When the peonies bloom.

Late Autumn Part 1

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"Where have you been? Hyosaku has been looking for you." Rina came through the doorway of the cook house kitchen that supplied the house and surrounding pleasure quarters with their catering. She shifted inside to let one of the cooks carry boxes of fresh produce into the kitchen.

"Gosh, how did you know I was here?" Tomo looked up in surprise. She had to quickly catch the fan before the flames kissed it.

"One of the staff members spotted you heading into the local cook house. Let the kitchen hand tend to your brewing tea." Rina waved at her to get a move on.

"Oh no, there isn't long to go. I'll look after it." Tomomi said excitedly, the smell of the tea invigorated her.

"Madam Hyosaku would prefer for you to be tending to matters at the house than in the kitchen."

"Am I needed for anything urgently. I assure you there shouldn't be too long to go." Tomo repeated dismissively and returned to being hunched over in the front of the fire, avoiding eye contact with Rina.

Not too long ago she too spotted Rina slipping into Fujie's quarters. Not knowing what to think of it she kept it to herself and tried to tame her wandering thoughts of what might have gone on inside. But for now, she'd keep her lips tight around this one.

Tomo gave her an eye smile and started to hum an old folk tune from her part of the world. The never ending awkwardness was thankfully enough to bore the brains of Hyosaku's attendant causing her to leave much to Tomo's relief and delight. She never quite felt comfortable around this one.

Based on the instinct of brewing thousands of teas, she opened up the lid to check the water level, allowing a herbal steam to rise to her face.

"Hasn't the kitchen turned into a medicine shop thanks to you." Kametaro, one of the kitchen hands said as he filled his bowl full with cooked kelp."

"It smells good doesn't it?" Tomo teased.

Kametaro made a face of a sick person coughing.

"Come on it's not that bad. I am surprised the kitchen even has a medicine boiling casserole pot like this."

"Ohh the previous head chef swore by some herbal remedy that he'd boil to keep his energy up."

"Where did he go?"

"Into the sea."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Sometime when you try to catch fish, the fish catches you instead. So I heard." Kametaro cussed as the last of his kelp flopped out of her strainer like a fresh fish. "Went fishing beyond the bay area here on his day off and the sea did not return him." He added.

Tomo nodded as blew out the flame, scooped the light amber liquid into her bamboo water carrier.

She placed the tea in a bamboo thermos and helped herself to a bowl and lid and placed it in a vegetable basket lying idly near the door.

"You better bring it back later tonight." Kametaro.

"I will I will." Tomo waved nonchalantly. "What am I going to do, sell this cup and saucer lid at the flea market?"

Kametaro rolled his eyes.

"I'll give you a cut if I'm successful."

"Oh bugger off will you."

"You were asking for it with your stupid remarks."

Kametaro stuck his tongue out at her and went back to his preparation.