Every step. Every motion was like therapy to the young Genin.
Grinding up one kind of leaf in a well used mortar and pestle, turning the dried greenery in to musty smelling crumbs. Cutting off the bad part of the flowers with almost unnerving precision, leaving nothing wasted. She even put her steady hand against the cool metal of the kettle, focusing the chakra in to her skilled fingers to heat up the water to exactly the right temperature. Not a degree past boiling point. And still, all the while she watched her hands through a distant memory, going by feel alone. There was a time once before when this was all like a foreign language where she would stumble along, stringing out what she believed to be right despite the obvious flaws in her practice. But hours of relentless repetition and many bad after tastes, her fluency was only outmatched by the sweet older gentleman who saved her time....and time agan.
Five minutes of meticulous handiwork, and Tenmei walked over to the table where he was standing with two clay mugs, balanced in one hand and the tea pot in the other. The young Genin had already left it to settle for the exact seconds counted in her head. With a content, half smile she placed her fingers on the lid and poured them in, with an added half spoon of sugar and a quarter pinch of cinnamon.
This special blend was to help with her anxieties, a remedy to the eternal build up of nerves that trembled her being. There was however, another reason why she chose this blend. The way he averted his gaze, stuttered with his words, turned his whole body so it was closed off, coldly away from her. The signs were unmistakable in her silvery conflicted eyes. He needed this as much as she did.
"...I want to feel your hands."
Barely a sip in to her drink, and she was forced to place the warm mud clay cup, back on to the table, matching the small ring stain once again with a small smile on her faded rose lips. He reminded her of another awkward little boy she once knew, hinting at a pleasant memory to add to the slightly bitter taste of the warming tea. Slowly, she raised her hands, getting ready to do as he asked but pulled back when he hurriedly corrected himself. No sooner had she done that though, he placed two bracelets on the table where she was going to reach....and boy were they beautiful.
In her years of traveling, Tenmei had come in contact with many treasures. Rings, necklaces, chains, she had seen all manner of prized possessions come and go while traveling with the old man. But these....these she had never seen before. They held a strange, curiously delicate shine with a near aztec feeling to it. And with that came an intriguing feeling that drew her slightly trembling fingers towards the cool silver metal, feeling around the smooth edges without actually touching it. Maybe it was the flutter of fright she with held in her chest, or the ever so subtle pull of cat like curiosity. But for longest of moments, a held breath, and she just rested her hands on the reassuring wooden surface. As much as she wanted to touch the item she may have imagined in a far away dream, Tenmei refrained. They might not even be for her.
"They're....stunning. What are they? I mean I know what they are but, what do they do?" This was the third question on her mind, but the only one she managed to find a voice to. The others would have seemed ruined and she was brought up better than to demand things of a house hold guest, even if they were sitting around a hotel room like friends drinking tea and sharing nervousness.
"I...don't know what else to say. They look....I mean, I am still cooling down from the battle and I would hate to tarnish such handiwork. Where did you get them?"
Once again, her voice trailed away from her thoughts which had drifted back to wanting to see the items closer. They looked expensive and new and surely he was only here as a team mate to show off what he had discovered. After all, she had hurt someone today. Badly burnt them. Nearly killed them. Who would want to gift someone like that?