The font on FF is so clunky and big. I like my font sizes pretty tiny. It makes the writing look much neater.
I checked the stats for this story. Many people are viewing the story, yet not so many choose to review. I understand some are too lazy to write a review (I can be the same), but it's always greatly appreciated.
I fully implore you all to recommend this story to all your Madara-adoring friends. As always, enjoy.
Chapter 10: Tyrant III
His knuckle tapped against the door, the sound resonating through the vast hall. Waiting patiently for a moment or so it opened, revealing a maladjusted Kasume who was adjusting the wrinkles in her skirt and stray strands of her hair.
"They told me I would find you here. " She looked him over as the smile on his face held steady. She said nothing, welcoming him into the room before shutting the door. The dark haired shinobi took a seat on a nearby chair while she settled on her old bed.
He noted the slight redness on her face upon inspection. She had been crying to herself in the room.
Speak lively, he mused. He grabbed the bottom of the chair, dragging it closer to her before taking both of her hands into his own. The sudden action startled her but she quickly eased.
It wasn't as though he didn't feel sincere enough to spend the remainder of the day with her; it was that his older brother would be steel-mettled and arduous in the convincing process, thus taking up the majority of his time.
He would need to be hasty if he wanted to mend the two before the meeting.
Izuna suddenly had a thought. Why did he want them to wed? What provoked his certainty about the two of them together that he was going to such lengths?
His sable eyes traveled over her face, unsure of the answer himself. There were many differences between his brother and the woman before him, and yet they were never more alike.
He felt it in his gut is what it came down to. Izuna just simply knew. They were each others opposite while still each others equal.
Concerned, she beheld him from beneath her lashes, "Are you alright, Izuna-sama?"
Her voice had forced him to return, and he nodded. A question he had to ask lingered on the edge of his tongue.
"Do you love my older brother?"
The shinobi noticed her frame stiffen, her eyes connected to his own.
A murmur left her lips, "Yes, I do.."
This was good, Izuna surmised. He had all the pieces and now he just needed to make them fit. And it was clear that Madara was taken with the girl.
The corners of his mouth curled buoyantly, "I see.. Tell me, what is it that you love about him?"
"He is a magnificent leader." She said, "He genuinely cares for the lives of his kinsmen. Observant as well.. He sees qualities of me that even I do not see." The brunette recalled, "Madara-sama is… rather rough around the edges, but he is a good man."
Nodding his agreement, a charming grin flourished on Izuna's features, "Do you find him attractive?"
Tucking a piece of dark hair behind her ear, her ivory cheeks tinted scarlet rouge, "..I do.. He is unnoticeably handsome. And rather.. majestic in the way he carries himself."
"I see." Izuna released her hands to fold them in his lap, "Will you disclose to me what happened today?"
She sighed dejectedly, "Yes, I suppose I will." Kasume began, "We were fine upon waking up. I had asked if he needed anything for the day.. He responded with an answer that was-"
Aware of where her sentence was headed, he chimed in, "No need to shy away from his actual words, Kasume-san. Please, tell me in full. You will not be dishonoring him after he has already done so to himself for speaking to you in such a way."
The milky skinned woman accepted this with a bashful nod before proceeding, "I believe he said something along the lines of.. 'oh, and you will go fetch it for me?'"
Izuna sucked his teeth in disapproval of his brother's behaviour, "Continue."
"I inquired as to what he meant by that. I see now that I should not have asked that question.."
He spoke up, "This is by no means your fault."
She pensively hummed in reply and took a slow breath, "Madara-sama had then said that it was my job, seeing that I was not yet his wife, to retrieve anything he desired because I was still no more than a chamber-maid. A servant, was how he said it…"
"I will assume the exchange spiraled from there." The younger brother stood from his seat, grasping the main gist of the feud. He leaned over and cupped a hand to her cheek, "You've been most helpful. Please, do not shed another tear over the matter, Kasume-san. I will make the most of my efforts to resolve the situation, lest it solve itself. Rest will be good for you." He released her cheek with a smile that reached his eyes before leaving the room with a silent shut of the door.
She stared at the door as she listened to the sound of his footsteps become distant. The brunette was certainly grateful for Izuna's efforts to allay the quarrel and soothe her chagrined state. He had been there whenever she needed someone..
Deciding to do as he requested, she laid back and pulled the numbering blankets around her lithe frame and shut her eyes for a bit.
Aware that Madara would no longer be in his study, the younger sibling made his way out to the grounds where his brother would be found practicing and honing techniques with the other Uchiha men.
He made his appearance known as he stepped out onto the dirt, soldiers occasionally greeting him or nodding in his direction.
The elder brother was mid spar in kumite with Uchiha Tanaka, a warrior notably proficient in hand-to-hand.
Izuna came to a halt before the two as the match sustained, "Brother, I must speak with you."
Dodging a fist targeting his kidney, the Uchiha leader retaliated by clasping a hand on the other man's shoulder and hooking a leg around him to dig his heel into the back of Tanaka's knee, forcing him to drop to the ground.
Madara stepped away, allowing his opponent to recover for a moment as he regarded his young brother, "What."
The sibling said nothing, only motioned his head to the entrance to the grounds where they could speak in solitude. Giving the order to continue with another shinobi, the elder brother then followed.
"What is it now, Izuna."
"I've spoken to Kasume-sa-"
The older male quipped snidely, "I thought I had told you not to pull anymore tricks out of your sleeve."
A smile quirked on the young man's face, "Those rules are exclusive to when the council is in session. Just as well, I believe you had said I am not to suggest any new potential partners, not that I could not refer any old ones."
Madara snarled, "Enough of your meddling!"
"Please brother, hear me!"
"I do so consistently, Izuna. However, this is time I will not." The gallant man had turned to stomp off until his brother had clamped onto his arm.
He glared down at the appendage that had sized him before their eyes leveled, "It is true, Kasume-san is merely a chamber-maid at the moment, but that doesn't excuse your actions. She is of Uchiha blood just like you and I."
"Half." Madara retorted with a sneer.
"Regardless, she deserves the equal amount of respect which you would give to me, and any other Uchiha."
"Are you about finished?"
"It is not too late to repair this, Madara."
The older Uchiha barked the reply, "You are implying I want it to be repaired! I do not desire to be wed, Izuna!"
At a loss for words, Izuna's eyes widened marginally while he sought to hear his brother's contention.
Madara glowered at his sibling, "I do not want any other obligation than the one I hold for the prosperity of this clan. A marriage will make me susceptible and impetuous. It will make her a target for our foes!" He growled, "I cannot afford that!"
He breathed a sigh as his arms crossed, "You are the sole person I am devoted to, because you are family."
The younger of the two was cognizant to the intentions of his sibling, "..You are doing this to drive her away. You want her to detest you so you will not be plagued by the condition of her safety."
"Enough. I am leaving."
The young Uchiha didn't pursue his brother as he stalked off. He kneaded the crook of his neck and contemplated what his next act would be, but failed to produce one.
Madara was decisive with his will, and would persist to hold it firm. His brother held it all in his hands, but refused to open his palms. He did not know if his brother loved the modest brunette, in fact he was rather dubious to it. She had proven herself to be a viable wife, but the raven-maned warlord only envisioned her with fondness.
There was only about an hour or so before council was held. Izuna was reluctant to confess he was not able to restore their connection before the congregation.
After a short trek, he arrived in the council hall and discovered Kasume in the room along with several other elites sitting at the long table. He observed that the puffy redness among her eyes and cheeks had faded, restoring snowy white skin in its place.
She caught his gaze on her and smiled somberly, her hands folded neatly in her lap as she waited for the committee to commence. He had occupied a seat just a chair or so down from where she sat while he ventured to get a glimpse of her without being overly conspicuous.
Moments later, Madara ambled into the grand hall, eluding the stare of his brother as he had commandeered the chair next to him, thoroughly disregarding the presence of Kasume.
"Councilmen, we find ourselves here once more to discuss the forthcoming bride of Uchiha Madara."
Izuna's eyes idly traversed the committee members before narrowing as he spotted the disingenuous man from the sparing competition sitting amidst the council. Uchiha Juiro, he recalled the name. He followed the man's line of sight to find that it rested on the dark-haired young woman to his left.
"We have bear witness to the diverse handful of circumstances wherein Uchiha Kasume and Uchiha Madara have been closely affiliated. Uchiha Izuna, since the woman present was of your suggestion, we will permit the floor to you first." A main council member declared, lifting an open hand.
Izuna spoke laconically, "I am sore to say the relationship between Kasume-san and my brother is a fractious one..."
"What was the particular complication?"
The younger brother shifted a little uneasily in his seat, "Perhaps Kasume-san will be more efficient in detailing the quandary."
The members of the council looked pointedly at the female in question.
Her lips were drawn in uncertainty as she faintly answered, "Madara-sama and I… were not destined to become husband and wife."
The quieten of the committee room held transiently after she conceded the statement. The slate eyes of Madara lingered on her.
"You fought." Juiro affirmed, peering at her before chiming, "Might you elucidate the argument?"
Exhaling his ire, Madara lounged in the chair as his hand cradled his chiseled jaw, "Does such a question have any significance, or are we simply dawdling?"
"Very well," A long-haired chairman acceded, "Will you attest the legitimacy of her statement?"
The Uchiha leader was taciturn, "..She speaks the truth."
One of the councilmen nodded his head, "Understood. Thank you Kasume-san, you may leave."
She stood from the chair, bowing cordially to the council before vacating the room; heedless to the obsidian eyes streaming after her.
Welp, that's chapter ten. WE DOUBLE DIGITS NOW.
Will you guys give me some good synonyms/describing words for Madara? (ie, what kind of person he is) Just leave them in your review, or send me a PM with your suggestions. As always, please review.