Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Chapter Three.
Izuna and Tajima looked up as the sliding door slid open to reveal Madara. Madara studied the expressions of his family, and couldn't help but be interested in what they were discussing. Izuna looked afraid, apprehensive, and also a little defeated while Tajima looked well... downright giddy.
"Welcome home, Father." Madara said curtly, waiting for his father to invite him in to join the discussion. Tajima nodded his head in acknowledgement then gestured for Madara to come in and close the door.
Madara walked to his brothers side, then sat on the cushion beside him, both facing towards their father who sat before a small table, facing away from them, though his body was turned towards them. Tajima cleared his throat before looking towards his eldest. "Izuna was just telling me of our new maid, Kibana-san. Though I believe his opinion of her is more biased than what I would like to use to formulate a decision."
"Decision, Father?" Madara asked with surprise. He truly did not know of Kibana's circumstances.
"On whether Kibana-san will remain under the Uchiha's jurisdiction or be let go back to where she came from."
"Where did she come from?" Madara asked with a raised eyebrow. He looked between Izuna and his father, both having differing thoughts.
"Her clan." Tajima said simply, as if it were common.
"She doesn't have a clan, Father! I have already tried to explain this to you." Izuna said, a little mirth in his voice at Tajima's insistence that the girl had a family, even after Izuna explained her circumstances. Izuna found himself truly exasperated with his father, he acted as if his words went through one ear and out the other.
Madara looked at his brother in interest. "She has no family then?" He asked suddenly. Izuna shook his head, not bothering to appear sympathetic, as if he found the knowledge to be absolute, as if it were normal. "No, Kibana's mother left her to fend for herself, and she is a bastard child." Izuna said, his voice betraying none of his emotions-which was odd for Madaras' younger brother
"Father, Kibana has only showed to utmost loyalty, and has shown that she only wishes to serve the clan, no matter how lowly she is regarded." Izuna defended the girl. "Though Aniki has not interacted with her and has yet to form an opinion on her, however many of the members of the clan can vouch for Kibana, even many of the councilmen have become enthralled with her, Father." Izuna said, almost pleadingly.
Madara blinked at his brother, his father doing the same action. Tajima finally cleared his throat-schooling his expression back to that of a proper head of the clan. "Izuna, bring me the Chikushou girl so that I may evaluate her." Tajima demanded, his voice holding a tone of asking no questions.
Izuna spluttered, having not thought that his father would request to see the girl. His eyes narrowed slightly as he stood and excused himself from the room. Madara and Tajima heard his footsteps as they slowly quieted going down the hall, disappearing across the main house.
"Father,..." Madara began, preparing to ask how the battle was, but Tajima was watching the door patiently, waiting for Izuna to appear with the girl.
"Madara, have you ever heard of the Chikushou clan?" Tajima asked, his voice grave. Madara denied with a shake of his head and a soft-spoken "No Father."
"They could be the downfall of any clan, or they can be the reason a clan excels in battle. A clan of mercenaries primarily, and a proper clan second." Tajima said ominously, causing Madara to look at his father a bit more seriously.
"Where is the Chikushou clan, Father?"
"One is now residing within our walls, and I intend to use her to our advantage. The rest however, have dispersed to the edges of the nations, having fallen due to pride." He said as he stood to stand closer to the window, and began to gaze out at the side garden filled with flowers, and bright green grass signaling the beginnings' of spring time.
The little servant girl was part of such a clan? Madara had his doubts.
As if on cue the two men could hear the loud chiming of a bell-Madara swore he were going to get rid of that bell, if it were the last thing he would do before he left to return to his training.
The chiming stopped in front of the door, and Tajima turned expectantly as Izuna announced his and Kibana's presence. Tajima grunted, allowing them access into the private study. Izuna stepped into the room, Kibana three steps behind him with her head bowed and her face betraying no thoughts that was currently rushing through her mind as quickly as a retreating shinobi force.
"Tajima-sama." Kibana bowed lowly to him, her forehead practically touching the floor the way her long black hair was sweeping it. Tajima nodded his head in acknowledgement, and told Izuna to sit back down. Kibana stood closest to the door, her hands clasped together in front of her. Madara saw how her narrow amber eyes scoured the room in less than 2 seconds, before her gaze finally settled to looking past Tajima.
No matter how many times Tajima spoke to her, she would not directly meet his gaze. They had settled on make small pleasantries, discussing the weather, the state of the household, the like. Tajima was growing rather tense at how her eyes would never meet his, and the two boys could feel the tension rising around the room just as they saw his shoulders tensing as well.
"Kibana-san, why do you not meet my eyes?" Tajima demanded suddenly, causing Kibana to jerk and look to him with big doe eyes. She shook her head, as if forcing herself from a trance she had somehow fallen into.
"I apologize, Tajima-sama. I do not know what has come over me." Kibana said, ducking her head shyly and the men watched as her cheeks colored a soft pink. "Excuse my rudeness... My mother often taught me to never meet the eyes of the alpha male, and I ... I do not know."
Tajima's eyes widened slightly-though he had not interacted with the Chikushou often, or had any close with relations with any single one, he knew that Chikushou often resorted to their animal instincts depending on their animal, and how much they relied on their chakra.
"Kibana-san, tell me what your role within the Chikushou was." Tajima requested, and Kibana merely looked at him with apologetic eyes. "I'm sorry, Tajima-sama. I do not know what my role in the Chikushou would have been should my mother had stayed. The Chikushou rank their men far differently than other clans, and I do not know where a Panther would have stood in the rankings; though I do know my mother was low in family."
"A Panther?" Tajima questioned his eyes widened slightly.
"Yes sir, though I am far from mastering the technique, Izuna and I have determined I am definitely that of a panther." Kibana said, glancing at Izuna warmly, who in turn stood straighter in his seat, his chest swelling with pride. The entire conversation was lost on Madara, who simply looked between the three in the utmost confusion. It appeared as if none of them wished to include him in the conversation anyways.
"Kibana-san, have your enjoyed your stay here in my compound?" Tajima asked slowly, and Kibana's face immediately lit up, and she smiled wide, showing off her large canine teeth.
"Yes, Tajima-sama, I have thoroughly enjoyed my stay. Thank you for your hospitality, I will repay you in any way I can for the warmth and comfort I have received here in the Uchiha compound." Kibana got to her knees, and touched her forehead to the floor, showing the utmost respect she had for the man before her.
"Kibana-san, you are allowed to remain in our care for as long as you wish. Return to your duties and report to me again in the morning. You are dismissed." Tajima said, turning back to gaze out the window.
He was not lost on the childish display Kibana and Izuna sent to one another before she exited the room, large smiles and big thumbs-ups. His lip twitched, especially as he watched Izuna's older brother give Izuna a horrified expression at his odd behavior.