For Tomorrow- Chapter One

It was smaller than she was used to.

The house, that is.

Her family had moved from the surrounding countryside to the heart of the city. Her father had insisted that moving was a good thing. He would be closer to their factories to oversee the work there; she could go to a better school and spend time learning the workings of the family business she would one day inherit; her sister would be able to find a suitor and make connections in society as to be able to sustain herself and be useful to the family in that respect.

Their mother had been severely ill and passed away a month ago, this probably being the reason her father had been so keen to move. Not that she could blame him, staying in that house filled with so many memories... even she wanted to escape, which was why she had not argued when her father had suggested- read: ordered- that they move. She had left everyone she had ever known: her best friends, her extended family, her teachers and everyone she had ever looked up to. What was even worse was that she didn't care. There was no remorse about leaving them behind, the people who only liked her for her status as an heiress. She had a feeling the people here were no different.

That was why Hinata Hyuuga, heiress to the company 'Hyuuga Industries' found herself in a very cramped, two bed roomed terraced house in the middle of London, watching as the new family servants moved the furniture as her father specified.

When everything was finished in the living room she noticed one of the younger servants- a man with long, brown hair tied in a ponytail with a black ribbon and perfect posture (she assumed he was the new butler) - was looking around as if searching, for what she didn't know.

So, walking gracefully- just as Madame Shizune had taught her to-, she inquired as to why the man was so nervous.

"It's nothing, Miss. Thank you for your concern."

"But I could help. I'm bored stiff just standing here."

The young man frowned, obviously thinking that no lady should talk in such a crass manner. Not that he could correct her without out-stepping his place as a servant.

"Again, Miss Hyuuga, you should not worry yourself over something so trivial."

"I-I doubt something that seems to worry you so is merely trivial."

For the love of- There was the stutter again. It took years for her to get rid of and at the first sign of confrontation it was back. Maybe she should have stayed at home where people willingly accepted her help.

The butler's frown deepened, knowing it was not his place to argue with one of his masters, whether he felt she was being nosey or not.

"My gloves, Miss."

"Gloves?"

"I took them off so they wouldn't get dirty when moving the furniture and... I've lost them, Miss"

"Are you sure they aren't here...uh, may I enquire as to what your name is?"

"Iruka Umino, Miss.

"I believe one of the servant boys has taken them, Miss. Even if I knew which one I couldn't prove that they're mine. They are just the standard set we are given upon being hired. Every servant has a pair and some even have spares."
Well, that was easily fixed. Despite Iruka's formal shell, she had a feeling he was a lot nicer under the surface, if the smile wrinkles around his eyes were anything to go by. Taking a half penny from her purse, Hinata pressed the coin into his palm and curled his fingers around it.

"Here, Iruka. Take this and buy yourself a new pair, maybe trade it for someone's spare pair. My father would not be happy to find you in improper uniform. I would hate to see you go. I believe you are much nicer than you appear at first glance."
Iruka was taken aback. Both at her informal approach by calling him by his first name and by her generosity in helping him keep his job. Master Hyuuga would not be pleased if he had been spotted improperly dressed on his first day. That fact that Miss Hyuuga cared about his lowly fate was proof of her caring character. His lips twitched at the corners, forcing down a smile as she walked away. He was lucky indeed, to be blessed with such a kind Mistress.

Iruka himself had been victim to past abuse by one of his masters, when he was merely a stable boy. A shoe had fallen off one of the horses and he was blamed, not the horse's rider who had been pushing the creature to and past its limit across stony ground which loosened the shoe and ultimately forced it off. He had been punished severely and this was the reason for his prominent scar- a single line across his nose that ended about half way across each cheek.

Miss Hyuuga was definitely a rarity in her class- a beacon of pureness in a society of corruption. He only hoped she survived as such. First impressions were important, after all.