Chapter Text
Yes, Tatsuhi travelled around with an entire tea set. Yes, it made things more difficult on the long run. No, he was not about to drop the habit. In fact, right now he was thanking himself for his stubborn ways.
Stereotypical or not, a good honest homebrewed tea has always helped him calm his nerves. He often spent the nights before competitions making tea to regain his balance and bring out the best possible version of himself. He decided that this morning he would do something similar, only with a twist. At dawn, after making sure Rory was sound asleep, Tatsuhi snuck out of the hut and scouted out possible locations. He looked for a hidden and peaceful spot in the forest that was hopefully still pretty close to the beach, so they wouldn’t get lost in the jungle. Once he found a clearing at the base of a massive tree that had its roots wrapped around a clean spot, he quickly dug a hole in the ground where his kettle would fit in, and lined it with flat round rocks. Memorizing the route, Tatsuhi rushed back to the shack, before Rory would wake up.
Unfortunately, he was late on that front. Rory was already wide awake by the time he got back, the young Aussie was sitting rather listlessly on his bed. His eyes were once again hidden behind his crest completely. He still managed to look genuinely startled when Tatsuhi stepped inside.
- Tats! You…?
- Still here! I just searched something – Tatsuhi huffed, dusting himself off. – I have idea for a good program!
- Get me on a whale and leave? – Rory asked crestfallen.
- No, no! How you say—bloody hell no! – Tatsuhi frowned at him.
Rory actually burst out laughing at this. It was short and definitely not as unrestrained and carefree as just two days earlier, but it was something.
- Okay, didn’t see that one coming, mate – Rory regained his composure, smiling sadly. – I thought you left. Wouldn’t have blamed ya.
- Nonsense. Why would I leave? – Tatsuhi shook his head. – Want see—want to see the program?
- While we wait for the disqualification? Sure. I want to get out just… don’t know where – Rory admitted tiredly, hauling himself off his bed. – But I’m… not really feeling surfing today, mate.
- No, not surfing. Making tea! – Tatsuhi proudly pulled out his big sack from the wardrobe, presenting it as if it was treasure.
In a way it was. This set had been passed down in his family for four generations now, and it had all the necessary parts for proper, real tea making. He added a full water sack and some diced mangoes and squids to the pack, stuff he had collected from the beach a day ago without any real plan outside of snacking in peace. Now they would serve a much better purpose.
-… Tea? – Rory tilted his head to the side in confusion.
- Yes. Tea! We have whole ceremony for it, called chanoyu – Tatsuhi nodded dead serious. – I will show you a shorter version. Help you calm down.
- I, uh…. I’m not sure how tea can help, mate…
- Have you ever tried chanoyu?
- Hell, I barely drank tea in my life…
Tatsuhi bristled at the very notion that there could be penguins out there who do not drink tea on the regular, but he pushed the bewilderment of that realization aside for now.
- Then do you not want to try? It is a good practice – he offered instead.
Rory stared at him for a few moments, before sighing loudly and shrugging:
- Sure, I guess. Not much else to do, huh?
Tatsuhi was about to walk out the door, but Rory stopped him:
- But like… aren’t ceremonies important, mate? I know Japanese are big on tradition, but I have never even held a kettle in my life. I don’t—I don’t want to mess even this up.
Tatsuhi smiled warmly at his friend.
- We appreciate all who wish to learn or just try it out – he assured him. – And it won’t be proper chanoyu. We need traditional tearoom and lots of things for that. It will be something to help you calm down.
- Therapy apparently didn’t help, mate…
- Therapy did help. You just need reminder. Now come!
They skirted along the jungle’s edge, avoiding everyone. Thankfully very few penguins were awake at this hour, mostly shopkeepers who were busy setting up their wares for the day. The clearing was hidden in semi-darkness, the rising sun had no chance to shine inside yet. It was comfortably cool and silent, it could have passed for the garden that was supposed to be around a chanoyu tearoom. Tatsuhi found it ironic that out of the two of them, Rory was more concerned with keeping traditions. The older Japanese felt this was one of those situations where formalities had to be sacrificed for results, hopefully. This wasn’t chanoyu, it was… chanoyu lite! Or chanoyu adjacent, or something. Who cared even.
- So! – Tatsuhi turned to Rory as he set his bag down. – Do you know what the point of chanoyu is?
-… Making tea? – Rory scratched his head.
- Yeeess. But more important than that, it is about harmony, balance, patience, purity and hospitality – Tatsuhi explained as he took out the various tools and ingredients, and motioned Rory to sit down as well.
He had brought three cups, a smaller assortment of teas, two wooden dipper spoons, a tea scoop (chashaku) that looked like a small wooden hook, and two tea whisks (chasen). Most of these extra tools were meant to be spares, but now their numbers were perfect for the occasion.
- How does that work? – Rory asked, looking over the tea set.
- We go through very familiar motions and use familiar tools. But more importantly we take it slow and we enjoy the company in the meantime. Now… here, put coal into the pit please and light it on fire. I will prepare food in the meantime.
He handed a smaller sack to Rory who uncertainly peaked into it.
- Just… just dump it in? – he asked then.
- Some penguins like to arrange it into shapes. Put it in however you’d like it to look!
- But… isn’t it going to burn anyway?
- Oh it will. We will even put the kettle over it – Tatsuhi smiled as he was arranging the mango and squid bits into three small bowls. – All this is more about the—the action itself than what trace it leaves. It is a bit like surfing. We don’t leave tracks and trenches in the water, it is what we do on the wave in the moment that counts, yes?
- Right, right – Rory looked back down at the sack.
He almost comically slowly pulled out a wooden pair of pincers from it, and started putting the pieces of coal into the pit Tatsuhi had prepared at dawn. Honestly, the whole scene looked like Rory was trying to diffuse a bomb that could blow at any moment, but Tatsuhi did not rush him. Instead he filled the kettle with water. Rory ended up forming a set of concentric circles out of the coal pieces. Simple as it looked, it immediately reminded Tatsuhi of all those incredible Aboriginal paintings and drawings he had seen and heard about before.
- Does it mean anything? – he asked out of curiosity, pointing at the circles.
- For aboriginals, it usually means a campsite, or a watering hole. That’s what they told me – Rory explained.
He then took chipped off coal pieces and arranged them into two U shapes on either side of the pit, with their tips pointing towards it.
- And those mean penguins.
- Us – Tatsuhi nodded.
Rory smiled uncertainly at him, then started a small fire and let the artwork smother under the kettle. While they waited for the water to boil, Tatsuhi offered the three small bowls to Rory.
- We call it kaiseki – he explained. – Small food to eat before the tea. We make kaiseki that, uhm… reflects the season, yes? This reflects Pen Gu well.
- Don’t you want to eat, mate? – Rory tried to push the bowls back but Tatsuhi shook his head.
- Eat, Rory. You need it.
The young Aussie sighed and quickly finished the dishes. He was clearly hungry, even if he refused to admit it.
- So what did therapy teach you about controlling anger? – the Japanese asked, glancing at the kettle.
- Bloody nothing, clearly – Rory grumbled under his beak, setting the bowls down.
- That is no true, and you know it. It worked for years, it still works. Just remember back, and tell me what they told you. You don’t need do them right now, just list them – Tatsuhi pressed.
Rory leaned back on his flippers with a loud huff, staring up at the canopy of the tree.
- A’right, a’right – he gave in. – I guesss, one was physical exercise. Surfing got that covered, and also my job. Beating up boxsacks and dummies can be relieving, yeah. I don’t break stuff that way.
- Go on – Tatsuhi nodded.
- There were also… relaxation techniques. Deep breathing from the diaphragm, thinking of relaxed memories, scenarios, murmuring calming phrases and mantras, stuff like that, ya know. Tone down hyperbolic language and thoughts, think more realistically, don’t punish myself for messing up. Stop demanding. Express my problem clearly with words, without throwing stuff around or telling others to get stuffed directly or indirectly. Shut my goddamn beak for a sec and think and listen. Use daft light-hearted humor. Write annoying stuff down or make a little figurine or something, and then destroy that and only that… Yeah, those.
- They don’t sound like “nothing” – Tatsuhi pointed out smiling.
- Yeh nah, they ain’t! – Rory snorted with humor.
The kettle finally boiled, so Tatsuhi handed over one of the dipper spoons.
- First we pour water in the cups, then we, uhm… use these, the chasen – he explained as he held up the tea whisks. – That purifies the cup and the chasen, then we pour it out. You can do those two cups.
Rory nodded along, no longer questioning the method. He poured the water rather directly, while Tatsuhi made a little ritual moveset with his dipper spoon, drawing a small circle as he poured into his cup.
- So how did ya guys come up with this whole thing? – Rory asked as they were whisking the cup. – The ceremony, I mean.
He sounded less troubled, Tatsuhi noted with great relief.
- Oh it has a long history – he waved with his free flipper. – It took a long time for everyone to drink tea, not just nobles. But nobles liked making it into big occasion, fancy ceremony. Then a wise penguin, a tea master created chanoyu, that made the ceremony simple, more about harmony, hospitality and spirituality.
- Japanese really do like spiritual stuff – Rory smiled as the poured they water out on the ground in unison. – Why is that? If it’s okay to ask, mate.
- Not sure why – Tatsuhi shrugged lightly. – We grow up in it. It… it gives uhm, point of reference in life, almost. It brings penguins together, makes us remember those long gone. It teaches us to respect all around us, because all are part of spirituality. It makes life… more colorful, yes? It’s not really one faith, it is more… a faith in the whole world around you.
- Sounds nice – Rory answered, clearly lost in thought.
- Now, for tea. I have matcha, it is powdered green tea, and I have mugicha – it is, uhm… grain? No, no, barley tea, yes! It is for calming, very nice – Tatsuhi gestured at the small tea containers by his side. – Which one would you like?
Rory stared at the containers, then huffed:
- Hell, that barley tea sounds great right about now.
Tatsuhi was hoping he would choose that, only he had not wished to push it onto the young Aussie.
- Right. And… which would Millie like? – he asked then carefully.
Rory was stunned by the question. He stared at Tatsuhi, then stared at the third cup on his right, then back to Tatsuhi. He then burst out in a relieved laughter:
- Aw bloody hell, mate, really? I didn’t even realize! You really thought of her!
- Spirituality – Tatsuhi raised a flipper, smiling warmly. – I believe she is with you. I believe you honor her. It is good that you and your friends keep her close.
- Aw, that’s… that’s really sweet of ya, deadset, mate – Rory snickered bittersweetly, wiping his eyes quickly. – Thank you, Tats. Really, thank you. Y-yeah, she would like barley too, I think.
They put small metal nets into the two cups and Tatsuhi poured the roasted barley into them, just enough to cover the bottom of the cups well. For himself, he made matcha. He would need the caffeine for the day ahead. So he took the hook-like tea spoon, the chashaku and scooped up a neat little pile from his container. With the new dose of hot water in place, they began whisking their teas once again.
- Whatcha say, girl? – Rory chuckled, glancing up at the sky. – Real Japanese tea making stuff, on a tropical island paradise! Never believed you’d see anything like it, eh?
- Each chanoyu is meant to be once-a-life occasion – Tatsuhi smiled, turning his tea into a bright green liquid. – I am glad I can share it with you.
- I’m grateful you did, mate! – Rory smiled back.
While they waited for the tea to be fully ready, Tatsuhi pressed on the previous subject:
- Do you have faith?
Rory looked over the forest, once again leaning back on his flippers.
- Not sure, mate – he admitted then slowly. – Definitely don’t believe in no god, deadset. Sorry.
- No need for sorry – Tatsuhi shrugged. – I am just curious.
- I just… I don’t know, mate. If there was a god out there, they shouldn’t have allowed Millie to… to leave, ya know? And they should have struck me down bloody ages ago, before I finally got dragged out of the gutter by therapy.
- Maybe they gave you a second chance?
- I didn’t deserve a second chance, Tats – Rory stated firmly, looking back at his friend. – But I got it anyway. Weird how the world works. So no, no gods, no praying, no nothing. But I… me and my mates, we want to believe penguins we love stick around, ya know? Maybe there is something after curtains. We want to hope we—we haven’t lost Millie entirely. Maybe she waits for us somewhere over the horizon. It’s something to hold onto.
- As all faith is – Tatsuhi nodded.
- Eh, true, true – Rory snorted.
With the tea ready, they carefully removed the dripping nets with the barley in it, and raised their cup with their right flipper to put it into their left. They rotated it around so the front wouldn’t face them. Rory quickly rotated Millie’s cup on the ground too.
- Cheers, Tats! Cheers, Millie! – he raised his drink slightly, sounding somber but light.
- Cheers, Rory! – Tatsuhi raised his own with a slight chuckle.
Got to have that Aussie spin on things. Truly a unique chanoyu, indeed.
Tatsuhi drank the matcha, feeling a sudden sense of relief, stability and home at the familiar taste. Damn, he missed Japan, he realized. But he was also so grateful to have been able to introduce a small part of it to Rory. The young penguin’s respect towards the ceremony, the culture, faith, aboriginals… towards everything different, really, warmed his heart. Respect wasn’t as common as it should have been, but Rory clearly had it in spades. It was saddening to learn what had brought about this mature, calm personality, but in a way it was still a fortunate find. It would serve Rory well in the future, Tatsuhi knew. And he hoped this small occasion would help it along the way just a little bit.
After the tea they just sat around and talked aimlessly. Surfing tricks, places they’ve been to, memorable penguins they’ve met, favorite food, anything. The sun was climbing ever higher in the sky, its rays now finding their way through the tree’s foliage. The forest became more colorful around them but the temperature barely rose anything. Eventually Rory lied back down on his back, staring up at the canopy, completely relaxed. Tatsuhi found it best to follow his example.
- Bloody hell, mate, you are a fair dinkum magician! – Rory chuckled freely. – I feel so light, a breeze could take me away. I needed this, thank you.
- The least I can do. I hoped it would help – Tatsuhi nodded with closed eyes, smiling to himself. – It is important to know how to fight against dark with the mind, not just with fist. And you already know a lot about both, you just needed reminder.
- Guess I did. Goddaaaamn.
They burst out in a light laughter that was slow to die down. Then they just lied there in comfortable silence, listening to the sounds of the forest, and the distant murmuring of the beach and its crowd.
All was good in the world once again.
- Oh yeah… I am so getting disqualified – Rory chuckled as a random thought occurred to him.
- Right next—no, no, wait. Eh, right behind you! – Tatsuhi waved tiredly, his English failing him.
Another round of laughter erupted at this.
Eventually, they finally got up, packing their stuff. Rory quickly downed Millie’s cold tea after offering it up to her one final time. Back at their shared hut, he also drank Millie’s shot.
- Hope you enjoyed your stay, girl. Be safe! – he murmured as he put the glass away.
Then they rushed out to the beach to meet their fate. Surprisingly few penguins actually turned to them or bothered with them in any way. Maybe it was the impending competition that swept the incident away, or the crowd just simply didn’t care, their attention occupied by the next big shiny thing. Tatsuhi was grateful for the peace they clearly didn’t deserve. Only once did they gain attention and it was from a smaller army of penguin chicks, rushing up to Rory.
- You beat up Tank, right? – a little girl chirped happily. – He didn’t dare to show his beak since then!
- That was so cool! – a small boy with black head and grey jumped up and down. – Can you teach us how to kick his butt? Can you, can you, can you?
- Tank hurt us a lot on the waves. We are sorry it happened to you too.
Rory quickly shushed the chicks, then crouched down to be closer to their eye level.
- Ey, not so loud! – he said. – Listen. What I did yesterday was really f-freaking bad! Understand that first, a’right?
- Tank is a big bully, he deserved it! – the black-headed chick argued.
- I get it, you hate him, you are damn right to hate him – Rory waved it away. – But we do not beat penguins up just because we don’t like them! We beat them up only if we need to defend ourselves. Otherwise we become the very same as Tank. Do you kids really want that?
- But you defended your friend!
- He did – Tatsuhi nodded briskly.
- I should have just pushed Tank away, yeh? – Rory shook his head. – What I did was wrong, I should not have beaten him up. Do not act like me. Ever. Got it? Be better!
- But… you won’t teach us then? – the girl asked, crestfallen.
Rory stood up with a sigh.
- I’m sorry, little lady. I don’t think I will stay much longer on this island anyway. But I’m glad I got to see it at least. You have a fair dinkum place here, yeh?
The chicks snickered at the strange words, as Rory waved them goodbye with a small smile. The two adults went along their way, looking for anyone that looked like an organizer or something close to it.
- Rob and Kelly ain’t it, they are from tv – Rory mumbled to himself, scanning the crowd.
- We should go to the lead then – Tatsuhi offered.
- Eugh, that otter piece of crap?
- Got better idea?
- Yeh nah, mate, I hear you. Let’s find him.
If one thing could be said about Reggie, it was he was never hard to find. He was either doing interviews, or bossing Mike Abromowitz around or hanging out in the crowd, riling them up, or most likely lazing around in the shade. Who would have guessed, it was the latter. On the far end of the beach, Reggie was sitting in his bar stool-like chair under a shade, drinking a cocktail from the coconut. He seemed to be unmoving, but his intelligent and far too sharp eyes were darting around the crowd constantly. Whether he was merely seizing things up, thinking of the newest hype or something else, was hard to tell. He wasn’t a pleasant personality, by all accounts, but he was undoubtedly intelligent in business and marketing.
- Nandayo – Tatsuhi exhaled loudly, bracing himself.
- Yeh nah, mate, we got this! – Rory slightly slapped him in the back as they walked towards Reggie, whose eyes were already on them.
- Eyyy, if it isn’t the brawling champions! – the otter smiled far too widely as he sat up straight, opening his arms.
Tatsuhi bowed his head while Rory briskly nodded:
- G’day, ma—Mr. Belafonte.
- Ayyyy, so formal! I don’t like formalities, buddy! We are all friends here! – Reggie waved the greetings away.
- Right, well… we were just wandering when I’m getting my disqualification, ya know? So what’s up with that? – Rory cut to the chase immediately.
- And mine too? – Tatsuhi very quickly chimed in, pointedly ignoring the glare Rory was giving him.
-… The hell are you two talking about? – Reggie stared at them as if they sprouted another head on the spot.
- The, uh… the fight? Yesterday? – Tatsuhi asked, just as confused.
- Yeah, what about it?
- I beat up a fellow competitor! That’s against rules, ain’t it? – Rory pressed, sounding just a tad bit annoyed.
- Oh yeah! Maybe—whatever! – Reggie gestured wildly. – The crowd loved it, buddy! It was just the kind of shake-up we needed on the second day!
- Tank could have gotten seriously hurt…
- But he didn’t! He’ll get over it, don’t worry about that! And there was excitement for the whole night after that! I see it as a big win – Reggie laughed then very theatrically winked at the two penguins. – Just watch your backs on the waves, alright? Tank might be furious. Or he might be cowering! Who knows?
- So… no disqualifications? – Tatsuhi asked, still unable to process the information.
The callousness of the otter just stunned him to his core.
- Nope! Enjoy the competition! And put up a great show a second time as well, will ya? – Reggie slumped back down in his chair and reached for his cocktail, considering the matter over and done with.
Rory and Tatsuhi glanced at each other, then beat a hasty retreat. They fell back to the edge of the beach, under some palm trees.
- Bloody hell, that bludger! – Rory mumbled, more stunned than angry.
- I… I can not believe it either – Tatsuhi stammered. – Is this… is this good or bad? I can not decide…
- Yeh nah, me neither, mate. It’s so weird! I beat up his elite guy! How is he not kicking our rears with both feet?!
- He should, he should, but… I guess, money and marketing over others?
-… Ya know, that makes sense, Tats. Too much sense.
- Should… should we still step back?
- Hell nah, not you, mate! I told you, you did nothing wrong! If anyone steps back, I will!
- Rory, that is not fair – Tatsuhi frowned at the younger.
- How the hell is it not fair, mate? All you did was minding ya own damn business, and the bastard started messing with ya! I flew off the rails, not you! – Rory snapped back.
They shared an annoyed staring contest, until finally Rory backed down and turned away with a massive sigh:
- So… it is either the both of us, or neither of us, eh?
- Right. We are together in this – Tatsuhi nodded briskly, smoothing down the feathers on his belly.
- Bloody hell, mate.
- So do we step back?
- Hell nah, I am not ruining your competition like that! – Rory exclaimed. – We are staying in, damnit!
- A big contest is worthy of a try, at least – Tatsuhi agreed, smiling widely.
Rory let out an annoyed huff. Then he very obviously paused, snapped his head up, and grinned like a crocodile. Tatsuhi realized the warning signs too late.
- Aaaa’right, mate! – Rory stood in front of him with a big grin. – Since we are in this together, and you didn’t allow me to forfeit… I demand a head noogie!
- Aaaaa no! No! – Tatsuhi laughed nervously, backing away.
- Yeh nah yeh, mate! It’s Aussie tradition! Scares bad luck spirits away!
- It so doesn’t!
- Okay, I just made that stuff up, but it is tradition in my house! – Rory laughed loudly, opening his flippers wide. – Come on, mate! This calls for one!
Oh hell, he wasn’t going to get out of this one. Tatsuhi couldn’t help the snicker escaping him as he relented and slightly bowed his head. Might as well get over with it. The next second he was tackled by the laughing Rory who hugged his neck with one wing, pulled him by his side and gave him a firm but surprisingly not painful noogie. The Aussie quickly let go of him, allowing him to straighten up before hugging him.
- I’m so glad I could meet ya, mate! Honestly! – Rory said with pure joy.
- I am glad I could meet you too, friend – Tatsuhi smiled as he returned the embrace.
It’s been a damn long time since he’d made friends he allowed this close physically, but this one felt well-earned. Rory’s hug was tight but mindful, the sheer strength hidden within that stubby body could be felt clearly.
They rushed back down to the beach to join the crowd. The sky was clear, the sun shone bright, and the waves were perfect as always. On the way down, Rory spotted Tank peeking out of his home at the edge of the beach. As their eyes met, Tank immediately disappeared with a fearful gasp.
- Bloody hell, I need to do this – Rory grumbled, his mood souring immediately.
He changed course towards the hut and Tatsuhi followed along without objections. He had full faith in the young Aussie.
- Ey! EY! Tank! Show your beak, bludger! – Rory shouted at the leaf curtain, which ironically sported the words “Keep out or DIE” in white and red paint.
- Leave me alone, freak! – came the muffled shout from inside.
- A fair request – Tatsuhi pointed out gently.
- Yeh nah, this ain’t that day – Rory scoffed before raising his voice. – Look, Tank, at the latest you’ll see me on the wave! You ain’t getting rid of me, might as well face me now, will ya?!
- Oh yeah?! – Tank finally tossed the curtains aside and marched out to tower over Rory. – Well, I’ve been training, punk! You want a piece of this now?!
He was clearly trying to be intimidating, but his wide open eyes betrayed his fear. Still, he was standing up to Rory in the moment, which was a commendable show of bravery.
- Yeh nah, a day of working out wouldn’t make a difference, ya drongo. But I came to apologize, not to start another fight.
- Well, let’s go then, y—Wait, what?!
- I apologize for attacking you, Tank – Rory pronounced it very slowly and clearly, staring up at the other without flinching. – You are a piece of trash, make no mistake. You bully and hurt everyone around you, and I have seen what tragedies that can cause down the line. You raised a wing against my mate Tats who had done precisely nothing to ya. Believe you me, someone would have kicked your head in eventually for all this. But it shouldn’t have been me. I overreacted and went way overboard. I apologize for that. It was wrong of me.
Tank kept staring at Rory, his lower beak hanging open. The Aussie was also getting visibly uncomfortable with the situation at the lack of any reaction.
- Perhaps… now you know how it feels to be hurt, maybe you should try being better. Before you cause truly big harm. No? – Tatsuhi good-naturedly offered from behind Rory, trying to strike a friendly tone.
It took Tank a whole minute to finally find his voice and answer:
- You two are hella weird. Stay away from me, freaks!
And with that, he turned on his heels and practically flung himself behind the curtain again. Rory and Tatsuhi looked at each other, then they shrugged and continued their way down to the beach proper. There was nothing else left, except to enjoy their time on Pen Gu finally and prepare for the contest ahead.
- Would you like to surf? – Tatsuhi grinned at his friend.
- Ha! Sure thing, mate! We’re gonna rock the competition so hard! – Rory slapped his flippers together with great anticipation. – And after that… hell, I might teach the ankle biters a few tricks afterall!
- You can teach me as well. I could use a few lessons.
- Just ask, any time! – Rory exclaimed proudly, before grabbing Tatsuhi’s wing and dragging him towards their hut. – But now the waves await, mate! Let’s go!
Tatsuhi followed without objections. Afterall, what a beautiful clear day it was on the surf paradise of Pen Gu Island, it would be a waste to let it pass by! Let alone when he had such good company to spend it with.