Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Only once in my life have I ever been slapped.
I had always been precocious when it came to reading the emotions of those around me. My life was full of so many lies that I became sensitive to the thoughts of others, and I excelled at hiding my own feelings.
I was an observer. A sort of...interpreter, if you will.
I could say only once in my life was I struck; however, I could also say I have been struck more times than I could count. In the end, I wasn't surprised when it happened.
As the eldest child of my family, I have been a failure from the start. Born as a female and smaller than average, I had disappointed my parents with something that was out of my control. Yet, it seemed as though they still blamed me for my frailness… If my physical appearance was not enough, my skills in elemental persuasion were also lacking.
What does this mean, you ask? Allow me to explain.
The Kobayashi family has been around for many generations. They were (and currently are) ranked on one of the highest tiers of hierarchy among all families. Although, money did not determine your rank, another important factor set the game.
Power.
Few humans at one point in time intermingled with powerful monsters, resulting in our cursed world today. The strength of the blood of our ancestors is based upon the aptitude of the demons they integrated with. My family, for example, is practically drowning in sin, as my ancestors had joined together with prominently strong monsters.
The influences of the demons our ancestors were associated with had been passed down many generations, stronger in some children more than others. It was obvious that the blood of demons was weakest in me, which disheartened my parents desire to uphold our family's position in the world, and they began to lose hope.
That is...until my sister was born.
My younger sister was everything I wasn't: powerful, prodigious, charismatic, boisterous… She obtained the natural ability to control the elements of water, which she had inherited from my father's side. It was obvious who would be loved more than the other child.
I do not hate my sister, nor do I resent her birth. She is an innocent soul who has yet to be tainted by the evils of our world, and I hope to keep her that way. However, she presented one problem to my parents…
Only the eldest child could take on the family name and reign...but I was the firstborn. I was classified as an invalid to them, so how could they change the rules and make it to where my sister would take over when she came of age?
There had been past incidences where families would kill their own children when no other options were present, but my parents were not that cruel. Instead, they just pretended I never existed and ordered the servants to take care of me as they attempted to raise their daughterーmy younger sister.
It was when I had just turned ten when I realized this.
My father had slapped me across the cheek after I told my sister that I was jealous of her because she was loved.
My father asked me:
"Do you not understand? Can you even imagine how difficult it is for your sister to carry the burden of being your underling? Your selfishness is not appreciated; can you not see how sad her position is? Can't you?!"
It was utterly obvious that the emotion in my father's eyes was for my sister alone.
"Hanako-sama?"
"..." She was surprised when her name was called. Typically, they never addressed her at the dinner table. Nevertheless, she tilted her head toward her maid to enhance her hearing range, focusing her amber eyes on the slim figure standing several feet away from her.
"Did you hear what I said?" Before she could reply, the maid repeated her words once more without hesitation. The girl, Hanako, sat quietly in her chair, tracing her eyes over the contours of the wooden table lazily. The maid let out a deep sigh, questioning her lady's hearing once more.
...Of course, she had heard her the first time. It was no big mystery, for everyone's been talking about it since last month…
Although the brunette felt indifference toward the idea of being married off, Hanako couldn't help but express her surprise when she first learned about it. It seemed as though her family had finally found someone willing to agree to take her away; or more appropriately, someone to take away one of her parents' problems for good.
Supposedly, her suitor was a man from the Land of Earth, which not only allowed Hanako to spread the Kobayashi name, but also gave her sister the new title as the heir to the head of the family. Hanako understood completely how difficult it must had been for her parents to find someone for her. They even had to look outside of their own country (and to a weaker country at that) to find someone willing to take her. It was only luck that this familyーone that she never bothered to learn aboutーwas well-known throughout Earth country.
"Your father wishes to speak to you about the issue." The maid tried, hoping for a reaction, but was disappointed. The girl nodded her head solemnly, swiftly standing from her chair in a graceful manner as her eyes glanced around to look at her surroundings. The long table that took up a decent amount of the space in the room seemed like a nuisance to Hanako...it was unnecessarily large considering she was the only person who ate there… The 19 year-old mistress shook her a little and watched as a younger maid rushed to stand by her side, guiding her toward the door that would lead to the main hallway. She decided to focus her thoughts on more important things, like her father.
The two girls stopped outside of the dining room they had just exited, the elder of the two curiously gazing at her companion. Hanako could tell this girl was new...she seemed very nervous when standing next to her lady, and acted uneasily when she realized she had no clue as to where Hanako's father was. The girl's brown eyes, the symbol that she came from a normal family, darted back and forth down the hall, a mixture of contemplation and embarrassment mingling in her orbs.
Without a second thought, Hanako stepped away from the younger teenager, deciding to take a chance and look for her father in his main office. She could hear her maid's hurried footsteps rushing to catch up with her, echoing down the strangely empty hallways.
"Ah...e-excuse me, Hanako-sama?" Her voice sounded like the squeaks of a mouse. "I must apologize for your inconveniences, for I'm new, and I-I don't know the layout of the manor. I am rather slow I suppose, but I will try-"
"You've done nothing wrong."
The girl's squeaky tone immediately died down as she nodded her head in shame. Hanako wanted to reassure the girl, yet she didn't know how… She never excelled at communication and her voice sounded dreary in a way. Deciding to keep her mouth shut, she led the young girl around the corner, amber eyes pinpointing how lifeless the halls seemed without anyone in them. How strange...it was the middle of the day, which was typically when traffic was rather heavy in this area.
"-tomorrow? But nothing is prepared for her arrival." Hanako's ears picked up voices from the double, wooden doors up ahead; the entrance to her father's office. The voice she heard was masculine and foreign, sounding deep and smooth compared to her father's tone.
"It's important to speed up the process...we can't wait any longer…" That was her father's voice. She couldn't detect all of what he was saying because of his mumbling.
"I...alright."
Hanako took this as her cue to enter the room and allowed her maid to guide her inside. Her father's form was positioned in his chair behind his desk, leaning forward as he rested his elbows carelessly. A look of contemplation fluttered across his features before he noticed his daughter's presence in the room.
"Father."
His golden eyes lifted to take in his daughter's presence, his face seemingly forever twisted into a look of scrutiny. He seemed more uptight than usual, and his suit appeared a little taut on his form, indicating weight gain. He must be stressed about something.
"Hanako, I have someone I would like for you to meet." His hand rose to direct her gaze toward a middle-aged man standing off to the side. "This is Jin-san, your guide to Iwa." The guide was tall, thin, and nothing very special to look at. A pair of bifocals rested on the bridge of his nose, covering his dark purple eyes.
Hanako gave a gentle smile to him in greeting, noticing how her external appearance did not express how she felt on the inside. Why was he here?
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Hanako-sama." His tone was very formal and careful, although a hint of softness hid behind the proper etiquette.
"Same."
A silence filled the room, the only noise coming from Hanako's maid as she shimmied in nervousness. Hanako could tell she was confused on whether she should leave or not and seeking guidance from someone as her eyes darted around the room wildly.
"...You may leave if you wish." Hanako said, listening as the young girl scurried out of the room with gratitude. She internally sighed to herself, regretting how harsh her voice sounded. Hanako made a mental note to try and be nicer to people...however, she soon remembered that she's been trying to learn how to communicate properly for quite sometime, but shoved the thought to the side.
"Now that you two are acquainted," Hanako's father began, clearing his throat, "I would like to inform you that you are scheduled to leave for Earth country tomorrow afternoon."
...What?
"Tomorrow?" Now this surprised Hanako. Although her features didn't show her astonishment, the brunette could feel a deep rage building inside of her, her long-term hatred for the neglect she has received increasing slightly. So many years of abandonment and they had finally decided to send her off.
"Yes, tomorrow...is there an issue?"
Well—considering her father had officially told her about the event a week ago—yes, there was an issue. Of course, the situation was inevitable, but Hanako wished she could have prepared more mentally...yet she did have more time than she thought. She had known long before her father told her...she supposed she was just surprised tomorrow was the day.
Nevertheless, she still had an issue-
"No."
-but she figured her father wouldn't listen anyway.
"Good, your bags will be prepared and you will depart tomorrow afternoon with Jin-san and Yuzuya-san for Iwa." Her father nodded his head in a sure way, scratching his chin as he looked to a notebook lying open on his desk.
"Father, if I may," The elder man looked up swiftly, amber eyes looking on in curiosity as he nodded his head, "why are the hallways empty?"
"...We are leaving as well."
"Leaving?"
"Your mother, sister, and I are going to live in the northern part of the country...there have been several reports of attacks-."
"Why?" The single-worded question was enough to bring the room to silence. So many questions were being asked all at once in this inquiry, echoing inaudibly throughout Hanako's and her father's ears.
The elder man sat proudly in his chair, almost showing his daughter that he didn't have to answer her question. His wrinkled face was scrunched up to reveal more lines that covered his skin, and his fingers were gripping the edge of his desk. With this sight in mind, Hanako bowed her head, apologizing for her misplaced respect noiselessly.
Emotionlessly, Hanako turned on her heel and walked out of the room, her brown hair chasing after her.
"Hana-chan! Will you come and visit us?" Imako asked, golden eyes almost begging her older sister for an answer.
"Perhaps...maybe one day." She didn't want to give her sister any promises, unknowing of what was to come in the future. Imako's eyes widened greatly, her face changing as her brain attempted to process many different emotions in a few seconds. Worry, exasperation, contentment, and then uncertainty; all of these feelings occurring one after the other.
If an outsider were to look at the two sisters, they would think one was simply a 6-year younger version of the other. There were only slight differences between the two such as height and the way how they wore their hair, but nothing else was dissimilar...well, except for their personalities.
"You make it sound like I won't see you for another 10 years…" Imako pouted childishly, allowing her bottom lip to poke out in annoyance as she mumbled.
"It could be. We both will not know until it happens."
"Then...I'll make sure we see each other soon!"
"I will as well." The wind began to blow restlessly as angry, dark clouds loomed overhead. The sky was ready to unleash its wrath, but it seemed to wait for the two sisters to say goodbye. The estate the two girls had lived in for all their lives hovered over them, the white walls covered in rare memories of the sisters together. Imako did not have many friends just like her older sister; the only true friend they both had was each other. However, Imako spent most of her time with her mother, baking; and with her father, training; while her sister was sent to study and work on proper rules of conduct in preparation for her suitors.
Although the two girls were complete opposites, they only had each other when it came to understanding how the other feels. True, Imako received more attention from their parents, yet she wished they would step away and allow her to do what she wants with her life; Hanako knew this about her, just as Imako knew about her older sister's loneliness.
Before Hanako could do anything else, her sister quickly wrapped her arms around her thin waist, resting her chin on the elder sister's shoulder. The position was held as Imako squeezed tightly as though this would be the last time…
"Will you sing me the song?" Imako muttered, the reality of the situation crashing down on their shoulders. Hanako slowly shook her head:
"Aren't we too old to be singing children's songs?"
Imako quickly pulled away, eyes blazing with an unknown emotion. "You have to promise me that you will look to the sky before you rest! You know...like how we used to when we were little."
The older sister allowed a faint smile to grace her lips before she spoke, "Every night, until we meet again."
Imako grinned.
The rain began to sprinkle upon the ground lightly before picking up, spotting their kimonos. Their parents sat ready for departure as did Jin, waiting patiently for the girls to part. With a few quick hand signs, Imako began to control the water from the rain in her hands to form a ball. It began to shake slightly as it quickly formed into the shape of a lily. She presented it to her sister, kissing her cheek before leaving to climb onto the norimono that would take her away to an unknown area in the North.
Several large men lifted the vehicle before marching along the pathway, the rain bouncing off of them as they moved on without a care. The liquid lily shook in Hanako's small hands before falling apart to mix with the rainwater on the ground.
They were gone.
"Let us go Hanako-sama. I'll tell you about Deidara-sama along the way." Jin stepped forward, lifting his hand to the girl. With one last look at her home, Hanako turned and climbed onto the norimono, unsure if she should be crying or not. The young maid she had met the day before sat with a sweet smile on her lips as she greeted her lady, yet a tone of nervousness still lied underneath. It turned out she would be accompanying Hanako and serve as her lady-in-waiting. Yuzuya was her name…
They slowly began to pull away from her old home, which now looked abandoned and rather frightening. Hanako had learned that the majority of all servants including the gardeners had left yesterday to go prepare the new manor her family would be living in...they all knew this was going to happen before the brunette did herself, which didn't astound her like she originally thought it would.
Even the gardeners who she worked with knew… Hanako spent most of her spare time planting and tending to the garden in their backyard with minor help from the gardeners her parents had hired for her. This morning, she woke up early to walk around in it before preparing to pack up her books and notes of plants, knowing this would be the last time she would get to see her garden. She could only pray the climate in Earth country would be good for planting; however, the weather was always chilly in that area for most of the year.
"Hanako-sama, are you listening?" The girl shook away her thoughts, turning her eyes to the amethyst-colored orbs that looked on at her curiously. Jin didn't seem upset with her and allowed a smile to crawl over his face in understanding.
"I'm sorry…"
Although she did feel a sense of freedom by getting out of the house, a deep sadness flushed over her...she had a duty though; a duty to protect the Kobayashi family name by giving herself away to a man she had never met.
She was simply a tool to be used.
A.N.: Hello! Thank you for reading this first chapter of my story! I understand it is rather slow moving, but I felt it was important to establish Hanako's character before diving into the good stuff.
Important things to mention:
This story will not be entirely in third person. I plan on using first person for the majority of the time. The next chapter will definitely switch to a different tone when Gaara enters the scene. Indeed, I mentioned another important character in this chapter, which he will come into effect later on as conflicts will rise; but he will not be the main love interest of our main character.
I understand that this first chapter didn't involve any Naruto characters (except for Deidara), but in order for a quest to begin, I felt it was necessary to create a purpose for Hanako.
I discussed how Yuzuya had brown eyes, which symbolized she came from a "normal" family. This will be explained more in the future, but I will state a few things for now. Bright and odd eye colors symbolize that the person comes from a family with strongly-influenced demonic blood. Dull and normal eye colors symbolize that the person comes from a family with weak blood, but that doesn't mean they aren't connected to demons.
Feel free to leave a review and let me know what you think about my story. Thank you! I wouldn't mind some constructive criticism and I want to become a better writer, so please don't be scared to say what you think!