Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Madara stared at the girl is disdain and disgust. The amber eyed Uchiha stared back with exasperated eyes. She had a dark green formal yukata folded over her arms as well as one of her own hair combs. Madara moved to the other side of the bedroom he shared with Izuna, and chose to ignore the girl, who in turn sighed and then snorted.
He looked over his shoulder to glare at her. "I am not being childish, Koneko!" He snapped. Kibana simply shrugged her shoulders, her young body too small for the large kimono, making her look as if she had been swallowed in brown linen.
"I do not recall saying that you were childish, Madara-sama. Now, if you will please sit down so that I may comb through your hair." Kibana said with a smirk in her voice, but a pleasant smile on her face. Madara bared his teeth at her, and she merely smiled at him.
"Madara-sama, you and I both know that by the end of the day you will be dressed and primed for the dinner, can we skip this fiasco for once and just get it over with?" She muttered as she finally dropped her smile to glare at him.
He shook his head stubbornly, and then it was Kibana's turn to bare her teeth.
"You are such a mule, Madara!" She growled, and Madara's eyed widened, before he began smirking at her. Kibana immediately flushed red and smacked a hand over her mouth. "Wait! Wait! I did not say that!" She began rambling after that, giving apologies and begging for forgiveness.
Madara soaked this up greedily, and happily, while he watched Kibana grovel before him.
However, as Izuna and a chambermaid entered the joint bedroom, Madara immediately halted his laughter to look at his brother innocently. Meanwhile, Kibana was cowering beside a cabinet, trying to hide her shame from Madara and had crossed a line.
Izuna's face instantly flushed red with anger after taking in the scene. He glared daggers at his brother, while Kibana fluttered around Izuna trying to explain that she had done wrong.
Izuna glared at her then. "Ana-chan, Aniki and I have treated you as a close friend since you have arrived, we insult you, why can you not insult us as well?" He demanded with cold eyes.
Kibana's eyes widened, and she looked to Madara questioningly. She then looked back to Izuna as if he were the dumbest boy she had met in her life.
"Izuna-sama, I am but a servant. We are friends, yes, but there is a boundary that I myself have set, and I have crossed it." She explained calmly, raising her hands in a soothing motion to help Izuna calm down. "I deserve to be punished, and if Madara-sama gloating and having an inflated ego is part of that punishment, I am all for it." She grinned cheekily as she glanced over at Madara who chuckled slightly at the jab.
"Ana-chan, you should feel comfortable with us." Izuna argued, his mouth seemingly set in a permanent frown. The chambermaid that had entered with Izuna watched the exchange with piqued interest. Not many of the servants have seen the three teens interact.
"I do feel comfortable, Izuna-sama. However, when I am on duty I am supposed to be a maid, not a friend-please understand." Kibana tried to explain, feeling exasperated with the boy.
Madara walked to stand beside Kibana, and looked at her fully. "I understand, Koneko." He smirked, and Kibana's eye brow twitched. She narrowed her eyes at the long haired Uchiha, opening her mouth to retort, but was interrupted by Izuna's laughter that filled the room.
Kibana and Madara turned to look at Izuna with wide eyes, he was practically doubled over in laughter. The two soon began laughing as well, joining Izuna. The chambermaid stared at the three weirdly, maybe there was a reason the three were practically magnets when it involved themselves, she mused.
Kibana glared at Madara, who was baring his teeth at her.
She shook her head and sighed in annoyance. "Madara-sama, it has been 7 years since I was put in charge of preparing you, and you lose this battle every single time. Please, just sit down so that I may brush through you hair."
Madara snorted, and finally conceded to sitting down on the ground in the middle of the room. Kibana smirked with satisfaction and turned to slide the door shut behind her. She laid the a dark blue yukata beside her and Madara glared at it in disdain.
"I do not understand why you do not enjoy this, Madara-sama, I love getting dressed up." Kibana said with a small voice, as she began running her fingers through the mans hair, preparing it for its torture. She listened as Madara grumbled angrily under his breath and she could not stop the urge to roll her eyes at his stubbornness.
She grabbed her hair comb from the pocket in her apron, and began pulling out the tangles Madara had hidden underneath his hair. She smiled a little, he always did that-make the top layer of his hair neat to try and fool her so that she would not attempt to brush it.
He grimaced at the feeling and cringed his nose. "I had figured you would have stopped even attempting this, Koneko." He grumbled.
She grinned and shook her head, he said that every time. "I enjoy humiliating you, Madara-sama. Would you like your hair tied for this event?" She asked softly. She saw him hesitate, pondering the notion. He finally shook his head and she pocketed her comb.
They both stood at the same time, the routine bred into them after so many years. Madara removed his 'relaxing robe' as she had dubbed the dark red material he wore around the household, and tossed it onto the floor at their feet. She rolled her eyes as she bent to pick it up and fold it.
She grabbed the formal yukata as well, laying the relaxing robe down on a small table beside her. She unraveled the material and held it up, just as Madara raised his arms up to his sides, so that she could put the sleeves on.
Kibana now stood before him, tying the yukata at the front. The dark blue material suited him well, and she admired him for it. He glared at her scrutiny of him, and as she looked up to meet his eyes to comment how handsome he looked today, as always, he noted grudgingly, she snorted.
He narrowed his eyes at her as she covered her mouth with tan hands, she is laughing at me! He growled in his thoughts. "I am sorry, Madara-sama!" She apologized quickly, trying to suppress and giggle. "It is not often that I see you so dejected and defeated, I could not help myself, it is indeed an odd sight." She smiled at him warmly and he just rolled his eyes at her explanation.
"It is fine, Koneko." He groaned. He turned to look at the sliding door that he would soon exit to join in on the festivities, and he felt a migraine coming on. He looked at her from the corner of his eye, and then he smirked.
Kibana felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise on instinct.
"Would you like to accompany me to the main hall, Koneko?" He asked her, a sly smile on his face. She shuddered at the expression, she had learned that that particular expression meant bad things for her. She opened her mouth to decline, but he reached over and flicked the bell around her neck whose sound had dulled with time. It rang softly and quietly, but it filled the room with it's beautiful sound.
"Let me rephrase that. You are accompanying me to the main hall, or I will drag you there by your feet." He clarified. Kibana sighed in defeat, wanting to curse the man before her, but settled on glaring at him.
"Fine, Madara-sama." She snapped. He smirked in satisfaction, while he watched her move forward to slide open the door for the two of them. Kibana paused as she turned to look at Madara.
"Madara-sama, this is a peaceful meeting, no weapons are allowed." She said threateningly before turning to step out into the hallway. She didn't miss the hidden kunai Madara had tried to discreetly hide onto the small table by his door.
As Madara stepped into the hallway as well, Kibana slid the door shut silently. Madara began walking towards the main hall with Kibana three steps behind him.
As the two entered the main hall, they noticed some of the housemaids dressed prettily at the side of the room dressed in elaborate kimonos, they seemed to be dancing to Kibana-of course she did not know how, the majority of the group were the ones that were normally tripping over their own feet in the halls.
Madara moved to stand at the head of the table, Kibana moved back to stand against the wall behind him, as per usual. Izuna stood from his seat at the right of the head. The two nodded to each other respectfully. Hashirama, who was seated to the left of Madara now stood and nodded at the man.
"Madara! Thank you for hosting this dinner and meeting, I am looking forward to the festivities!" Hashirama spouted, grinning ear to ear. Kibana saw a man on the other side of Izuna stand as well, she did not want to seem vain but... the man was very ... large for a shinobi. His forehead was covered by a bandaged cloth much like Hashirama was decked out. The mans hair was a soft burnt orange color, and it trailed just as long as her own waist length hair. His face held a smile, and it made his cheeks even rounder, his eyes were squinted, she could not see the color of his eyes.
Both of the men were dressed traditionally, and seemed to hold a care free air to them. She found the atmosphere to be very inviting. The man nodded to Madara in respect, and gave him a large smile. "Yes, Madara, this is a wonderful opportunity for our clans to get to know one another."
"Of course, Akimichi Chouki." Madara said, no emotion showing on his face-much to Kibana and Izuna's disdain. "It is a pleasure to be dining with the heads of the Akimichi and Senju clans, without the burden of councilmen." Madara said lightly. Kibana smiled slightly, Madara could sure hold a grudge against those old farts.
The two clan heads nodded, and the four men sat down. Kibana eyed the young woman sitting next to the Akimichi, and her eyes lit up with curiosity.
Izuna glanced over to his longtime friend, the revelation Yuki-san had revealed earlier unnerved him. There is no chance that Kibana is attracted to one of us, he had stubbornly told himself throughout the day. He looked over to her with unsure thoughts, and catching her expression.
He smacked himself in the face. The Original Face-Palm folks.
The two Senju brothers, and the Akimichi couple glanced at him in concern and he simply waved his hand side to side, dismissing the worry. Madara narrowed his eyes at him slightly, only for Izuna to try and secretly gesture to Kibana.
Madara could not turn to look at her over his shoulder like he usually would with these nobles around, it would be rude and outright disrespectful. He glared at Izuna, trying to convey this message and the younger Uchiha just silently groaned.
"Chouki, why not introduce your wife to Madara?" Hashirama suddenly spoke.
Chouki then laughed and nodded. "I apologize, I am not used to people who are not already associated with my lovely." He turned to his wife and gave her a heart-warming smile. The woman in question blushed and ducked her head shyly.
"This is my lovely wife, Ayame." Chouki told Madara, who in turn offered a small smile in response.
"It is a pleasure, Ayame-san." He said, inclining his head to the woman who nodded back with a smile. "The pleasure is all mine, Madara-san." She responded her voice loud and clear, it sounded magical to Kibana's ears, though. She gazed at the woman, her small angled face, her softly rounded cheeks, and the way they were dusted rosy with a small blush.
Her hair was wrapped up in an eloquent bun, secure with chopsticks, and ornaments decorated her light brown hair. Her eyes were large, and her lashes were long-accenting her ice blue eyes. Kibana practically melted. This woman was the definition of beauty, Hanako-chan had nothing on her.
Kibana kept her facial expressions and thoughts to herself. She was but a servant, and was not to be heard or seen when in service. She kept a stoic expression, but on the inside she was gushing to herself how lovely the woman was, and how she was envious that she had such a doting husband.
Wait, envious? I am not envious. I do not wish to marry. Kibana thought, her eyebrows pushing together in confusion. She quickly schooled her expression and let out a silent sigh of relief at not being caught. If Emiko were still alive, she would have dragged her out of the room by her ear.
Kibana watched on as the Akimichi couple, the Senju brothers and the Uchiha brothers conversed politely. She felt as if she were watching a council meeting. Madara stuck two fingers in the air, and her ears deafened as the bell around her neck rang out loudly.
Only Izuna, Madara, and Hikaku were taught the small jutsu. It was a jutsu that summoned her in a way, letting her know she was needed. She tried to contain some grace as she walked forward to stand beside Madara. She bowed to him respectfully before righting herself and awaiting her orders.
"Koneko, inform the kitchen staff that we are ready for our meals." He said with a small smirk on his face. He loved it whenever they were surrounded by nobles, because Kibana really did then act as a servant and he found it entertaining.
He looked at the dancing women and grimaced slightly before adding lowly to her, "and send them away."
She couldn't help but giggle at that, she nodded in reply and headed towards the girls first, making shooing hand gestures that the girls rolled their eyes at with smiles, they soon left the room and Kibana was strolling through the kitchen checking on all of the meals that the staff had prepared for their guests.
She watched as each dish left through the door, and sighed in relief when she could not hear any mishap outside the room-Izuna had a bad habit of tripping the staff as a prank.
"Kibana-san! Madara has requested your tea." One of the men said as he entered back into the room. Kibana's eyes widened as she looked to the canister she always left on the counter, that was normally filled with her leaves. She rushed to it in panic, and opened it. A puff of dust spouted in her face and she groaned.
I knew I had forgotten something today... she moaned. It is not as if Madara can actually taste the difference between my tea and the usual brew...
"Hachi-kun, would you mind brewing some tea?" She asked the man. He gave her a bewildered and scandalized expression.
"But, Madara specifically asked for your tea, Kibana-san!" He protested. Kibana nodded with a small smile.
"Truthfully, Hachi-kun, my tea is no different from the tea you make for us everyday." She said with a smile, and the man seemed to glow with pride thinking Madara enjoyed his brew so vigorously. He nodded then and set pace to begin his work.
Kibana waited for the tea to finish, and then stepped from the kitchen with a tray of two cups in one hand, and a kettle in the other. She approached the end of the table, silently setting down the cups before Izuna and Madara.
She secretly glared at Izuna who was just about to raise a sake cup to his lips, and he immediately set it down, stuttering out excuses. She noticed that only Madara was without a drink, and that the other guests were drinking sake with their meals. She poured the tea for Izuna and Madara, grabbed Izuna's sake cup, and turned to return the tray to the kitchen.
She was just about to open the door when Izuna's voice stopped her midstep.
"Oi, Ana-chan. There is something wrong with your tea, it does not taste the same as it usually does." Izuna said, his voice filled with confusion. She mentally groaned.
She turned to answer the man only to have Madara glaring at her with the cup raised to his lips. He set it down and scowled and Kibana cowered under his gaze.
"Explain this, Koneko." He demanded, to her embarrassment.
"I have no leaves left for my brew, Madara-sama. There will be none ready until tomorrow afternoon, I'm afraid. Would you care for something else?" She asked him timidly, resisting the urge to fidget under his disapproving expression.
Hashirama and the Akimichi wife, Ayame, watched the exchange with interest.
Some of the servant girls around the room giggled beneath their hands at Kibana's misfortune and she glared at them, this just made them giggle more.
"What is so humorous that you find it necessary to laugh?" Madara demanded of the girl closest to him. The girl immediately quieted and lowered her head.
"Nothing, Madara-sama, I apologize." She whispered. He returned his gaze to Kibana who shrunk underneath it.
"I would enjoy your tea, Koneko, but if it is unavailable, I will make due with what you have brought me." He said gruffly. Kibana nodded and turned to return to the kitchen.
"Also, do not think that I would have been fooled by this. I do in fact know that there is a difference between your brew, and the kitchen staffs." He said with a small smirk. Kibana colored in embarrassment and scurried to the kitchen quickly.
Izuna looked towards his brother. "Aniki, do not tease Ana-chan, you know she does not enjoy it." Izuna said with a heavy sigh, exasperated with his brothers antics.
"How long has Kibana-chan been with the Uchiha?" Hashirama asked suddenly to the Uchiha brothers surprise. Tobirama looked on indifferently while the Akimichi looked on with interest. The way Madara had interacted with the servant was peculiar, and it grabbed Ayame's interest.
"She came to us eight years ago, Hashirama-san." Izuna supplied
"You would not perhaps be willing to sell her, or let us employ her?" Hashirama asked with a grin, and the two Uchiha brothers instantly glared at him, much to Hashirama's amusement.
"She is our head of service, Hashirama, we can not afford to look for new help just because you wish to take her back to the Senju house and use her for entertainment." Madara quipped with a frown, and Hashirama laughed loudly. Then his face turned serious.
"What? She is the head of the service?" He asked with all seriousness. Tobirama enjoyed his meal along with Choki, while Ayame watched the exchange with bright eyes.
"Yes. She earned the position a few years back." Madara answered shortly.
"Hm. Kibana-chan just gets more interesting." Hashirama grinned, as he turned to return to his meal. Izuna followed soon afterwards, but for a few moments Madara simply stared at his dish and contemplated if he ever would send her away from the compound and under what circumstances.
The real fun begins next chapter! CHAOS... I think.
This is the longest chapter I have written so far, and I must say that I am proud of it. (:
Well, here was a bit of insight on Madara and Kibana's interaction, I think I might do Tobirama next.
Poll is up, also! If I don't have a lot of votes, it is hard to decide how Kibana's future will be...