The ballroom darkened and the only source of light came from candles lit on the intricately decorated tables. Everyone was talking and laughing, but the numerous voices died down to a whisper. One traditional drum echoed its single, consistent beat throughout the pillared room. Everyone's voice vanished until nothing but the mild thumping of the drum was heard. The oversized double-doors were slowly parted and a dim, yet illuminating light stretched across the center of the room creating a perfect walkway.
One of the guard's posted in the inside of the room announced the clans' entrances with a professional tone. "Welcoming the entrance of the Leaf Village's clan elders and Senju clan elders, Jirou and Chiharu Senju!"
Jirou and Chiharu waltzed in with prideful smiles on their faces. With their heads high they walked in and down the aisle, up a set of steps, and stood on a stage, facing the double-doors. Everyone clapped for them.
"Welcoming the entrance of the Uchiha clan elders, Tatsuya and Shika Uchiha!" The guard spoke and the elders followed in after their names were projected.
Tatsuya and Shika followed suit, and stood on the stage next to Jirou and Chiharu. The crowed clapped for them and admired the elders engulfed in light. They were amazed to see elders of previously opposing clans standing side-by-side with smiles on their faces. Those smiles showed that they were proud of their clansmen's wedding decision and did not care for the clans' differences. The differences that separated them with bloody rivalries and battles of the past. Those smiles symbolized that all of those bad years of war, pain, and suffering were finally over.
"Welcoming the entrance of the Hokage, leader of the Senju clan, alongside his brother, and our host's brother of the Uchiha clan; please applaud Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Izuna Uchiha!" The guard watched the three men walk in strongly.
Hashirama walked in front of Tobirama and Izuna as they walked next to one another. They positioned themselves alongside the elders on stage and Hashirama was the only one presenting a heartwarming smile. Though he was the only young man on that stage who was displaying his pleasure, both he and his brother were staring at the bare entrance. Their eyes were glistening. Their hearts were pounding to eagerly see their soon-to-be wedded sister walk in.
The guard took in a fresh breath and gave out the final entering pair. "Lastly, welcoming your beloved host, our birth-day boy," everyone laughed. "The leader of the Uchiha clan, soon to be wedded to his dazzling fiancé, a young woman of the Senju clan, younger sibling of the Hokage and his brother; please applaud for Madara Uchiha and Reina Senju!"
Madara strode in with Reina hooked to his left side. They stepped down the floor gradually for a dramatic effect. It worked marvelously. Everyone clapped and cheered. They whistled and gave their brightest smiles to the two. Madara had a pleased smile on his face and Reina gave an almost invisible one with her head high. She looked more like a geisha, or a 'prize' wife for Madara. The almost flat line turned into a dramatically, upturned smile, to a full-blown grin with shining jubilance when she saw her brothers smiling down at her. Madara glanced at her momentaruily and his smile grew as well. He didn't know why though. She was more of a 'prize' wife after all.
Once they arrived on the stage, everyone clapped and cheered some more and it died down after some time. Madara and Reina then took gentle steps forward to the edge of the stage. They unhooked arms and Reina stood slightly behind him as he took one last step forward and began to speak. Madara welcomed everyone and appreciated them for their attendance. He explained the night's activities and tomorrow's as well. Also, a location for a gift drop-off point was mentioned. After he finished, he thanked everyone and told them to enjoy their night. One-by-one, the sets of people left the stage in the same sequence they came to it. Everyone then sat down at their table and music started playing. People began to talk once again and made their way to the dance floor.
Reina sighed and looked at the dance floor. She smiled remembering her and Arata's ecstatic night together. "Amazing."
Madara turned to her since he was sitting on her right side and questioned." What is, my dear?"
"'My dear?' You've got to be kidding me." Reina smiled. "The scene. It's so positive. I love it."
"Well, I'm glad." He held her hand and gave a milder grin and stared with eyes that trapped her and teased with a taunting 'gotcha'!'
"Um … Yes." Reina really wanted to dance, but didn't know how to ask him.
"You want to dance, don't you?" Madara chuckled to himself and stood up. "Shall we?"
Reina blushed and stood up, placing her hand in his offering, empty one. "We shall." They made their way to the center of the dance floor and joined hands. Reina felt his hand placed on her waist and they started to dance.
"I'm so happy you chose me to marry you." Madara smirked.
"I didn't." Reina stated bluntly with a hint of running venom which she swallowed back down her throat.
"Hm." Madara gave his triumphant little exhale and spun her, bringing her back to him, pressing her flush against his strong body. "Well, now you are mine … Mine and mine only. You are a piece of my property. There is nothing you can do about it."
"You speak as if we are married already." Reina smirked at her smarts.
Madara simply returned her sass with a look that said 'Oh really now?!' He sighed and smiled. "Anyway, let's forget about all of that for now. I wonder what gifts we've received."
"They are probably mostly for you." She rubbed his shoulder a bit, enjoying the fabric of his clothes.
"Nonsense! They aren't disrespectful enough to forget about my future wife." Madara held on to her waist a tad tighter than before and guided her back to the table. "Food is coming. We all know you don't want to miss that." He stated eagerly.
"Already?" Reina looked at the clock. She saw that an hour had already passed and waiters were already making their way with dishes. She was so excited for dinner that Madara's comment went right over her head. "Well."
"Exactly." They smiled at each other and sat down together. "Hashirama, where did Reina learn to dance?" Madara asked to try and start up a conversation.
Hashirama sighed with a smile. "Oh, I have no idea! She's been taught numerous things by numerous people at every single moment she was spotted dancing! Ha!"
"She's quiet the elegant dancer." The Uchiha clan leader smirked at her and then his attention turned back to the different plates of food being set around the table. "This is a lot of food."
"It looks so delicious." Tobirama whispered with wide eyes and a watering mouth.
Reina giggled. "They have inarizushi!" She tried it and smiled. "I'm not trying to pat myself on the back or offend the chefs, but … it's not as good as mine."
Chiharu tried it and nodded. "This is indeed delicious, but Reina's just has an unexplainable touch to hers." Every other Senju at the table agreed.
Madara tried the inarizushi. It was his absolute favorite food. He took one bite and nearly melted. Then it hit him. "Reina, you make inarizushi better than this?"
Reina nodded. "Yes. I love it so much that I kept on making it and just became good at it." She shrugged.
"I'm so glad I married you."
"Why?"
"This is my favorite dish."
"Oh, that's great!" She smiled. Reina was about to go on with something that went along the lines of, 'Maybe our kids will love it too!' but scratched it and continued eating other food. Oh, what a horrid nightmare that would be. She couldn't help thinking about her own future children though. Of course, Reina did not want to have them with Madara, but the fact that her and her significant other loved a dish so much that maybe her kids will love it too; it gave another tie to the mother and child bond idea. That made her happy.
"Indeed it is."
By this time, everyone was enjoying their meals and dessert, but continued dancing for some time. Soon, a traditional folk dance came on just for Reina and everyone participated. Once that was finished, the sea of shinobi migrated to the spa center and the men and women separated to their designated hot springs. Reina curiously walked into the locker room and was bowed to. The ladies swooned over her. Though instead of telling her how gorgeous she was, they also piled her with admiration of how cute she was. To them, she was so young and innocent that they almost couldn't imagine her being with such a powerful man!
"He's so strong and built and you're so petite and lean!"
"Yeah honey, you better take it slow in bed or he might break ya'!" The women squealed with laughter and stripped.
"Haha! Yeah!" Reina blushed and stripped. The woman went silent and looked at her body. She had a tiny, toned waist, proportional, supple chest, and a raised butt. Reina was averagely thin, but she wasn't mushy. She had a tight body and even skin. Though this was her appearance, she still looked small. It was her overall bone structure and body frame that gave her that adorable look.
"YOU ARE SO CUTE!" The ladies laughed and walked to the springs with her.
"What body karate!"
"You are gonna make him a happy man!"
Reina died laughing. "Oh dear!" She slipped into the hot springs and talked with the women. "I don't know. I don't think I'm going to be having sex anytime soon. It's gonna hurt."
"Oh, honey!" One lady began to talk to her in a motherly way. "I'm Kotori. I'll be your mother for the day ... well, one of them. I think the other ladies here have some advice."
"Yeah, I know I do!" The woman saluted. "Sayuri here!" Everyone laughed.
"Anyway!" Kotori giggled and continued. "It really only hurts for the first time you give it a whirl. It's not for that long either. At least for me it wasn't."
"But don't you b-b-bleed?"
"Some do, some don't." Another lady said. "I'm Misayo."
"Nice to meet you." Reina nodded and turned back to Kotori. "I'm just … nervous … about my … body."
"WHAT?!" The ladies yelled.
"Girl! Please! The name's Kiyoko and I am telling you that you have a bangin' body!"
"Sweetie, I'm Nanako." She swam over to her and spoke calmly. "Never be self conscious of your body. If there is anything that turns a man on, it's confidence."
"But … I don't think Madara would … well … since he is such an extravagant fighter, I would think that he would be a very dominant being in the bedroom and that weakness would turn him on a bit and confidence wouldn't exactly float his boat." She gave a small frown and shrugged.
"Well, you got that right." Kotori sighed.
Misayo nodded and got up in Reina's face. "Then you know what you do? You seem to know him well enough. Learn his ways some more and wow him under the covers, sweetie!" The ladies clapped and cheered and Reina blushed a solid red.
"Can we please just get off of this topic?!" Reina held her head embarrassed.
"Oh, honey." Nanako reassured her. "This is what women do. Am I right ladies?!" They all agreed and snickered some more. "Anyway, you have to do it one day or another if you want to have kids."
Reina looked up at her. "Kids?"
"Yes, the product of two people who love each other and get busy." Kiyoko said as if it was an obvious answer, which it was indeed, but Reina just had a hard time comprehending her and Madara having offspring.
"I know. I don't know if I'll even have any-"
"Of course you will!" Nanako rubbed her back.
"I really want them, but I don't know if Madara does." Her eyes glistened and her throat started burning. This was true. Even though she didn't want to have Madara's kids, she would have to deal with it. If she wanted to have kids, it would have to be with him, but the only problem was his unknown decision.
"Oh, Lady Reina, it's fine. You will. He'll want to." Kotori Smiled and rubbed her shoulder.
"It's not just that." Reina wiped her glossy eyes with wet hands.
Misayo looked straight into her eyes. "I know what you mean." She could tell she didn't want to be with Madara and bear his children for that matter. "It's the only option you have though. Take it. You'll be fine. I promise you everything will work out for you in the end. When you get married … No matter what, a bond will form. Whether you have a positive love for each other or love to fight … love is there … and love creates the want and appreciation for one another, and maybe even future children." She smiled. "You're going to love your future family."
Reina smiled and sniffled a bit. "Thank-you, Lady Misayo."
"You're welcome." Misayo sighed. The other ladies were just talking to one another and gossiped, but she shrugged. "This is what women do."
Sayuri gave a devious smirk. "Besides, Reina, I'm pretty sure you've received plenty of baby gifts."
"But, I'm not pregnant! … This isn't even a baby shower!" Reina yelled hysterically in disbelief.
Nanako chuckled. "Awe well, sweetheart!" The ladies laughed and continued having a great night together.
Reina buried her face in her hands. "Please, someone save me. Daichi, wake me up." She removed her hands and saw the women before her. "This IS real!"
"Of course it is!" Kiyoko rolled her eyes and snorted.
Reina puffed her cheeks out, disappointed. "Right." She gave an exasperated sigh and sunk in the hot springs.