It was time for the annual report for the Hyūga clan needs and resources. Followed by Tora, Seihana ventured to the Senju manor to give Hashirama her report. She arrived at the newfangled gated manor.
"Shall I accompany you inside, Lady Sei?" Tora questioned as the women stop at the wooden gate.
"There's no need for you to accompany me, Tora. This errand will be over in no time." With that Sei knocked on the gate's door. Two guards appeared from the gate's guardhouse.
"What business do you have here? State your names!" One of the guards demanded.
"Hello, I am Seihana of house Hyūga accompanied by my companion Tora. I have a meeting with your Master Hashirama." she revealed emulating regal grace.
The guard dropped to his knees and bowed before her, "Please forgive my ignorance, My lady... A meeting? Master Hashirama is not here. He left to visit the Uchiha clan."
"There is no need for such niceties... I was supposed to make annual report for him. May I leave the report here?" Sei replied taking out a scroll from her obi.
"Annual report? Why didn't you say so?! Master Hashirama's brother is here, Master Tobirama. He can receive your report."
The door opened to reveal a small gray haired elderly woman. Wearing a simple black kimono.
"Apologies for the hassle. With the master gone; precautions. Anyway, I am Lord Hashirama's stewardess, Madame Kyoko."
"I'll wait out here, Lady Sei." Tora implied stepping a side.
Sei strided forward to an open court yard. Wisteria, Sakura trees and a wooden bridge situated over a large catfish pond harmonizing the natural beauty of the courtyard.
"Such a beautiful garden." Sei complimented grace following each foot step.
"Yes, Master Hashirama planted all the trees you see here. He has quite the green thumb." The stewardess explained ardently.
As the two strolled across the courtyard. Storm clouds began to roll in. The housekeeper brought Sei to a three story house.
"Master Hashirama even built this manor with his mokuton." Kyoko smiled proudly. "Just this way."
Kyoko opened the Shoji door. The manor displayed gleaming wooden floors, large ornamental vases. Floor lamps dimly lit the dark main hallway.
"Leave, your weapons here along with your geta." Kyoko instructed as Sei entered the mudroom.
Seihana slipped off her geta for the house servants to organize accordingly. Also removed her fanny pack and other projectiles from her obi.
"My body is a weapon... No worries, I will act appropriately..." The stewardess cut her off before Sei could finish her sentence.
"Follow me down this corridor." Kyoko beckoned ignoring her former plea. Sei resumed her posture and followed the housekeeper through the corridor.
Kyoko stopped at a Shoji door. The smell of burning Lemongrass incense permeated from beyond the shoji.
Kyoko bowed before the shoji "Master Tobirama, Lady Hyūga is here." She announced.
"She may enter."
Cordially, Kyoko opened the shoji. Upon entering, Sei observed a painted water dragon warped around the bedroom walls. Besides that the room was spariously decorated, Tobirama sat on the floor at his desk. Tobirama's desk faced opened shoji doors; a garden before it. Aside him a ningatō, books and scrolls littered before him. Tobirama's Blue plate armour and face guard were exhibited on a mannequin. He wore a black kimono and hakama. A wave pattern printed on his haori.
The bedroom over looked another garden; the center piece an over grown willow tree, a stream fed a small pond of koi. Water lilies grew atop its liquid surface. Aikiku slumbered under the Willow tree's draped branches. A flute in her hand.
As Sei entered the room Kyoko closed the shoji behind her. Sei reverted her pale eyes back to Tobirama. She had never seen Tobirama without his armour. Sei usually felt nude or vulnerable without her armor on her person. Tobirama seemed vexatious.
"The report. " Tobirama commanded. Outreaching
for the scroll. Glaring at her. Sei threw the scroll at him but Tobirama caught it. He opened the scroll. Instantly began to read. There was a slight smirk on his face.
"You need alchemical supplies?..." He questioned reading the last part.
"Mostly to treat the injured and ill within our community..." she explained further. A healer's touch was needed in a transitioning time like this.
He nodded expounding factly, "The Hyūga clan will receive a memorandum in two days for permits and rights to surrounding rivers and forests." Tobirama continued to write not making eye contact with Sei.
It began to rain. Rain drops fell from dark clouds that blanketed the sky. Aikiku darted from the garden to Tobirama's room. Her clothes and hair soaked. She sat on the wooden deck along the room calling for one of the servants bring her a towel.
"Oh, Kami. It's raining! Hmm? Seihana's here." Aikiku cooed peering into the room. "I believe Sei is the first woman other than me to be in your room, brother Tobirama."
"Aikiku, address her as Lady Hyūga." Tobirama rebuked, rolling up the scroll.
"Brother Tobirama is a workaholic. He is all work and no play." Aikiku winked at Sei and gestured, "Sei, come sit with me."
"She was about to leave."
"Aw, It's raining. You can't expect Lady Sei to travel while it's raining cats and dogs.. She might get sick... Besides We never have any guests." Aikiku pouted crossing her arms.
"Fine, she can stay." Tobirama acceded. Normally in such a case, Tobirama would not accept taunts from anyone but he had a soft spot for his younger siblings. However when it came to elder brother Hashirama was a wholly different case.
Sei sat next to Aikiku. Smiling modestly, She replied, "If you will have me."
"Shall I pester Tobirama further, Lady Sei?" Required Aikiku grinning mischievously.
Sei spoke briefly, "No need."
"Oh? He was about to make you leave while it's storming outside. Brother Tobirama can be so rude and impolite. Teasing him and bruising his ego is all part of his punishment for such disrespect. We must make him beg for forgiveness."
"What are you planning, Aikiku?" Tobirama implored.
"Nothing... at all." Aikiku giggled covering her mouth with her right hand. Aikiku whispered into Sei ear of her insidious prank.
"As I've said brother Tobirama is all work and no play." Aikiku teleported beside Tobirama snaring his ningatō. As that happened, Sei removed the blue plate armour and face guard from the mannequin. Sei teleported closely behind Aikiku. The two teleported out of the room into garden.
"Whahahahaha!" Aikiku laughed manically.
"So childish." Tobirama scolded.
"Give the armor and face guard back." Tobirama confronted Sei.
Sei chuckled to herself and put the armour and face guard on. She began to impersonate Tobirama.
"You look ridiculous."
"Just like you!" Sei shot back. She slipped on the wet grass and landed face first into the pond. Her butt sticking out. Moments later Tobirama used his water justu to fish Sei out of the pond.
Sei coughed up water, her body felt weighed down.
"Hahaha! You may catch Sei but you can't catch me brother!" Aikiku mocked staring back at Sei and Tobirama. But she didn't pay attention to where she was going and teleported into the willow tree knocking herself out.
"Ugh!" Her stiff body lay under the tree.
"Sister!" Tobirama at once teleported beside Aikiku, knelt down to effortlessly pick her up. Leaving the ningato behind. Sei regurgitated more water as Tobirama teleported back to manor with Aikiku in his arms. Sei felt dazed, she staggered as her knees gave out from beneath her. She gaped as her vision blurred. A voice in her mind, "I would prefer if my chosen kept herself alive... Unless you are so desperate to join your brothers and sisters in the afterlife."
"Onikage..." Sei croaked as her throat went dry.
"Without my power... You would already be dead... Countless times over."
"Where am I? Akuma-kage?" Sei spoke out his true title to the nothingness. She stood alone in a dark void. Here there was no smell or sound. A desolate place of nihility.
"You are in my Yorukage genjutsu... My realm. I control єvєrчthíng here." A tall humanoid darkness appeared before her. Walking ever so close to her. When Sei heard those words she was flabbergasted. She said absolutely nothing.
"Heh, heh... You think because you are not in my presence, I would not be able to manipulate your mentality with my power?" The Akuma-kage sneered sarcastically.
"If this is my psyche where is my body? Am I dying?" She requested remaining unflinching in her posture.
"No, you partially drowned... The water god is extracting water from your lungs. Where your physical body is at this instant is in said water god's abode."
"What?! I'm in Tobirama's room while unconscious?"
Akuma chuckled deeply, "Yes, Laying next to a walking and talking curse mark."
"Aikiku..." She murmured her name.
"Hmm, These mortals are taking such delicate care of you. Imagine if they found out what kind of power I give you... Or the power I could give them? I am a very generous benefactor. Your charka is anemic. Typically it would take you days to heal... With my chakra it would be even less a matter of minutes."
She challenged her master, "Is that a threat?"
"It's a promise, my chosen." A finger caressed her jaw line. The demon shadow offered Sei his gloved hand. "Take my hand now! Embrace life and revel in my power!"
Sei reluctantly took his hand becoming enveloped in darkness. "Yes... The power is your own."
Returning to consciousness, Sei felt something soft touching her face. The smell lemongrass filled her nostrils. She awoke on top of a fur blanket. Aikiku fast asleep next her clutching Sei's arm. Drool seeping from her mouth, She whispered in her sleep, "Izu..."
Tobirama leaned on the open shoji door gazing at the horizon. Someone had changed her clothing and bathed her. Her hair and clothing would have been caked in mud. The white kimono emblemed with the Senju clan symbol she wore was big even for her size. Her clean hair was brushed and braided. Same could be said for Aikiku. She found herself admiring Tobirama who much like herself took care of his younger siblings. Sei sat up fixing her clothing and hair. The rustling brought Tobirama's attention to her.
"You are awake."
"How long have I been unconscious?"
"Three hours."
"Umm, Thank you for looking after me."
"No need-" Tobirama was interrupted. A resonant laugh rang through the hallway followed by voices belonging only to the Uchiha. It was Hashirama. His elder brother had returned home; he had the brought Uchiha brothers with him. Their laughs and slurred words told of a night of hard drink and partying.
"I heard what happened... is our little sister alright?!" Hashirama asked full of worry.
Aikiku woke up rubbing her swollen forehead. She giggled, "I'm all right brother! I was such a klutz and teleported into the tree in the garden!"
"It looks like Tobirama already patched you up." Hashirama patted her forehead.
"Ouch! Hashi! That is where I hit my head! I don't need you to coddle me! I can Take-Care-of- Myself." She retorted clutching her fist.
A drunk Hashirama knew better to agree with her, "Yes, You can but your brothers will always be watching over you." He turned to Tobirama and inebriatedly said, "Brother, we had a great time! You should have came. There was a lot of beautiful women. Heh, heh... I gambled too... It looks like you already have a gorgeous woman here..." Hashirama gazed at Sei who hid behind Tobirama from the sight of the Uchiha.
Madara added patting Hashirama on the shoulder, "Not as gorgeous as Mitō."
"Yeah, I know my wife is hot!" Hashirama exclaimed agreeing with him.
Izuna held Aikiku's hand. Sei witnessed their exchange but said nothing as the two disappeared. She felt infuriated being compared to another woman.
"Brother, I have responsibilities..."
Hashirama chuckles,
"Hah, hah! Filing out paperwork?! You need to learn to let loose once in a while, brother. Ask a woman out for a date, Get some drinks with friends... Live it up!"
Tobirama rolled his eyes. "Live it up? Brother? Coming home drunk? That's living it up?! Go to bed, fool. You're drunk."
"Aw, don't be like that Tobirama... I just want you to be happy."
"Hmm, my brother says the same to me." Madara commented ironically.
"It's late the Uchiha should be leaving."
"They can stay we're having an after party!"
"No."
"Lady Sei can entertain us! Can you dance? Exotic dancing?" A shit faced Madara leered at Sei reeking of alcohol.
"Yeah, Sway those libidinous hips!" Hashirama agreed.
"You're being rude to our guest, brother." Tobirama scowled narrowing his Red eyes. Stepping in front of Tobirama Sei slapped Madara on the face continuing with an even more winded Hashirama. A double bitch slap.
"SHUT UP!! You drunken fools!"
"How dare you! You little..." Madara thundered resting both hands over his throbbing face, activating his Sharingan.
"Ugh, my cheek!" Hashirama teared rubbing his face.
Sei raised her hand and vociferated, "Hmph! There's more where that came from! You bastards!"
"Vixen! Hit me again!" Fire eyed Madara lured her on with a flushed smirk on his face.
Sei gave into his provocation, gently kicked Madara where the sun don't shine with her right foot. The Uchiha clan head cried out in unbearable pain falling to his knees. A hidden grin played in Tobirama who somewhat enjoyed seeing the Uchiha's discomfort. Before Madara could retaliate he uplifted her teleporting several times to a location outside.
"Put me down!" Sei fussed. Tobirama brought Sei to her feet.
"Where are we?" Sei asked looking out into grassy field.
"A cemetery." Tobirama acknowledged.
"A cemetery? Hardly a location to bring a bewitching woman you shanghaied... You better not be thinking something perverted! I have the Byakugan! I can extinguish your chakra with strikes that target your kundalini points!"
Sei forewarned, her battle stance ready.
At first, Tobirama seemed taken back. He rebuffed, "Lady Sei, I took you here because it is the last place Madara would go to find you... You should thank me. "
A rose tint colored her otherwise pale mein. She somewhat lauded, "Thanks for getting me out of trouble..."
"Hahaha." Tobirama laughed remembering Madara's groans after being kicked.
"What's so humorous?"
"Nothing at all." Tobirama cleared his throat and went back to stern composure.
Sei stood silent for moment. "That's the first time I heard you laugh... Or have seen you with a genuine smile..."
"Stand there and remain on guard... I will be back soon." Tobirama moved on to a grave stone far from the place she stood. Kneeled and prayed quietly.
Brazenly not binding to his wishes Sei looked on analyzing what could possibly be going on. She augured standing beside him, "A grave... A woman's grave... Not a Senju but a Uchiha... A lost love perhaps... Who met death in a scenario of insensate violence? By the hands of her own blood?"
"You are quite good at reading people... Too good perhaps." He complimented her.
Sei smirked standing akimbo, "Foreknowledge and hidden meanings are what a shinobi should search for in all matters of life. I heard the rumors about the Uchihas murdering their own family for power... Besides why would a man who dislikes the Uchiha visit the grave of a woman belonging to the clan... It's love I say... To dislike something you must have loved it once."
Tobirama said absolutely nothing to her pushing off leaves from the grave stone. A silence hung over their heads for a moment. Sei spoke forbearing words of wisdom, "I can't possibly know your pain. However, There's no need to feel any shame... And hate will do you no good."
"My intuition tells me that you understand... You will keep this a secret? Otherwise, I might have to threaten your life." He spoke raising a kunai to her neck from behind.
She disarmed him with a slight ghost-like gesture of her right dominant hand throwing the dagger into a tree trunk across the burial field. "There is no need for such rash action."
"Many shinobi have attempted to do that and failed... Impressive." Tobirama complimented her crossing his arms.
She gracefully mirrored his movements. In a pose of sass she grinned and shifted her hips sideways, "I will take that as applause... Now back to our former quandary... I will defeat you with just my hands..."
"You won't even lay one finger..." He threw down the gauntlet.
Sei ran her fingers through his soft alabaster hair. She trifled him giggling coyly, "On your head? I just layed all five of my fingers on your head... Hmm, You smell good." She patted and smoothed back his hair. Tobirama was caught off guard but did not prevent her. Her hand felt warm and tender as she stroked his head. Raging waves within began to subside. He took her other hand and placed it on his cheek. For that cause she caressed the sides of his face. Behind the ears tranquilizing his nerves and rigidity. A deep velvet moan escaped his throat.
"What technique is this?"
Her gentle voice responded, "Rather than harming you I am soothing your nerves and giving you relaxation... This is a little secret in my clan..."
He embraced her and whispered in Sei's ear taking her by surprise this time around. Scarlet cheeked Sei's crystalline eyes widened and her mouth dropped. He concluded, "I will take you home."
