Her paws worked in an experienced manner as she finished grinding the chamomille into a chunky pile. Fragrant scents of lavender, dried lemon peels, peppermint, and valerian root swirled around her nostrils as she scooped the mixture into a fine fabric pouch. Beside her, a bag had been prepared with two cups, a pot, some sticks, and a fire starter. Above her, the moon stood high, watching over her delicate movements as she finished packing up everything and slinging the pouch over her shoulder. She had no idea what time of the night it was exactly, but later than most would be awake was all she could assume. Unable to sleep regularly since her arrival at the maze, Tenshi knew the Kaicho had a similar sleeping issue. Often, the only time their paths would cross would be when the stars glittered above. Or she would hear the near-silent whisper of his movements through the bamboo. It was not lost on the woman that the man did not sleep and she felt that perhaps she may be able to help. Guiding herself to where his den would lay, tucked away into the shadows, Tenshi cleared her throat upon arrival. "Hanzo, I have brought something for you," her voice is soft, quiet, almost as delicate as the tea leaves she held in her pouch. Both steel blue eyes lingered on the entrance to his dwelling, hoping that he would be home to answer her call. prescribed treatment 1/3

Sleep did not come easily to the Kaicho and it wasn't from a lack of trying. Ever since the long night it had been a recurring issue, a feeling he couldn't shake once the sun went down. As though he feared the moon would still shine high in the sky the moment his eyes opened once more, destined to suffer from yet another night that wouldn't end. Of the things it might make him do. The things he couldn't take back.

It was an issue he was handling, mostly, keeping it to himself as best he could. But of course the others noticed, how could they not? Most had not said a word, other than offered to take up responsibilities to ease his burdens, but Tenshi seemed to have other plans.

Allowing his eye to drift open, he stirred from the depths of his den. A quiet and secluded nook, covered with bent branches of bamboo to provide a more permanent shelter. For such an impersonal man it was rather nice and homey, get neat and tidy with everything where it out to be. A place for all his belongings and companions to rest nearby.

"And what is it?" He asked, coming to stand at the threshold.

Thankful that he did not keep her waiting long, she let her eyes linger on his form as he emerged at the threshold. Adjusted to his brusque way of speech, she showed a slight smile as he asked what she brought him. Some might be deterred from interacting with the solitary man, but Tenshi found it almost comforting in a way. Many mountain wolves were similar to him but leaned more into their social side. Stepping forward as she slipped the pouch from her shoulder, she took a seat in the area outside of his den. "Come sit," she motioned for him to take a place beside her with a wave of her paw. Not a direct order, she would never do that to her Kaicho, but she wasn't offering other suggestions either. Pulling out the pot of water, sticks, and fire starter, she got everything going before turning to him. The quiet crackle of try tinder coming to life beneath the pot's holder was a sound she loved to hear. "I have brought you tea. My special blend that doesn't usually fail to help those restless and sleepless," Tenshi's steel blues linger on him for a moment longer before she turns back to the pouch and gets the sachet of tea ready to place into the water to steep. prescribed treatment 2/3

Hattori rumbled deep in his throat, a rough sound of acknowledgement before he came to sit beside her. He did not taker her actions to be bossy or presumptuous, as though she was pushing him around, it felt more like a healers request. The same way they'd asked him to go through motions, to check all was as it was supposed to be. From the look of focus across her face it seemed as though she was in that sort of mind, intent on drawing on her healing knowledge to do her job, earn her keep.

He thought better than to ask why she thought he'd needed it, it was better and easier to leave such a line of thought unsaid. They both knew he was tired, no use in saying it aloud. And besides, he liked tea, enough to drink most of what was handed his way.

"Hmm. That is fine." Approval given he watched her work, noting how delicately she went through the motions, practised and at ease with it all. As though she'd done this countless times before. "Is it bitter?" He did not like bitter drinks though, especially those that were strong enough to make him squint.

Her eyes barely lifted from the fire as he came to sit by her. It would not do to stare at the man she so wished to help. The presumption she had made that he had been lacking in sleep was answered by the fact that he had answered her call. When he finally came beside her in agreeance, she was ready to focus more of her attention on him. With the teapot beside them warming up, she lifts the lid to add the specially blended sachet to the confines. She was about to ask him a question when his own filled the space between them. A flitting smile crossed her muzzle before disappearing. Tenshi believed it endearing to know now that the reclusive Kaicho preferred sweeter tea. Everyone had their preferences and while she preferred her's balanced between bitter and sweet, she could understand why someone preferred one or the other. "I have brought some extra honey in case it is not to your liking," she pauses for effect, the tender smile reappearing for a moment. "But to answer your question, no it is not bitter. I find most enjoy the sweeter things in life," Tenshi adds on before she turns back to the teapot. Listening to the soft tumble of water within as it begins to boil, she presents two cups before them. Raising the pot and filling his cup first, she fills hers before setting it back down. "Please let me know how it is," the mountainous woman adds as she stokes the small fire until it is mere coals. prescribed treatment 3/3

Hattori was fussier than most might think. He wouldn't eat something he did not like and would have likely turned his nose up at the tea if it had truly offended his taste. A bit of honey would do well to chase away the worst of the teas bitterness, if it had any, so he was content to simply hum in acceptance. To deal with it and see if the mixture would indeed work. He didn't doubt Tenshi or her abilities, rather he felt as though his trouble sleeping was so ingrained in him that it was simply a part of who he was, something he'd accepted since the long night.

The Kaicho watched her carefully, noting she didn't spill a single drop as she poured it out. Competent.

Accepting the cup he drew it close with his paw and bent down to take a few laps at the teas rippling surface. Like any good tea it was warm but not boiling hot, soothed his throat as it went down and didn't in fact need any honey as he decided it was fine as it was.

"I do not hate it." He said, then drank again. Which meant he liked it, enough. "Though,if I do not wake up in the morning you will be drowned in the Bay." He then said dryly, not truly concerned she was poisoning him. Trying to put him in an early grave.

Tenshi would be lying if she said she didn't hope he liked it. Not that his approval over her flavor of the tea was detrimental, it would merely be an added bonus. Sitting back on her haunches in a more relaxing position now that their cups had been poured, she waited respectfully for him to take the first sip. Lifting her own cup between large paws to her lips, she watched him from the corner of her eye. Noting that he did not add honey, she was pleased as she listened to him take a few laps. When he finished with his own first sip, she took her to help settle her nerves. He didn't hate it. That was a plus. Nodding curtly, she nearly choked when he mentioned dryly about her being drowned in the bay. Holding her lips tightly together to keep herself from spitting out her tea, she swallowed quickly. "If you do not wake in the morning, perhaps my tea was too effective," Tenshi mentioned as a daring smile played on her lips. speech

Hattori glanced as she choked slightly, pale brows rising in a silent question. He did not think he was being overly unreasonable and he wasn't threatening her just for the sake of it, but it seemed as though she managed to find humour in his words. Or at the very least was able to brush it all aside and continue on as usual. Still he could not help but wonder why she was awake at this hour as well, what was on her mind?

Leaning down to take a sip of his tea once more he allowed the flavour to settle on his tongue. It wasn't a brew he was overly familiar with, so he imagined it was a mix her people used to keep to themselves. If so where had she gotten the ingredients from? Had she truly put so much hard work into making her Kaicho a cup of tea to help him sleep? He pressed his lips into a thin, dark line.

"Why are you up so late then?" He noticed she was drinking deeply from her tea too. Seemed like she needed it, perhaps even more than he did.  

The mountainous woman did not expect the man's questioning and possibly accusatory question. When her steel blue eyes moved to glance over at him, she noticed how his pale brows shifted and lips pursed into a thin line. Perhaps she had been hoping he would be appreciative enough of her help that he wouldn't ask questions. Or wonder why or how she got the ingredients that she did. While it was true that down in this region it was more difficult to find the typical herbs that resided up north in the colder areas, it was not impossible. On her excursions that she took from time to time, she had been able to find a few dark, moist, and cool hiding spots that would be good for growing the herbs that she needed for her tea blends. Taking a moment's pause while she sifted through what exactly to reveal to Hanzo, she took a few more laps from her tea. An even body, floral aroma, with just a sting of peppermint permeated her tongue as she digested her thoughts. It would not do good to spill everything to her Kaicho. He was a man of few words after all and did not care for the semantics and trivial pursuits of most. "Nightmares," her simple answer made her hold her gaze upon her cup of tea so he could not fully see how much the brim of her eyes moistened. "I question often if I chose the right path," Tenshi's voice is quiet as she lifts her chin finally to turn her muzzle in Hanzo's direction. She could have brushed off his question with a flirtatious comment or playful note of 'having an excuse to see you,' but it wasn't the whole truth. Something about his silent presence and squinty gaze did bring some relief to her qualms, but there was always that part of her that questioned if she was doing the right thing. Blinking away the emotion to return to a stoic expression, Tenshi shrugged her shoulders before taking a few more laps of her tea. speech

Nightmares. It wasn't hard for him to imagine what they consisted of, of the horrors she had seen. If he had been a different man he might have felt a flicker of guilt, knowing full well his kin and former allies had taken part in such things. But he struggled to see why it was his fault, she didn't seem to blame him now, so why should he? Of course, this could all be a long scheme in the works, an intricate and patient plot for revenge but he didn't think that was the case, not truly. His defences were still up, senses alert and ready to react but he did not think he Tenshi was base enough to stoop this low. To hold onto things she knew she couldn't ultimately change.

He exhaled slowly, close to a sigh but not quite. He would not pry, she deserved as much.

"Then I hope this tea helps."

There was no point in revenge anymore. What was done had been done and an eye for an eye would make the whole world blind. Nothing would bring back her home, her family, and her past. As much as she dreamed, wished, and hoped that time would turn back for her, she knew it would never come to fruition. So when she looked upon the red and black-coated man seated beside her, she wondered if maybe he would allow her a spot in his future. Would he one day trust her enough that she could sit closer to him? To share more of his off time than his working time? Could he trust her enough to believe that she wouldn't double-cross him one day? Her lips warmed into a smile at his deliberate exhale. Thankful that he would not pry and that she would not have to regale the terrors that shook her at night, she nodded toward his cup. "And I hope it helps you as well," Tenshi's voice is smooth and calm as she looks back to her own cup. One thing she missed the most was having someone to sleep beside. The warmth of another's body heat was always more relaxing than feeling the tickling breeze whistling through the bamboo. Almost nightly reminding her that she would have to make life anew here or be subjected to loneliness forever.

A comfortable silence fell and Hattori felt no need to interrupt it, to fill in the gaps with nothing more than the sound of his breathing. Whether the tea would actually work was hard to say, but he supposed if nothing else his thoughts were not quite as loud or as distracting as before. He finished off the remains of his drink and nudged the cup towards Tenshi. Perhaps he would settle better this time, second time the charm or so the saying went.

"I appreciate it." He then said, looking at her for a moment with glowing, unblinking eyes.