Zemo’s passion for cherry blossom tea brought him to Japan, where the meditative rituals surrounding tea drinking promised an escape from the machinations of his past life.
He arrived in early Spring and had planned a month-long sojourn in a picturesque village famed for its tea houses, where cherry blossoms dusted the narrow lanes like pink snow.
His visit to every tea house was a carefully anticipated affair. The ochaya, or tea establishment, with its serene tatami mat rooms and lush garden, seemed to emanate the wisdom of centuries.
Zemo felt at once both foreign and entirely at home as he watched the tea master prepare the cherry blossom tea with quiet reverence. The aroma filled the room, faintly sweet and earthy, like spring itself distilled into a porcelain cup.
It was as he was leaving one such ceremony that Zemo noticed a man sitting on a stone seat under a leafy green tree in the garden to the right of the pathway to the tea house. A familiar silhouette and profile.
How could he have missed him? His breath caught as recognition dawned. It was Bucky! Older, yes, but who wasn’t. Longer hair, more grizzled. He looked sadder than when they last spent time together - as if he carried the weight of the world. To see him now, here, in this remote Japanese village, felt like a twist of fate.
Bucky, for his part, was equally stunned. He had actually thought a lot about Zemo over the years - Zemo’s dry wit, sharp mind and hidden pain. Bucky’s current mission left little room for personal distractions. Yet, when he looked up from his meditation to see - of all people - Zemo, framed by the soft green leaves of the tea house garden, it stirred feelings he thought he'd long buried.
“Zemo?” he said, his voice a blend of disbelief and warmth.
“James,” Zemo replied, with his familiar head tilt and knowing smirk. “What are the odds?”
Zemo walked forwards to join Bucky on his bench, and after less than a minute, they slipped back into familiar patterns. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, picking up where they had left off years ago. Zemo’s curiosity about Bucky’s presence in the village was met with polite evasions, and Bucky found himself intrigued by Zemo’s new passion for life.
By the end of their exchange, Zemo had resolved to woo Bucky in the most enchanting way he knew: through the medium of tea.
“You’ve been here a while, James,” Zemo said, his tone gently teasing. “But have you truly experienced the magic of Japanese tea?”
Bucky muttered, “I’ve had my fair share of green tea, if that’s what you mean.”
“Oh, James,” Zemo said, tilting his head in that way of his, his warm brown eyes sparkling. “Green tea is just the beginning. I can show you a different variety for every season. I promise, you will never look at tea the same way again.”
Intrigued and drawn in by Zemo’s infectious enthusiasm, Bucky reluctantly agreed, although he suspected there was more to Zemo’s offer than just tea.
The next few weeks brought Zemo and Bucky together frequently.
Zemo, enamoured with the myriad varieties of Japanese tea, began his mission to introduce Bucky to their intricacies.
He was going to tease Bucky with teas, just like Scheherazade teased her Sultan with stories and won his love.
Spring unfolded with the delicate cherry blossom tea, its faint sweetness mirroring the season’s ephemeral beauty.
Zemo told Bucky about the pairing of teas with seasonal delicacies and sweets, and the overarching themes and motifs of each season in the Japanese tea culture. He introduced him to Wagashi (和菓子): traditional delicious Japanese sweets that were tailored to complement the bitterness of tea, balancing its flavour.
“There is always a seasonal connection, James,” he said, one Spring afternoon as they strolled beneath the cherry blossom trees, his voice soft and full of reverence. “The choice of tea and sweets aligns closely with festivals and natural transitions, offering a mindful experience that celebrates the unique beauty of each season. I find that to be exquisite, don’t you?”
But Bucky just grunted and ate one of his Sakura Mochi.
***
🍵 🌸 🍒 🍃 🫘 *** 🍵 🌸 🍒 🍃 🫘*** 🍵 🌸 🍒 🍃 🫘
Spring (春 - Haru)
Tea:
Shincha (新茶): The first harvest of green tea, available in late April to May. It’s prized for its fresh, delicate flavour and grassy aroma.
Matcha (抹茶): Ceremonial powdered green tea, often enjoyed during spring tea ceremonies.
Sweets:
Sakura Mochi (桜餅): Sweet pink rice cakes filled with red bean paste, wrapped in a pickled cherry blossom leaf.
Yōkan (羊羹): A jelly-like confection often infused with seasonal flavours like cherry blossoms.
Motifs:
Cherry blossoms (桜), young leaves, and pastel colors are prevalent in tea cups, utensils, and settings.
🍵 🌸 🍒 🍃 🫘 *** 🍵 🌸 🍒 🍃 🫘*** 🍵 🌸 🍒 🍃 🫘
***
By summer, under the sweltering sun, they were savouring iced hojicha (a Japanese green tea roasted over charcoal), their quiet conversation mingling with the hum of cicadas.
Despite him actually enjoying the time he spent with Zemo, Bucky’s mission loomed over him like a storm cloud. He often had to excuse himself for clandestine meetings or to follow leads, leaving Zemo with a polite but vague explanation. Zemo understood completely, ever gracious and unquestioning, and that sat very well with Bucky.
***
🧊 🐠 🫖🌼💦 *** 🧊 🐠 🫖🌼💦 *** 🧊 🐠 🫖🌼💦
Summer (夏 - Natsu)
Tea:
Hiyashi Sencha (冷やし煎茶): Cold-brewed sencha (green tea), a refreshing option to beat the heat.
Genmaicha (玄米茶): Green tea mixed with roasted rice, often served chilled for its nutty and soothing flavour.
Sweets:
Mizuyōkan (水羊羹): A chilled, softer version of yōkan, providing a cool and sweet refreshment.
Kuzu Mochi (葛餅): Jelly-like cakes made from arrowroot starch, served with kinako (roasted soybean flour) and kuromitsu (black sugar syrup).
Motifs:
Cooling imagery like water ripples, goldfish, and morning glories (朝顔) decorate tea settings.
🧊 🐠 🫖🌼💦 *** 🧊 🐠 🫖🌼💦 *** 🧊 🐠 🫖🌼💦
***
As the seasons changed, so did their relationship.
Autumn brought roasted genmaicha (green tea mixed with roasted rice) and long walks beneath leafy canopies of crimson and gold. Zemo wove stories of Japanese culture along with tea’s history and significance into their conversations, his voice a soothing counterpoint to Bucky’s occasional silences.
***
🍁🍂🌕🍄🟫🌰 *** 🍁🍂🌕🍄🟫🌰 *** 🍁🍂🌕🍄🟫🌰
Autumn (秋 - Aki)
Tea:
Hōjicha (ほうじ茶): Roasted green tea with a toasty aroma, evoking the warmth of autumn.
Bancha (番茶): A coarse tea from later harvests, offering a robust and earthy flavor suited to cooler evenings.
Sweets:
Kuri Manjū (栗饅頭): Steamed buns filled with sweet chestnut paste.
Imo Yōkan (芋羊羹): A sweet potato-based version of yōkan, highlighting autumnal flavours.
Motifs:
Maple leaves (紅葉), chrysanthemum flowers (菊), and the harvest moon (十五夜) often appear in designs and settings.
🍁🍂🌕🍄🟫🌰 *** 🍁🍂🌕🍄🟫🌰 *** 🍁🍂🌕🍄🟫🌰
***
By winter, the snow-covered village became their haven, and they shared cups of steaming matcha as their bond deepened.
It was during a quiet evening in the depths of winter, as they sat by a crackling fire, that Zemo gently asked Bucky about his assignment. “You don’t have to tell me everything,” he said, his voice soft but steady. “But I want you to know that I am here, and able to help in any way that I can.”
He reached across the little table between them to offer a small silver tray of plum Nerikiri.
Bucky hesitated, took one of the sweets and bit down on it. His face broke into a rare smile. He popped the rest in his mouth and looked across at Zemo as he chewed. He swallowed and came to a decision, and he began to confide in Zemo. He spoke carefully, omitting most of the classified details but sharing enough to lift the weight of his silence. Zemo listened intently, offering support and advice where needed.
***
❄️🌺🫚🍯🍋🫖 *** ❄️🌺🫚🍯🍋🫖 *** ❄️🌺🫚🍯🍋🫖
Winter (冬 - Fuyu)
Tea:
Koicha (濃茶): Thick matcha used in formal tea ceremonies, symbolizing warmth and togetherness.
Gyokuro (玉露): A high-quality green tea brewed at lower temperatures, perfect for savoring on cold days.
Sweets:
Yuzu Manjū (柚子饅頭): Buns flavored with aromatic yuzu citrus.
Nerikiri (練り切り): Beautifully shaped confections resembling camellias (椿) or plum blossoms (梅).
Motifs:
Snowflakes, camellias, and cozy designs dominate tea utensils and seasonal presentations.
❄️🌺🫚🍯🍋🫖 *** ❄️🌺🫚🍯🍋🫖 *** ❄️🌺🫚🍯🍋🫖
***
By spring, when the cherry blossoms were once again in bloom, Zemo and Bucky had become inseparable. Their companionship had deepened into love, nurtured by the seasons and steeped in the rituals of tea. It had grown into something enduring.
As they sat together beneath a cascade of pink petals, sharing a pot of cherry blossom tea, and a dish of cherry blossom Yōkan, Zemo took Bucky’s hand in his.
“This year spent with you has been one the most surprising and extraordinary of my life, James,” he said. “And, I hope, it is only the beginning.”
Bucky smiled. “I think so, too,” he said. He lifted his cup in a silent toast. “To us.” The words were simple but to Zemo, they were filled with promise.
And so, under the cherry blossoms, their story continued, one sip at a time.
***