It was a routine, really.
And she would blame it all on him because his annoyance was far too amusing for her to pass up on seeing every chance she got.
"Uchiha." His low irritated growl reverberated the small cavern that was their haven.
She smirked down at him.
Her fingers not stopping their ministrations through his white locks that were currently against her silken lavender kimono with his head snug on her lap.
His crimson eyes narrowed to slits and he roughly grabbed at her wrists.
She lamented the fact that he could hold both of them in his one hand as he then sat up.
And then practically shoved her away from him before he stood to make his way to the fire she'd started moments before where the water was boiling and she had some meat sizzling in a pan and some onions and mushrooms in another.
She watched the Senju glance at her over his shoulder.
She knew he was silently wondering about it. Why she wasn't preparing some sort of hot soup or stew, since that's all she's made for weeks.
She just gave him a weak smile and a shrug as if her words of 'why not?' could be conveyed that easily to him.
He had scoffed at her and sat down in front of the fire and added the rice she had to the now boiling water.
Umekiyo let out a breath and stood to somewhat join him.
"Uchiha."
She let out a bracing breath at that. He never seemed to know what a proper questioning tone was. She'd learned that he was worse about it than even Madara. So she looked to him fully. These last few weeks had taught her many things about the man that was her clan's possibly most hated person in the world.
Because she knew he wanted to know that he'd been damn well heard.
He frowned at the blank face she gave him, "Why are you doing this? "
Her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed at himand she wandered, not for the first time, if her sanity was even intact at this point. But since she knew it would infuriate him to no end, she found her lips curled upwards in that amused coy smile to answer the question he'd been repeating upon first awakening.
His brow twitched at her.
She turned to the food and started to stir the rice and flip the meat, blatantly ignoring the glare being sent to the side of her head. I want nothing more than to be free of you, accept the act of kindness and move on.
"Uchiha."
She calmly started some tea, while she was diligently ignoring that heated stare.
"Uchi-"
She had tensed at his own cut off of the words and so she quickly stood and and firmly grabbed at his wrist only to somewhat shove him against the cool wall.
"Umekiyo!" A loud shout cut across the air and she gritted her teeth as the fire crackled away.
She sensed more than she saw his mouth start to move and swiftly placed her hand on his mouth as the voice shouted out again, "Where the hell are you, you little heathen?! Oh, oh, that's right…"
Umekiyou held the Senju firm, very aware she was only barely stronger than him at the moment.
A figure came in from the entrance and she dug her nails into Tobirama and met his narrowed angry crimson with her own.
She watched in some amusement as shock caused his eyes to first widen only for him to flinch his eyes shut and he tensed even more.
She slowly let her Sharingan eyes peek around the curved cavern.
The man snarled at her, dark eyes boring down at her, "Brat, do not think your tricks will work again. Tajima-dono will know."
She raised her brow at that and shifted her face so that she was smirking at him with a tilt of her head.
He growled at her and stomped over and roughly grabbed her arm, "I did not come out here to play games, girl. I…what is that?"
She looked at where his eyes were directed and then back to him as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Should have put the damned thing out of its misery. You're too soft. Whatever. Take this damned scroll and get your mission over with. Tajima-dono expects you to come back with positive results, understood?"
She nodded at that and let out a breath as she took the scroll from him and bowed her head in acknowledgement as the other Uchiha strutted off with angry mutterings under his breath.
Umekiyo's eyes closed as she immediately fell forewords, body now broken out into a small sweat followed by chills.
She felt a solid warmth, just then realizing she'd fallen right into the Senju and then slowly opened her eyes and carefully straightened herself up and took a shaky step back and then another before she carefully sat down before she flat out fell.
The scroll in her hands.
She quickly pulled the rice and the meat and vegetables before the burned. She then let out a breath and broke the seal with a small chakra input and rolled it open.
All the while, the Senju remained against the wall, stiff and red eyes focused on the top of her silken black locks.
She read over the information slowly.
And then first a breath came out as mirth took her and she actually looked up to the might as well be statue Senju.
And it was then that the Senju finally understood why she never spoke as her shoulders shook and her chest and stomach moved in time with them.
A silent fit of laughter.
The only noise that escaped her in that moment were those puffs of breath and if not for the mischief in those dark eyes, he'd think she were in danger of possibly choking on her own tongue.
He slowly stepped forward only because she actually lifted up the scroll towards his person. He snatched the scroll and crouched down as she moved one hand to cradle her abdomen.
Senju Tobirama is MIA.
It is your mission to find leads, locate, and to report findings.
Do not be seen. Do not make contact.
He threw the scroll on the fire and watched as the flames erupted around it.
He caught sight of her hand moving up to her neck as her breathing seemed to change to more of a wheeze and he watched out of the corner of his eye as she tugged on the silken band she usually had tied only to reveal a long, jagged, ugly, and very old scar.
He looked back to the fire as she rubbed at it with lowered almost solemn eyes as a melancholic, bitter small smile made it's mark on her lips.
He took a moment and then spoke lowly, "You lack stamina."
He felt her eyes on him, wide and shocked.
And then she rubbed at her scar again before she grabbed at the plates and started to place the food on them.
When she handed him his plate, he grabbed her wrist, crimson locked on, "You did not use Sharingan until now. Why?"
She blinked at him and then tilted her head at him in absolute confusion. She shifted herself to an easier position, knees on the ground, legs now against his.
He narrowed his eyes on her, "All Uchiha have extreme pride in their eyes. Why did you not use it on me?"
He watched her gaze lower then to his chest as something flickered in her eyes before she then looked back up to him and moved her other hand from his plate to grab at his and gently tug it from hers.
So he let her with a slight frown and watched as she carefully, almost, cradled his limb as she sat full on her knees and used her nail to gently trace on his skin.
He ignored the small raised bumps left behind and focused on the pattern.
Why be proud of something born of loss? Now eat.
And then she left it at that as she grabbed her food and ate with her back practically to him in an indication that she was done with the conversation.
The Senju stared at her head a moment,, "You view it as a curse, then."
She didn't turn nor did she tense as she continued to eat.
He scoffed at her lack of response, knowing very well that by reading in between the lines, she had accepted her view as her truth long ago and had come to terms with it being in complete opposition to the rest of her clan.
And she stood by it.
Just like she stood tall and proud over her decision to patch him and harbor him despite the dangers should she be discovered.
Her choices were down to fleeing with the hope they never find her again, try and find asylum within another clan strong enough to be able to actually hide her (which could only be his own), and no matter which choice she makes, she would be no doubt tortured for the rest of her life for being a traitor.
Death wouldn't be quick or painless.
Tobirama frowned as he continued to eat, his elder brother's face conjured unbidden with a too happy smile at the prospect of an Uchiha willing to risk their life for the sake of an enemy.
"Uchiha."
She seemed to let out a breath before she looked at him over her shoulder.
"What are you planning on doing?"
She lifted a small, tiny piece of food and chewed it slowly. Her eyes moved to the side to stare at the far wall and then close her eyes and shake her head at him.
And so the Senju simply deposited his own empty plate and went on to do quick and light workout with the thought of it being her mess and she was the one that needed to figure it out.
Author's Note:
Sorry for the delay on this one, no matter how I wrote and rewrote, this next chapter was just hard to write and not sound too drool. (Still is, though, apologies)
I needed something drastic to help and this is new plot point I've added, so I have to readjust some things.
Any feedback is welcome, just always remember to be civil. And don't fear pointing out faults and depending I can work on them (I do have issues with tenses and keeping them consistent)
Stay healthy and safe!