooking the carrots and button mushrooms in the thick crème sauce. The veal sat inside soaking in the onion and the butter inside the crème. Lastly, to arrive was the duck as it sat beautifully caramelized in a cognac passion fruit reduction sauce. A small Asian style salad accompanied with a baguette sat on the plate to its side. A waiter came to take is as she watched with a keen eye for perfection. She topped the veal soup with garnish as it was being taken out of the door to the table.

Kagome looked around as everyone seemed to have a sense of nervousness or uneasiness as they moved on to other dishes. She nodded at them and went on to helping complete the rest of the orders. She looked up at the door wondering if she should peek but she fought the sensation knowing form experience it did not do well to think about it. She would remind the staff tonight that the opinion of one man or demon did not make or break them. Who knows maybe he was just here to shut her up and get her off of his back. Then again maybe he was here to start trouble on behalf of Kaguya's hurt feelings. If that horrific curd of a woman and her fiancé wanted give them a bad rep all because Kaguya refused to use proper etiquette as well as common sense and follow instructions, well it was their prerogative. But she knew from the deepest part in her soul that what was sent out there to the high profile guests was pure gold in edible form. She would stand by her dishes defending them with her last breath and move on. What went out of these doors was culinary art and she would offer it to Jesus upon her death if it meant the weight of her soul. Her food was damned good and she had the awards and the wait list to prove it. Time passed a little later when the waiter came in handing in an order for dessert for John's wife which was the usual lemon tarte.

She quickly beckoned the waiter over with her finger as she chopped up a few celery pieces. Without looking up from her task she spoke. "Did Tashio eat all of his food?"

The waiter nodded his head before rushing back out to attend to another table. Kagome smirked chopping up the vegetable with silky smooth motions. "Eat your heart out, Tashio." She muttered with satisfaction continuing on running her kitchen without further thought to the situation. Unfortunately, she forgot that one rule...that you should never take your eyes off the enemy and turn your back to them completely.