The streets were filled with autumn and its cheery cascade of death that scattered across all surfaces of their world, back dropped by the darkening green giants beginning their slumber and shedding it's needles against the cold. The trees had the most brilliant ways to mourn the end of their life giving seasons and for that they deserved the greatest respect. They, unlike humans, liked to say goodbye in one last great show, both warning and celebrating the end. While the colours of fall had been lost to Kiyo for more decades then she enjoyed admitting having lived, the time stopped woman took great pleasure in the musical cacophony of scattering leaves and fleeing birds.
And so she often found herself here, at a little tea shop, appreciating what her senses gave her in a small booth by a window less favoured by other customers for the heavy foliage obscuring the 'view'. The Red haired lady enjoyed this little shop for other reasons too. The service was always quick and friendly, the short wooden tables always clean and the booth seating quite comfortable, one could raise or lower a curtain against curious onlookers and the tea was excellent.
The soft scent of Chai and milk, a specialty, danced delicately from the heavy stone teacup cradled in Kiyo's palm. Her index finger traced the edge of the cup, warmed by the aromatic steam and it's contents below. A melancholic tune from a shamisen floated from an indiscernible corner, a song that sadly welcomed in the winter months that seemed all too inevitable. Reminders, reminders everywhere.
Normally she would come here to remember or forget as she willed it alone, but duties and pleasure sometimes crossed each other's path and Kiyo found herself mixing the bitter with the sweet today. The sullen teen across from her, not difficult to cursor as a duty, sat slouched and unresponsive across from her, seemingly less pleased to be there then Kiyo was to be keeping her.
"How are your studies progressing, Yuii?" she asked in a low voice, keeping eye contact on the blue haired girl that had been such a sweet child while taking a sip of her tea.
The curt, "Fine," was inevitable, and Kiyo didn't bat a lash at it. The former Kage simply cleared her throat, giving her young charge a pointed look and the silent pause in which to correct herself. They stared at one another, like two disputing cats ready to strike, until Yuii finally broke.
"I read the book Auntie, it was horrible and boring. What do you want from me?" she snapped, slapping one open hand down against the table, "You know I don't like books, stop making me read them!" She slouched back again, a frown plastered against her face.
Kiyo sighed and reached out to ruffle the girl's hair, an old habit from when the typhoon of anger had once been calm and sweet. "And when you're older you're going to appreciate all this teeth pull-" among all the soft hair the rough edges of an unmistakable leaf brushed her fingers. "You've been sleeping in trees again, haven't you? Yuii, while I understand understand the draw of the forest better than anyone, we are still civilized people. I have provided you with a room and a perfectly comfortable bed to sleep on. Use them.'
The youth muttered something inaudible to the human ear and though Kiyo heard it quite clearly she decided an argument in one of her favoured places would not be best. Instead she sharpened her gaze and stared down her nose and gave her the chance to correct herself again, "What was that?" Once again, Yuii chose to ignore it.
'Nothing! Can I go already? I have training!" she whined, the sound grating on the older woman's ears, while moving to rise. Kiyo shifted forward and grabbed her wrist.
"Ask me properly," the red lady snapped, her temper growing short. She didn't understand how one child could make her so angry, how one teen could make years of training in diplomatic fields wash away but she did. Had Kiyo been so annoying at this age or had she been too busy apprenticing to become the next leader for her beloved village?
"May I be dismissed?" Yuii asked quietly, refusing to meet her eye. it was a victory, a small victory, and yet it didn't feel like a victory.
"Yes," she answered, releasing her niece, "Go, have fun. We'll discuss this later" She watched Yuii's retreating back as the girl left at a near run and she knew that could have been handled better. Stupid. It had clearly been stupid, but there was no way to undo it yet again. Parenting ought to be left up to parents, she wasn't cut out for this at her age.
And so she often found herself here, at a little tea shop, appreciating what her senses gave her in a small booth by a window less favoured by other customers for the heavy foliage obscuring the 'view'. The Red haired lady enjoyed this little shop for other reasons too. The service was always quick and friendly, the short wooden tables always clean and the booth seating quite comfortable, one could raise or lower a curtain against curious onlookers and the tea was excellent.
The soft scent of Chai and milk, a specialty, danced delicately from the heavy stone teacup cradled in Kiyo's palm. Her index finger traced the edge of the cup, warmed by the aromatic steam and it's contents below. A melancholic tune from a shamisen floated from an indiscernible corner, a song that sadly welcomed in the winter months that seemed all too inevitable. Reminders, reminders everywhere.
Normally she would come here to remember or forget as she willed it alone, but duties and pleasure sometimes crossed each other's path and Kiyo found herself mixing the bitter with the sweet today. The sullen teen across from her, not difficult to cursor as a duty, sat slouched and unresponsive across from her, seemingly less pleased to be there then Kiyo was to be keeping her.
"How are your studies progressing, Yuii?" she asked in a low voice, keeping eye contact on the blue haired girl that had been such a sweet child while taking a sip of her tea.
The curt, "Fine," was inevitable, and Kiyo didn't bat a lash at it. The former Kage simply cleared her throat, giving her young charge a pointed look and the silent pause in which to correct herself. They stared at one another, like two disputing cats ready to strike, until Yuii finally broke.
"I read the book Auntie, it was horrible and boring. What do you want from me?" she snapped, slapping one open hand down against the table, "You know I don't like books, stop making me read them!" She slouched back again, a frown plastered against her face.
Kiyo sighed and reached out to ruffle the girl's hair, an old habit from when the typhoon of anger had once been calm and sweet. "And when you're older you're going to appreciate all this teeth pull-" among all the soft hair the rough edges of an unmistakable leaf brushed her fingers. "You've been sleeping in trees again, haven't you? Yuii, while I understand understand the draw of the forest better than anyone, we are still civilized people. I have provided you with a room and a perfectly comfortable bed to sleep on. Use them.'
The youth muttered something inaudible to the human ear and though Kiyo heard it quite clearly she decided an argument in one of her favoured places would not be best. Instead she sharpened her gaze and stared down her nose and gave her the chance to correct herself again, "What was that?" Once again, Yuii chose to ignore it.
'Nothing! Can I go already? I have training!" she whined, the sound grating on the older woman's ears, while moving to rise. Kiyo shifted forward and grabbed her wrist.
"Ask me properly," the red lady snapped, her temper growing short. She didn't understand how one child could make her so angry, how one teen could make years of training in diplomatic fields wash away but she did. Had Kiyo been so annoying at this age or had she been too busy apprenticing to become the next leader for her beloved village?
"May I be dismissed?" Yuii asked quietly, refusing to meet her eye. it was a victory, a small victory, and yet it didn't feel like a victory.
"Yes," she answered, releasing her niece, "Go, have fun. We'll discuss this later" She watched Yuii's retreating back as the girl left at a near run and she knew that could have been handled better. Stupid. It had clearly been stupid, but there was no way to undo it yet again. Parenting ought to be left up to parents, she wasn't cut out for this at her age.