Rukia found out how messy a tomato was, but at that point, once she recovered from her initial surprise, she found that she was very much enjoying herself. Raven was a good teacher, patient and encouraging. His instructions were simple and easy to follow.

She wanted to do her best. As he explained, she nodded, adjusting her approach when necessary, and openly showing her delight at the little successes they enjoyed.

"It's starting to smell good," she noted, once the sauce began to bubble in the pan to release the aroma of rich spices. "How did you learn so much about cooking?"