[ And that's just his hands. If there's ever a hot springs episode in Hugs... well, actually he'd avoid it all together if people were going to see him.

He doesn't need the whole carrot, so the remaining pieces are sliced and turned into flower shapes. They can go into the soup or one of the side dishes. ]

I often cooked for my master and his lordship, and they can eat a lot alarmingly fast.

[ Sasuke might have employed the use of shadow clones to help him make meals. Mr. Tori comes back from his task of putting away the gloves and pesters Sasuke for bits of the leftover carrot cuttings. ]

They do rely on me.

[ Or did. Past tense, like Kyoko said. He can't do so here. Sasuke tries to push down those thoughts. They'll do him no good, and he doesn't want every visit of Kyoko to involve him breaking down in some way.

He picks up some scraps of carrot to feed Mr. Tori. Seeing the bird happy is a good way to distract himself. ]

Who's the big eater that you know? Someone here?

How much longer for the eggs?

[ Sasuke asks mostly to break the awkward moment they have both unintentionally fallen into. He's really going to have to learn how to be more social when others don't immediately fear him or dismiss him due to his profession.

Luckily, Mr. Tori fills in the gaps well enough for now. The crow caws as if to ask the same question. ]

Impatient, aren't you?

They'll need to be firm and not runny, so I guess he will just have to settle for carrot pieces for the moment.

[ Sasuke will feed Mr. Tori one of the flower shaped slices. ]

Oh, could you use the rest of these for something? I don't need that much carrot, and while Mr. Tori will happily eat them....

[ He motions to the extra slices. ]

It's stranger to me to stand around waiting and doing nothing.

[ He'll scoop up the slices and put them closer to the simmering soup. Mr. Tori only tries to grab one of them on the way. ]

Hey! You're going to ruin your appetite if you keep that up.

[ Sasuke bops Mr. Tori on the beak. ]

What? That's not what I meant at all.

[ How is he supposed to make the egg dish if he sits down? ]

I'm not the kind of person people wait on. I'm the one doing the work.

Ninja endure and serve. We don't get treated like guests, and I've been doing nothing but relaxing in Havenwell.

[ He... may look like he's pouting a little, and when he hears Kyoko say that the eggs are done, he perks up with a, ]

Can I at least finish what I started?

[ Nope. He's not going to reveal that secret even if it's going to be very easy to replicate. Sasuke will consider this a victory and start peeling the eggs.

Mr. Tori flies to wait by the flower mug as if to say, "You two work it out. I want lunch." ]

You're doing plenty already. Let me have this.

[ The grin on his face is a lot like a kitsune's smile, knowing he has maneuvered a win through his trick. (And yet he still views himself more a monkey than fox.) ]

Don't beat yourself up over it. I am a ninja, after all.

[ And he'll just start cutting into those eggs and sticking the carrot pieces in the appropriate spots. They are starting to look like mice and rabbits. ]

Not so much in this place. Here people want you to touch others for money and to save the world.

[ He does not subscribe to this even if he sells himself and his services technically. However, he quickly changes the subject. ]

Mr. Tori, do you want a rabbit or a mouse?

[ It doesn't make any sense until Sasuke turns around holding one in each hand. There are more left on the cutting board. ]

[ He presents them to Kyoko with a knowing and playful grin. Mr. Tori flies over to perch on his shoulder, cocking his head to the side as he decides which snack he would like to have. ]

A real easy recipe, don't you think?

[ It'd make a cute side-dish, won't it? ]

[ Long story short, war. ]

What's that supposed to mean? You didn't think I was talented?

[ He's teasing. No offense is taken. And Mr. Tori has stolen the ear off the rabbit egg. ]

I guess it's the rabbit this time.

[ He's also a single mom to too many brats he doesn't remember adopting. Please help. ]

I'm many things, but a ninja is the primary one.

[ An artist though? Him? That's a bit of a stretch for making something akin to snow rabbits. ]