spill the tea

It had been years since Hattori had last set paw upon Nihon's shores. He presumed much had changed since then and yet at the same time even more had likely stayed the same. Their homeland had a way of remaining stubborn in the face of change, steadfast and certain that its ways were the best and only option. With a tray of steaming tea, Hattori found himself sitting comfortably upon a tatami mat. This summer was milder than most, the rising water levels had done much to keep the land from drying out too much. And even then in the shade of the Bamboo it was never so terrible that the wolves of Tojo couldn't go about their days in peace.

He tipped his head back, calling for the clan's newest member. They had not spoken much and he wished to change that, and what better than to do it over a pot of tea Kiriko had prepared?