Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
"Now, Kibana-chan. As a woman of the Uchiha household, be it a servant or a wife, you must be taught to act like a lady." Eriko said softly as she tied the ribbon of a worn working robe onto the small girl. Kibana glanced at the old woman uncertainly. Her hair was grey, and her face was covered in wrinkles, but Kibana could see the kind smile she offered to everyone who entered the Uchiha doors.
"A lady, Eriko-chan?" Kibana parroted, her gut wrenching at the prospect. Eriko simply nodded and patted the young panther on the head. Eriko turned and began walking down the hall, Kibana close on her heels, the bell around her neck ringing cheerfully when she would turn to gaze at something that had caught her eye.
Eriko grinned at the girls antics, ever since she had arrived at the compound five months ago, she was a very interesting child. Also, very energetic. Though, Kibana had a hard time with some of the other maids-specifically because of her friendship with Izuna-sama. It was considered inappropriate by the others, and even a few of the councilmen had discussed forbidding Izuna and Kibana from interacting with one another.
Everyone knew of the breakfast that Izuna-sama and Kibana would share every morning, and even Madara-sama was joining them as well. It was strange but it was not completely unheard of. Eriko has reprimanded many of the maids speaking ill of Kibana, reminding them of their own times of waking early in the morning to be courted by some of the lesser Uchiha men.
The maids would blush and then duck their heads with shame. Kibana still had problems with the council and very few of the women, but the girl seemed completely unaffected.
Eriko stopped in front of a large wooden door, and as she opened it the smell of dusty books, and ink filled both the women's nostrils. Eriko placed a hand on the small of Kibana's back and moved her silently into the room. The two maids stood before a woman dressed in a lavish kimono, her face painted brilliantly with bright reds and dark blacks.
Kibana stared in awe at her, especially the way her black hair flowed and was also wrapped atop her head. Her skin was a creamy pale white, almost like milk, and her sharp light brown eyes seemed to be all-knowing. Kibana found her to be a stunning sight. The woman smiled kindly at the young cat, and in return Kibana bowed in greeting.
"Hello, Kibana-chan, I am Hanako and I will giving you lessons to help you blossom into a proper lady." The woman said gently, as she moved to stand before Kibana and threaded her fingers through her hair, brushing her hair out from behind the girls shoulders.
"Tajima-sama, has asked Hanako-chan to train you, Kibana-chan." Eriko informed her matter-of-factly. Kibana looked at her curiously, and Eriko could just see the questions in her eyes.
"Tajima-sama is wanting you to take my position as head of the household service, should I retire or pass away." Eriko said bluntly. Kibana's eyes widened and she moved to shake her head no but Hanako stilled her with her dainty hands.
"All you need is a little time, Kibana-chan, and you will grow to be one of the most beautiful women the Uchiha household has ever held within it's walls. Please let me train you, Kibana-chan." Hanako pleaded, and Kibana simply melted in her hands and nodded. Eriko and Hanako smiled knowingly at one another before Eriko left the room so Kibana could begin her first lesson.
Kibana grabbed the dry linen from the clothing line, and folded it dutifully. She sighed as she held the sheet over her arms and looked out towards the servants houses where Eriko-basan would be residing had she not passed five years prior.
Kibana looked down to her fairly new working robe. As the head of the household servants, she was required to dress far nicer than the other women. She resented this tremendously, though she has not been able to convey to Madara how she felt about this policy.
He would simply look at her and smirk slightly, "Why are you being so humble, Koneko?" He would ask her, and she would puff out her cheeks in frustration and leave him in his study. Kibana could not stand being dressed nicer than the other servant girls, they were not beneath her and neither was she above them. She felt distanced from them, she was not quite old enough to offer the girls any motherly comfort, and the girls also saw her as competition for whatever man they were hoping to court.
The Uchiha household was full of romance, Kibana thought on several occasions. The servant girls were all of Uchiha blood, the majority full-blooded. They were just unfortunate enough to be orphaned and separated from their parents and reduced to working to earn their keep and make a living for themselves.
It was not uncommon for noblemen to court an Uchiha maid. Every day it almost seemed as if another maiden were being married and taken back officially into the clan as a respectable wife to respectable men.
Kibana looked past the servants quarters to look towards the small garden that the nursery maids had arranged so that they may take the young children out to play. It was barren of any people, and Kibana could not force away the sorrow she felt. By the age of three the children were already being prepared to train as shinobi, and had no use for the garden or the nursery. The newborns were all too small to partake in the merriment of being outside in the fresh air.
She sighed and went back to collecting the was around mid-afternoon now, and despite Kibana's grudge against Madara from the stunt he pulled earlier that morning, she worried if he had eaten yet. She grimaced as she remembered Madara taking the curdled milk and dipping her hair with it, she still had the smell locked in her nostrils.
He was childish, and she was glad for that sometimes. He also had a one-track mind, and she knew that if he were allowed, he would only eat one meal a day if it were not for her constantly nagging him. She has seen the way he treats the other maids, as if they were in his way and annoying him.
Truthfully, she had to admit that the women were that way when it concerned their clan head.
She could only imagine how he would have ended up treating her were it not for the fact the two had practically grown together with Izuna.
"Ah! Kibana-chan! Would you like some help with that?" Kibana looked up to see Hashirama looking at her with a large smile and curious eyes, eyes she saw too often on herself when she would look into a looking-glass.
"No, Senju-sama, I am fine." She said softly as she bundled the clothing expertly beneath her arm. She bowed to him respectfully, then standing straight to look at him expectantly. He wore what she had dubbed to be a relaxation yukata. She saw them often enough around the bath houses, and the thin material seemed comfortable in the warm weather they were experiencing,
Hashirama reached behind his head to scratch his neck, he seemed shy about something. Kibana did not have to wait long for an explanation. "Truthfully, Kibana-chan, I am a bit bored since Madara isn't around. Put me to work, I am dying of boredom!" He yelped dramatically, laying the back of his hand to his forehead as if he were about to faint.
Kibana chuckled under her breath and nodded. "Yes, Hashirama-sama. I can provide you with some entertainment while you wait for Madara-sama to return. Let me put these linen away and I will guide you." Kibana said as she headed toward the decking surrounding the compound.
Hashirama followed at her side, causing Kibana to look at him strangely. Only Izuna and Madara ever walked at her side, it was something they did out of familiarity. Had the Senju been raised with different customs from theirs? Kibana studied Hashirama from the corner of her eye, her eyes filled with curiosity and she was just yearning to ask the man of his familys' customs.
"How long have you been with the Uchiha, Kibana-chan?" Hashirama asked casually, looking to her expectantly.
"Eight years, Senju-sama."
Hashirama nodded, he was studying her just as she was studying him. "How old are you, Kibana-chan?"
She raised an eyebrow at his bluntness, and a smirk curled at the corner of her lips, revealing her canines for all the world to see. "It is not polite to ask a woman her age, Senju-sama, I am sure that is common knowledge."
Hashirama smiled in reply, moving to meet her playful banter. "Ah, but Kibana-chan, I am simply trying to better know the woman dear to Madara's heart."
"I am merely a childhood friend, Senju-sama. Should I pass, Madara would easily move on, and soon find a new servant girl to replace me." Kibana nodded to herself, as if she were confirming it within her head. "Also, I am 19 years of age, Senju-sama."
"Hashirama. Call me Hashirama, save the Senju-sama for my brother." Hashirama said, a small frown marring his features. He watched as Kibana slid open a door leading to what appeared to be the linen closet. He looked around himself to find that they had entered the household without his knowledge, and he was bewildered to say the least.
Kibana nodded to him slightly in acknowledgement before turning to walk into the small room and place the linens on their respective shelves. She wiped her hands on her apron and then turned back to him with a triumphant smile. "Alright, Hashirama-sama, if you will follow me, I can show you something to keep you occupied. Izuna-sama and Madara-sama often do this during their spare time, though I believe they just enjoy to indulge themselves." Kibana said as she shut the door to the closet, the wind caused by the shutting door made her weak bell chime loudly.
Hashirama looked to her with wide eyes before he looked further at her neck and saw the golden bell tied with a ribbon around her neck. Nonplussed, Kibana began leading Hashirama further away from the Uchiha household, moving closer to the private bathhouse built in the back garden. Hashirama could seem steam rolling from the roof and he could not help but grin.
A nice soak in the Uchiha hot springs sounded nice, he decided. He grinned at Kibana appreciatively, and Kibana smiled in response.
"Ana-chan~ I knew I heard you approaching!" Izuna yelled from the entrance, only covered by a loose towel. Hashirama watched as Kibana sweat dropped, and shook her head at her friends antics. "Izuna-sama, please cover up or return to your bath, you will catch cold like that." She reprimanded. Izuna immediately deflated and pouted.
"Ana-chan, you're always working, why don't you take a soak as well?" He asked pleadingly,and Kibana turned her back to him to face Hashirama. He caught the way she rolled her eyes at the Uchiha male, and chuckled underneath his breath.
"Hashirama-sama, I hope you enjoy you time here for the duration of your stay. Should you need anything just ask Izuna-sama or Madara-sama, and they will summon me and I will tend to your needs." She bowed to him before moving to leave.
Hashirama smiled and nodded. "Yes, Kibana-chan. I will."
Okay, so I have yet decided if I will pair Kibana with any one yet or just let her live as a house maid and keep this as a friendship fic? Ideas?