WHOOSH
The boy crouched in front of the Kamado when fire burst outwards, spreading black charcoal all over the boy's figure. The stove settled down its flames and continued to lick the surface of the stove sending light embers flying out from its opening.
Shiro deadpanned and rubbed his face with his sleeve. Black marks stained his shirt from the early onslaught.
On the side Ryūchirō's wife, Myumin, smiled sweetly. She clutched a bowl to her chest and knelt forward, placing it in front of the stove.
"You're not really cut out for cooking I assume?"
Shiro sighed and patted his hands, sending dust across the air.
"Not really…"
'Last time I tried to make my own food, the fire nearly burned down the house. Why do you think I buy store-bought food and torture my stomach with factor-made essentials?'
She giggled and pointed to the other room, where Ryūchirō and the children were.
"After you clean your face, you can help them wash our dinner."
Blinking in confusion, he brought his fingers to touch his face, only to find black marks riddling them.
Grabbing a waistcloth from the floor, he rubbed his face and stood from his crouching position, walking towards the other room.
A voice called out once he passed the door frame.
"Oh? Shiro! Help me peel the roots off this herb."
Ryūchirō knelt crouching next to a water container. His eyes were focused on what Shiro assumed was a medicinal herb while his fingers were gently prying off loose ends and dirty outliers with surprising speed.
The children besides him, also tended to other wild plants and fruits.
Kyumin, the girl, knelt next to her brother as she gently cut an orange persimmon into small little pieces. Myūchirō collected what Kyumin had cut and washed them in a wooden basan.
Shiro glanced at the little girl and winced.
'She's carrying a knife… Isn't that dangerous for her?'
*chop* *chop* *chop* *chop*
The girl moved with incredible speed, making her poor brother quicken his pace as he basically started dunking the pieces that she cut up.
Shiro watched this and turned his attention back to Ryūchirō.
'Well she does seem to know what she's doing, so I'll just leave it at that. Not that I'm much better at using it…'
Ryūchirō grinned up at him and scooted to the side, making room for Shiro.
The boy knelt next to the man and rolled up his sleeves. Soon, he too was peeling off the roots of the plants, carefully examining the guy next to him.
"So, Shiro. Tell me about your family!"
Shiro paused and raised an eyebrow.
"Really? I don't think you would find it interesting."
"Nonsense! I'd love to know!"
Shiro's face slowly furrowed into concentration. As numerous thoughts started coming across his head.
"Well, my mom's pretty nice. She's supported me for as long as I can remember.
Um…..
I guess my dad's a good guy too. He took on a lot of burden by himself so he could support my family when we were at our low points."
His face lost its thoughtful recollection of memories as a frown appeared on his face.
"And… that's where the goodness ends."
Ryūchirō tilted his head.
"What do you mean?"
Shiro's face slowly dissolved into a scowl.
"My brother's a monkey. That ape takes my stuff whenever, wherever, and whatever the hell he wants to. He steals my food that I specially hid in secret and climbs the cabinets like he's tarzan.
I have an uncle built like a wall who visits every now and then. Only problem is that he hogs the couch and sets the tv volume to the point it feels like I'm at a Nascar event.
There is a little cousin I have. That kid's a lost cause. Just last week, he was yelling out the worst brain rot on the planet while playing on his tablet."
"Sigh.."
Shiro shook his head in disappointment.
"Sometimes I just feel like I'm the most normal person you know. You feel me?"
Ryūchirō: "..."
'I have no idea what he's talking about…'
Ryūchirō nervously smiled and nodded his head.
"O-Oh yeah! Say, look at that. We're already done!"
Shiro looked down in surprise and found that they had already peeled all of the wild plants and placed them together.
As if on cue, Myumin entered, clutching a steaming hot pot of Pickled Vegetables, and set it down onto a wooden table that only went up to their ankles.
"Dinners ready!"
Eagerly, the children rushed forwards, clutching small wooden bowls and setting them onto the table. Chopsticks were arranged around them as they eagerly sat on the side.
Shiro sat down next to Ryūchirō and watched as Myumin poured the contents of the pot into their bowls collectively.
He clutched his bowl in curiosity and peered inside. Contents of vegetables and wild greenery floated within the soup. Shiro set it down once he noticed the others politely sitting.
'Itadakimasu!'
On cue, Shiro lifted the bowl and sipped it slowly, letting the warm bowl thaw out his numb fingers from the cold. He let out an audible sigh once he gulped down the contents.
'This is probably the healthiest I've eaten in a while. Not too shabby though.'
Suddenly, both Kyumin and Myūchirō eagerly nudged their mother and spoke.
"Mom! Can you tell us that story again?"
Shiro raised an eyebrow and glanced at Ryūchirō.
Seeing his reaction, the man chuckled.
"It's our family's tradition to share stories while we eat. It really gives us long moments where we can enjoy ourselves."
Myumin smiled at her children's eagerness and smirked, holding her finger to her chin.
"Story? Which one?"
"The one where Urashima Taro saves a turtle and is taken to the Dragon Palace?"
"The tale of Tsuru no Ongeashe's beautiful romance story?"
"The great Kitsune No Yomeiri who fell in love?"
. . .
Kyumin giggled and shook her small head. She eagerly clutched her kimono by the end.
"No! I want you to tell me about the Oni!"
Shiro paused from eating and glanced at the little girl. 'Oni?' As if on cue, Ryūchirō paused from sipping his bowl as well. It was subtle enough, but Shiro caught it out of the corner of his eye.
Myumin flinched and glanced at Ryūchirō who shook his head.
She smiled and held her daughter's hand.
"Maybe next time sweety."
Kyumin let her head down in defeat as she visibly darkened.
"Ahh!! Please Mommy!"
Suddenly, Ryūchirō brightened as if he had an idea and turned towards Shiro.
"Hey Shiro! Since you're a distant traveler you must have stories from your homeland! Isn't that right Kyumin?"
Shiro paused and glanced at the little girl as her eyes shifted into starry eyes as she stared up at him. Next to her, Myūchirō seemed to take interest as well, and eagerly sat clutching the ends of the table.
"Story?"
A look of questioning imaged itself across his face.
'Will a bedtime story work? Like the 3 little piggies or humpty dumpty?'
He smirked.
'Nah thats mid.'
"Oh I got a story alright. Sit back kids and listen to the greatest story ever told."
He cleared his throat and began, drawing the attention of even the parents as they unconsciously leaned forward.
"Wealth, Fame, Power…."