Kindling

Mito hid her laughter behind her hand and long sleeve, tucking her amusement away as she watched Madara follow Tobirama’s slow kata with fascinated eyes; she did understand really, he was a lovely man, but it was entirely too entertaining to watch Madara be so transfixed- and it was getting worse, as if after he had started realizing that Tobirama was helping his clan he suddenly became aware of how exotic looking the younger Senju- not that she should really be laughing, after all she was having enough problem of her own keeping her eyes off of the older brother, though at least she could excuse it to knowing that Hashirama was a rather fantastic kisser. Not that she was allowed to show her appreciation anywhere Butsuma could see it, around him or those that would report to him she had to do her best to look subdued and angry; it wouldn’t do for the bastard to know that she was anything other than beat down and broken not matter how she really felt, but for now, in an yard empty but for a few guards she was fairly sure reported to Tobirama and the a few Hatake and Uchiha (there couldn’t have been more than ten people in the dusty yard) with Madara resting near by on his heels in the shade until he was needed to carry Hashirama’s armor again (an insulting but harmless task that Mito had suggested that let him be closer the Senju brothers, Butsuma loved it) she felt safe to look less than broken. Tobirama slipped under his brother’s arm with a slow breath- she had never seen anyone else do this achingly slow kata as a pair so that it was a strange sort of spar- and Hashirama twisted his fingers in his brother’s kimono shirt; the younger Senju made a dissatisfied sound but twisted slowly out of the garment leaving him in a thin white undershirt that clung to every muscle and teased more brilliant red lines. Next to her Madara made a strangled sound under his breath, eyes huge where he watched Tobirama; Mito smirked and leaned over, tapping his chin with her finger ”Close your mouth dear” she murmured “you’ll catch flies” his mouth snapped shut and he short her a mulish look, she giggled behind her sleeve but let him be. (which was good, Hashirama lost a layer next and she almost swallowed her tongue, why had she never watched this before?)

Mito smiled as the brothers drew to a stop, murmuring to each other for a moment before Hashirama trotted over to her and the tea she sat besides (it was a good idea for a task, make her sit in the sun and wait on his pleasure to serve them tea) “Tobira wants to do one more” she glanced past him to were the younger man was stretching (and fought down a smirk at Madara’s glazed eyes) “do- I mean, it’ll be a bit longer” (Mito wanted to laugh at his attempts to be commanding and cruel, but it just… wasn’t funny when she remembered that Tobirama had to do the same and why) Mito nodded serenely and Hashirama trotted back to his brother (mmm, he should wear his hair pulled up more without that heavy robe, it was a wonderful view walking away) talking for a second before both men settled into another set of forms and started moving. For a while she sat in a pleasant daze until there was sudden chill and Tobirama went stiff and sharp edged, the Senju brothers turned to the house just as the door opened and bowed shallowly together “Honored stepmother” Hashirama said lowly, shifting in front of his brother a little as he stood (Tobirama shifted back, in another man Mito would have called it shrinking); Lady Kagura with her blank lovely face stared at both of her stepsons “I have need of your help Tobirama” she said (Mito shivered, there was something wrong about the woman) and Hashirama’s eyes went wide “Honored stepmother, surely there’s nothing-“ “I said that I needed Tobirama, I am sure that he has no problem assisting me? If he does I am sure Butsuma will be willing to listen” (Mito was surprised at the heavy handedness of the threat) Hashirama’s jaw went tight and hard but Tobirama stepped around him “I would of course love to help you honored stepmother” he said. She smiled a rotten smile and lifted long hands fingers flicking through threes signs- Hashirama made a tight strangled sound and Tobirama’s eyes went wide with fear- “I am sure you would” she said “join me in the house” and her hands slid into a forth sign as she turned to leave.

Madara’s entire body twitched as Tobirama made a sharp agonized sound, Hashirama spun to his brother, face white as his brother’s skin, but whatever had happened was already passing; Tobirama leaned into the older Senju for a second before pushing back and standing straight, face hidden by the shadow of his wild hair. Madara hesitated and then stood, picking up a glass of water from next to a tight lipped Mito and walking over to the brothers catching only a snippet of their words as he approached “-I don’t want you to be alone with her-“ “I don’t see how we have any choice, this isn’t the battle to fight Hashi” “-I” Madara cleared his throat and both turned to him (he didn’t like the look of the tightness around Tobirama’s eyes or the faint glassy sheen to his eyes). He held out the water to the younger man wordlessly, red eyes blinked at him for a moment before he reached out (his hand was unsteady, Madara had never seen that before) and took the glass, Madara shifted his hand as he did until their fingers hooked together and squeezed gently, the most he could allow of comfort (the most he was willing to risk when he still knew so little); Tobirama’s movements hitched and he stared at Madara for a long moment before clearing his throat and looking away, Madara slid his fingers away and returned to his spot next to Mito, quite sure that he would do something ill advised if he stayed (he wanted so badly to do something to help, almost anything).

It was several long moments before Tobirama collected his shirt and strode past them into the house without looking at any of them, Hashirama following but stopping at the door to watch his brother vanish inside with tight lips; he turned to them, clearly trying to wipe his face of the worry written on it “You will have to excuse me, I need to- just-“ Mito rose gracefully to her feet and touched his hand where it was hidden with both of their long sleeves “Of course, you must have many things to attend to” she said smoothly and Hashirama sent her a fast grateful glance and nodded before disappearing into the house without another word. Mito and Madara exchanged a dark look but set about cleaning up after the planned afternoon with no farther words, this wasn’t the place to talk and they didn’t get a chance for the rest of the day (neither Senju brother reappeared all day) until they were back in the longhouse that housed them with the heads of the other subjugated clans (Madara missed Izuna, he saw his brother far to little now after they had been split up- no one was foolish enough to leave the Uchiha brothers together in one place to plan shit- into different sleeping areas). Mito pursed her lips and glanced at the clock but she was never called to attend to Hashirama and no other word arrived; it was Madara who broke the tight silence “What do you think that was about?” he asked, Mito dragged her eyes away and met his “I don’t know, but clearly She is as much a threat as the ass” she murmured. Madara nodded, “I’ve never seen either of them react to anyone like that, not ever the ass” “And she hurt Tobirama I think, I don’t know what happened but those hand signs were but- unless they were worried about something?” she asked, Madara shook his head “He was definitely unwell, whatever she did effected him somehow and Hashirama knew it would, he was not happy about Tobirama helping her” “And she threatened them with their father” Mito said quietly “there is so much going on that we just don’t know and I – I hate not knowing.” Madara huffed a mirthless laugh “The mystery of the Senju sons. I just wish it didn’t feel like a murder mystery.”

Hashirama hated that She had figured out how to partial activate the seals Tobirama wore, oh She didn’t know how to do it all the way but She could- and did- use a partial activation any time She wanted to (which was at least once whenever She saw him though never in the labs, he was to useful there Hashirama bitterly knew) and the threat that Father would teach Her the rest hung over them like a malignant fog; She was… unnatural, and while Father understood what he was doing- to an extent- when he hurt Tobirama and wouldn’t use it so much as to kill or damage a valuable tool She had no such qualms. Hashirama hated when She asked for Tobirama for other reasons though; he looked at his brother, nineteen and clever and brilliant and when he came back from ‘helping’ her he always looked… wrung out, empty and confused and he could never really explain what it was he was supposed to be helping her with. Tobirama stirred a little “She wants the Naka Tablet” he said, voice rough and dry, Hashirama made a confused noise as he moved to get his brother water “She says the Uchiha have it and that it is crucial if everything is going to work” Hashirama froze, “She has a Plan?!” he asked horrified (what could that- that-  thing want?) Tobirama shrugged listlessly- Hashirama knew he would care about this again tomorrow but for now…- “We are going to move against the Uchiha soon” the younger man said. Hashirama swallowed “We’re ready” he promised “we’ll make it work” “We have to” whispered Tobirama.