2.
Sayu's black eyes caught the slight motion across her, and out of reflex, her head snapped up. The habits of a ninja were integrated so deep into her, that they became her second nature. A grin spread on her lips at the sight of Yuna, messy and sleepy, sitting there and trying to get her brain to function properly. Her brown locks were in terrifying tangles and her eyes were adorned with a pair of fresh black circles. Sayu placed her teacup back on the table and tied her hair up to a messy bun.
"Why aren't you at home Yuna? Did you fight with your parents again?" she asked, trying to tone down the sarcasm in her voice. Yuna snorted and rubbed her temple softly to stop the headache before shaking her head. Sayu pouted and leaned back with her hands crossed on her chest.
She had finished serving breakfast only minutes ago and it was still steaming on the table, delicious and inviting.
"Then go home, I don't care if you drank last night and got knocked up or something."
Yuna sat up straight and yawned loudly, ignoring the stares for her rude behaviour. Sayu has seen worse, she can take it.
"I couldn't sleep last night...and I couldn't sleep during the day either...I'm engaged with Uchiha Madara...He seem terrible," Yuna's drowsy mumble was barely coherent, but the ninja's ears are well trained and Sayu nearly choked on her tea, surprise spreading in her eyes. That sleepy mumbling managed to leave her absolutely speechless.
"You're joking right? I heard a rumour that Madara got engaged, but no one knows anything else besides that," Sayu said quietly and rubbed the back of her head. The soon-to-be mistress merely raised an eyebrow and mimicked her friend's posture.
They were physically startlingly similar; average height, slim and even the muscles gifted to them by vigorous training couldn't hide the feminine curve of their waist. They only differed when it concerned hair and eye colouring. Sayu was clad black, like her clothes and every other possession while Yuna had the traditional Kunisada blue eyes and brown hair.
"Why are you whispering?" asked Yuna with a whisper. She didn't trust her senses in the morning and who knows how many traps for enemies might be hidden in Sayu's house.
Yuna's mind was still disorderly. The idea that she, in her mere fragile age of twenty would be married off to Uchiha Madara. Yuna had never caught sight of him before the previous evening, but rumours spread like wildfire around this man, sprouting legends about his conquests.
After every battle involving him every town in the world would send out artists to draw new maps.
Sayu gulped the last of her miso soup and slammed the bowl on the table, nearly cracking it in the process.
"Well...I certainly understand the reasoning of the Kunisada," Sayu sounded rather calm; after all it didn't concern her.
Yuna slammed her fist on the table, "Reasoning? There is absolutely none to speak of! Instead of grovelling at the feet of the Uchiha, we should focus on gaining strength and allies on our own!"
"But you aren't there yet, and until then Hikari will do anything to ensure that the Kunisada last," Sayu shot another warning glance at Yuna, effectively shutting her up, "Would you rather have Madara as your enemy?"
"Define enemy," Yuna grumbled, memories of the previous evening still fresh in her memory. Sayu on the other hand snorted, "You fool, don't make a public enemy out of him right away!"
The brunette merely grinned and shrugged, "What can I say, I make an impression."
Sayu rolled her eyes and tried not to punch Yuna in the face, "That man will have even you on your knees. I have some friends in the Uchiha and they have told me that Madara is really brutal, even on his good days, stress from managing the clan along with his natural temper don't really make a good match."
"Then what do you suggest I do?"
"Be really careful around him. He's way above our league. If you happen to stand in his way he'll just push...pardon, kick you away and have his way," a chill ran up Sayu's back, but she didn't let it show. Part of her felt pity for Yuna.
Shinobi usually don't get married. Most of them die before the age of thirty and love is 'for children' as the mentors love to put it. Sayu couldn't relate to Yuna's fear out of the innate way of thinking 'But you'll die in a few years anyway, it doesn't matter.'
It was the fear and awe before Madara that earned Yuna the sympathy from her friend. Sayu was confident that Yuna would be able to withstand whatever was thrown in her path there…kind of.
"If you think that I'm just going to let him prance all over me…" she growled. Her anger was directed at Madara, even if he was miles away, tucked in a soft bed most likely. There were still a few more hours to be irate before someone would come and pick her up from the Kunisada. Yuna made a mental note to make a mild attempt at befriending whoever was her courier.
She has met some very nice Uchihas before in the past; Madara's just happens to be a very powerful black lamb and that's why they put up with him.
Sayu's lips were pursued, "You can try to befriend Izuna, his brother," she suggested, "because Izuna is the only person Madara will never harm."
"How is that going to help me? The feelings of love tend to be mutual when concerning homicidal siblings! Izuna would choose Madara without hesitation!" Yuna said, getting up from the kitchen table. She strolled over to the door, putting on her shoes while Sayu hovered around her like a shadow.
She leaned on the wall and crossed her arms across her chest, a clear sign that illustrated her annoyance. The fact that Yuna barged in there last night was reason enough already…
"Look, I only give information; it's not up to me what the heck you actually do with it!" Sayu only managed to leave Yuna even more puzzled than before.
She simply couldn't see how could Madara's little brother be used as an advantage. The man was probably as sharp and paranoid as Madara.
She sighed and straightened herself up with a small smile on her lips, "I guess this is good bye, for a while at least!"
The sight of seeing Sayu's eyes soften just a tiny ounce was enough to provide Yuna with courage. Her friend gripped her shoulder, trying to send a surge of courage into Yuna.
"Try to make the best out of it…"
Yuna stared at her before grinning, "You mean acting like a slave driver until Madara finds out?"
"See, you already have a start."
"Yeah," she nodded, "You'll write to me, okay?"
Sayu answered without skipping a breath, "I will, don't worry…Good bye."
And the black haired shinobi walked away, leaving Yuna alone by the door. Sayu wasn't being cold, but was trying to make it easier for both parties. Long partings with hugs and tears were never her thing, but the warmth of her grip lingered and stayed with Yuna.
The same rules didn't apply to Yuna's little sister Eiko. When she found out in the morning that her older sister is moving, tears sprouted from her eyes faster than Uchiha Madara could say 'I hate everything'.
It was adorable, but Yuna tried to comfort her, assuring Eiko that moving to another clan's compound in the Fire country wasn't equivalent to moving to Wind or Earth.
The pleasant jog from Sayu's home to her own was coming to an end as she saw the familiar rooftops. A sigh flew from her lips and Yuna stuffed her hands into her pockets.
Yuna took a slow breath in to prepare herself to what's ahead before stepping in view. She walked through the grandiose gates and in from the front door.
She bit her lower lip and held back a second sigh when her eyes caught sight of a dark haired man, standing there in the doorway, just about to take off his shoes. He sensed her with ease and straightened up with a friendly smile on his lips.
"Yuna-chan, we meet at last! My name is Uchiha Izuna," he said happily and reached out his hand for Yuna. She had just hit jackpot, but the overflowing joy was bizarre and a bit unnerving. She didn't even want to shake hands with Izuna, but he was just so friendly that it was impossible to obstruct.
Not only was it the strangest instance to meet the brother of her future husband right away, but it dawned to Yuna that he was picking her up. This is the job of a servant at least, but not the clan's second in command!
Izuna's gleeful presence was unfazed by Yuna's blatant confusion and distaste. His eyes scrutinised every inch of her, as if he was looking for something. The silence dragged on between them before Izuna broke the eye contact and leaned down to put his shoes back on.
"Your things have already been taken to the compound, though I don't understand why you need any of it. Madara has plenty of funds," Izuna said.
"It provides a false sense of security to possess something of your own in a foreign palace," Yuna noted dryly, drawing a low chuckle from Izuna.
Eiko was away on a mission, deliberately sent away right after breakfast to avoid the drawn-out good bye sessions between the sisters.
Yuna had exactly no one from the house to send her off. What a lovely way to remind her how valuable her contribution was. There was only Izuna, who seemed to notice Yuna's gaze, which was trying to memorize every crack in the pillars.
"Do not fret, you'll return to this place again." His voice was warm, but it didn't reach his eyes.
Yuna sighed again, exhaling every ounce of weakness from her with that long breath. She exited the house with no hesitation, not even looking back as the gates were closing behind her.
Each step she took in the annoying heat took her closer to the Uchiha compound. The silence was grinding her nerves, not to mention Izuna's humming, so she struck up some small-talk.
"Why did you come to pick me up, Izuna? Is this a punishment for misbehaviour?" Yuna asked with a pinch of humour. It was time to test the waters, in a safe environment. How much could she toe the line between insolence and sarcasm?
Izuna looked friendly to the untrained eye, but he was shrouded in mystery, for the women preferred Madara. The result was that there were a myriad amount of rumours concerning Madara and none about Izuna, both situations proved equally useless to Yuna.
Her remark didn't seem to insult him, instead he seemed humoured.
"Madara painted you to be with three legs and horns; I just had to see for myself!"
"Is that what they're saying about me? Already?" she gasped with false terror.
"Well, I initiated the rumours so of course."
'Bitch' thought Yuna. She was just waiting for Izuna's mask to slip, to glance what was truly there, but it remained glued to his face.
"So what's going to happen next?" She asked, shifting the focus of the topic away from her.
"Didn't my brother tell you? After you get there you'll be dressed up and sent to a welcoming dinner along with Madara. It's to officially introduce you to the clan and help you feel more welcomed."
The sound of a dying animal escaped Yuna's lips. She snorted, but tried to stop herself simultaneously, resulting in the noise of a whale in distress.
"That sounds lovely," she finished politely.
Yuna shut her mouth tight and took a slow breath in and exhaled to relax herself. How would the clan treat her? Would they be disgusted that their beautiful genes were sullied with the Kunisada blood? Would the women plot her murder?
"I don't think that anyone would do anything in public," Izuna's words were uttered slowly.
That wasn't very helpful. Scratch that, the statement was borderline useless! Even Izuna seemed to be bathing in her confusion and nervousness. She made a mental note not to throw around any sarcastic jokes in there.
Fear of the unknown was innate to her; throughout her short twenty years, Yuna had always felt a need for control. She would never accept any dares involving jumping into foreign waters or climbing paths she had never used before.
Izuna could sense her discomfort and it was immensely amusing to him. The questions that plagued Yuna's mind were hovering in Izuna's as well. How would she handle this matter is yet to be seen.
"A maid will help you to dress up and then Madara and you can have a word, he wished to speak to you before you go to the dinner," added Izuna.
Yuna held back the urge to groan. She didn't even want to think on meeting with Madara. The Uchiha compound was close by; the complex had to belong to a megalomaniac! The place looked like a town rather than a clan house. Everything was polished to the end; there were no broken rooftops or dirty walls. The gardens were perfect and the crimson of the Uchiha crest was everywhere.
There were people walking around, but they didn't seem morbid and calculating as she imagined them to be. They were smiling, carrying out their everyday duties like getting groceries and taking care of the children. The common trait that seemed to run in the family was their beautiful silky hair and black eyes.
Izuna tugged Yuna's elbow to guide her to the right direction. It was only then that she noticed how distracted she was.
"Pardon," she apologised to Izuna who released her right away.
Yuna stood out with her brown hair. Never before had she felt so foreign in someone's home.
She sighed once more in her mind, trying to hang on the false idea that no one was staring at her. The Uchihas were talented at sneakiness, because every time Yuna tried to catch someone red-handed they carried on as if nothing was wrong. She felt the air warming up around her and for a moment thought that Izuna was going to incinerate her.
"Izuna where are we going, weren't we supposed to go to the dressing room?"
Izuna stopped in the hallway. He looked ahead before leaning against the wall. It was a long hallway and both sides were littered with doors. Yuna felt a twitch of curiosity about what's hidden behind them. The scent certainly didn't seem to belong to an incinerator.
"A maid is going to pick you up and you are going to go and have a bath before the dinner. I suggest you don't wash your hair, it smells alright and we don't have the time to wait for it to dry," Izuna sounded nonchalant, borderline bored.
Yuna felt her eyebrow twitch in annoyance.
"It smells clean? So you sniffed it like a creepy old man?" Yuna asked. Izuna looked like he was about to answer when a woman stepped out from one of the rooms. She was followed by some steam. Izuna's smile didn't disappear.
"She's all yours Saia, make sure she looks good." Izuna walked off without a second glance, dodging Yuna's question with startling precision, forcing her to shift her attention to the modestly dressed maid.
"Please enter, Yuna-sama. I have already prepared a bath for you."
Her voice was soft, sounding almost caring, but that carefully practiced appearance only made her seem dead.
Yuna felt bizarre when someone from a different clan called her 'Yuna-sama'.
She walked in and glanced around briefly. In the floor was a hot, steaming bath and besides it were a rich choice of various soaps.
Her eyes caught sight of a plain robe that the Uchiha maid had prepared for Yuna before her arrival.
She glanced briefly over her shoulder to see the maid exit before Yuna could even thank her. Yuna took it as a sign and quickly got out of her clothes and sat in the bath. Saia knocked before entering again and staying by the door obediently.
"Call me just Yuna, if it's okay with you," She said while sniffing the various soaps. Some of them seemed to be foreign and ridiculously expensive. Yuna settled with a cinnamon soap, it reminded her of home and at that moment, she was glad to hold onto anything that would take her away from the Uchiha complex. Saia didn't respond, but did shift from one foot to the other in every few minutes.
The only sound reverberating against the steaming stone walls was Yuna splashing in the bath.
"Yuna...when you're done with your bath please wear the clothes I prepared for you. They are just to move to your bedroom and then I'll help you get dressed into something more proper."
Yuna rinsed off the remnants of the soap from her and began to look for a towel. She noticed one away from the bath and was about to get up, but Saia was there in a flash with her eyes cast down.
"My apologies for the inconvenience, I promise that it won't happen again."
"It's no problem; don't worry about it," She said with a smile on her lips. When Yuna had dried herself and hid in the soft bathrobe Saia hanged the towel to dry before she motioned Yuna to follow her outside.
They walked through another set of corridors to a part of the building that was quieter than the rest. Saia slid open the door and motioned Yuna to enter first. She followed her a moment later and closed the door.
Every one of Saia's moves was polished to perfection, she never moved more than necessary.
Yuna couldn't hide her surprise. The room was huge, way bigger than her previous bedroom. It had two different closets, and in the middle of them was a full length mirror. There was a double bed, a book self and a small dressing table with another mirror and a chair. There was a door to the balcony as well. The only thing missing to turn this room perfect were plants.
"Madara-Sama made a few modifications to the room. Now please sit down on that chair over there, I have to fix your hair."
Her politeness was impeccable, Yuna felt like a country girl, raised by pigs.
Yuna did as she was told and sat down. The woman didn't waste any time and in a short amount of time Yuna's hair was in a neat bun with a white flower to decorate it. Yuna wasn't given time to appreciate the craftsmanship for long because Saia already put her in front of the mirror and got out the kimono.
Yuna had worn a kimono on several occasions before so she knew already the numerous layers of clothing it required. Putting on the kimono took a little bit more time than the hair, but it was worth it. The light blue kimono was decorated with white flowers, identical to the one sitting amidst her hair.
When Saia was finished, she retreated to a respectable distance to allow Yuna to take in her appearance.
Even though Yuna hated the engagement, Madara and everything about him she couldn't help but to smile. The woman in the mirror, as long as she kept her mouth shut, looked like a clan mistress.
"Saia you're…excellent. Did you pick this?" She asked with a smile on her face. Panic rose in her chest when she didn't receive a response and Yuna turned around sharply, ready to use anything in the room as a weapon, but was assured that Saia was still present, alive and well.
"I picked it. It doesn't look as bad as I thought it would," said Madara from the doorway, standing proud and strong like a commander would. Saia's silence was quickly explained, she was on her knees with her head down and eyes on the floor. Madara stepped in and Saia straightened up, but still kept her eyes cast down towards the floor.
"Get out and do something useful," Madara ordered. Despite the crude wording, he didn't sound annoyed. All that Madara managed to do was break the illusion of a perfect leader with manners. Saia didn't flinch. She bowed again to both of them before walking out of the room quickly, closing the door behind her.
Yuna frowned and placed her hands on her hips. It didn't take long to notice that Madara hated that pose.
"What did you wish to discuss?"
Madara frowned but he walked over to the bed and sat down on it, leaning back a bit to give her a good view. Yuna just now noticed that he was dolled up as well. She noticed Madara scanning her, much like his younger brother earlier that day, from head to toe.
"Don't embarrass me or yourself tonight. You're on my territory now and my word counts."
His voice was calm, but Yuna could sense the threat in it. He had no legitimate reason to spawn hate towards her, yet.
"And what if I decide to play a little trick?" She asked out of curiosity. Madara's eyes flashed to her and the pleasant mask was gone, replaced by his true feelings.
"Don't play with my patience Yuna since I'm not famous for that trait. Do as I say and your life will be rather enjoyable here, living in splendour."
Yuna snorted and met Madara's harsh glare with a fierce fire in her own. This man was serious, this wasn't fun and sarcasm like it was on their first meeting.
"Tempting me with money won't be getting me on my knees like everyone else."
Yuna's voice sounded calm, taking time to pronounce every word. The fact that Madara was situated lower than her at that moment provided some extra confidence. Madara's eyes narrowed, but he remained on the bed, stiff as a statue.
In truth he was a bit taken aback by her manner of speech, and deep in the back of his mind, Madara was a little amused. It's been a long time since anyone besides Izuna smart mouthed him, and the annoyance in his chest reminded him once more exactly why.
"I have no problem hurting you if I have to."
He said, imitating Yuna's way of speaking seamlessly.
Yuna felt her confidence sway, just a tiny flutter, but it was enough for Madara to notice and they both knew it.
He had the upper hand, for now.
Rewritten version, thank you very much!