Wounded Worlds

一

"He was entrancing, with that epicene beauty which in extreme youth sings aloud for love and withers at the first cold wind."

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The two siblings finally entered the palace they called home with a blissful sigh of relief when the warmth greeted them from inside. The fire in the fireplace crackled in the corner of the room as servants shuffled in and out of the grand hall, paying no mind to the two siblings. Hashirama turned around to look at his sister. The red blush on her nose and cheeks that stood out against her fair skin tone were slowly disappearing to her natural color. He helped her shed off of the layers of clothes till she was left in a layered soft lavender colored kimono. "Have fun." He said, offering a small smile to his little sister. Angela returned the smile while thanking him with a curt nod. "I'll try."

The brunette hastily walked towards the study room where she usually had most of her sessions in. The room wasn't that far off that she made made in less than a minute. Angela was seated on a zabuton mat with a short table placed before her. Documents, maps, and a brush with a cartridge of ink was placed on top for her to use. She was no stranger to the materials before her— in fact it was part of her education. To learn the land and it's terrain and the location of the clans. Only at age five and she was skilled in the art of cartography.

And it was to be expected. Her parents funded the finest private tutors for her to study under. It was only natural for her to put her parent's funds and effort in use— thus perfecting the skills she would learn. Butsuma and Seiko also carry high standards and expectations for their children, to be the very best and the pressure of being perfect were handed down to the siblings at a very young age.

The sound of the shoji door sliding open caught the Senju's attention. By the door stood a woman dressed in a scholarly outfit and carried a strict vibe around her. A mistake around her would cause her to think you were hopeless, and Angela had yet made a mistake around her. In her spare time, she would review the lesson often times in order to please her mentor. "Come, it is time for your chadō lesson. I've prepared the materials already for you to show me what you learned." Even her voice was full of seriousness. Sometimes it made the Senju wonder if her sensei ever laughed or smiled.

Angela stood and silently followed her sensei towards the tea house that was outside of the palace. The whole palace had its own compound with tall walls surrounding the home and their own gate, guarded by warriors. After all, the leader of the Senju clan was none other than her father Butsuma. They lived lavishly and were considered to be the bosses of the clan. What went said was done.

Angela continued to walk in silence with her chin up, through the snowy courtyard. She took calm but small strides to seem elegant as if she was gliding through. It was another rule subjected to her by her sensei. No man wanted a wife who wasn't elegant or poised. Her hazel eyes wandered to the side when she passed by the dojo where her brothers and father often trained him. She often heard the sound of bamboo sticks clacking with one another, the rhythmic sound of footsteps on the tatami floors, shouts and words of constructive criticism whenever she passed by it. The Senju at one point in her life was curious to partake in it but never could. She'd always watch from the sidelines with her mother whenever a spar happened.

It was safe to say she had their movements and words of improvements engraved in her mind. But she had yet to test it out herself.

"We will save the Kaiseki for another time. For now, I want you to go inside and prepare everything for the guests. Show me what you know." Her sensei said, approaching the basin to wash her hands. "But first, explain to me why we have tea ceremonies." She commanded, sending a sharp glance at Angela. The child nodded her head. "Tea is an art form. It has the power to move you spiritual discipline but also allows us to indulge in the calmness. Tea ceremonies encourage our attention on simplicity and appreciate the moment." She said rather smoothly. Of course Angela had memorized her teachings and even decided to study further as to why tea ceremonies were practiced.

"And the meaning?"

"The meaning of the tea ceremony is to appreciate fine art and crafts in a tranquil atmosphere."

The sensei's lips curled upwards into a small smile of satisfaction. Clearly pleased by her student's words. "Perfect. Now, go inside and prepare." Angela watched her sensei take a seat on a stone bench in the zen garden. A stone lamp glowed a warm color of light in the grey cloudy morning. The Senju bowed before taking her leave to enter the tea house.

First Angela would arrange the flowers by the alcove. In the alcove, there was a scroll hanging off the wall with kanjis painted in black ink and the signature symbol of her clan. The arrangement of decorations in the alcove was important because the guests would focus their attention on the decoration as to appreciate the simplicity. When she was satisfied with how the flowers looked, Angela got her materials to prepare the tea. She chose the materials that would stand out.

First she would invite her sensei in before cleaning the utensils in front of her. The sensei silently watched her student clean the utensils with elegance and with grace, so that the procedure was aesthetically pleasing to look at. The child in general was elegant whether she was performing a task or simply walking. She was calm and poised. The sensei watched her prepare the matcha tea in continued silence.

Eventually the tea was served.

Angela would take small glances at her sensei in hopes of approval but those dark brown eyes of her held nothing but emptiness. But the more she glanced up at them, she couldn't help but to notice they were similar to the color of the boy's eyes she met. A shade darker and it would've been equal to the onyx colored eyes.

That beautiful shade of onyx color. It suited him very well.

In her midst of daydream, Angela hadn't realized she nearly overflowed the bowl of tea. Pure panic on her features faltered her look of calmness when she realized what had happened. And to top it all, she messed up in front of her sensei. "Do you expect your guests to drink all of this?" Her sensei asked hotly, watching her student flinch in guilt. "You've disgraced your guests! Look, it's practically spilling!" Her hand gestured to the tea that touched the brim of the bowl.

Already kneeled, Angela lowered herself to the floor with hands placed in front of her on the tatami floor. "Forgive me. I let my thoughts get to me." Apologized Angela with a sheepish tone of voice. In truth, she was worried what would her punishment be and if her sensei will tell her parents what happened. Mistakes were seen as dishonorable and forbidden in her family.

Her sensei continued looked down at the child before sighing to herself. "Clean up this mess. We will resume this lesson another day." Angela heard her teacher stand up and eventually leave the tea house. Angela didn't dare to stand up until she was sure enough she had left. The Senju slowly raised herself back up with slumped shoulders and stared at the ruined tea ceremony.

All because of the boy stuck in her mind.

She bit the bottom of her lip with a pout. Cleaning up was no biggie but it was the fact that the tea ceremony was ruined. The tranquility was long ruined. In her state of disappointment, she instead laid down on her back and stared at the roof for the time being. Cleaning could wait.