Ephemeral

by CookieAdvocate

The adventures of an asinine OC whose world has given 'down the rabbit hole' a whole new meaning. #Warring States #Founder's Era #Semi SI

13. Entwining Roads

Happy New Years! Thank you for everyone's support, the comments and the faves/follows! I wish you all a happy new years with plenty of love, success and health.

And you my beta, you're the most wonderful beta anyone could ask for! Much love, CookieAdvocate.

Sorry for the long chapter!

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Chapter 13

Entwining Roads

Madara's POV

Madara's eyes shot open suddenly. Vivid images of his dream were still reverberating in his mind. Endlessly and loudly. As if it was on repeat. It was as clear as day. The sounds of wet and naked velvety flesh smacking against wet and naked velvety flesh were ringing in his mind. It was almost deafening.

He was still trying to comprehend what had happened as he laid down on his bed, his back to the mattress and staring up into the ceiling. He felt like a wild animal sweltering beneath the unsparing sun of a summer afternoon. Except, it wasn't summer, it wasn't the afternoon and he certainly wasn't an animal. But being uncomfortably hot as though his temperature had spiked a few degrees- he was exactly that.

He'd have to be awake in a few hours so they can head out for the official signing of the treaty. He still hadn't gotten anywhere with her- nothing he ever did mattered. Not in this reality, anyhow. As for the one in his mind…

It had taken him by surprise. He rubbed his eyes vigorously trying to wipe away the images from his mind but it was too late. They were imprinted there and would stay for a very long time to come. A part of him was as much a bit delighted as it was surprised, which was an even bigger shock in itself. One that had his stomach knot in twists. This wasn't the time for such things, and it nauseated him.

What am I going to do now?

It had been quite some time since he had a dream like that. He was now an adult and could do pretty much anything he wanted.

And anyone he wanted.

Just fucking great.

While he had to admit to himself that he may have had a happier endingin the fantasy, he couldn't deny that he also had one in this reality. He needed to get up and clean himself.

And the bed, too.

Preferably before the maids arrived. He knew he had enough time as it was still a few hours 'til dawn, when they were scheduled to leave, he also knew he wouldn't be getting any more sleep tonight.

A good night ruined.

If he was truthful with himself, it wasn't ruined. Not entirely.

---

Tobirama's POV

"I guess it's actually happening," they were an hour away from the site of the agreement. Tobirama was still skeptical about this so called 'alliance'. It was just in his nature. He could never accept anything definitive until it was occurring right then and there. Only in the last possible moment could he allow himself to believe that whatever alliance this was, was going to happen. And he reasoned with himself that he couldn't account for any kind of distractions or circumstances that could arise which would tip the balance of their plan. Anything was possible and Tobirama knew better than to have hope for something that could potentially not happen. It was a naive thing to do.

And apparently his elder brother never got the memo. Hashirama was overly joyous. Tobirama hadn't expected anything less and he gave up long ago on his anija learning to act his age. It's simply something that isn't going to happen in my life time, he came to conclude.

And if that day did come and Tobirama was alive to witness it then it could only mean one thing. That the world was ending. The day Hashirama started to act maturely was the day the world would flip over. Something would have to be catastrophically wrong if it brought his airheaded big brother to his senses.

But today wasn't such a day. It was, in fact, the opposite. Hashirama was beaming. He was finally getting everything he wanted together. First with the alliance and now with this out of the blue 'betrothal' to one Uzumaki Mito. Tobirama was shocked when his brother announced it as soon as they had returned that day from the meeting. He never knew his brother was already looking for someone. He merely mentioned the idea to him the night before in a drunken stupor. Unlike most people, Hashirama didn't forget what he said or did when he was under the influence. If he really did set his mind on getting married then he shall get married. But not in a span of a day. So, Tobirama assumed immediately that this engagement had been in the works for a while.

However, what genuinely bothered him was the fact Hashirama didn't think to tell him privately and before anyone else instead of announcing it to the group publicly on their way back. Tobirama was also sure that at least one of the elders knew about this beforehand. Before Tobirama himself.

It hurt him to know that his brother didn't feel comfortable enough confessing his relationship with Mito long before an engagement was arranged. Just because he had no real interest nor intention to settle down himself, he would not have berated Hashirama about his own decision in this matter. Besides, Hashirama had never kept anything from Tobirama, no matter how ridiculous it was. This confused the younger brother.

Was that what the stupid drinking was about? Was he trying to tell me he was already engaged?

His anija did have his own ways of doing things but this time was…just bizarre.

Tobirama had met Mito a handful of times. She was the next heir to take on the leader position of the Uzumaki clan. A clan the Senju had very close ties to, seeing that they were distant cousins. Mito was the only child of the current head of the clan. He had no sons nor daughters other than her. But she was not chosen because she was his sole progeny. As a matter of fact, there were several other very capable Uzumaki shinobi, both men and women, who could handle the position.

Nevertheless, there was no one more capable than Mito herself. Yet, she agreed to marry my brother. Why?

Doing so would mean she would have to relinquish her claim to the position and would ultimately join both the Senju and Uzumaki under one leader. Hashirama.

Not her.

Why?

Surely, the Uzumaki clan had no obvious intent to relocate. But then who would rule over the clan? Tobirama could only think of a proxy. And in that case, Mito would still be the rightful ruler. She would have to visit her homeland every now and then to settle in any changes or pass any bylaws.

But this didn't concern Tobirama at all. It was none of his business and he preferred it that way. He put in most of his energy in the last few days into joining a group of both Senju and Uchiha shinobi at the site of the new settlement. They had laid out the preliminaries and the terrain of the new village. They also made out the borders and cleared them. It was a joint effort, a decision by both Hashirama and Madara who thought this would be a good method to try and get both clans to work together.

In all honesty, it was entirely Hashirama's idea but Madara didn't object to it. And if Tobirama was being truthful to himself, he couldn't find fault in the Uchiha shinobi just this time. It was agreed upon that these shinobi, Senju and Uchiha alike, would not fight but help each other into setting the parameters of this so-called village. No one dared to say anything nor go against their respective leaders words. They hated each other in the depths of their being but they- apparently- either respected or feared their leaders much more, to the point that they were willingly compliant with this task.

They even managed to build in a few simple houses for the time being. They would serve as temporary headquarters or whatnot. The Senju and the Uchiha would meet there to plan the construction of the town. The blueprints were already prepared and designed by the Senju himself. The Uchiha were welcome to make any changes they saw fit. But they needed more shinobi and civilians to chip in with the establishment.

Of course Hashirama could solve this dilemma with a simple wood style technique but he was insisting that 'building the village with their own hands, with their own sweat and blood would bring them closer together'.

More along the lines of 'blood would be shed, with hands decapitated and heads rolling' while the two attempted to work together.

Tobirama wanted to smack his brother right the instant when he uttered those words. And Hashirama wasn't even drinking. Sometimes, he couldn't believe the idiocy that would overtake Hashirama. He was way too gullible for his own benefit.

This was why Tobirama had always been the sensible and logical one, he utilized his brain far more than Hashirama used his emotions to dictate everything. He waited patiently for both groups to arrive. They should be here soon and he couldn't wait to get this over with. They were ready. Everything was ready. Paperwork mostly.

But let's face it, paperwork didn't hold any real value.

It wouldn't really hold the Uchiha from going back on their word. If they do.

Never once did Tobirama think that it would be the Senju who would break the treaty. It wasn't in their nature to deceive others.

Idiot, this type of thinking is what would drive a wedge between us. He scolded himself at his own presumptions which weren't completely unfounded. But he had to try his best, give it his all if he truly wanted the peace he had always dreamed of as a child. If he couldn't do it for himself then he would do it for his clan, for Hashirama.

"Tobirama-sama, Hashirama-sama has arrived," one of his shinobi had announced to him.

Hashirama would be arriving with all the Senju council members, including the elders and along with the advisers. A fraction of their shinobi warriors would also be accompanying, who didn't have any particular reason in being there other than as acting mantelpieces put on for show. A sign of good will once the two clans come together.

Surely enough, the Uchiha would be arriving soon with their own group.

And Izuna.

Boy, did he hate Izuna. He was the only Uchiha he vowed to never get along with. Him or Madara actually. He would tolerate them but most definitely not try to 'befriend' them as Hashirama suggested.

Those two bastards don't know what the meaning of friend is. Wasn't that how they got their Mangekyou anyways?

The mere mention of their names caused him a headache.

Remember. Deep breaths. Breathe in, breathe out. And repeat.

Growing up with a brother like Hashirama, one got used to his stupidity. Even if it was something infuriating, Tobirama would take a few deep breaths before he proceeded in whipping his brother. It always worked back then and it still worked now. It calmed him a bit.

He wasn't wearing his customary armor nor his fur collar. He had also left his happuri back home. He wasn't 'going to war' per-se, so there wasn't a need to dress like he was. But he did keep his katana by his side. Just in case. Maybe he would need it. Who knew how today would end.

Instead of his blue uniform, he wore a traditional black hakama and a white haori left unfastened over his kosode. The clan's insignia woven intricately into the ironed sides. He didn't want to 'dress up', he was perfectly fine wearing his armor though it would have been less than appropriate for an event such as this.

He picked up the pace and went to greet his brother.

---

Madara's POV

The Uchiha stood silently, eyes never leaving her seated figure.

He found her perched near the pond. She sat, legs outstretched on the cold and rain-drenched November grass. She had her back to him, and from where he stood- watching her twenty feet away- he couldn't help but notice how stiffly she sat. With all the grace of a sack of dry cement, her back as straight as a board, she gave off the impression of being a particularly strict mistress, an impression not helped by the way she wore her hair pulled back into a tight and twisted bun. A couple of locks fell to her shoulders, hiding her scars and undoubtedly framing her face.

Madara leaned on a pillar beneath the balcony roof, waiting for her to make a move. She had been here long before he arrived.

What's she doing up so early?

Dawn had come and gone and it was early morning already, he had half-expected her to still be asleep in the comforts of her room. The other half expected the unexpected— there was no telling with her.

He would have to leave soon, but before he made off towards the settlement, he had to lay this issue to rest. Even though, deep down, she was the last person he would have wanted to see on this dreary morning.

Madara slumped against the mossy pillar, arms crossed against his broad chest; it was cold but less so than the iron gate awaiting him. His eyes followed the puffs of his breath as they rose and dissipated into the grey sky.

I wonder what she's looking at.

She must have been fixated on something for not once did she turn around and face him, either she hadn't yet sensed his imposing presence or she did, and was simply ignoring him. Whichever it was, it couldn't last for long, and he would make sure of that.

He hummed a low tune, almost imperceptible, but loud enough to catch her wandering ears. He straightened up and stepped off the deck, heading to her direction. The sounds of crunching leaves and pitter-patter of rain beneath his feet were what caught her attention.

She turned around abruptly, round honey-brown eyes staring at him, watching him intently as he approached. Brown locks shaped her bangs as they tumbled down her pale cheeks. Once he was five feet away, Mina stood from her seat. And he managed to get a clearer image of her, as she wrapped herself in an off-white shawl.

She stepped back, and he stepped forward.

He had forgotten for a mere moment, that the last time they talked- it didn't quite pan out the way he had intended. But no matter, he wasn't planning on dragging her by her legs this time either.

Of course she would be wary of him, perhaps even scared. But Madara's onyx eyes detected everything but fear. The expression etched on her face was not of fright, but a mix of curiosity, suspicion and fatigue.

He furrowed his brows, part of him irritated by that annoying expression of hers, and another part trying to shush the memories of earlier that night. He struggled to silence both parts simultaneously, until his eyes wandered elsewhere. They dragged down the length of the red kimono she was wearing, until they settled on the long sleeves hiding the better part of her hands.

She was clutching something, and the closer he looked, the stranger it seemed. A small bagful of dried bread crumbs laid in her hands. His eyes darted to the mosaic of colorful fishes swimming in the koi pond behind her and suddenly, it didn't seem so strange anymore.

Yet, she hadn't budged an inch, not a single movement of a muscle. That same delirious expression she wore not once wavering and it was beginning to drive him mad, how she was looking up at him, wide-eyed and mouth agape. The look of feigned innocence written all over her face. Almost mimicking the one in his dream, except it lacked that expression of longing, of conflicting wants and needs- and it was then that he put a stop to his thought processes.

Madara grew agitated, he clenched his fists and shifted his weight on the other foot.

She tugged on the shawl, swaddling it tightly around her body and gulped loudly. Mina took another step back as he continued to march forward, but this time- it proved to be the last one she would take as her legs came in contact with the drystone of the granite lining the pond.

Madara had her cornered, and when she realized it- she did what she was best at.

Break the ice.

"Not going to drag me by my feet again, I hope," she let out a nervous laugh, failing to hide her own anxiousness while clearly triggering a nerve in her counterpart. His brow twitched involuntarily, her happy-go-lucky attitude had never bothered him as much as it did right now. Except, it wasn't just her cheerful unconcern about the future- it was the way she seemed to perfectly twist the dagger in any conversation starters, twist it in just right. She never missed the point of making things more awkward than they needed to be.

Who does that?

"How about we found out," he retorted sarcastically as he took another step forward. The short brunette had nowhere to go but stand her ground, and so she did as he closed in on her, her grasp on the piece of fabric tightening.

Madara's eye caught a nervous sweat drop sliding down the side of her face, even as her lips curved into a strained smile.

Her spurious giggles were like stones bouncing across a glossy lake, creating ripples of discomfort rather than mirth. It was grating to his hears, the imitation of joy in her voice was rubbing him the wrong way.

It was what he told himself, when the real discomfort he was feeling wasn't because of her, it was at himself. He knew he shouldn't be here, but he had one last thing he had to tell her before he left. He uncrossed his arms and was ready to speak.

But she interrupted him long before he could get the first syllable out.

"Want some?" she lifted her arms and offered him some of the—

Fish food?

Madara's eyes squinted quizzically, the stupefied look on his face clear as daylight.

Is she…?

"Did you just offer me fish food?" he demanded, perhaps he misunderstood her gesture, and just in case his eyes were misguiding him. Madara searched her face for any sort of hint, which proved useless since she seemed just as clueless as he was. Like she was lost, except that infuriating grin plastered across her mouth.

Her eyes darted to the side, then upwards, as if the answer to his question lied somewhere in the air particles floating above her head.

It took her a while before responding hesitantly.

"Ye—s?"

She herself sounded unsure of her own response. Her hands were still extended to him, dried bread pellets held out in plenty, waiting for him to take a bite. Not that he would ever put that disgusting garbage in his mouth.

He narrowed his eyes, and tilted his head; uncertain of what to make of this.

"It's delicious," she piped up. Even going as far as to open the bag and took a few grains before tossing it into her mouth enthusiastically.

Madara was struck dumb, speechless as he watched her swallow down- rather gruellingly- the days old rye pellets. His mouth was slightly agape, unable to believe that she had so carelessly eaten that. He had to wonder if she was the one who was sitting out here feeding on that crap and not the fishes.

What the hell is wrong with her?

He could tell she regretted it the moment each grain slid painfully down her throat, he saw her smile faltering, her cheeks puffing and heard her gagging- despite her efforts to hide the fact that all her stomach contents were slowly rising. Mina's loud gulping was testament to that.

He was about to ask her what was she doing, but every time he tried to find a sane question to ponder; the words simply wouldn't come out.

Of all the dumb things for her to do…

He almost raised his hand, questioning exactly what was going through her mind— but then he remembered; he needed to first sort out what was going on in his. He shook his head slightly, trying to regain his wits.

Focus, Madara.

He stepped forward- still at a loss, unable to ascertain what exactly she was trying to prove. As the Uchiha leader was about to close the distance between them, Mina quickly turned on her heels and started walking in the other direction, waving and parting him with;

"Ah well, it was nice talking to you today, but I think I'll be leaving—"

"Oh I don't think you will."

In a flash of a second, Madara stepped before her, halting her from going any further. As though he had teleported in the fleeting instant it took to bat an eyelash, his sudden appearance in front of her caught her off guard- so much so, a pitiful squeal escaped her frail mouth.

It was about time, Madara needed to hurry this along.

"I think you've wasted enough of my time already, woman," he muttered, his voice a deep gravelly baritone reverberating chills through her body. A voice that rumbled storms ahead, deep as the impenetrable depths of the ocean's floors, and dark as the profundity of outer space. It was akin to a low roll of thunder, like it had struck right next to her, paralyzing her in her place.

He saw the shock register on her face before she could hide it. A small smile played on his lips, now this was a reaction he was used to, one that he got a lot. It wasn't what he said though, his words were like vanilla pudding, sweet in their ordinary sort of way, it was the richness of his tones– not the luxurious and warm kind, quite the opposite. The biting and cold kind, sharp as a hot knife slicing through butter.

Mina's amber eyes widened as he pulled her closer, grapping hold of her arms and raising them. He swapped the bag of pellets away and circled his fingers around her slim wrists. The shawl that she had been so desperately clinging to fell off her shoulders, exposing patterns of embroidered blue flowers across the ruddy fabric of her outfit. And beneath it, the white bandages of scars.

Now that he had her where she couldn't run, he had a few choice words for her.

"Listen to me very carefully because I'm not in a habit of repeating myself, understood?" Madara hissed, menace laced in every swerve of his tongue as he deliberately ran the words once more through his mind.

Standing over six foot, Madara peered down over her petite stature. When she couldn't strain her neck to look him in the eyes, he used his right hand to grip her by the nape, forcefully lifting her head so she could take in the severity of what was to come.

"If you think you could cleverly weave your way out of this one like the worm that you are, you're horribly mistaken. Like hell am I going to play whatever game you think this is, much less by your rules."

He spat, venom oozing from every breath he took. He intended to make it hurt, make her pay, and twist that dagger in just as she had done. Madara wanted her to feel just the same, for in all honesty, he couldn't stand being this close to her. To feel the heat of her breaths wafting in the air before him, the coldness of her skin pricking his own, and to watch as her throat rose up and down heavily with each swallow.

And most of all, that clueless, insensible and oblivious expression of hers— it was as though she egged him on. Although she wasn't intentionally, he knew he had to do it himself.

"I have no idea who the hell you are, what you're doing here or why you do half the shit that you do—but I intend to find out. And you're going to tell me," he snapped, the aggressiveness in his tone radiating to his limbs. Unconsciously, his clasp around her throat tightened, squeezing gently.

His hostile demeanor overshadowing her fragile one as he overwhelmed the little space left between them.

"You've tested my patience time and time again, it's unfortunate for you that I seem to have run out of it."

His fingers not once slipping away, yet only seemed to constrict even more. Her mouth opened in a silent scream and her unblinking eyes popped like an old-fashioned toy doll.

Madara tilted his head, his broad shoulders tensing at the sight before him.

His grip on her wrist not letting up as marks began forming in places where bruises would take form. He nearly stepped on her foot as he demolished the column of air that separated them, destroying any sense of safety she might have felt.

"But to prove to you that I'm not the utterly obstinate brute you think I am, I'll grant you one chance. One last chance."

Sunken, milky white eyes stared mindlessly into his own dark ones. Dark eyes that appeared to have ignited flames, ones that flared brightly like the magma chamber of a volcano, overfilling quietly and steadily until it was ready to rain hell down upon them.

"You have one week, until I come back. In that time, I want you to carefully think about what you will tell me, think it through, whatever ludicrous story you think you can concoct. I'd hate to be disappointed."

And with those last words, Madara's hands slackened, their deathly grip replaced by soft, gentle touches running up her neck and landing right at the base of her jaw.

"Before you get any ideas, I'm not doing this for the sake of a compassionate and generous heart I don't own," his thumb tenderly brushed her chin, lifting it even higher until her head arched at a painful angle. His eyes bore deep into hers, searching for a common understanding, and what was once fear scintillating beneath those heavy brown lashes, was now that dreadful sense of apprehension.

It finally dawned on her, and he couldn't have been happier. A smirk lit Madara's face.

"You see, you're the only reason he's still miraculously walking around right now, and as repayment for the harm he's caused you, I'll give you time to get your story straight. All's well that ends well, wouldn't you say?"

Madara quirked a brow, goading her to defy his words. Of course she wouldn't, she was frozen as a statue, and it wasn't because of the cold.

His thumb continued to line each curve and each feature of her jaw, settling as it stroked lightly past her mouth, softly touching her dry and chapped lips- a stark contrast to the ridiculously plump and pink flesh that worked his mind.

The Uchiha strongmen released his grips on her, freeing her from his imposing presence. But not quite, as he didn't move an inch, and neither did she. Although she may not have been held against her will, she was still chained to him in an unspeakable manner, one that neither could label.

The girl was strung on every word, and had every right to- as he has yet to bestow her one last warning.

"Don't you dare think of lying to me, I can smell a cheat the moment I see one."

He could hear every heartbeat rattling against her chest, could see the cold sweat glistening on her alabaster skin.

"And don't you dare think of running away. I will scorch the earth you walk upon, I will turn every pebble and stone, and I will find you."

The bridges of their noses touched as he relayed the last, yet far from the least, important caution he had for her.

Madara took her chin in the palm of his hand one more time and dug his fingers into her reddening cheeks.

"Don't you dare cross me, Mina."

---

Izuna's POV

He was waiting patiently for Madara to show his ass. Which should have been here at least a half hour ago.

What could be taking him so damn long?

Izuna only wanted to get this grim day over with. He could already feel a bad migraine making its way through his mind. The sun was up and about, and they needed to leave now. They were travelling with a fairly large amount of people and if they wanted to come back in the same day, they would need to get going as soon as possible, in order not to leave the compound so unguarded.

[…]

Izuna hadn't rested his eyes yesterday, not even for one blink of a second. He couldn't. So, in lieu of resting, he had decided it was a good idea to train in the middle of the night. By the time he finished, it was too late to try and get some sleep. He showered and got clean, saving himself the extra time-consuming tasks in the morning. He also happened to hear Madara awake in his room doing only Kami knew what. It appeared to Izuna that his crazy brother was also awake like him, unsure if he got any sleep as well. He overheard loud shuffling and scraping of furniture on the wooden floor, followed by sounds of ripping sheets.

Was he suddenly in the mood for redecorating his room?

Sometimes Madara would decide to do random things Izuna couldn't quite comprehend. And he liked to think he knew his elder brother well enough.

Everyone would say that Izuna was the odd duckling of the pair of siblings, but he would really have to think that over. If anything, Madara was stranger than his younger brother. No one really knowing his true intentions behind some of his actions, similarly to Izuna. However, unlike Izuna, Madara knew how to hide what he wanted effectively until it came the time that he wouldn't. He, on the other hand, while most people were unaware of his aims, they always knew he was up to no good. Which was more than what they could say about Madara.

Whatever.

He didn't want to think over this too much, he had a long day tomorrow. Instead, he went to the inner garden and sat on the stone benches, meditating and trying to catch onto whatever rest he could manage. And he stayed there, silently and untroubled, until the horizon melded into a light orange hue.

...

And then, against his better judgement, he went to visit her. Because he had nothing better to do.

Izuna couldn't care less whether he had a social life or not, he was the quiet type despite appearing the complete opposite. He would make himself look like a clown and wouldn't care. As long as it pushed him closer to his end goal, he didn't give a damn.

He passed by Madara's room to get to hers. Izuna wasn't sure if this new room arrangement, this chamber of hers, was any better than the one he had assigned to her before. Safe to say, he was incredulous. Not that having her as a roommate next door was something he desperately envied, maybe it was better this way. On the plus side, his brother would have to deal with her manic episodes for a change.

Speaking of the devil…

Madara was definitely awake. Doing something Izuna wasn't sure he wanted to know. Sometimes, it was just best to leave Madara do what Madara does. No questions asked, because nine out of the ten times, you wouldn't want to hear the answers.

If you were even given one.

He reached her bedroom and opened the door as quietly as he could, not wanting to disturb her if she was asleep. They said she had gotten better in the past three days. Izuna wanted to see for himself if that was true. His eyes instantly darted to the bed, expecting a sleeping figure under the covers. But the sleeping figure wasn't there. She was sitting on a leather chair placed near the windows, napping on the window. Her head laying between her arms that were folded and rested on the sill. What really caught his attention was the little furry fellow settled beside her arms, sleeping in a similar position.

Izuna couldn't tell if the cat was imitating the girl or if she was the one imitating the feline. They both looked like they were in a deep slumber. He was laughing silently. The window was left ajar, letting in the first sun rays of the day to illuminate the room, and the chilly breeze to blow a few strands of brown hair out of the way, just as it ruffled the short black fur on the cat's back.

He also noticed the heavy, dark circles underneath her eyes which were sadly a result of lack of good sleep. Odd, since she was seemingly asleep now. Unless, she wasn't able to take a proper nap throughout last week. Her eye bags were almost similar to Madara's, whose own had taken years to perfect.

And yet, it only took her a mere seven days to look just as terrifying.

Well, then...

He closed the door soundlessly and went on his way, unaware of the now conscious individual on the other side.

[…]

He found himself standing at the gates with his fellow clansmen, waiting for Madara. Izuna had to wonder just what possessed his brother to be so late.

"For the love of…" Izuna sighed loudly, exasperated just as much as the other Uchiha shinobi. Most of the elders were already present and a few civilians that worked construction were coming along. Everyone was getting curious and agitated at their leader's tardiness.

How fucking hard could it be to dispose of a damn body?

Because, of all things to consider, that was what Izuna had assumed. All that noise and staggering in the middle of the night wasn't normal and so with just that to go on, he came to the conclusion that Madara must have had one of 'those nights' where he might have exaggerated a bit and killed whatever poor woman that was with him. It wasn't like those nights happened often and besides, no woman had ever entered and never came back out again. No, no one was killed as of yet. But Izuna couldn't put it past his elder brother.

His train of thought was taking a turn for the worst, thinking of several different outlandish excuses for his brother's absence. What started off as mere conjecture, was turning into a bloody inconceivable tale.

Perhaps that was what the ripping of sheets for. To wrap the body in. But why would Madara take this long? He had all night t-

"Izuna," Madara's distinctive voice put a stop to the absurd story brewing in his mind.

And yet, it was like he had read his thoughts. The Clan Head appeared out of absolutely nowhere, catching everyone by shock.

"Finally. What on earth were you doing all this time? We should have been out an hour ago," Izuna replied. He took note of how traditionalhis leader brother looked. Madara didn't look half bad if he just put in the effort.

Maybe then he wouldn't scare off potential brides.

He honestly couldn't comprehend what went on his big brother's mind. He often pictured it as a black hole where nothing existed. He never thought about the future or how the clan would go on, even after his death.

Because they were all going to die eventually.

Some sooner than others.

They just didn't know in which group they would end up. In spite of what most people thought about Izuna, the younger Uchiha was a keener observer and had a sharper perception than what he was known for. He knew very well that Madara would have to eventually get this over with, if not for him then for the clan. According to the elders, and Izuna couldn't deny that. He understood what they feared if Madara wasn't able to produce heirs that would succeed him. If he were to unexpectedly die in one of these never-ending battles and had no heirs to take after him, then a fight for the position of leader could start and whatever bickering happened within the clan could significantly weaken its power as they divided into factions.

And that would ensue for many years to come until the Uchiha were near to existing no-more. They had seen this exact play-out happen far too many times to ignore it, and to many other reputable clans before who were now on the brink of extinction after being hailed as some of the greatest warriors alive. The fate of the Hagoromo was as such. For the same thing to befall the Uchiha; it was not something they were looking forward to.

He knew Madara was stalling and didn't care for it. Izuna shouldn't care about this as much as he was at the moment, since it wasn't directly involving him but...

There was nothing wrong with giving Madara a little push, no?

He needed heirs or someone of his flesh and blood that would take after his place but that thought never passed through Madara's mind, apparently. It was out of the question Izuna would take that spot. He could see how his brother suffered and well, he didn't want to spend the rest of his days in meetings with old crones and grandpas or even sign off on papers until he couldn't use his hands anymore. No, Izuna preferred his freedom within the palms of his hands.

It was clear Madara was still angry at him from that heart-to-heart they had a few days ago. He was avoiding his elder brother up until now just as much as Madara was avoiding him. So they couldn't break each other's necks. It was a comforting thought, knowing that Madara was capable of wringing his neck when pushed far enough.

In the midst of his drowning thoughts, a sac was flung his way. He caught it last minute as it flopped against his body.

"Here, got you some treats," Madara dead-panned. Izuna looked down at the translucent bag in his embrace and found pellets of dried bread and crumbs. He shot him a questioning look.

What am I, a fish?

One look at his brother and he could already hear him loud and clear.

'Eat.' His brother dared.

Hell no. He defied, eliciting an eerie smirk from his older sibling.

"Let's go," Madara said curtly as they started heading out.

---

At last.

The Senju were already there by the time they had arrived themselves.

Things were moving along faster than Izuna had originally thought and the day went by quicker for some reason.

Maybe because the days were getting shorter.

They were definitely in the thick of autumn. The leaves were already falling and the normal heat of the summer was slowly disappearing and replaced by cool breezes and rainy nights. Izuna had to admit, Madara and Hashirama chose a very well positioned area to build this village. Though he struggled to see how they would be able to clear all those dense areas of trees. It was an immense forest and seeing where they set the barriers, they would have to cut down a great portion of the woodland. The signing of the papers had already been done. It took two full hours which didn't seem to be much. Most of the morning was spent travelling to the location.

It was now mid-afternoon and finally, finally they had settled everything. Izuna still couldn't believe this was happening.

It couldn't be.

He was still holding out hope that someone in the crowds that now encircled them, of both Senju and Uchiha alike, would just drop dead. Have a heart attack or a stroke. He didn't care, someone just needed to die. Now. If he was honestly speaking, he wished for a particular pale man to die right then and there. But he knew that was simply too good to be true. Tobirama was in excellent shape. Even better than Izuna himself, since he was being honest. He had a bigger built than him and was two years older than the Uchiha. But if someone was to abruptly die here, it should be Hashirama.

That would surely put a stop to this madness.

They were standing oppositely on each of their respectful ends. Izuna and Tobirama were glaring at each other all the while Madara and Hashirama were 'extending olive branches'. Both their clans crests woven into cloth banners, hung behind the leaders. The Uchiha emblem on a purple banner, the Senju's on a white one. They've finally shaken hands, a sign of officiating the peace treaty. Loud claps from both sides broke out between the crowds.

It was evident that there were a great number of them relieved that this was happening while some were still skeptical about all of this. No one could really blame them. It was obvious that word of this alliance would get out and travel through all of the Land of Fire. Other clans would hear of this. How they would react was still unknown and unpredictable. Would they wage an all-out war against them or perhaps try to ally with them?

Only time would tell.

Everyone hurried to congratulate both leaders on 'this amazing accomplishment'.

Izuna wished this farce would end already. He couldn't stand being within a ten mile radius of Tobirama without trying to slice him open. He hadn't unsheathed his katana yet. And neither did Tobirama. Which took great efforts on both their parts.

An hour passed, then two and then three and so on.

The crowds had dispersed by then but a few were still lingering around. The evening was near as the sun set and light was fading away. Hashirama was animated and blathering with everyone he saw. Right now, he was talking Madara's ears off. But Izuna knew that Madara wasn't really listening just by the look on his face. He has shut out the world and everything; he couldn't, wouldn't listen to anybody. A look Izuna was well accustomed to.

What could be so boring that it had Madara shut down?

He walked straight to their direction, eyes never leaving Tobirama's, who was standing idly at the side. Watching the two as Izuna was. Whatever they were doing, they would always be competing against each other. Even if it was a petty stare down.

Of course under the excuse of making sure the other leader wouldn't harm their respective brothers. Which pretty much went against the whole purpose of this treaty. Surely, the Uchiha and Senju weren't going to battle at a place like this. They weren't that dumb. But if it gave both Izuna and Tobirama the excuse they needed to keenly and somewhat unnaturally- as much as it was creepy- to keep staring at their brothers, then they had no problem with it.

"...So, you see, Mito had said yes," Hashirama was saying. Izuna was now within hearing range of the pair.

So that's what Hashirama was chattering about…

He had no problem interrupting this little one-sided conversation.

"Hashirama-dono," he inclined his head and bowed out of respect. It didn't matter whether he was a Senju or not, Hashirama was still above Izuna's level and he would learn to show his respect.

Unfortunately.

And they were allies now, weren't they? So, he had to either way. Just as any other Senju shinobi now had to bow down to Madara as well.

For the sake of the treaty, suck it up.

"Izuna!" Hashirama said, a little too enthusiastically, "It is good to see you again up and about. I had heard what happened last time we met and I wanted to sincerely apologize for any wrongdoings we may have inflicted on you. But that was in the past. I'm glad we could meet under much better circumstances."

Izuna smiled like he was at ease, that big wide grin that made him equally charming as it made him smug; though it was all but sincere.

Is he delusional? Just because they had signed a treaty with them did not make them friends according to his book, and yet he was talking to the younger shinobi like they had always been just that— friends. The word revolted him.

As if his brother hadn't just tried to kill me. Did he consider that fight a friendly spat?

As much as Hashirama wanted to believe all was as good as gold in both parties, however; the sad reality was far from that, there was still much animosity on each side towards the other. It couldn't be helped, they had been reared that way all their lives, and their parents' as well, grandparents and so on so forth. Spanning over countless generations.

It would take powers far beyond the Wood Style user's own to erase the memories of days past.

"Yes," Izuna replied curtly. He wasn't going to fake it a moment longer. He desperately wanted to go home. That was all he wanted. His sudden interruption pulled Madara out of his daze. For a second there, he thought he saw a hint of relief glimmering in his elder brother's eyes. He must have thought Izuna came hurriedly to his rescue, to liberate him from Hashirama's nonstop blabbering.

Silly brother, doesn't he never learn?

He also noted that Tobirama was in a much closer hearing range than before. No, he basically invited himself into the discussion as well. Just as subtly as Izuna had done.

Huh.

"Well, I just wanted to bid my farewell before I go on. It's getting late and I need to head back to the compound," he was informing his brother mostly.

"Really? I thought it was planned that you and Madara would be staying here for the next few days. I believe they've even built a few accommodations already before our arrival," Hashirama wasn't willing to let this go.

Fine, I'll just have to improvise.

"I know. However, there are matters that I have to tend to back home," he wasn't eager to spill out a single thing more until he had fully gauged their reactions.

"What matters?" He succeeded in attaining Madara's attention because it looked like he had caught on to Izuna.

"Oh you know..."

Play it safe.

Looking at Madara from where he stood was akin to looking at a mirror, except perhaps facing an older version of himself, a grumpier one and certainly, an impatient one. Izuna flashed him his signature smile, laced with the foreboding hesitancy he wasn't accustomed to.

Come on, don't make me say it. He silently pleaded with him, if Madara could read his mind as well as he could decipher the same mischievous face he practically raised with his own hands, well- he certainly ignored it.

"No, I don't. Come out with it," Madara said, he was indeed getting more suspicious. Sketchiness was written all over his face, and he knew he had dug his own pothole that he wouldn't be able to get out of without pulling someone back in.

His older brother wasn't the only one waiting for a response, but so was Hashirama and Tobirama. It was evident by the frown already forming on the latter's face.

"This is embarrassing, but since you asked nii-san—" Izuna began, his devious nature was taking over once more. This was tougher than he realized.

He swallowed, dimples piercing his roguish cheeks.

"I must go see my bride-to-be. I told her I'd be back by tonight. You know how worried she gets if she doesn't hear from us," the younger Uchiha was grinning. Madara's mood suddenly turned foul. Dark.

Hashirama was shocked by Izuna's none-too-subtle confession. A wide smile had already appeared along with a quirked brow. Tobirama's features remained steady, fixed as the constant scowl he wore. Hashirama spoke instead of Madara.

"Is that so Izuna?" he was genuinely surprised.

"Uh-hmm," he wasn't really focusing on the Senju leader, but rather his brother, whose expression was turning angrier as much as it was deadlier, while his eyes betrayed his disbelief.

"What wife-to-be?" he managed to say through clenched teeth.

Yep, he was angry alright.

"You know who she is brother. Sometimes you really surprise me by how forgetful you are," Izuna was outrightly mocking Madara. He didn't care and went on,

"She's been sick lately. Food poisoning I believe. So I just thought it would be best if I returned tonight. You, on the other hand-" he patted his shoulder in a brotherly manner and turned to face the Senju brothers in front of him,

"Can stay here if you want. I think it would be a great idea if you and Hashirama-sama could stay and talk some more about the village planning. Isn't that right, Hashirama-sama?" Izuna was being overly polite and flashed his toothiest smile. Of course Hashirama hadn't a clue to what Izuna was doing. He was purposely stranding his dear brother here while he went happily back to wherever he came from. Tobirama though, didn't look like he bought any of it.

"Yes of course. I couldn't agree more!" Hashirama was beaming at the prospect of spending the night with Madara to talk about the dream they had finally been able to achieve. And of course, to reminisce about old memories.

Madara was blindsided by Izuna's impromptu cop-out to be able to respond.

"What, brother? Don't you trust me enough to hold down the compound?" he challenged Madara knowing full well he couldn't entirely shout out he didn't trust Izuna with something as important as that. Much less in front of these people.

"Relax, I won't burn it down," he assured him using the most unnerving tone he could muster.

"With that being said, I should probably get going. Farewell, Hashirama-sama," he bowed down the same way he did when greeting him, still smiling. Completely snubbing the white-haired shinobi on his way out.

"Bye, brother."

He waved the Uchiha leader off and then sprinted right out of there.

Oh boy, aren't I dead? Izuna was way too amused thinking about the creative different ways his brother could get his revenge on him later on.

"Izuna!" Madara shouted after him.

---

Mina's POV

I felt so much better now. Extremely better. Everything was very peaceful these last few days and I was certain it had to do with both Madara and Izuna being absent.

I was very happy.

Really.

But I was also insanely bored. Nothing ever happened around here when they weren't present. It was horrible because I was stuck here with no way of getting back home nor knowing how to. As much as I hated their guts, they were practically the only source of entertainment around here. Despite all the hair grabbing, flame throwing, 'ingenious' pranking and the occasional verbal assaults, I didn't really let all of that get to me and as much as I wanted to; I just couldn't.

That being said, if there was no entertainment, then I couldn't keep my mind busy. And when I couldn't do that, memories of that morning keep bubbling up, reminding me of how screwed I was.

I could still smell the sweet peppermint in his breath every time I was brought back to that encounter. The heat from his fingers crept into my consciousness and I wanted nothing but to pull my hand away, push my body back.

Never had I ever seen him so…terrifying.

My body trembled uncontrollably, I had to hug myself tightly, trying to keep it from shaking apart.

My hands twitched as they traced the same edges and curves that his thumb brushed. Every line, every blemish; I could still feel the heaviness of his touch, yet somehow still light as a feather.

I desperately tried to hide how fearful I was. I could control the tremor in my voice to a degree, but he was always capable of eliciting my weakest whimpers. I could consciously will my body movements to be less stilted, and he could always find a way to paralyze me. I could make myself smile somewhat even if it looked pasted on, but Madara could always eerily see through it.

Now that I was alone in this big house, sitting out here on the deck, I couldn't stop myself from running that scenario over and over, and coming up with several different ways it could have ended. None of them much better than the current reality.

The leaves scudded over the ground and took small flights into the air. As I tossed my head back and raised my eyes to the downcast sky, a smile had spread from cheek to cheek. The skeletal branches swayed like the arms of a cheerful crowd and in their chaotic dance, they were hypnotically beautiful. In that sight alone, my mind managed to relax and I could feel that ounce of contentment bubbling up from within. However momentarily it lasted, it was still enough for me to hold on to, enough for it to calm my tremors.

Looking up, I could see nothing but endless stygian eyes staring back at me, twisting daggers into my flesh. The distant look of his inky orbs still- admittedly- haunted me at night, I had never seen them so…emotionless. So blank.

And yet, his voice was anything but.

I shuddered at the thought of Madara's poignant words echoing in my ears. Color drained from my face as my feet rooted to the ground, unable to shake his threats away. The way his deep voice rumbled, reverberating in my bones; like venom coursing through my vein.

Madara's wrath was unlike any I had ever seen.

I wasn't dumb, I knew I had blown my chances and that he would do good on his words; I couldn't escape this time. Not that I had anywhere to go, yet he didn't miss the opportunity to fling those agonizing threats into my direction. He didn't have to worry about me running away, because he had me where he wanted, he knew I had no one else in this life.

Though, on the off-chance that I had somewhere to go, he didn't hesitate to make it clear that he would find me. And I believed him, the man was capable of tearing down every tree in his path, even it meant he would reach the end of the world.

I felt the queasiness rumbling through my stomach. It was the last five words Madara had uttered through clenched teeth that had me incapacitated with fear.

The more I replayed it in my mind, the tighter its clutches dug deep. And I knew I couldn't keep doing that to myself. I shook my head and rubbed my temples, hoping to wipe them away from my buried memories.

Damn you, Madara.

I was trapped. He didn't need to explicitly voice his threat if I dared to disobey any of his orders, but if I had to guess, I'd have imagined death would be the most merciful of them all. My time was up and Madara was at his wits end; and if I didn't want to die just yet, I would have no choice but actually tell him the truth.

Then again, who was to say the truth was any better than a carefully constructed lie?

Thoughts and fears swirled in my mind, nagging me, weighing me down as a migraine began digging its claws in the deep corners of my mind.

Fuck, I'm so screwed.

I wrapped Sora's shawl around me tighter, watching as the field before me was slowly being drenched by the dribbling rain.

I let out a frustrated sigh.

I need to think of how I'm going to tell him. That, or I could forfeit my life to him.

---

What am I going to do?

I groaned as I made my way through the empty streets.

I couldn't keep lying, it was way too tedious and tiring to keep up a front. As much as I wanted to bury them, put them behind me, leave them in the past; however one wanted to put it, I wasn't really the confrontational type. I rather preferred a peace of mind than having to worry about whatever fight I picked with someone, or risk telling them things I shouldn't that would only serve to add fuel to the fire.

All along, if it meant that I had to lie through my teeth to get that 'peace of mind', then so be it. But now, it seemed like I couldn't keep up appearances anymore. It was no longer a choice.

Being at ease was a hundred times more relaxing than always budding heads with other people. Which was why I never really understood how people here were always at each other's throats. Always at war and always fighting.

Didn't they ever get tired?

I let it all out in one sigh, watching as they floated off like smoke in the cold air. All that pent-up frustration and anger, the helplessness; it was starting to get out of hand.

From what I had heard as of late, mostly from Sora, was that Madara had left to sign a peace treaty with the Senju. She didn't appear to be too fazed by it. She wasn't angry nor content, neither opposing nor awaiting it. It seemed like she didn't really care what happened within the clan politics.

So apparently they were going ahead with it.

The only difference was that Izuna was still alive. Which he shouldn't be.

Why was he still alive? I had no one to thank for that except myself. I was enraged with my own actions back that night. Sometimes I would think I should have let him die. I couldn't be blamed for it if I had just shut my mouth and pretended not to understand anything. And then it would be the medics' fault had he died. They would have been the ones to suffer Madara's wrath.

But then who would I have to cut their clothes? Trash their room? Spread chili powder between their bed sheets and pillows? To make their life a living hell?

I would have never sunk this low, this petty if I didn't want to get to him. I wasn't like him, I couldn't blow fire out of ass if my life depended on it.

Izuna should have also learned to lock his room. If he so desperately didn't want people sneaking in like he claimed before.

Stupid pranks were the only things I did that seemed to pass the time here, and it distracted me from the hurricane that was coming my way. While Izuna may be out right now, I may have decided to slip in his room. Redecorate it for him. It wasn't that hard to find when I asked around.

The maids were reluctant to answer but did so anyways. I asked Sora to get me some chili and voilà. Not entirely proud of what I did, not because I was ashamed of stooping down to his level; not at all, but because I was weak. These were childish tricks. If there was anything that I wasn't proud of, it was the fact that I could not come up with a better joke to play on him. He wasn't here and there really was nothing I could do. Not at the moment anyways.

If Izuna wanted to be a prankster, I only needed to out-prank him at his own games. While that did seem unlikely, only time would tell.

I also may or may not have the keys to his room.

I wasn't too scared of the repercussions Madara could inflict, not in this regard anyhow; the guy was far too preoccupied with other matters to give a damn about what could be itching in his brother's pants.

I had tried to clear my head, and a visit to the library seemed like the perfect anecdote to my situation. Except, the past few days brought me nothing but closed gates and empty echoes. Today was no exception, the doors were locked.

I found myself on the road back to the main house, contemplating on what I had done with my life up to this point. Which wasn't much, but must have clearly been horrendous enough for I had to end up in this mess.

By now, I knew the streets here like I knew the palms of my hand, and as such, I managed to avoid getting lost the couple of times Sora decided to skip on our little trips there.

Where could the old man be?

Seeing that he was the only one there all the time, he must be the one in charge of it. Maybe he wanted a few days off to himself. Although it had been quite a while, and I still never properly thanked him for what he had done for me that day.

I thought of going to the river bank I would visit every now and then. I turned a right on an intersection where I was to take a left to go back to the house.

Since I was already out, I might as well go there.

I passed by that empty neighborhood once more. Then again, calling it a neighborhood would be considered an overstatement, when in reality, it was no bigger than a street. Its large and run-down houses made it seem larger than it actually was.

Maybe this was where they used to live. This could have been the first foundation of the compound long ago, before they expanded it to the east. It was clear no one lived here. The dilapidated houses looked like they could crumble down any minute, the windows glasses were broken, dust and dirt covered nearly every surface.

Except a familiar one.

One house, while it still appeared as ancient as the rest, didn't show any signs of continued dilapidation as the other buildings. It could only mean that someone must have been living there or visited it often enough to make sure it didn't break down completely, and if my memory served correctly, I knew exactly who inhabited it. The few pots with green plants were placed at the porch just as I had seen them last. The only decoration to the otherwise plain house. No paint; nothing. Just wood. It fitted in perfectly with its surroundings; the forest on one side and its companions on the other.

It wouldn't hurt to go take a closer look, now would it? Maybe he's there.

I walked up to the house slowly. When I got in a closer range, I could make out a figure sitting on the porch, swaying along the directions of the rocking chair. A man, I could see him clearly now. A wide pillar had obstructed my view before, but I could tell it was Takayama sitting there.

Huh, fancy seeing him here...

Here out of all places? Of course it made sense, it was where he lived. I should have come looking for him here a long while ago, but I had an inkling suspicion Madara wasn't too fond of my careless wandering.

As for the elder, he made it very clear to me that I shouldn't be straying aimlessly the night he took me back. And that included never visiting him in his house, yet here I was.

Though in the moment, he was simply sitting there silently, not looking at anything in particular. Not that he could anyways. Yet, he still had that dazed look in his ey-

…Eyes.

I kept falling for the same gaffe every single time. What an absolute blunder. He just looked spaced out, that was all.

Alone. He was always alone. And his pearl-white beard seemed to have grown longer since the last time I had seen him.

To say that he was an odd fellow wouldn't do him justice. Takayama was remarkably aberrant, at the very least, by Uchiha standards.

The more I looked at him, the clearer it became to me; he wasn't the only lonely person around here. And perhaps that was what drove me to do what I did next. I took the first steps up his porch and quietly made my presence heard.

"Hello," I said in a low voice. He didn't turn to face me, instead, preferring to reply, with eyes still closed,

"Hello there."

Then it dawned on me, and no matter how many times I rehearsed this particular moment in my mind, it was as if I had just met him for the first time; the words eluded me.

"How are you?" I blurted, voice as meek as that of an eight-year-old girl. It was at times like these that I was grateful that he was blind. As harshly as it sounded, I couldn't help it. I wouldn't want him to see me fidgeting with the sleeves of my kimono like a nervous child, as if I was trying to make a friend for the first time. But that was exactly how it felt and it was every bit nerve wracking as it was shameful, I hated it.

"I'm doing well. How about you, child?" he asked in return, never turning his 'gaze' towards me.

"I'm fine," I answered simply. I tried to think of what else I could possibly say. But I didn't need to think much longer for he eventually broke the silence.

"And your wounds, are they healing properly?"

And just like that, those mere words, had me carefully tracing the linings of the bandages around my neck. Even though the pain was gradually disappearing and the skin was slowly mending, the bare thought of touching burned flesh brought back feelings I wished had stayed buried. It was like my nerves had clumped into a tangle, the lightest touch of my fingertips sent jolts of pain and spasms wildly in all directions.

I quickly drew my hand away and clasped them together. It was like he was giving me the perfect excuse.

"Yes," I sat down on the steps beneath him, "I've been meaning to…"

I stared out into the empty clearing, trying to gather my thoughts.

"Thank you," I whispered, "Thank you for helping me that night when you didn't have to."

It lingered in the air, thick and heavy, like a blanket. Fragments of thoughts and splinters of words spun into droplets of silence until no one could reach the end of it. My voice faded with the howling winds, the creaking sounds of his rocking chair impaling the once comfortable silence.

I turned around, waiting patiently for a response, but one glance at him and I knew I wasn't getting one. He continued with his rhythmic movements, his lids closing all the while his long and gnarly fingers tapped on the ancient wood.

I didn't need an answer after all, I turned back to contemplate; the cold scenery before me awash with the chilly huffs of a looming winter.

A while had passed before he spoke once again.

"I suppose you want to know why I haven't opened the archives recently."

I faced him, his old and gravelly voice tugging at my attention. I nodded stupidly before I realized that he couldn't have seen me. Though that didn't matter, he knew regardless.

"Well, I'm afraid I don't have a valid answer other than that I didn't feel like it," his lips perked up into a small smile. The wrinkles of his old age appearing right then. I wasn't quite anticipating that as an answer. I was actually looking forward to something along the lines of 'per Madara's orders' or 'someone had just died', but certainly not this.

"You weren't expecting that?" it was like he could read my mind.

"No, not at all," I was slightly shocked.

"Tell me then, what were you expecting?" he prodded playfully. His tone had softened but was still raspy, just like a long-time smoker's voice.

"Hmm…" I thought long and hard before formulating a lacklustre response, "nothing in particular," I lied.

"Is that so? Then why are you really here? Certainly not to see me nor ask about the library," he caught on quick. It was a shame that he was only half-right. I may not have intended to come here, but I did plan to show him my gratitude.

I laid my hands back on the wooden floor behind me and tossed my head back a bit. The sky was clear. No clouds. Not a single one in the midst of the hundred shades of grey.

"I was just wandering around," I confessed finally.

"Why are you strolling around here aimlessly?"

"Because I have nothing better to do."

"Why is that?"

"Because I'm stuck here."

"Stuck?" he repeated, questionably.

"Imprisoned," in this world. I tried to elaborate further but failed. It was like a game, going back and forth with him, but ultimately, about to land somewhere I wasn't sure where it would lead me.

"If you were locked up then you wouldn't be wandering around now, would you?" he teased.

Good point. But...

"That wasn't what I meant," I tried to explain myself.

"Oh, I know what you meant."

Hmm? I eyed him only to see that he had gotten up from his chair and went to water the plants. I tried to not to read too much into his response but it was difficult. This man was far cryptic than Madara's random acts.

None of us said anything for a while.

"It's quite a lovely pendant," he whispered out of the blue. I looked down and saw that the necklace was tucked away. It didn't matter if it was or it wasn't, it didn't matter if it was now or back when I first met him at the library... he couldn't have been able to see it on any occasion.

I slid it out and peered at it, its scarlet red deepening as it shone beautifully. The lustre in the oval gem captivating me, the same way it had the first time I laid my eyes upon it.

"How did you know I was wearing a pendant?" I asked, my suspicions growing by the second. He continued on watering the plants, not once turning in my direction.

"My great-grandmother had one just like it," his answers were turning just as puzzling as this man was.

"That wasn't my question," I said more sternly.

"Concentric silver circles as bright as the moon with a minuscule red gem at its beating heart," he hummed quietly, avoiding the question by answering the impossible; he had just described the necklace, all the while still occupied with the task at hand, "I wouldn't mistake that necklace for anything else in this world."

Really now?

"Well then?" I persisted, swallowing the lump in my throat. Remnants of fear from my encounter with Madara had settled in the pit of my stomach, flaring with each dangerous answer the man before me spouted. He laid down the jug of water and faced me, his old, wrinkly appearance taking pity on me.

"It was a cherished heirloom passed on through many generations of my family. It once belonged to my great grandmother eons ago but had since went missing. She cherished it deeply as it was handed down to her from her mother and so on," he was recounting his old family's history.

Interesting. Though I failed to see where he was going with this.

"It was gifted to one of my ancestors by a lone man of the name Hamura."

Hamura?

I stared, lips parted open, as if he had just produced a rhinoceros from his pocket. Sparks flew in my brain, desperately trying to connect the dots and instead just causing a short circuit.

I was strung in awe.

"What do you-"before I could continue the question, Takayama grabbed his cane and tapped it on the ground twice, the after-shock of the hits reverberating beneath my feet. Even in his old age, the Uchiha elder was still significantly taller than me, his back arched in a hump, and his worn garments cloaked off his shoulders in drapes.

"Now, I have told you enough, much against my better judgement," he coughed, putting an end to the conversation just as it was getting somewhere.

"Look little lady, you've pried far too much into the affairs of this world. You should have never come back," Takayama's words cut deep, each syllable shook, not with frailty and aging, but with strength and firmness.

Each step he took towards me was pushing me one back.

"You should leave," he sounded. And when I wouldn't, he insisted; "Heed my words."

"But I-" my protests were silences as I found myself stepping off the ledge of the porch, falling on my behind as I slipped past the few steps and onto the wet soil of the ground.

I looked up at him, and from where I laid, I didn't see an old man; I saw a powerful figure. His hands gripped the head of his cane, veins popping beneath the white freckled skin. His back straightened as his face darted towards me. And for the first time since meeting him,

"Where there's a desire, there is going to be a flame—"

---

Where there's a flame, someone is bound to get burned.

I was sitting by the river, trying to decipher Takayama's carefully worded warning.

An old man who was supposedly blind. No, not supposedly. He was blind. I would have left room for doubt about his ability to see if he had had eyes, but he didn't. No eyes, no vision. It was as simple as that. He wasn't making any sense. So, I decided to stick to logic.

It must be another one, I thought. Another necklace that he must have seen before he lost his sight.

He was joking, right? He must be.

Yet I couldn't believe my own words. The coincidences didn't add up.

[…]

"I apologize but I would like to be left alone now. I need to rest," he was basically kicking me out after deciding that he had had enough with this conversation. He turned around, stomping his came heavily as he walked back into the house.

"Wait-" I reached out to him from my lowly place on the muddy ground, pleading with him to stay.

He had already shut the door.

[…]

I found myself laying on the sand by the stream, replaying that scene over and over in my mind, twirling the pendant in my fingers like a coin.

How did he know? How could he?

He knew much, much more than I thought he did. I was sure he was hiding a ton more of information that he wasn't sharing. For now.

I needed to get it out of him. The sooner, the better. He couldn't just expect to say something like that and then shut up. He also couldn't imagine that I wouldn't ask any questions.

Or maybe that was exactly what he was playing on? Was he just dragging me? He surely knew that I would seek out answers.

"Where there's desire, there is going to be a flame, hmm…" I repeated the words aloud, hoping that their meaning would rain down me, straight from the sky.

What the hell could he have meant?

The silver chain rattled between my fingers, finally swinging off my thumb, almost like a pendulum. Where there would have been a spherical metal ball, hung a beautifully cut jewel. Its immaculate ovoid shape encrusted in circles of pure silver, bringing out the deep color of the stone to its perfection. The tint of spilled blood, it was breath-taking.

Desire? What desire? Desire to find out more information? More knowledge?

Perhaps, he was warning me against finding out more about this necklace, or maybe cautioning me against meddling with the Uchiha's affairs. If I got too close to figuring it out, maybe it wouldn't end on such a high note for me. Where there's a flame, someone is bound to get burned; it was what he had said. I quivered at the thought.

He certainly knew how to purposely choose his words.

I didn't know what to do now. Everything was getting all the more confusing all of a sudden. I resisted as best as I could to go back and barge on his doors, demanding answers but that would have been rude. And he could just simply choose not to tell me anything. It was safer to just play nice instead of being impulsive. If that meant I would have to wait for tomorrow to visit him once more, then so be it.

I could wait. I think. I really hate to be kept waiting. Patience is a virtue, though. Right?

I stood up and brushed off any sand that was on me. It was getting darker and I needed to head back home.

Not home.

I reprimanded myself at the mere thought; it wasn't my home. It never could be. It was just a temporary house I resided in until I could figure a way out of here. Being at home had a completely different meaning than just inhabiting a house.

Everyone here had already gotten used to my presence. There were no more second glances, no more curious looks, no more harsh glares...there was nothing now. Just a few simple nods here and there. I went straight for the garden and found Sora sitting on the grass. A little boy sat beside her.

A little Uchiha boy. He was leaning on her as she had her arms laced around him. I didn't know if I should interrupt them but it looked like they heard my footsteps long before I could even think of walking away. They turned around and saw me standing there awkwardly.

Sora was the first to speak.

"Mina-san, you're back?" she was cheerful. And as always, still had the difficulty in getting rid of the honorifics when referring to me. There was nothing I could do about it and it was just better to let it go without making a fuss over something so simple.

"Hi there," I greeted them with a small smile. I walked over as Sora was motioning for me to join them. She stood up and so did the child.

He was so small, couldn't be more than five or six. He had immensely wide eyes, the biggest I had seen to date. They were black like any other Uchiha. His porcelain skin was flawless and was a beautiful contrast against his soft and wavy black hair. It was short and tousled, framing his childish face. He was adorable and would undoubtedly grow up to be a handsome man. I waved at him but he retreated behind Sora, shying away from my touch. She introduced us.

"This is my friend Mina, go say hi, Kagami," she ushered the boy towards me and turned to say, "This is Kagami, the son of a maid here. A friend."

I thought I had caught a flicker of grief in her eyes but it was instantaneous, I couldn't be sure if it was there at all or if my eyes had played tricks on me. The boy was still hiding behind her, refusing to leave her side.

I got down on my knees to reach his height.

Kagami? Where did I hear that name before?

Kagami...

Oh. I see.

I felt my smile widen unconsciously as I remembered who this child was. Or would turn out to be. I made sure to soften my voice a little, be gentler than I usually was as I approached him.

"Hi there, Kagami," I extended my hand to try and get him closer to me.

"I'm Mina," the boy was struggling, not knowing whether to stay behind his friend or go greet a stranger. He was mulling that over for a while but finally took a step forward and shook my hand.

"Hi," he whispered.

"It's nice to meet you," I beamed.

"It's nice to meet you, too," his voice as quiet as a mouse.

God, what an adorable kid. And just so precious.

A sudden urge nearly overtook me, I wanted to take him in and hug the living hell out of him. His cheeks were like targets painted with bright red paint, practically begging one to squeeze them. I wasn't normally fond children, but there were just a few undeniably lovable ones out there that were hard to reject. This Kagami was one of them. He looked so pure, so innocent...

If he could just stay like that forever.

The mere sight of him brought joy to my heart and made me forget my troubles, if only for a few moments. I wanted to take him in my arms and just share the...happiness that was surging in me. I didn't know why or how he was able to do such a thing, but I felt my spirits rising, and it was a refreshing change against all the miserable and tiring crap that had fallen upon this place. I was this close to grabbing him but I didn't want to risk scaring him off, so I exercised self-restraint. Sora instantly picked up on my change of mood, and suggested,

"Kagami, would you like to stay with us a bit longer?" she was smiling as well.

The kid looked fairly uncomfortable being surrounded by overly gleeful women, no one could blame him if he wanted to dart out of here as soon as he could.

"No, thank you. I would like to go back now," he rejected politely, looking up at Sora.

"Alright, I'll take you back to your mother then," She told him and then to me, "I'll come back and bring you your supper."

"Oh no, don't bother, I'm not hungry," I assured her. In truth, I still haven't regained my appetite completely. They were on their way when I said,

"I'll see you around, Kagami."

He waved back as they left.

...

I was back in my room getting ready to sleep. I changed into a simple nightgown and got into bed. Sora insisted on bringing me dinner in spite of my protests. Why would she take the trouble of preparing meals? She contended to always bring the food here when I would object and suggest that I could just go to the kitchen and grab something. But now I could understand how casual that would be. Perhaps too modern for this time and place. Or- another utterly plausible possibility- they must loathe my presence around here, in which case, she was doing me a favor by saving me from the excruciating humiliation.

Whatever the reason was, it didn't stop me from sleeping soundly at night.

Except today.

I couldn't sleep. My mind wouldn't stop thinking. It wouldn't shut off, its gears constantly rolling, never halting. Suddenly, a knock on the door caught my attention. It couldn't be Sora, she was just here and must have already went to bed.

"Yes?" I asked quizzically, loud enough for whoever was on the other side of the door to hear. They didn't identify themselves and entered instead. I saw Izuna had made himself welcome.

Dammit, he's back already?

"Welcome back," I said with as much bitterness and impassiveness as I could.

"Thanks," he replied. Nothing more, nothing less. His deadpan expression mirrored mine.

"Can I help you with something?" I asked rhetorically. He was abnormally quiet. I couldn't tell if he was angry or just plain normal. But this wasn't Izuna's normal. His straight-face conveyed all the dispassionate and expressionless impression anyone could muster. Even his voice was void of any emotion. He was just empty. Blank. Absolutely nothing got to him. It was very bizarre.

"I saw that you've made yourself comfortable in my room," he replied.

"Yes, I did. And I saw that it was in desperate need of refurbishment, I just couldn't help myself. I had to add my touch to it," I answered mockingly. "I'd say it gave it a bit more of…personality. Of spice. Wouldn't you agree?" It was my turn to goad him.

"Yes, I actually agree."

Wait, what?

"Oh really now?" I was surprised by his answer even if he had meant it as a joke.

"Yes. I see that you couldn't bear to stay away from me for a whole day."

If he meant to say that playfully, it sure didn't sound like it. His lifeless demeanor made it seem like he was actually serious. How awkward it must have been in that moment.

"Oh yes. I just couldn't sleep without having your intoxicating smell surrounding me," this was just turning out weird. Very weird. I turned to face the windows and pulled the covers over my head, hiding the blush in my cheeks and wishing that he would just leave already. He didn't.

I faintly remember something similar happening not too long ago. Except his brother eventually got the clue and left. It seemed that Izuna still had much more to say.

"Where are the keys?" he inquired, still stony as ever.

"What?"

"Where are the keys to my room?" he repeated.

"I don't know," I lied, voice muffled underneath the covers.

"Give them back," it wasn't a question anymore.

"I threw them. In the garbage," I exaggerated. He didn't say a single word for the longest time. Argh…

I pulled the linens down and turned to face him.

"Why don't you just change the locks on your doors? It would be much easier, if you want to avoid me sneaking into your room again," I proposed. He was unresponsive.

Wait, don't tell me he actually hasn't thought of that?

"I want the keys back," he crossed his arms, the only sign that portrayed his impatience. Finally.

"Fine," I got the keys out from underneath the pillows. I stood up, wrapped the covers around my body, and walked over to the door. The keys were in my hand. We were mere inches away when I raised the dangling chains in front of his face.

"You want them, hmm?" I asked teasingly, biting my lips in the most obscene way.

"Here." I dropped them to the floor right next to his feet. The echoes from the rattling metal could be heard all the way down the hall.

"Oopsies," I feigned the guiltiest surprised expression I could, "I dropped them. My bad. Forgive me, would you?"

I waited for him to bend down and pick them up. He barely raised a brow when I shut the door in his face.

Kiss my ass, you rascal. I huffed in annoyance.

"Good, now I could sleep."

---

Izuna's POV

Did she...Did she just shut the door in my face?

She did. He looked down at the keys on the floor.

She's getting gutsy. What do I do with her?

He rubbed the back of his head, ruffling his spiky black hair while trying to figure out what was he going to do now. Madara was at the settlement and would be for a few days. And until then, Izuna was free to do what he wanted. Relatively free, that is. And until then as well, he would be alive. He still wasn't sure what Madara would do to him when he came back. Stranding his brother there like that was unwise but then again, Izuna was well known to make very unwise decisions. First off, he certainly had no intentions of marrying anyone. Much less to the woman who just threw him out. That wasn't his plan, he would make sure his ruse would pay off. No matter what.

He tossed the keys to the side with his feet, he didn't really need them. He already broke through the door and made arrangements to change the locks. Or rather will make arrangements. He started walking back to his room. If you could even call it that. His clothes were torn and thrown everywhere. Chairs and desks were toppled over. The few books he had in there that were disorganized but were now somehow, miraculously, arranged in a neat order on the bed. A few mirrors broken here and there and curtains were ripped. His bed reeked of pepper.

She put too much of it.

He was actually allergic to these peppers, the mere smell of them had him coughing relentlessly. He ordered a maid to get rid of the sheets. And the bed. Izuna wasn't sure if Mina had known this and did it purposely or unknowingly, but it wasn't a shabby idea. How she got the keys in the first place, he couldn't figure but she still managed to do it. Meaning she could get her hands on anything else she wanted.

He couldn't sleep in his room tonight, not until he was sure every corner of the room was dusted and any faint traces of the chili pepper was gone. On his way to the training grounds, he found the cat walking around, searching for food. It noticed him and came quickly. He bent down and petted its black fur. It purred in response, stroking its small head in the palms of hands.

The same one that was nesting near her that very morning.

"Hey there little fella," he cooed. "She kicked you out too, huh?" Izuna chuckled. It was clear that she didn't appreciate his gift. Or him for that matter. And he couldn't see why.

"She's not a very hospital person, buddy," the cat continued to purr as if agreeing with him. He took it into his arms and carried it with him, its yellow orbs shining with malice in the darkness.

At least he valued good company when he saw it.

If she won't.

---

I applaud everyone who survived 15k words ha! Really though, that was pretty fucking long lmao.