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“She was sitting in a meadow beneath a beautiful bright cherry blossom tree..the sun warm on her face as he leaned in …………”
She awoke from the dream with a smile on her face as the real daylight intruded to wake her from her slumber. She opened her eyes…”today was going to a good day”.

She got out from under the silk covers and stretched. Looking out the window at the shadow from the tree she gauged she had time for a quick kata and meditation before she needed to start her plan. She smiled as she ran thru what to say and how to get what she wanted accomplished today. Kata aside, her meditation seemed useless. She could not concentrate. She dressed quickly and decided to head out. Grabbing her book she concentrated on the proper stone and was transported to Poet’s Garden Freehold….
….and practically landed in his lap!

He ran off a bit in surprise. When she asked if she had hurt him , he replied to her shock,
“ I just did not wish for you to spit on me.”

“Sp..spit on you????” This had peaked her curiosity. She really wanted to know what this was about. He explained about what Poet had told him. If a lady sits close or stands close to you it’s so she can spit on you. When she explained that she would never do such, ladies do not spit, he quietly reached down and tightened his boot laces and headed inside. She caught up with him outside the hall to Poet’s room and asked him to not do any more harm to Poet. He agreed but then produced a list of things he was given to do to win over the lady. She took it quickly and scanned the more then fifty suggestions. Some were so outrageous she had to blush! She crumpled the list into her hands and threw it to the floor.
Without saying a word she pulled out her quarter staff and stormed down the hall. She pushed in Poets door. He was gone, smart move on his part.
She turned around to see Tai-san laughing. She had to laugh to. Once again Poet had tried to trick him and once more he had failed. She walked over and retrieved the list from the floor and rolled it up tightly to place in her pack with her staff.

“This time, he is a step behind.” she said quietly to herself.
She shared pleasantries for a few moments with Tai-san. He showed her his marking upon his hand. She took his hand to trace the flames on his fingers. He did not speak and seemed to be holding his breath. She released his hand when it seemed he would pass out. She then frowned as she spoke of the tea ceremony classes she was planning. “Now to get him to agree” she thought to herself.

“There is a problem?” he asked as he caught his breath.
“Hai. Somewhat. I need to practice” she replied “It has been a long time since I observed a tea ceremony” “I am sure you are so much wiser then me in this having lived amongst the monks?”
“I could assist you, but I have never shared in the tea ceremony with a woman” he replied with a nervous blush. They discussed it and he said he would help her and he was free this very morning. With that agreed upon she gave him a stone to her home where he could meet her to “practice”. She left with a pleased smile. This had been easier then she thought to accomplish. She almost wondered if he knew.
He arrived shortly and in good time they had entered the tea room. She began the ritual of heating the water and cleaning the utensils required. He inspected them and found them in good order. She continued with the ritual of measuring the tea powder and pouring the hot water. As she used the whisk to stir the tea, he took her hand and helped her correct the posture. She smiled at him. She stood then handing him the bowl of tea and bowed to him. He turned the bowl once so not to drink from the front. Took a sip and gave thanks for the honor of sharing tea with her. Then he took another sip. He bowed as he handed her the tea bowl.
She turned it once, took a sip and thanked him for honoring her home and herself with his presence. She took the final sip. She asked him to kneel on the pillows again and went back to the ritual of cleaning the bowl, whisk and tea scoop. She again placed them before him to inspect.
It was over. They had shared the tea. He complimented her on her skill. She looked at him and she knew now she must tell him the truth. She told him in a quiet voice that she was a master trained in the tea ceremony and prayed he was not angry that she had asked him here. He smiled at her. He was not angry. . He knew the significance of sharing the tea with her alone. He had completed the requirement to court her.. She knew then that perhaps in this matter he had outsmarted her…. but better yet he had outsmarted Poet.

As they made their way out of the tea room, she remembered the wedding Poet was to performed that night.
This evening should be very interesting she thought as she reached in her bag to find the parchment.... very interesting indeed. Poet needed to be spoken to. Who better to assist her then Cat .......