Chapter 11
“The first lesson will now begin!”
Kurama stood in the doorway of Sasuke’s bedroom. The blonde-haired fox spirit stared devilishly at the teen who had been previously scrolling on his phone. Sasuke jolted up from Kurama’s sudden unannounced entrance. “Where have you been? It’s been a week since I last saw you!”
Kurama’s orange glowing eyes twinkled with mischief, “I had to prepare. One cannot complete a task they have no knowledge of. Are you prepared to do as I say, when I say?”
Sasuke hesitated, “What do you mean? I asked for Sakura to go to prom with me. Can’t you just make that happen?” Kurama’s mischievous smile turned into a frown, “No, inconsiderate boy. Unless you want me to trick her, but your motivation was that she attends this adolescent dance with you. That is what I have accepted to help you accomplish. Now, will you do as I say so we may be successful in this endeavor?”
Sasuke thought for a long moment before nodding. Kurama lifted his head with delight, “Good. Now we begin your first lesson! We will make a delicious cuisine.” Kurama turned tail and made for the kitchen area while Sasuke sat bewildered at his desk.
We are going to do what?
In the kitchen, there were multiple ingredients laid out on the countertops. The previous items that covered the space were placed either on the ground or on the living room couch. Sasuke saw that Kurama’s clothes changed to a black blouse-like top with a belt and matching black pants. A white strip of cloth held his forehead hairs away from his face. Sasuke approached the counter where a cutting board and assorted vegetables had been arranged. “I don’t understand, how is cooking going to help me go to prom with Sakura.”
Kurama placed a head of cabbage in front of him, “Less questions, more listening, young Uchiha.” As he placed the cabbage on the cutting board, he made a strange motion with his hand and another cabbage identical to the first appeared within his grasp. A duplicate cutting board and knife also emerged on the counter before the fox spirit.
Sasuke made an exasperated cry, “How did you do that?” Kurama then smacked the back of Sasuke’s head hard with his other hand, causing the teenager to wince, “An organism who can only perceive up to the third dimension has no right to know the workings of interdimensional beings. Now focus.” Kurama straightened his back and positioned his knife above the cabbage. “Your lesson is to follow each of my steps. We will make pork and vegetable filled gyoza over rice served with a side of tempura. You must follow my instructions, for this will be a test.” Sasuke felt a shiver run over his spine as the deep voiced fox spirit commanded him. Not wanting to irk Kurama, Sasuke nodded and began following his lead.
With each step of their meal preparation, Sasuke found himself falling into a rhythm that had been lost to him for several years. He began to feel his mind extend out into his hands and the tools he wielded, rather than focus on his internal anguishes. He started to feel as if his knife gliding through each separate vegetable created a vibrant symphony of rhythmic steadiness. The cabbage head, rough and green, surrendered under his grip and cut with a satisfying crunch, releasing a sweet, grassy aroma into the air. The carrot’s he had pulled from the grocery sack were firm and unyielding, but he found they shaved with ease along the surface of the grater. Sasuke’s knife strokes quickened after practice, and as the onions met their fate, he watched their layers unfurl on the granite-like countertop as if they were translucent petals.
After nearly an hour of preparation, Sasuke found himself entering a meditation-like state. He no longer felt himself wallowing in pity, but aggressively followed the quick moving fox spirit. With each changing step, he had to forget himself and will his extremities to mimic Kurama. He found out that if he missed a beat, Kurama would not wait for him but only move along faster. Sasuke only made that mistake once.
Kurama showed Sasuke how to fold the shell of the gyoza to make the dumplings pristine. After forming one for practice, Sasuke marveled at how well he could meticulously fold the sides together and create a perfectly shaped bundle. He noticed Kurama slipped a small smile after he had wrapped his sixth dumpling.
After the dumplings were assembled, they prepared the tempura batter and began to cook the rice. The heat from the kitchen stove rose the temperature of the apartment several degrees and Sasuke found himself wiping sweat off his brow when the oil was at its highest point.
The two completed the meal altogether after several hours. At the end of their lesson, Kurama instructed Sasuke on the presentation of the dish and tasked him with setting the table for the meal. Sasuke did as he was told, and even quickened as Kurama scolded him for moving too slowly.
Right as Sasuke placed the final dish on the table, he heard the front door open and Tsunade enter, her clanging keychain unmistakable. Sasuke felt his stomach drop as he had barely spoken to Tsunade since his outburst a week before. He flashed a concerned look over to Kurama who smiled and walked around the kitchen counters and towards the door, passing the unsuspecting Tsunade.
Sasuke gulped as his aunt stopped before him and the dinner presentation, her mouth becoming slack from awe.
“I made us some dinner-“ Sasuke whispered. They stood in silence for a second, and before she could speak, he motioned her to sit, “Please sit down. Let’s eat.”
Tsunade looked over Sasuke and the food at the table, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. They sat and began their meal and Sasuke saw her eyes light up even more from the taste of the cuisine. She gave him a big smile with a little laugh that followed.
The sight of Tsunade’s genuine smile gave Sasuke a rush of joy, and a warmth within his chest that he thought he no longer possessed.