Father Revealed

Chapter 1

Nakiri Senzaemon looked through the binoculars spotting the bickering Elite Ten and the somewhat composed first years at the Autumn Leaf Viewing Party and had to chuckle to himself. Where the first years bickered, but at least respected each other that was not the case for the Elite Ten on the other side of the table. They wouldn't hold back on each other and wouldn't pull punches either. As he continued watching (spying) he noticed when Yukihira Soma raised his hand and asked a question which resulted in stunned looks from the first years and closed expressions from the second and third years. Knowing the question probably had to do with a challenge to gain a spot in the Elite Ten, he sighed. 'That boy never does anything by half does he.'

He watched as some of the Elite Ten answered, obviously most of the first years don't like the answer since their faces transform. He looked at the individual faces of the first years, taking in their faces and expressions. However his gaze always went back to the red-head boy that came in as a transfer and had taken Tootsuki by storm from the first day. He was surprised by how much he not only changed the whole freshman class but also his granddaughter, although she would never admit it. He remember back to his entrance exam and had to chuckle, while he wasn't in the room he was standing right outside it and it amazed him how worked up this transfer student could get his granddaughter. Now that he thought about it, his father could do it too. Crack that shell that Erina had around her body and heart.

Now he couldn't have been more shocked when someone had come to him and told him a piece of information that could change everyone's outlook of the young red-headed chef. This source wouldn't tell him where he found this information just that it was true. Not holly believing the source he went to the one person who he thought would know, Doujima Gin.

*****Flashback**************************************************************************************************

He knocked on Doujima Gin's office door and waited for a reply. Hearing one he entered and waited on the sole attention of the occupant, which didn't take long.

Standing and bowing his head, Gin asked, " What brings you here, director? May I help you with something?"

Motioning him to sit back down, Senzaemon answered, " I came to get confirmation about something. If you can't help me then I will have to go see Fumio-san. Do you remember a red-headed, gold eyed chef that was at the training camp?"

"Yes, I do. I met him in the bath on the second day, I believe. Why?", curious why the Director would bring this up now.

"Well, I have received some information about him lately and wanted to confirm it before I brought it up to him personally. You wouldn't happen to know who is father is do you?", asking in all seriousness while crossing his arms in front of his chest.

Gin's back straightened before looking the Director in the eye and answering truthfully, "Yes, I do know. Would it not be better to ask the boy himself?"

A smile crossed his face as he thought about all the fun he could have with this information, "Where would be the fun in that? Are you trying to ruin my fun? Would you tell me the name of his father, just for confirmation of the information I already received."

Rolling his eyes while running a hand down his face so the Director wouldn't see, he answered," His father's name is Saiba Joichiro. Please don't announce it in front of his fellow first years, just call him to your office and discuss it. I don't think he would want it spilled out about his lineage, although I got the impression he wouldn't care but you should check with him first." Gin ended with a serious look on his face.

Now that was different, while Gin kept a strict face in front of the students he rarely held it when in company of the Director. Senzaemon smiled, 'he must have really been taken with the boy. Of course he would have it was his best friends son.' "Very well, I won't announce it to the school. My source told me who is father was but I didn't quite believe him so I came to the best person I could think of, beside Fumio-san of course. Apparently we came to Tootsuki after the students returned from the training camp here and had a cooking competition with his son to see if he has improved and how much if he had. I am quite intrigued by this young more so now than before, his mystery keeps growing. You should see the way he interacts with my granddaughter."

Thinking to himself, he heard himself say, "Maybe I will have to stop by the school soon to witness this for myself. Someone to ruffle the God's Tongue, who would have thought it. Although from what I remember, Joichiro had that talent as well."

"With this, I will take my leave, please come visit the school soon and witness the ruffled feathers of my granddaughter.", chuckling the Director walked out.

****End of Flashback***************************************************************************************