Chapter 4: Messages Hidden inside fans
After dressing with the assistance of the chamber maid Mika, Sei met with Tora who would be her companion escort. Kuro followed from the shadows as the two made their way through the developing community. On this sunny summer day children played while their parents and elders went about their daily routines. Sei enjoyed this new peace only settlements under the hegemony of the fire lord ever boasted.
The heat was beginning to bother Sei's otherwise pale skin. "I forgot my umbrella... I guess this fan will do."Sei opened the fan to find a message written in it. A very vague and cryptic note.
ʍҽҽԵ ʍҽ ɑԵ Եհҽ ɑҍɑղժօղҽժ հվūցɑ ԵҽʍԹӀҽ 8:00 íղ Եհҽ ҽѵҽղíղց.
Sei blushed at the thought who would've sent this to her... Tobirama came into her mind. She did not know he was soo covert. How did a Senju know about the ruined Hyūga temple? Still something did not seem right.
"What is it my mistress? A love letter? A vile letter full of threats?! If so I will-... " Kurō exclaimed puffing up his fur to make himself appear more impressive.
"No need, Kurō." She returned putting the fan in her obi.
"Oh! A mouse!" Kurō was about to run after a mouse.
"Kurō aren't you supposed to be tailing me?"
"Yes, mistress!" Kurō scampered back to Sei.
"What kind of food will they be serving? Sushi? Habachi? Udon soup?"
"I'm not sure."
"If they have any yellow tail can you bring me some?" Begged Kurō raising his paw to Sei.
"I will if they have any."
Sei, Tora and Kurō arrived at the Senju manor. Before Sei stepped toward the gate she lastly commanded Kuro.
"Kurō... it's time."
"Kurō: Covert neko mode!" Kurō crouched onto the ground like a cat in stalking mode. Sei set forth. At the gate she met the guards she had met two days ago. Both smiled like idiots in the presence of their new friend Tora.
"Our master is expecting you." They bowed respectfully to Sei opening the gateway.
She nodded making her way through while her companions stayed behind. She entered the courtyard where stewardess Madame Kyoko and Aikiku met her.
Old Kyoko bowed to Sei and Aikiku embraced her.
"Welcome back to the Senju manor, Lady Hyūga."
"Lady Sei, I'm so happy you're here!" Aikiku smiled hugging her tighter.
As the three women walked toward the manor a deep voice spoke from the doorway. It was Tobirama.
"I'm glad you arrived safely. I felt your chakra... Miles away."
"You sensed my chakra from across town?" Sei grasped.
"Yes, That's one of brother's many feats." Aikiku boasted matter of fact.
"Magnificent... If not a little unnerving." Sei complimented him leering her eyes. Her words made Tobirama blush behind a straight face.
Aikiku commented sarcastically, "Meaning if a rouge ninja somehow managed to kidnap you my splendid brother could track your position easily... That would make quite the novel..." Aikiku's eyes glittered, such an epiphany.
Tobirama blushed again, even redder but with a bit of anger. Angry that he was blushing and there was nothing he could do but blush. Turning away taking something out of his robe when Sei once again made eye contact with him.
"Oh, that would be quite... The adventure." Sei touched her rosy cheeks. As Aikiku lead the way Tobirama held back giving Sei a fan. She placed it in her obi expecting this also to have a message hidden between the folds.
They arrived at the manor's grand entrance. Kyoko opened the doors. She brought them to the dining hall. The Uchiha brothers and Hashirama were already seated.
"This your seat, Lady Sei." Aikiku informed Sei, gesturing to a seat next to Madara.
Mitō sat on Hashirama's right, Madara on his left. Facing them sat Tobirama, Izuna, and Aikiku. Sei thought, 'Oh, why do I have to sit next to the idiot that I kicked?'
Madara glared at Sei still chafed about about their last transgression. When she sat down beside him his composure stiffened. 'ugh, just looking at her brings back those agonizing moments into my mind.'
Aikiku giggled at Madara's discomfort, using her sleeve to hide for face. Sei mentioned to the Uchiha, "Judging by your disposition you are still hurt by the thrashing I gave you. Know that I only wanted to embarrass you. Not harm a drunken oaf."
As the others continued, Madara spoke to Sei, "Embarrass me? I would have preferred pain instead of feeling absolutely nothing... Is it true you united the two clans of Hyūga without bloodshed?"
Sei ogled him in the eye despite her fears, "You and Hashirama are most bizarre when drunk... For your question: Are you sizing me up? Lord Madara?"
"For a Hyūga you are quite the spitfire."
"I'm not your regular run of the mill Hyūga... Though it seems your question is serious... There was three deaths one of my eldest brother, his lover... And a traitor."
"You had your brother and his lover assassinated? I could never have my brother... Murdered." Madara spoke bewildered.
"No, It wasn't like that... The lover poisoned my elder brother to death." She continued the story. "My elder brother Toshimitsu was destined to become my father's successor. His lover Matsuya belonged to the cadet branch. Her father hated how the main branch profited off the regional lords more than their own clan and the indecisiveness of his clan members. He sent his daughter to seduce my brother and to kill him. Such an event lead to the fellowship of Hyūga after I defeated Matsuya in combat and the cadet branch punished their traitor. Now that our clans have come together I see a happier future for us all."
Madara snickered, "You truly believe that?"
She spoke once more, "Through all the death and payments offered by lords and merchants... I saw the hidden picture behind the glory of battle and the reaping of rewards. To the rulers with wealth and regional power we are just puppets to control, fight their wars and reward when we had completed their wishes. Us coming together as one makes such manipulations less possible."
He rolled his dark eyes, "Soon we will be fighting nations that have come together the same as we have."
"Yes, The dogmatic cycle continues of only the strongest survive." There was a faint tinge of remorse in Sei's voice. "The horrors I would commit to protect everything I hold dear... I would become a demon."
Madara delighted her words, He agreed with her, "So would I... So what is the Onikage?"
Such an infamous name brought the attention of all in attendance. The truth about the Onikage was something she would never speak about to anyone she did not know well. Simply Sei did not feel comfortable speaking about such a monster who could enter her consciousness whenever he wanted. Sei did not wish to explore what else the Akuma-kage could do to her. She decided not to reply to Madara's question. "Please excuse me, I must use the lavatory."
She politely left the room and hurried down to the restroom. She closed the sliding door and leaned against the door arch rubbing her warm forehead. Thus took the fan from her obi and read it:
мeeт мe aт тнe edge oғ тнe ғoreѕт north east oғ тнe ѕenjυ ward aт мιdnιgнт. wear yoυr coмвaт aттιre.
She thought with a devilish grin, 'I guess it's a second bout... Heh, I guess it wasn't him who sent me the other fan..."
A knock on the door and the voice of Aikiku made her jump. "Are you alright in there? Sei?"
"I'm fine, Kiku." Sei called out.
"If you are not feeling well let me know. I will get you some tea to drink." Aikiku offered thenceforth returning to the main residence.
Sei waited for Aikiku to leave and returned to the dining hall. Sat back down in her place and began to eat. Aikiku came over with a hot tea pot. She slipped on her own robe loosing her grip on the kettle. Before the hot sweet smelling liquid spilt Sei lithely caught the tea pot by the handle and indifferently poured it into her cup finished daintily placed the china on a tray.
"You are fast, Sei." Aikiku said as the others watched on.
"Anyone could have done that. Alertness and reflex is key." She replied taking a sip.
Aikiku sat back down across from Sei with Izuna who was unusually quiet. Chuckling Aikiku threw an orange at Sei wherefore Madara caught the fruit before it hit her facial. He snickered flinging it back at Aikiku. The orange bounced off her forehead and disappeared from nowhere. Aikiku giggled mischievously taking a bite from her gyōza. Hashirama laughed chucking an onigiri at Tobirama's head, the food bounded back hitting Mitō. Who's hair pins stationed the rice ball there like a kabob. Mitō nonchalantly removed it from her hair and ate it.
Aikiku bursted out laughing, "Ew, Mitō! That's gross!"
She retorted, "Ai, It's just food."
Izuna commented unaware, "Are you guys having a food fight?"
Aikiku giggled taping his shoulder like a piano board, "Do you want to have one?"
Tobirama finalized, "No."
"Aw, Brother... You're such a party pooper..." Aikiku pouted playfully.
