I am busy with school, so my updates are pretty much frozen and I'm on hiatus for new things until the semester is over. I will keep my minimum one-update-a-month schedule to let you know I'm still alive at least. If I miss one, it's safe to assume I've been hospitalized or dead. That aside, as busy as school has been, I'm really grateful that all of you are still with me and put up with my horrible update schedule. And happy birthday to Kakashi, our favorite masked ninja!
IV. Taste
With a sizzle and a pop, the kitchen comes alive as Kakashi begins to make a breakfast for two.
Rice is cooking in the cooker on the table; the chopsticks are already laid out. On the back burner, a pot of miso soup bubbles gently as he toasts sesame seeds in a pan over low heat. He can't say he's a great cook, but he knows his way around the kitchen.
Salt. Pepper flake. Stew the green onions in the soup longer. Though he prefers the negi crisper, Sakura doesn't like the onion taste so strong and it's only because of her that he has foregone his usual preference. She's the only person he'd do it for.
On the pan, a single seed shoots up and back-flips, falling back into the pan. Careful not to touch the metal surface, Kakashi picks one out and pops it into his mouth, letting the subtle nuttiness wash over his tongue with a satisfied hum. It's not his favorite taste in the world—that goes to his last meal choices of roasted saury and miso soup with eggplant—but it comes pretty damn close.
He sets the sesame seeds aside for later tonight, refocusing his attention to the fish he has left to broil. He has only finished plating when Sakura enters, a robe draped loosely over her shoulders. Her hair is still a mess, but she looks considerably more put-together than when he left her in bed.
"Something smells good," she says somewhat unnecessarily. They both know it always smells good when he's the one cooking, but it's a habit and habits die hard.
Kakashi only proves it as he pulls out the chair for her with a practiced hand. "Have a seat," he invites and only half pays attention to his meal as he watches her dine on the meal that has called her from bed like a siren with a smile. They haven't even finished breakfast yet, but already the silver-haired man looks forward to the next morning, eager do it all again tomorrow.