Chapter three
"This is just beautiful."
"Don't encourage him, Carter."
Sam smiled as Daniel rolled his eyes and shook his head sadly. After they had agreed to stay for the tea ceremony Tsuyayaka had lead them to a secluded garden that was surrounded by a small bamboo forest. Sam walked over to the edge of the near by pond that held a pleasant waterfall. Brightly colour koi swam up to her and mouthed at the surface hungrily. Their round mouths held long flowing barbs of flesh at each corner.
"These fish have whiskers." Sam noted.
"When the koi turn into dragons they keep those whiskers," Daniel said as he joined Sam by the pond "which is why Asian dragons have them, they were once all koi that managed to swim up and over the Dragon's Gate waterfall."
"Daniel," Jack sighed "the amount of useless information in your head astonishes me."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"It's not."
Daniel narrowed his eyes slightly but just as quickly brushed off Jack's comment. Sam often wondered what it would really take to get under Daniel's skin, he never seemed to get truly angry no matter how much Jack baited him. He always seemed to just shrug it off.
"Colonel O'Neill." Teal'c grumbled.
"Yeah?"
"We are being watched."
"Is that so?"
Teal'c nodded and looked over in the direction of the house they had watched the play in. Up on the tiled roof was a slender man with a strong build watching them. He made no attempt to hide or pretend to look away. In his hand he held a long spear with what looked to be a white horse tail attached to it just below the knife shaped point. However it was his odd clothing that caught Jack's attention first.
"Daniel, care to explain why a man in a Speedo is watching us?"
"It's not a Speedo, it's a fundoshi. Traditional Japanese underwear."
"Okay, why is a man in his underwear watching us?"
"That I can't answer. I'm guessing he's a guard of some sort. Don't worry about him."
"What if he throws that spear at us?"
"I'd suggest stepping aside." Daniel shrugged. "It's not a throwing spear, it's a yari used for close combat and since you still have your gun I think you can win if he decides to pick a fight with us."
Jack thought about this for a moment and realized that Daniel had a point. He still had Teal'c keep an eye on their watcher. Daniel was undisturbed by the armed man and instead walked over to a stone basin that had a little cup with a long straight handle, both carved of ivory. He drew a cup of the water and took a sip before using the rest to rinse his hands. He dipped the cup back in the clear water and offered it to Sam.
"It's okay, I'm not thirsty."
"It's tradition to rinse your mouth and hands before the ceremony." Daniel explained.
"Ah, in that case."
"This is silly." Jack commented as Sam handed him the cup.
"Humour me, Jack." Daniel said.
"I've been humouring you since I met you."
"Jack…what has gotten into you?" Daniel asked seriously. "I mean we rarely see eye to eye, but you're not usually this confrontational about it. All of a sudden I can't say anything without you barking at me."
"This place gives me the creeps."
"It's beautiful and peaceful here."
"Yeah, maybe that's what's wrong with it."
Before the argument could escalate Tsuyayaka came back into the garden to let Daniel know that everything was ready for the ceremony. She had given up on addressing anyone else and only offered the others shallow bows. Their host led them down the roji, literally 'dewy path', a beautiful garden path that held lush plants. The tea house was a small building with a high pitched roof with black tiles on it.
At the doorless entryway Daniel told everyone to take off their shoes. Once inside Tsuyayaka led Daniel to the place of honour in front of the small square hearth that was set into the bamboo floor. He knelt on the floor in the traditional seiza position which caused Tsuyayaka to smile. Daniel asked the others to join him and to just do as he did without question.
Tsuyayaka knelt on the far side of the hearth. She had a few instruments in front of her including a whisk and a spoon, each of which was cleaned and placed in order on the floor in from of her. After wiping out a thin walled bowl with a linen cloth she picked up an ivory spoon and placed a fine green powder in it from a gold box. She filled the ornate bowl with hot water from a cast iron pot that was in the hearth. The pot had a detailed dragon etched into its side. Picking up the whisk she began to mix the power and water into a light green tea.
"Daniel," Jack whispered "that doesn't look like any tea I've ever seen."
"It's 'matcha'." Daniel hissed in return. "It's powdered green tea."
"If it's drugged I'm going to kill you."
"It's not drugged."
"Is she going to drink first?"
"No."
"Then how do you kno…"
"Sssh."
Jack did not enjoy being shushed, but he settled into silence. Tsuyayaka finished her tea making and offered the bowl to Daniel with both hands and a slight bow. Daniel returned the gesture and took the bowl, facing Jack he gave him a quick bow before lifting the bowl up slightly. He carefully turned the bowl in his hands so that he didn't drink from the side that had been offered to him and took a sip. He looked to Tsuyayaka and said a quick phrase in Japanese.
"To friendship and trust." Daniel repeated in English for the others.
Daniel took two more small sips before wiping the edge of the bowl with a cloth that Tsuyayaka handed him. He rotated the bowl back to its original position and with a shallow bow handed it to Jack. Forcing a smile Jack tried to mimic Daniel's motions before handing the bowl to Teal'c and from there to Sam. In the end Teal'c was the only who got the ceremony completely correct. Sam handed the bowl back to Tsuyayaka and their host cleaned the utensils. After they were clean Daniel asked to see them and began to pass the whisk to Jack.
"Pretend to look interested, it is polite." Daniel explained. "And be careful, these tend to be handmade family heirlooms."
"So I probably shouldn't spit on it?"
Daniel didn't grace Jack with a reply. After all of the instruments had been viewed by everyone Tsuyayaka gave them one final bow before leaving to put them away. Daniel looked around the simple room and smiled contently.
"So…how'd I do?" Jack teased.
"You forgot to bow and rotate the bowl, but other than that, not bad."
"Can we go home now?"
"I told Tsuyayaka we'd stay for dinner."
"Sushi?" Jack asked hopefully.
"Maybe."
"Excellent." Jack smiled brightly.
"You like sushi, Sir?" Sam asked.
"Love it."
The team was led back into the main house and to a simple dining room with a low table. Sitting on pillows once again they were offered some less formal tea. Tsuyayaka disappeared once again, presumably into the kitchen. Jack looked around, playing with the ebony chopsticks.
"I wonder who owns this house." Jack mused. "Does it seem odd to anyone else that there is just this single house here and that no one other than Tsunami has truly greeted us?"
"Tsuyayaka." Daniel corrected. "We're on an estate, Jack, there are other houses in the area they are just hidden from view away from the property and the house belongs to the daimyo."
"Okay, so where is he?"
"Out on business." Daniel replied instantly. "Tsuyayaka is in charge of the house hold while he is away and is treating us like honoured guests."
"How do you know that?"
"I used a time tested technique of 'Asking'."
"That never seems to work for me."
"Imagine that." Daniel said dryly.
Tsuyayaka returned to the table and sat on the far side. She and Daniel had a short conversation and for the first time their host chuckled. Several women dressed in fine silk came out with plates of food for the table. There was a sushi dish that had the finely sliced fish arranged on the plate to look like a bird. Everyone was given a small bowl of rice and a glass of thick guava juice.
"Once again we have a mix of cultures here." Daniel noted as food was served. "I see Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, and the guava juice and lack of water at the table is often a Taiwanese tradition."
"I still don't see why that matters." Jack said.
"I'm not sure that it does matter…it's just odd."
"Well now that I'm here I'm starving, is there a 'polite' way to eat this?"
"Just make sure you slurp your soup." Daniel smiled.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously."
"I can do that."
Jack and Daniel managed to put their previous tension aside and enjoyed the meal with the others. Sam spent a moment showing Teal'c how to use the chopsticks realizing that they had never taken him to a Chinese restaurant. Tsuyayaka joined them in the meal, however she said very little. Dinner was amazingly prepared and it wasn't long before everyone had eaten more than they had first planed on.
"Jack, don't stick your chopsticks upright in the rice like that, it's rude," Daniel informed "it looks too much like incense at a funeral."
"Just be grateful I haven't stuck them up my nose to show her my walrus impression."
"I'm extremely grateful, believe me."
Jack chuckled and reached over and removed his chopsticks from the rice and laid them down on his plate. The women returned and cleared the table before returning with small bowls of rice covered in an off white-yellow, mushy substance of some sort. Jack noticed the way that Daniel skin suddenly went ivory in colour.
"Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked. "Are you feeling ill?"
"Yeah, Daniel," Jack agreed "you suddenly look a little more pale than normal. What's up?"
Before Daniel could answer the dessert dishes were placed in front of them. Sam leaned forward with a delicate sniff and then reared back. Tsuyayaka giggled at Sam's reaction. Jack furrowed his brow and cautiously sniffed the dessert, but he didn't have the same aversion, to him it smelt almost of caramel.
"Daniel, what is this?"
"It's durian." Daniel sighed. "Sometimes called the King of Fruits."
"It smells…uh…unique." Sam commented as she looked at the dish warily.
"It is horrible. Tastes even worse." Daniel cringed. "In fact, it's not even a taste…it's an experience."
"What's it like?" Sam asked, clearly afraid of the answer.
"I don't know…uh…it's like…like being kicked in the face by an mule who has been walking through a rotting onion patch. Or like french kissing a zombie."
"Very poetic, Daniel." Sam forced a smile. "Do we have to eat it?"
"At the very least I shou…"
Daniel stopped and turned to look at Jack and Teal'c who were consuming the unusual dessert with what looked like true delight. Sam and Daniel both just stared at them in disbelief. Sam hesitantly picked up a small clump of durian soaked rice and brought it closer, but couldn't quite bring herself to try it. Jack noticed the look he was getting and paused his meal.
"What?"
"You like that?" Daniel asked.
"It's great, very sweet."
"Indeed." Teal'c agreed.
"Sir, you must have different taste buds than I do." Sam shook her head.
"It's good stuff." Jack looked at Daniel and smiled. "Come on, Daniel, don't be rude."
Daniel glared at Jack for a moment, but realized that Jack was right. Taking a deep breath was a mistake and just brought the fruit's rotting smell closer to his senses. Sam watched, her own stomach turning, as Daniel managed to take a single bite. Jack smiled brighter as he saw Daniel turning green around the gills.
"You'd better swallow it." Jack teased. "I can't imagine there is any proper way to spit into a napkin around here."
Daniel swallowed hard, but it was instantly apparent that he wasn't going to be able to keep the fruit down. He very quickly excused himself and dashed off towards the restroom. Jack reached over and stole the bowl of durian that Daniel had abandoned and started munching on it happily. In the background the team could hear Daniel being sick.
"You know, Carter, I am glad we stayed."
Sam couldn't help the smile that slipped across her lips. Teal'c asked her if she was going to try the fruit and in answer she handed the bowl over to him. When Daniel returned Tsuyayaka apologized. Daniel shook his head and apologized himself. With dessert cleared the women came out with several small bottle of chilled sake along with small wooden boxes that acted as cups.
"I thought sake was supposed to be served hot." Jack said.
"Technically 'sake' in Japan just means 'alcohol' this is nihonshu and high quality rice wine is often served chilled." Daniel replied. "I don't usually drink it, gives me a headache, but after that durian…"
Daniel reached out and picked up the wooden box full of sake and drained it. When he placed the wooden cup back down the women refilled it. Not one to say 'no' to an alcoholic beverage Jack joined in. Sam and Teal'c both sipped at the fine quality rice wine.
Tsuyayaka watched her guests drink and smiled sadly. Feeling a little off Jack shook his head. Putting the glass down he looked around the room and noticed that the edges of his vision seemed to be blurring. There was a wonderful warm feeling in his stomach that seemed to be seeping into his blood.
"This sake or nihon-whatever-you-want-to-call-it has one hell of a punch…" Jack slurred.
"I…I don't think it's the sake, Sir…" Sam panted as her breathing started to slow down.
The warm feeling in Jack's stomach suddenly turned to ice. He looked over at the rest of his team and noticed that they all seemed to be losing their focus. Daniel had drank the most and slowly lowered himself down to the floor to lay on his back as he started to pass out. Jack licked the bitter aftertaste of some kind of drug off his lips and glared at his half conscious friend.
"Damn it, Daniel…" Jack fought to stay awake.
"Jack, I'm sorr…"
"If I wake up…" Jack continued as he laid down "I…I am going to kill you."
"Yeah,…that's more than fair."