Reiki was in the kitchen as he was using two burners on a gas stove at the same time. He thought. … What sides should I make for Shiro and Ketsueki… He opened a drawer as he took out a spoon and started basting both steaks with one of them having an assortment of herbs mixed in. Arashi slowly sat up on the couch as she watched him cook. Reiki was using a single spoon to baste both the steaks, he kept his eyes on the skillet and said. “If you’re so curious about me cooking, how about you come closer for a better look?”
Arashi rolled her eyes and said. “I’m not watching you cook.” Reiki used the spoon to gently lift the steak to see the color, he thought. A couple more minutes until I have to flip them. He said. “Then why do you keep glancing at me every thirty seconds or so.” Arashi placed her hand on the backrest of the couch, she said. “I’m just making sure you don’t put anything weird in my food.” Reiki kept basting them, he said. “I don’t poison food that I’ve made, I have too much professional pride in cooking.” Arashi let out a chuckle and said. “You say that as if you’re a head chef or something.”
Reiki thought. I was a head chef in a handful of restaurants around the globe. Ender’s voice rang in his head, he said. [I watched you poison someone.] Reiki flipped the two steaks on its other side as the sound of sizzling filled the room along with the aroma. Arashi managed to take a small whiff of the smell, she thought. That smells so good. Reiki kept basting them and thought. One. I was young and in my defense a waiter. The job handed to me was to put cyanide in his food.
Ender’s voice rang in his head. [One would think that the person who ate the dish you laced with poison would stop eating from its taste.] Reiki gently poked the steak with the spoon, he thought. Oh, cyanide tastes similar to bitter almonds. I got cold feet and waited until dessert, which turned out to be a great plan since he ate all of it. He glanced at the cabinet on the bottom that was out of his reach.
Reiki said. “Arashi, can you grab me a cutting board?” Arashi was already lying back down on the couch while watching TV, she said. “Can’t you do it yourself? You have arms and legs for a reason.” Reiki lowered the heat on both of the stoves he was using, he said. “Fine.” Arashi’s lips grew into a small smile, she thought. So easy. A smirk formed on Reiki’s face, he said. “But if Asami asks why her steak is slightly burnt-.” Arashi vanished from the couch as she appeared in the kitchen and quickly took out a wooden cutting board from a drawer.
She said. “You can’t even make a simple steak without my help.” Arashi placed the two plates near him while Reiki nodded his head and said. “Yes indeed, thanks for the help.” Arashi vanished and reappeared lying down on the couch while he placed both steaks on the cutting board. Reiki thought. Now it just needs to rest for eight to ten minutes. He turned the stoves off, opened a cabinet, and took out a couple of plates. Reiki placed the plates near the cutting board while Arashi watched the show on TV and said. “Reiki, how are you so good at cooking?”
Reiki made his way to the sink and washed his hands with soap, he said. “Talent.” Arashi adjusted her lying position on the couch and said. “You wish, cooking is one of those things you get better at in time. Your skills with a kitchen knife is something chefs attain in their twilight years.” Reiki opened a drawer with one finger and took out a few tissues to wipe his hands dry. He glanced at the couch from the corner of his eye and said. “That’s the question you ask? Not how I beat you in our boxing match?”
Arashi quickly sat up on the couch as she pointed at him and said. “You won once against me. Once.” Reiki let out a chuckle, he said. “Not how Asami sees it.” Arashi felt the sting of his words, she thought. God, now I wish I did break his upper body along with that punch. The sound of knocking came from the door leading to the hallway which caught both of their attention. Reiki pointed at the door with his thumb, he said. “Did you or Asami order anything?” Arashi’s eyes narrowed slightly as she laid back down on the couch.
She thought. It’s just her lap dog. Arashi said. “It’s open.” The door opened revealing Kanzei, he said. “Pardon my intrusion.” His gaze was on Arashi who was lying on the couch watching TV, Kanzei didn’t step inside the apartment. He continued. “Lady Asami told me Reiki might be here.” He scanned the room and saw Reiki in the kitchen. Reiki nodded at him and said. “Hello Kanzei, I already know why Kiru sent you here.” Kanzei had a perfect business smile on his face, he said. “May I come in?” Arashi increased the volume of the TV and spoke in a blunt tone. She said. “No.”
Reiki lightly poked one of the steaks on the cutting board a couple of times, he made his way to Kanzei and said. “I’ll walk closer so we can have a proper conversation.” Kanzei maintained a business smile, he said. “Thank you.” Reiki stared at his face and said. “Kanzei, has anyone told you with that smile on your face you look like a door-to-door salesman.” Arashi let out a laugh while Kanzei wasn’t fazed. He said. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” Reiki shook his head sideways and said. “I hate them with all of my heart.”
He thought. When I got fed up with them showing up at my apartment I just started taking potshots at them. Reiki let out a laugh and said. “I’m sorry, I’ll stop. Just remove the business smile on your face and we’ll talk about Cherry’s gold feather.” Arashi’s ears perked up when she heard the word gold as she slightly lowered the TV volume. The business smile on Kanzei’s face was replaced with his natural expression, he said. “Thank you, I hate smiling like that but Ojou-sama said to act professional.”
Reiki raised a brow at him and said. “And you thought the best way to do that was to put on a salesman smile to someone who’s fed up with them knocking on their door every week or so?” A moment of silence passed by, Kanzei said. “Moving on, as you already said. Cherry’s golden feather, can I have it?” Reiki stared at him while Arashi was intently listening to their conversation, he said. “Sure.” Arashi’s brows furrowed, she thought. What?! A hint of suspicion appeared in Kanzei’s eyes, Reiki continued. “But, I want a finders fee.”
Kanzei thought. I knew it… The suspicion in his eyes slowly vanished, he said. “A finder's fee on gold that originally belonged to Ojou-sama before Cherry stole it.” He looked around the room and continued. “Just out of curiosity, where is she?” Reiki glanced at the window as Kanzei followed his gaze. Reiki said. “She’s back at home eating cherry ice cream.” Arashi glanced at Ketsueki’s house as her pupils faintly glowed. Kanzei raised a brow at him and said. “You’re not worried that I would just capture Cherry?” Reiki smiled at him, he said. “The fact that Kiru sent you to find me here says you already failed trying to capture her.”
The smile on his face turned slightly smug, Reiki continued. “Plus my older sister doesn’t know you, I can see her beating you in combat if you try to sneak into her house.” Kanzei stared at him and said. “Usually, I have something witty to say. But I’ve seen your older sisters mana-.” From the couch the two of them heard Arashi let out a scoff, she thought. So she can cast spells, big deal… All I have to do is knock her out. Kanzei thought for a moment, he said. “How high are you asking for your finders fee?”
Reiki pretended to think and said. “It’s around five to twenty percent so… I want twenty.” Kanzei stared at him, he thought. The entire negotiation depends on this question. He said. “Do you know the amount of gold your bird stole from us?” Ender’s voice rang in Reiki’s head, he said. [Exactly six hundred and fifty-two kilograms.] Reiki said. “Six hundred and fifty-two kilograms.” A hint of disappointment appeared on Arashi’s face, she increased the TV volume and thought. That’s it? Back at the mainland that would be considered my lunch money.
Kanzei kept a straight expression, he thought. Now I can’t lowball him… He said. “Can I use my phone for a moment?” Reiki nodded at him and said. “Take all the time you need.” He looked behind Kanzei and saw a couple walking past him while they glanced at him from the corner of their eyes. Reiki continued. “Though, some people might give weird stares.” Kanzei grabbed the doorknob and said. “I’ll have an answer within two minutes.” He closed the door and took out a phone from his pocket. Kanzei waved his hand as he locked himself in a mana box as he vanished from the hallway.
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Kiru’s Living Room
Asami took the last cannoli on the three-tiered stand, she said. “I’m curious, if Kanzei didn’t care about destroying this house. Would he be able to capture the crow?” Kiru ate the last bite of eclair as she picked up her cup of tea on the coffee table and took a sip. She said. “I’ve seen the bird fly around for a few seconds… The answer is no, it doesn’t help that the crow can phase through a layer of anti-magic metal.” Asami’s brows raised in surprise, she said. “It can get through anti-metal...”
Her lips formed into a slight cruel smirk, Asami continued. “That’s so useful for so many things… I can get her to try and steal excalibur that’s collecting dust.” She finished the cannoli in her hands as she glanced at the tiered stand which only had a single chocolate-filled croissant. Kiru snapped her fingers as a tea kettle that matched the designs of the cup appeared floating mid-air. She placed her empty teacup on a coaster as the kettle gently tilted, pouring more into the cup. Kiru said. “You think she can steal half of the museum-?”
Before she could finish her sentence, Kiru felt something vibrate in her pocket. Asami’s hands blurred as she stole the last croissant on the stand while Kiru answered the call and said. “Kanzei, did you manage to regain my gold?” Before her cup of tea could overfill the kettle vanished while Asami already ate half of the croissant, she thought. … Mmm… Chocolate needs to be slightly darker. She took another bite while Kiru let out a long sigh. Kiru said. “Six hundred and fifty-two kilograms?... How does he know the exact amount-? Ask him later, what does he want?”
Kiru’s brows furrowed, she said. “He wants twenty percent?” Asami finished off the croissant and thought. Twenty percent should be a hundred and thirty. Kiru picked up her cup of tea, she said. “Did you ask him where that glorified fried chicken is?” Kiru took a small sip of her hot tea, she let out another sigh and said. “Of course, that bird is at home with that torrent of mana…” She glanced at the window as she stared at Ketsueki’s house. Kiru’s pupils faintly glowed as the house was completely submerged in mana, she thought. … I’d rather not have a mage of that caliber be an enemy…
Kiru said. “Let’s just make things easy for ourselves and agree to his finder's fee.” She hung up on the call and pocketed the phone while Asami emptied her cup of tea. Kiru snapped her fingers as the same kettle appeared floating in the air as it poured more tea into Asami’s cup. The kettle disappeared as Asami picked up her cup of tea, she said. “There is one thing I like to know.” Kiru placed her cup of tea on the coaster, she said. “What is it?”
Asami took a sip of her tea and said. “You never told me how a bird that has wings and claws stole six hundred kilograms worth of gold.” Kiru leaned on the backrest of the couch, she said. “One of her feathers was gold.” Asami raised a brow in interest, she said. “Golden? Was it solid gold or did one of her feathers copy its color?” Kiru shook her head sideways, she waved her hand as her cup of tea flew towards her and grabbed it mid-air.
She said. “That I don’t know, but since that chicken was able to fly normally I think it’s safe to assume her feathers only mimicked the color.” Kiru took a sip of her tea and thought. … Though, from how ‘shiny’ that feather was… It makes me think if I’m right…
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Arashi’s Apartment
Reiki used his hands to gently pick up the steaks that were resting on the cutting board as he placed one on each plate. He thought. I need to buy some nitrile gloves. The door swung open as Kanzei placed his phone in his pocket, he said. “Ojou-sama has agreed to your finders fee.” Reiki opened a drawer with his pinky as he took a single tissue to clean his hands.
He said. “Let me call Cherry.” Reiki made his way to the window and thought. Ender, how do I get Cherry to come here? Ender’s voice rang in his head, he said. [Whistle.] Reiki slid the window open while Arashi who was lazily lying on the couch glanced at the window he opened. She said. “Make it quick, you're letting a draft in.” Reiki used one hand and placed his thumb and index finger inside his mouth creating a loud whistle. He stared at his older sister’s house as a streak of white flew past him and into Arashi’s apartment.
Reiki closed the window as he saw Cherry on top of the backrest of the couch with some melted ice cream on her beak. He made his way toward her and said. “I’ll get that for you.” Reiki wiped the ice cream on Cherry’s beak with the tissue in his hands, he said. “Cherry… I’m going to need that gold feather.” Kanzei’s gaze narrowed slightly, he thought. He’s asking? How odd… Arashi glanced at the albino crow on the backrest of the couch, she thought. That bird always feels like she’s observing everything around him…
Reiki grabbed the golden feather and plucked it while Cherry turned and pecked the same spot where the feather was removed. He felt the feather with his thumbs and thought. It’s soft… Reiki nodded at her, he said. “Thanks Cherry.” He made his way to Kanzei and handed the gold feather to him, Reiki said. “Here you go.” Kanzei took the feather from Reiki’s hands as he had a hint of surprise in his eyes, he thought. … I can’t tell if this is pure gold or a real feather… He said. “And here I thought you’d demand your fee first.”
Kanzei raised a brow at him and continued. “I have the option to just teleport to Ojou-sama’s house and not pay you a hundred and thirty kilograms of gold.” Cherry turned into a streak of white as she appeared on Reiki’s right shoulder, he rubbed the underside of the crow's wing and said. “True, I don’t have the ability to catch up. But don’t forget Kiru still owes me a big favor for helping her.” Kanzei slowly realized what Reiki said, he thought. … That’s quite a casual threat… Kanzei faked a laugh and said. “I’m joking, think of it as my way of getting even with the business smile.”
Reiki had a plain smile on his face which made Kanzei slightly uncomfortable. Reiki said. “Sure it is.” Arashi had a pondering expression on her face, she thought. Kiru owes him a ‘big’ favor?... I wonder what I should do so I can use it instead… Kanzei cleared his throat and said. “How does this… Feather work?” Reiki looked up to Cherry on his shoulder, he said. “How does it work girl?” Cherry let out a caw and flapped her wings. Reiki moved his gaze onto Kanzei and said. “Pour some mana into it.”
Ender’s voice rang in Reiki’s head, Ender said. [Take a few steps back.] Reiki took five steps back while Arashi kept her gaze on the TV while lying on the couch, she said. “Make sure to use mana on the floor, I don't want my apartment to be in ruins.” Dozens of mana hands started growing from the floor while Reiki stared at them in awe, he thought. Oh, so that’s what Kanzei meant when he said there’s a lot of hands. Gold bars filled the entire apartment as all of them landed on the mana hands to prevent the floor from caving in.
Arashi glanced at the gold from the corner of her eye as she moved her gaze back at the show. Her eyes slightly widened as she moved her gaze back onto the gold, Arashi thought. That’s not regular gold! She sat up straight on the couch as she reached out to grab one of the bars while the mana hands started making their way to Kanzei who slightly widened the front hip pocket on his pants. The gold bars were stuffed inside his pocket while a couple of piles near them stayed.
Mana hands started to stack the gold pile near them neatly, Kanzei gestured at the stack of gold while the mana hands were organizing them. He said. “I decided to round up and make it, one hundred and thirty-one gold bars.” Kanzei placed his hand on the doorknob and continued. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have to run a few errands for Ojou-sama.” The door closed while Reiki picked up a single gold bar and stared at the engravings on it, he thought. No manufacturing engravings… It has 24k on it so it should be pure gold but it’s not soft… Was I just scammed?
Arashi stood up from the couch as she made her way near the pile of gold she reached out and tried to grab one. Cherry turned into a streak of white and appeared on the pile sitting on it, she stared at Arashi with her blood-red eyes while Reiki stared at the gold bar in his hands. He said. “You’re missing parts of the show.” Arashi let out a carefree laugh as she tried to move her hand closer to the gold which made Cherry caw at her.
Arashi pulled her hand back as her eyes were glued onto the stack of gold, she thought. If those are what I think they are… That small pile is equal to a year's worth of budget for the entire clan… She tried to reach for the gold but stopped when she noticed Cherry’s blood-red eye was on her hand. Arashi said. “... Reiki, can you tell Cherry to uh. Go back to your shoulder?” Reiki took out a tattered pouch from his pocket as he placed the gold bar in the pouch, he said. “Why?” He took a couple of steps to the pile of gold and squatted down.
Reiki started putting the gold bars in the tattered pouch while Arashi watched him. She said. “You just heard her caw at me.” Reiki picked up two bars at the same time and placed them in his pouch, he said. “She wouldn’t have cawed at you if you weren't planning on stealing my gold.” Arashi let out a scoff and said. “I wasn’t planning on stealing gold…” Cherry turned into a streak of white as she appeared on Reiki’s right shoulder as he placed the last few gold bars in the tattered pouch.
He stood back up and looked up at her, Reiki said. “I’ll be honest with you, I don’t believe a word you said.” Arashi’s gaze turned slightly angry as he raised his hand that was holding the pouch around his shoulder level. Reiki said. “How much gold do you-.” Before he could finish, Arashi interrupted him and said. “I want all of it.” Reiki smiled at her, he said. “Sure.” A hint of surprise appeared on Arashi’s face followed by her lips curling into a smile, she said. “Really?” Reiki handed her the pouch and said. “With the condition that you can take the gold out from this pouch.”
Arashi quickly took the pouch from his hands, she thought. And mom said money was never easy to-. Her brows furrowed as she placed her hand in the pouch as she could only fit her fist in.