Chapter 6: "I knew exactly who to blame for that too, all I had to do was look straight into the nearest mirror."
I was put in charge of cutting the vegetables for the dinner soup. The last time I did such a thing was when...Tomoe was still among us. I swallowed hard trying to keep the pain to a minimum. I knew exactly who to blame for that too, all I had to do was look straight into the nearest mirror.
The feeling of bring watched brought me back to matters at hand. I could feel the woman's eyes on me, but it wasn't that of doubt or uncertainty, that was what concerned me the most. Not once had I ever caught the slightest sense that Natsru distrusted me. She only watched me, making sure I wasn't going to injure myself. It was odd...and extremely unnerving.
She walked over to me, setting more freshly wash vegetables next to the potatoes I had started on. She watched me for a moment, hovering. I became a bit tense, with her standing right there.
I was relieved when she finally spoke, "May I offer you a tip?"
I looked up at her surprised. I flipped the knife in my hand and held out the handle. She looked at it as if it was a snake. It was obvious she wasn't excepting that kind of "trick". Then, with a shake of her head she took it.
"Now if you cut vertically first, and hold it together with your other hand. Now, cut horizontally you'll get nice square cuts that will cook faster and add more flavor." she smiled showing me what she meant.
I nodded taking this in. When it came to preparing food it seemed obvious she knew exactly what she was doing.
"Here, now you try." she handed the knife back to me, with an encouraging smile.
I did as she instructed me, following her directions exactly. If only Seijurou's lessons had been this easy...or perhaps I was just listening now. Things had changed a lot since then...a lot...
"Pretty smart man aren't you?" she chuckled watching me, very pleased.
I shifted my weight not sure how to take praise. It was odd, those back in Kyoto never really meant their compliments, if you could call them that. Even Seijurou never offered a compliment, "I just catch on to things quickly." I replied simply.
"How old are you Himura-san?" Natsru asked abruptly.
I blinked as I looked up at her. I was not expecting a question like that.
"Oh please don't be offended. I hate how some are offended if someone asks their age. I mean I'll be more then happy to admit my age, but I think it's obvious I'm old." she let out an exasperated sigh.
I laughed for once not a forced one....it was strange...
"I'm not offended, I am..." it was hard to remember....I had forgotten so much in Kyoto...lost track of time, " seventeen? No...I'm eighteen." I nodded as I continued on my task.
"Your joking right?" she asked her eyes a bit wide in disbelief.
I looked at her with an odd look.
"Not to be rude, but you only look fifteen, though you have a mind of a twenty five year old. I was just curious to what your real age was." she replied, shaking her head.
I sighed, the fact was I always looked younger than I was...I got that a lot, I probably always would. I would be almost thirty and someone would think I was in my early twenties, I could see that happening.
"You know you're pretty handy around the kitchen. Must men don't know the first thing about cooking." she chuckled.
"I lived awhile....someone else and I....I often helped out with dinner..." I spoke as memories flowed into my mind. Those quiet evenings, just her and I...I would give anything to go back to them.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to bring something up I shouldn't have." she apologized.
"No, just the past..." I sighed as I slid the potato slices into the soup.
Author's Note: YES! I FINALLY got the next chapter up! Sorry peoples I've been busy....really busy. -- I will try to do better about putting up more updates. I kinda got sidetracked a lot lately...heh...heh sweat drop
I was put in charge of cutting the vegetables for the dinner soup. The last time I did such a thing was when...Tomoe was still among us. I swallowed hard trying to keep the pain to a minimum. I knew exactly who to blame for that too, all I had to do was look straight into the nearest mirror.
The feeling of bring watched brought me back to matters at hand. I could feel the woman's eyes on me, but it wasn't that of doubt or uncertainty, that was what concerned me the most. Not once had I ever caught the slightest sense that Natsru distrusted me. She only watched me, making sure I wasn't going to injure myself. It was odd...and extremely unnerving.
She walked over to me, setting more freshly wash vegetables next to the potatoes I had started on. She watched me for a moment, hovering. I became a bit tense, with her standing right there.
I was relieved when she finally spoke, "May I offer you a tip?"
I looked up at her surprised. I flipped the knife in my hand and held out the handle. She looked at it as if it was a snake. It was obvious she wasn't excepting that kind of "trick". Then, with a shake of her head she took it.
"Now if you cut vertically first, and hold it together with your other hand. Now, cut horizontally you'll get nice square cuts that will cook faster and add more flavor." she smiled showing me what she meant.
I nodded taking this in. When it came to preparing food it seemed obvious she knew exactly what she was doing.
"Here, now you try." she handed the knife back to me, with an encouraging smile.
I did as she instructed me, following her directions exactly. If only Seijurou's lessons had been this easy...or perhaps I was just listening now. Things had changed a lot since then...a lot...
"Pretty smart man aren't you?" she chuckled watching me, very pleased.
I shifted my weight not sure how to take praise. It was odd, those back in Kyoto never really meant their compliments, if you could call them that. Even Seijurou never offered a compliment, "I just catch on to things quickly." I replied simply.
"How old are you Himura-san?" Natsru asked abruptly.
I blinked as I looked up at her. I was not expecting a question like that.
"Oh please don't be offended. I hate how some are offended if someone asks their age. I mean I'll be more then happy to admit my age, but I think it's obvious I'm old." she let out an exasperated sigh.
I laughed for once not a forced one....it was strange...
"I'm not offended, I am..." it was hard to remember....I had forgotten so much in Kyoto...lost track of time, " seventeen? No...I'm eighteen." I nodded as I continued on my task.
"Your joking right?" she asked her eyes a bit wide in disbelief.
I looked at her with an odd look.
"Not to be rude, but you only look fifteen, though you have a mind of a twenty five year old. I was just curious to what your real age was." she replied, shaking her head.
I sighed, the fact was I always looked younger than I was...I got that a lot, I probably always would. I would be almost thirty and someone would think I was in my early twenties, I could see that happening.
"You know you're pretty handy around the kitchen. Must men don't know the first thing about cooking." she chuckled.
"I lived awhile....someone else and I....I often helped out with dinner..." I spoke as memories flowed into my mind. Those quiet evenings, just her and I...I would give anything to go back to them.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to bring something up I shouldn't have." she apologized.
"No, just the past..." I sighed as I slid the potato slices into the soup.
Author's Note: YES! I FINALLY got the next chapter up! Sorry peoples I've been busy....really busy. -- I will try to do better about putting up more updates. I kinda got sidetracked a lot lately...heh...heh sweat drop