Setting
Mostly just a place to keep the food. Cookings are all done in the main kitchen by the cook, the food is then brought up to the serving kitchens by the servants.
The kitchen was gorgeous, only the best at the mansion. Sanae fell in love the moment her eyes fell on it, and soon became the master chef. She placed her knife on the black granite counter-tops, and wiped her forehead.
It's almost time for breakfast, William should be arriving soon with The Young Miss' request...
She scooped up the slices and plopped them into a large bowl pull of water, and picked up her cookbook. She never took her eyes off the page as she navigated the gorgeous all wood cabinets. She grabbed spices and bowls, pots and pans hanging from the rack clinging to the ceiling.
She finally set the book down, next to folded cloth, with a fish tale sticking out. She went to the fish market early this morning to pick the perfect fish to serve to the Masters. She watched the door for William as she unwrapped the fish and layed them out. She grabbed a boning knife and began scaling them.
He Walked Down The Stairs to Head To The Kitchen. When He Arrived at the kitchen, He Saw Sanae, who was Scaling The Fish.
"Good Day, Sanae."William walked near to her then He Smiled.
He Prepared His Masters Meal Very Fast, After That, He Moved to Sanae.
"Even Though You're Working for This Mansion for Years, Nobody's Perfect, Right? You Can Always Accidentally Get your Finger Cut. I Should Help You. And Also, I Had Finished Preparing her Breakfast."He Smiled at her as he Held her Hand from The Back.
She slipped and sliced the tip of her finger just lightly. She winced and popper her finger in her mouth, looking up at William as he approached her. She couldn't help but smile, she hoped the young Miss liked the croissant. They were still warm in the oven, and William had plated it perfectly.
"Thank you," she said washing her finger, and wrapping it in a thin strip of cloth. Sanae looked up to see Yoki peeking around the corner and picked up a wet towel and chucked it in the direction of the doorway, smacking her right in the face as she peeked around again.
"Yoki, we have a lot to do, stop fooling around."
She looked to William and asked, "Would you like to have a cup of tea, I have a little time. It could be ready by the time you get back. I want to run tonights menu by you."
"That's not nice Sanae!" she cried, "William make her stop!!!" She made a crying motion with her hands.
"Yoki, we have a lot to do, stop fooling around, "her sister scolded, and Yoki reluctantly became serious. Sanae handed her a neatly handwritten list of things she needed for their guests dinner party tonight. Good China... Thorough cleaning of the first floor dining room...fresh flowers from the garden... she tucked the list into her pocket and grabbed her bucket of cleaning supplies, making her way down to the first floor to begin her cleaning.
"Bye sis, Bye Willaim!" she waved as the kitchen door swung closed behind her.
There, it shall steep until William arrives.. she sighed a little at the thought of him being close to her. She knew this was just business, approving the dinner arrangements and what-not but she enjoyed their little meetings. Only when guests arrive was the menu cared for so delicately, so he usually left it up to her. This was another reason she was excited Miss Cookstone was arriving.
"Sorry if I Took so Long. After Our Tea, Would You Like To Join Me Later for Groceries?"
That would be lovely, she replied touched her list in her pocket.
"Do You Remember The Day When I Found The Two of You In The Forest?, My Scar is Still fresh at That Time Though."
"Yes, you startled little Yoki and I. You are only a couple of years older than me, but you are so much taller," she chuckled, "I'm happy you convinced them to let us stay."
She chuckled to herself, I'm happy I learned how to cook at the monistary...
She tipped the teapot to offer him another cup, smiling she asked, "How is the Young Miss today?"
William Finished Sipping his Tea.
"Well Then, Shall We Go to The Market?"William said to Sanae while taking off his coat.
"I Might look Weird when i Get outside wearing My Coat."He Smiled.
A While after that, he Wore His Glasses then he Tied his Long, Silver Hair.
"Hmmnn.. Lets See... Tomatoes, Green Tea, Salmon, Carrots, Darjeeling, French Bread. I Think That's All." He Checked The Refrigerator.
Once she had finished cleaning up she unties her apron and draped it over the chair she was just sitting in, leaving her in her blue dress, with a white frilly blouse underneath. Her black maryjane shoes tapped across the tiles as her white stocking legs glided over to her bookshelf. She took one last check of her menu and slid the book up on the shelf with her collection, pushing it in the last bit with her wrapped finger. She tugged on the cloth a bit and tightened it up. She grabbed a white sunhat with blue ribbon and slipped placed it over her silver hair.
"I'm ready when you are," she said with a smile as she gestured toward the door. She waved to Yoki as she and the butler made their way down to the ground floor.
Once everything was in its place she made her way over to a bowl of dough in a covered bowl.
"You should be nice and ready," she said, talking to herself as she placed it in the oven to bake. The lit of her pot started rumbling so she rushed over, a thick plume of steam rising as she removed the top and stirred the soup, adding some seasonings she they had gotten today.
As her soup boiled and her bread baked she once again pulled out the fish and began slicing lemons for her marinade.
She worked hastily, and watched as a strange boy wandered past the kitchen door. She called out to him, "Hello, sir are you looking for something," assuming he had something to do with the mess in the entryway, he must be a guest.
"If it's your stomach leading you here, well I could always use a taste tester, or make you something else."
She wiped her hands on her apron and bowed to him, "My name is Sanae, and I am the Head Cook here."
He looked into the room he had heard the voice asking him if he needed anything. Even though the woman had called him sir, he figured she was talking to him since he didn’t see anyone else around. As he entered the room, he saw the pot on the stove and identified it as the source of the intoxicating smell. The woman then said something about taste testing or making him something. She then said her name was Sanae and identified herself. Hevra remembered the Businessman had called himself a cook whenever he made food at the apartment instead of calling for it. He stood there for a moment, looking her up and down.
“Then you will make me food?” Hevra asked after a moment of looking her over. He wanted to confirm that this Head Cook was the same kind of cook that the Businessman had referred to himself as.
As Hevra was finishing, a few short moments after he had started, he heard the woman ask if it needed anything. As he licked the mostly empty bowl, he thought about the question. It was good, but soup never really tended to fill him up. “Meat.” He answered after he had finished licking the bowl. “It needs meat.” He though for a moment. “Like chicken backs or something.” He stated as he put the empty bowl down and sat the spoon inside it.
Hevra tensed at seeing this display of ability, which told him that the woman could be very dangerous. He narrowed his eyes, and looked her over once more as his expression became more serious. She seemed so unassuming, yet she was clearly capable of being very dangerous. Hevra did not like dangerous things. He watched as she continued to cook as though nothing had happened.
Hevra did not understand. Was the woman trying to intimidate him? What other reason could she possibly have for going so out of her way to kill a random insect? She hadn’t made any demands of him though and still seemed to be in a pleasant mood. It didn’t make any sense to him. After a few moments of frantic thought, he dismissed the occurrence. Figuring that the people here must have some sort of hatred of bee’s.
Hevra watched her as she looked up at him. He stared back at her. She offered to let him try the dish she was working on when it was done. Then she said something about the Konoe’s and being a family member, then asked him where he came from. He thought for a moment. He vaguely remembered Konoe. The Businessman had given that as the name of who he was going to be staying with.
“I do not know Konoe. I was staying with the Businessman before I came here.” He stopped for a moment, thinking. “…before that I lived far away. The Businessman called it “a shithole of a country”. He was right. I like it better here, it seems much safer.”
Then he watched Sanae sit more food in front of him and refill his glass. He quickly scooped the food into his mouth, ignoring the burning sensation that came with it’s temperature. Then he took a few large gulps of the lemonade. “What are monks?” He ask absentmindedly as he sat the not quite empty glass back down.
Then Sanae sat down beside him and finished her story. Telling him that someone named William had found them in the forest and that had led to them working at where they were now. She concluded by asking Hevra if he had any family. At first a scene flashed through his mind, where the solders were trying to brainwash him and the other children into being loyal. Brothers, brothers, brothers! The men and boys had chanted while banging butt's of their rifles against the floor. However, that scene quickly faded. It had taken him little time to figure out that no one in the militia had cared for him, nor were any of them his brothers. Beyond that, he knew that his parents and siblings were all dead. He had seen that happen with his own eyes.
"No." He responded to the question after a short pause. Though there was no hint of sadness in his voice or features. Not having a family no longer mattered to him.
Her arms and legs hurt from running up and down the stairs, and carrying the heavy pieces. Shaking them out she entered the kitchen on the third floor in search of Sanae
"Onee-san," she grumbled, "My arms are sor-"
She stopped to see her sister sitting with the boy from earlier, and bowed, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to intrude!"
"I am not much for sentimental conversations myself, but you are always welcome at this table. I know it's not as glamorous as the Dining Table, or the Tea Room," she tenderly brushed some crumbs to the floor, "but there will always be delicious food and tea for you if you ever just want to get away. The Konoe's don't ever come in the kitchen really, so this is my private little spot."
She sat, gazing out the window and dropping three lumps into her tea, "And I am always willing to listen if you just need to vent."
She heard as Yoki walked in the kitchen, apologizing for interrupting their tea. She could tell by how Yoki slouched that she had a long day so far, and waved her over. She stood to let Yoki take her seat, "Here Yoki, rest for a minute with some tea."
She turned to Hevra, "Do you mid if she sits here with you for a moment?"
Then the girl with the frilly dress from before entered the room and started to say something before stopping when she looked at Hevra. She did another one of her bows, the purpose to which Hevra still wondered, then she apologized for intruding. Hevra stared at her, trying to figure out why someone would apologize for entering a room. Then Sanae told the girl to sit down so she could give the girl some tea, immediately following up by asking Hevra if he minded the girl sitting beside with him. Hevra didn't care, he was now full and didn't have to worry about the girl stealing his food or anything.
"Don't care." Hevra replied flatly.
However, upon entering, everyone seemed to be in here. She sighed, irritably pressed three fingers to her forehead, and then stepped lightly over a bucket, skirting across the table without making eye contact with anyone, and then grabbed what she wanted out of the fridge. "Hey again." She mumbled to the others within the room before quickly escaping.
I should probably get out and go make those orders.... The fem bit into the bread, a thoughtful expression on her facials.
Hevra watched Sanae work about the kitchen, wondering what the purpose might be at the actions she took. Though his thoughts were interrupted when the girl who had taken a seat near him quickly hopped up and went over to the counter where the woman was working. Hevra did not get up, despite the girl's excited attitude. He was full from the food he had eaten a sort while earlier, and did not plan on having any more for a while. Overeating could make you sluggish and also be painful, as he had discovered soon after begging his stay with the Businessman. Those side effects could hamper his ability to survive a confrontation, on the off chance someone tried to kill him. Though he had his doubts he would be attacked here, he did not want to take any chances.
"No, I'm full." He responded as he watched the girl reach across the counter.
After the girl had left, Hevra briefly considered returning to his room. Eventually he decided not too, staying in here and watching Sanae work to prepare food was more interesting than anything he could think of doing in his room. Though he reminded himself that he would need to exercise when he returned later. He didn't want to loose his physique now that he wasn't in combat every day. He hadn't seen combat since he had saved the Businessman, but he wasn't about to let his guard down. Even now.
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