"How much for half the fish?" Kyōraku Shunsui asked.
"No need. It's just a fish I caught in the river," Komamura said. Since he had gotten it for free, he didn't intend to charge for it.
Sora now understood why Komamura was so destitute. Even in such a sorry state, he was still willing to share his food with them.
"No charge? Well, thank you then!" Kyōraku put his money pouch away.
"If you're not charging us, then let's use my sauce," Sora said, taking a bottle of pre-mixed barbecue sauce from his cloth bag and tossing it to Komamura.
Komamura caught the bottle, unscrewed the cap, and sniffed it. His spirits were instantly lifted, and even his ears under the helmet couldn't help but twitch.
"What a fragrant sauce!" He could feel his mouth watering uncontrollably.
He eagerly sprinkled the sauce on the roasting fish.
The skin of the fish gradually turned a crispy golden-brown. The juices and the sauce mingled together, and the aroma was so enticing it made one's mouth water.
The frequency of everyone's swallowing increased.
Even the crows gathered on the withered tree grew in number, attracted by the scent from all around.
After the fish was cooked, Komamura divided it in half.
"This fish looks big, but the meat is quite tender," Sora said after trying a piece. The skin was crispy, but the meat inside was still tender and moist, creating a rich texture with every bite.
"Delicious!" Kyōraku took out some sake and cups from his bag, poured a drink for everyone, and began to sip.
"And the flavor is wonderful. Your sauce is very good too, Lord Katori," Jūshirō Ukitake also praised.
"To be able to eat such a delicacy in the wild is truly a blessing," Yamamoto said, his expression relaxed.
Komamura didn't even take off his bamboo helmet while eating, only opening a small gap in the middle to pass the food through.
"Your sauce is indeed very delicious," he couldn't help but praise after tasting the fish.
"I mixed it myself. It's fine for use in the wild. If the fish had been marinated in advance, the flavor would be even better," Sora said with a smile.
"I'm afraid you wouldn't find anyone in the entire Soul Society with better culinary skills than Lord Katori," Ukitake praised.
"You're too kind. Actually, Miss Kirio's cooking is no less skilled than mine," Sora said, waving his hand with a light chuckle.
"Miss Kirio's cooking... I've tried it. It is indeed amazing," Ukitake said, a gentle smile on his face as he recalled the meal.
Komamura remained silent, quietly finishing the fish in his hands.
He didn't touch the sake that Kyōraku offered him.
The sauce was fine; everyone was eating it together, so he wasn't worried about it.
But the sake was different. He didn't drink alcohol offered by strangers.
Komamura had not been entirely without gain while wandering on his own. After being tricked a few times, he had learned some ways of the world.
After finishing the fish, the group returned to the shrine to rest.
Just then, Komamura heard voices coming from outside again.
He listened carefully. It was the sound of horse hooves and carriage wheels, as well as human conversation.
"I remembered correctly. There really is an abandoned shrine here. My lord, why don't we rest here for the night?"
"It's so run-down. Are you sure it's okay? It might collapse in the middle of the night."
"It should be fine. I've rested here a few times. My lord and lady, please wait here. I'll go in and check first."
As the voice fell, a figure walked into the shrine. He quickly saw that there were people inside.
When he saw that Sora's group and Komamura were all dressed as commoners, he relaxed slightly and wasn't too surprised.
This area was in the middle of nowhere. People familiar with this road would often rest at this shrine.
The man who entered didn't speak to them. He observed the situation inside and then went back out.
"My lord, the shrine is in acceptable condition. It should be fine for just one night, but there are already a few people inside..."
"It's fine. Let's go in."
Eight people came in. Three of them, like the first man, were dressed as guards.
Of the last four to enter, a man and a woman were dressed in exquisite clothes, clearly of noble status. The other two were handmaidens.
The finely dressed woman was being supported by a maid. From the contour of her abdomen, one could see that she was pregnant.
The other maid laid a soft cushion on the ground for the pregnant woman to lie on.
"Pardon the intrusion. We will also be staying here for the night," the noble man said politely.
"It is no matter," Yamamoto said coolly.
Yamamoto did not recognize the man, but the man had actually seen him before.
But the shrine was unlit and the visibility was poor. Even though Yamamoto and his group were not wearing their straw hats, no one could see their faces clearly.
No one would ever imagine that the Head-Captain would be resting in this small, dilapidated shrine.
The three groups all stayed in their own areas, not disturbing each other. The night passed peacefully.
Early the next morning, Komamura left the shrine.
Yamamoto also didn't want to be recognized and led his group away from the shrine early as well.
"Hey, big guy, where are you headed?" Kyōraku once again struck up a conversation with Komamura, who was walking ahead.
"To the Sabitsura district," Komamura said casually.
In truth, he didn't know where he was going. He didn't even know where the 'Sabitsura district' was. He had just heard someone mention it before and thought he'd go and see.
"If you're going to the Sabitsura district, you're going our way. Why don't we travel together? It's good to have company," Sora suggested with a smile.
The corner of Kyōraku's mouth turned up slightly. Katori Sora was truly his good brother, understanding his meaning so quickly.
Their journey had been uneventful, and he was feeling a bit bored and wanted to find something to do.
He had long since seen that this warewolf likely had some trouble following him, but he knew old man Yama wouldn't get involved in such things. So, he thought of inviting the man to travel with them.
"Yeah, yeah, let's go together!" Kyōraku said enthusiastically.
"There's no need..." Komamura was reluctant to travel with others. He hadn't yet settled the trouble he'd gotten into last time and didn't want to involve anyone else.
"What's wrong with traveling together since we're going the same way? Let's just say we're hiring you as a bodyguard. A big guy like you must be a good fighter, right?" Sora said with a grin.
He also didn't want to miss the opportunity to recruit Sajin Komamura.
Komamura was a man of loyalty and courage. If he could win him over, he would be a good asset.
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