To All

[damn_juicebox]

[The following letter arrives early in the afternoon. The penmanship is neat and elegant, and it's clear that the writer took her time to appear as formal and professional as possible. And for the most part it does seem professional...save for the little cartoonish bunny face she drew in the bottom right corner that's smiling happily up at you.]

To Those Who Reside in Aqures Ixen,

Greetings. I hope the day finds you well. I find myself in need of an instructor in the way of cooking and preparing meals, as my skills are relatively undeveloped. In return for your time and patience, I will purchase the ingredients, and I will also be willing to teach you a skill of my own if I am able. I reside in the house marked as B-03, but if you prefer, I will go to you for lessons as I am unsure what utensils we currently possess for culinary purposes. Please respond at your earliest convenience. I would be most grateful.

Regards,
Rukia Kuchiki

Comments

[damn_juicebox]

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?"

[oldspyce]

Raven wasn't quite expecting her to ask such a personal question so soon. Then again, he didn't expect half the things that had taken place in his lifetime, so this should have came as no surprise.

At the very least he had a standard answer for such. At least to pad it from what he's deviating away from it.

"A woman loves a man who can cook. Nothin' warms a way to her heart quite like a good meal."

He would never come clean about how he came to really cook. He had too many things that dredged up his past, and for that, he left most of it alone. Especially now-a-days when he committed himself to Brave Vesperia. A cause and ideal he related more to in his old age.

[damn_juicebox]

To impress women? Rukia regarded him with mild confusion for a moment. She had always thought the phrase to be "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." Was she failing to remember the correct saying? She should have studied modern colloquialisms more diligently.

"I see...so this is how you go on several dates...it all makes sense now."

It didn't really, but if that's the way the living world chose to court each other, she couldn't disagree with it. To enjoy a good meal was a simple happiness, and probably an effective way for people to grow more intimate. Wasn't that why she was learning to cook, to develop better bonds of friendship with her roommates?

[oldspyce]

"Anyway, Might want ta get the rice water goin' while it sets."

Timing was everything! If she wanted the rice to be done the same time as the curry, she would have to started that now.

By then end of the session, her dish will have been completed. All that was left was trying the dish out for themselves. He wasn't familiar with Japanese customs, not by a l long run, but what he was familiar with, was that the cook offered a serving to everyone. And if they wanted more than that, they helped themselves. He'll expect a serving from her, but if she didn't, he'll just grab his own.

[damn_juicebox]

Of this particular custom, Rukia knew nothing. She did, however, feel responsible for the outcome of the meal, and she did want to learn how to serve the food properly. She scooped the rice into a bowl, then ladled it with plenty of curry sauce before extending it to Raven. Of course he should eat first; he was the guest, and he had purchased the ingredients with his own money. Then she dished up some for herself and sat down, plucking up her chopsticks. It smelled good, and it didn't look unappetizing. All that was left was to taste it.

She took a bite, resting her chopsticks against her mouth thoughtfully.

Then her expression brightened. "Oh! It's good!" It was really good. And spicy! It was the sort of dish she could envision her brother enjoying.

[oldspyce]

She wasn't the only one to taste test it. Even if Raven was a picky eater, he still ate what was in front of him. Whether he liked it or not, he could tell if it was good or bad, and well, this was good. For her first attempt at this, it was more than acceptable and worth feeding to her roommates.

"You did well, kid." Raven would be sure to eat a healthy portion as to not deter her, since it really was as good as it smelled. This would make for good leftovers for her housemates. She should feel proud.

"We'll try a different dish next time if ya still need lessons."

[damn_juicebox]

"I would like that," she agreed, grinning as she ate more. She probably couldn't get away with eating a regular adult's portion, but she certainly didn't hold back on eating her fill. If it turned out good, it was only because he'd managed to instruct her properly. They could share the credit.

She wondered if the flavor-enhancing elixir would have improved the dish even further. Perhaps next time, she could use it as a sort of secret weapon to impress her teacher.

And she was genuinely looking forward to a next time. This had been a good night, and she'd enjoyed the experience very much. There was just one last thing that was still bothering her...

"Why does the 'Brave Vesperia' force you into contracted labor? If you seek liberation, I will give it gladly."

Yes, she did think he might still need to be rescued.

[oldspyce]

And the complicated questions went from bad to worse. It was harder to shake that kind question with a nonchalant answer. He didn't necessarily feel oppressed by Brave Vesperia, it was quite the opposite actually, though part of him did feel indebted to Yuri and the others. For the most part, it was because he turned a new leaf and believed in what those kids believed in.

"It's nothin' of th' sort. They helped me out of a bind, and I've been with them ever since."

It was the nicest way he could put it. The most neutral way he could phrase it. That's all she really needed to know too.

[damn_juicebox]

Rukia sat back. Her chopsticks lay dropped in the bowl as she came to the shocking, stupid realization at long last.

Yuri's letter had been meant as a joke to tease Raven.

She sat in stunned silence for a long, long moment.

nuooooooooooooooooo

"Then I have been a fool," she admitted begrudgingly. "I mistook the intentions of the letter entirely."

[oldspyce]

"Yuri's a wild one, that kid." Raven knew from the beginning when he met him in the jail cell. Not anyone would land themself there, but Yuri did.

"He's not what one would call an orthodox hero."

Meaning he wasn't bad, but his path didn't always remain good. He only did what he did out of necessity. The only reason why he hadn't made the same mistakes Raven made, was because he had the friends he did.

[damn_juicebox]

"Ah," Rukia grunted her agreement, chin slumping into the cup of her hand. "He made that clear." She'd chided him for acts unbecoming a Hero of Light, and he'd countered by asking when he'd ever claimed to be a hero.

Her misunderstanding was partially his fault, she supposed. But she was still responsible for the mess. She would have to swallow her pride and apologize in time.

"Thank you for clearing things up. I shall have to be less reckless in the future."

[oldspyce]

"Don't feel too bad kid." People often misunderstood Yuri. It was nothing new. Raven set his dishes down. His work was done here for the day, and he was thinking about taking a nap now that his stomach was full.

"Yuri's not so bad once ya get to know him." A pause. "But I'd better get goin'."

He stood up from his spot, giving her a grin and a gentle wave.

"I'll let myself out."

[damn_juicebox]

Rukia stood as well. There was no need for him to see himself out, she didn't mind walking him to the door to say goodbye. As for what he said about Yuri, she'd consider it. She wasn't sure what to think of him at this point. She did owe him an apology, but she wasn't going to easily forgive him for egging her on either.

"Thank you for teaching me," she said, once he'd crossed the threshold. Not only for the cooking, but for the misunderstanding as well. He was a kind person, of that much she was certain. "Have a good evening."

This wouldn't be their last meeting. When they met again, she would know more recipes.

Maybe THEN he would stop calling her kid.