~ Perfect Blossom Tea Room ~

[RingoW]

Lieutenant Inuye Toshi opened the door made a step in and was throwing a look into the rooms. In the dimmed light he could notice several guests, all in KNF uniforms. The air was filled with a slight and fine aroma of herbs and spices and he took a deep breath. Spare decorations in the alcovens rounded up the nice atmosphere.

'So this is the Perfect Blossom Tea Room' he spoke to himself with a chilled smile.

On his way to the bar he was greeting the present officers. He knew none of them and none of them showed to much interest in the new Lieutenant. So he recognized, privacy is the most important thing in these rooms.

"Ah always a pleasure to see a new face among the KNF officers. What can i bring you?" he was greeted by the barkeeper.

"A green tea. Thanks."

He was throwing another look into the rooms from his place on the bar. The other officers made a chilled impression but there was something in their faces. Some kind of mourning and they were quiet. His look was wnadering back to the barkeeper, who filled hot water in a glas with green tea leaves and additionally a tiny peace of a vanilla husk.

"I thought there is enough vanilla aroma in the air." he was kidding to the barkeeper, when he brought the tea after filtering the rehash into another glas.

"Nah, it is different you will taste."

"What is with the officers here. They are quiet or do whispering and it seems they are in a bad mood. What happened?

"These are officers of Minister Tebayais flagship. He was assassinated on a mission and they failed to investigate the incident, which lead to his death. Also there was no state funeral, where they could give a farewellment. The funeral was held in privacy with family members only."

"Ah, to be honest, i never heard much about Minister Tebayai. Just noticed the message about his death in the KNF reports."

"Only a few had knowledge about him. About his person and about his tasks. Rarely i saw him here. Only when he came to transmit tasks to present officers, even Admiral Sulu, and to drink a tea."

"Seems you know a lot of things not many know." Toshi was kidding again.

"Well, i'm a barkeeper. I'm supposed to know a lot of things." the barkeeper said with a blink.
"But i do absolutely know nothing about you Lieutenant. Normally i know all Lieutenants of the KNF, even a lot ensigns."

"Not much to say. I'm not long a Lieutenant and as an ensign i thought to be not honoured enough to come here and we had much action. To much. I get the feeling it was becomming worster since i'm a Lieutenant, but finally i want to visit this place at least once. Everyday can be the last and i have faced the death more than one time. The wind has changed and Kusari isn't longer the place i know from my childhood. Also the KNF duty isn't longer something my father and grandfather told me."

"The war against Bretonia has changed many things and to be honest, i think it is a mistake." the barkeeper was countering. "Before the war many bretonian officers came here when they were on fleet visitings. They have the same brave and straight officers as Kusari has. What ever might be there in the Taus, i hope it is worth all the lives that have been spent."

Inuye Toshi was shaking his head slightly. "Maybe, i never met bretonians outside a battle and it isn't the war. The frontlines were becoming quiet after the first offensives. No. I was speaking about the situation within Kusari. Something must have been changed with the Blood Dragons. My father often told me about his encounters with Blood Dragons. More than one time both sides were equal and after some minutes with no advantage for one side they hailed eachother and returned to the bases. Thes fights were fights of true Samurais, but now. Which deamon ever has beaten the Blood Dragons they fight til the bitter end and are taking use of all twilight individuums they can pull on their side for credits. And what they are fighting for? Their Shogun and founder are dead a long time, while Kusari has changed to a more liberate colony.

The barkeeper lifted his brews." Kusari is far away to be that perfect colony you want to speak of, Lieutenant and the influence of Samura to our government is not good. I guess all problems we have within our colony are staying and falling with Samura, at least the head of Samura, because i also know a lot of honest Samura employees."

"I know it isn't perfect, but when i look to Liberty with their governmental oppression or Rheinland with their bankrupt economy, Kusari is a much better place. Btw, are you not in fear, when speaking your opinion out loud so free? Someone could get the impression of you, beeing a symphatisant of the Blood Dragons."

The barkeeper was showing an odd smile. "You have started to claim Kusari a more liberate colony. So i took the opportunity to speak freely and i'm the barkeeper here long before you was born Lieutenant. I have seen Shoguns and Admirals comming and going and all officers which do know me, are aware of my political opinion."

"You are indeed, a strange barkeeper." Toshi said with a wink of his eyes.

"I'll take this as a compliment. Now i have to take care about my other guests and i must be prepared for a KNF staff meeting tonight. Was nice to speak with you Lieutenant and you are always welcome, especially if you don't know where to go and bring all new officers with you. I must be updated." The barkeeper took a tablet with drinks for the other officers, but turned back to Inuye Toshi. "A word of advise, Lieutenant. There is a certain officer within the KNF. Even though he is a gaijin, he has a kind of wisdom you should listen to."
Has said it and was bringing the drinks to the other officers.

Toshi pulled some credits out of his wallet and placed them near the empty glas before he was leaving to return for duty 'Should he really have meant ensign Hoaxley?' he thought. 'It can't be. This funny, crazy ensign and wisdom? Well, we'll see.'