"Not much I can say then, I will look for some cloths you can use to wash and dry yourself" Leon said as he went to the back of the room and shuffled through some woven baskets that were stacked on top of each other. Rin continued to look over the strange figurine until the water begun to boil. Bringing over some metal holders she pulled the pot off its holder and let is cool. Leon had found some cloths and gave them over to Rin as she waited for the steam to stop wafting out from the heated pot. The sound of heavier winds moaned and waned around the house.
"I'll make sure to turn around while you wash yourself" Leon said as he walked away.
"I don't think that is optimal" Rin replied. Leon turned in surprise, unsure of what Rin had meant.
"I will clean you first, then you can help clean me" Rin said without a hint of embarresment. Leon blushed furiously at Rin. What was this woman thinking, this was beyond inappropriate he thought to himself.
"Alternatively I can have you bound in place while I make sure you don't smell. Your stench is truly unbearable" Rin said scrunching her nose to emphasise her point. Leon truly felt angry, but why it would be directed pulled him in two different directions. How could this woman be so bold and so insulting. Shaking his head he went along with her demands. Pulling off his shirt he exposed his back to Rin as she dipped the cloth into the warm water as she firmly scrubbed his skin. Leon tried to keep his thought busy as he could feel her soft hands tearing away at the grime and sweat over their adventure. Truly he had felt that this girl had no shame as she wiped the last of him down. Shivering from the water that was on his back he wrapped himself to keep warm. As he turned around he noted Rin was beginning to strip off her shirt as well.
"What do you think you are doing" Leon said in a panicked tone as he rushed to Rin and pushing her hands back down and keeping her shirt on.
"Is this so strange?" Rin asked flatly "I need to be clean and yet you wish to keep my filthy?"
"That's not what I mean, a woman shouldn't do this alone in a man's home" Leon said as he started to sweat from the situation.
"If you do not wish to assist then you can you leave me alone. Make sure to stand in the corner and turn around" Rin stated going back to taking her top off. Leon turned abruptly as his face flushed from her revealing skin.
"I will help" Leon said while staring at the opposite wall. Rin made a small grunt of agreement as he turned around slowly, his eyes slightly open to see where he was going. Rin was sitting down on a small wooden crate with her bare back to Leon. The fireplace glowed as a reflection on her back as the skin had a pale luster. Leon begun to clean Rin's back as he tried to look at anything else in the room.
"The snow seems to be piling up again, luckily I left near the end of the season so we won't be holed up here for long" Leon said talking in the opposite direction of Rin. Rin gave a hmph and kept quiet as Leon finished up.
"Here you can do the front" Leon said handing the washcloth over whilst turning away.
"Thanks" Rin said quietly. Leon walked away and stared at the corner as Rin quickly washed and dried herself off.
"I'll get to using some of the dried rations to make a dinner, should last us a few days that way" Leon said as he picked up the now cold pot of water. Throwing it out the door he scooped up some snow and placed it back in the fireplace as it melted down into water. Leon grabbed some dried meat that was hanging from the rafters.
"What do you think?" Leon said with a slight smile. However Rin was not pleased, her face had a look of disgust on it.
"Wait, can you eat meat?" Leon asked as another problem occurred when taking care of Rin.
"We respect the animals and eat from the forest" Rin said as she gestured to put away the dried ration. Rummaging through her pack Rin pulled several dried plants and mushrooms. Leon watched curiously as she also pulled out some small pots as well which had a strange smell to them.
"What have you got there?" Leon asked as some of the items he could not even name.
"Some dried mushrooms, several root vegetables and pastes and seasonings" Rin said nonchalantly. Rin removed some of the water in the pot and placed the vegetables and mushrooms in giving it a good stir. Rin added some powers and pastes causing the room to fill with a fierce aroma of vegetables that made Leon's stomach growl. Rin focused and stirred the vegetables as the paste turned the water into a thick soup.
"If you cook why didn't you say so" Leon complained.
"I learnt from my sisters" Rin said.
"Sisters?" Leon questioned.
"You met them earlier, they wanted to get quite friendly with you" Rin replied. Leon thought back to the forest and blushed furiously. Leon sighed and waved his hand that he didn't wish to talk further with Rin. It was already hard enough to keep up with how abrupt Rin had been along the past days. Leon sat down on the bed and inspected some of the skinning knives and other items he hadn't tended since coming back. Rin was left alone to watch the food cook, giving it an occasional stir when it began to bubble. The room was quiet for a while, the only sound was of the fire crackling and the occasional noise of sharpening from Leon's hunting knife. At some point Rin pulled off the pot from the fireplace letting the meal cool as she shifted her head at Leon. Leon walking back to the end of the room pulled out some wooden bowls and spoons and handed the bowls over. Rin ladled the bowls up and handing it back to Leon, Rin without waiting begun to eat up her food. The aroma wafted into Leon's noise as he looked at the bowl, it looked like simple vegetables and dried mushrooms but it smelled strongly and caused his stomach to rumble. Dipping his spoon he and eating Leon froze. The taste was amazing to say the least, having a slightly taste he felt the woodlands had invaded his mouth as after gulping the mouthful he was salivating again. Leon rapidly consumed the rest of his meal. Without reserved he handed the bowl back to Rin.
"More" Leon said without a hint of doubt. Rin ladled his bowl again as Leon hungrily consumed it.
"What even is in this?" Leon said between mouthfuls as Rin watched vaguely amused at his reaction.
"Normal vegtables and mushrooms you could find but also some vegetables were ground into a powder to give flavour. After that I added some of my fermented bean paste to give it something nice" Rin said as she continued to watch as Leon ate with ravenous hunger.
"How did you learn how to make this?" Leon said as he felt his stomach being satiated.
"I just tried things, truly everyone was happy to try and enjoyed my cooking" Rin said with a sad tone. Leon reliased he had touched on something sensitive.
"Truly they wouldn't turn you away for no reason" Leon said trying to reassure Rin.
"I know but if they aren't there for me who will?" Rin's question left a heavy silence in the air. Leon took away the bowls and tidied up the area. Leon turned back but saw Rin had fallen asleep in a corner already, her chest rhythmically rising and falling. Smiling a little to himself he pulled out a woollen blanket and covered her up. Placing a few more logs in the fireplace Leon went to bed as well. The weariness of the day caused his eyes to close quickly.