Thank you dear readers who followed, favorited and commented on this story!
Madara blinked the first signs of drowsiness away and tried to keep track of what the two Elders were telling him, or rather were yelling at his face. Not that it phased him at all, it had been a while since he last considered these old crows a threat, let alone a figure of authority. Meeting with them was his duty, or as he saw it a mere formality to fulfill away from his day as soon as possible to then focus on what mattered: getting to spend time with his little brother.
"...she has already been introduced to his clan and entire council! And what have you done so far?"
He didn't answer, a move that further fed the anger of the Elder. He rose from his seat and his fist met with the table in an explosion of papers. "I'm going to tell you what you've done so far, Madara. Nothing! You did absolutely nothing regarding your future wife!" He thundered. "While Mito Uzumaki is out there conquering crowds with the rest of the Senju clan, Kuwa doesn't get a single drop of attention and is left wandering around the village alone. What kind of message is this sending to the whole village? To Ashina and Uzushio? Have you even thought about that?"
He hated to admit that, but the Elders had a point. He didn't think this through. For the past two days Kuwa had been left to the care of her personal maid, free to roam Konoha however she wanted but devoid of further company. The rest of his clan, probably following in his steps, didn't interact with his fiancee while outside of their residence, probably arousing among the villagers the gossips that had reached the Elders' ears.
"Madara, you're getting married tomorrow. It is time for you to forget the past once and for all and honor the promised you made in front the daimyo and the entire Land of Fire!"
"Yes..." Madara muttered through gritted teeth.
The Elder leaned above his desk. "I couldn't hear a thing. Speak, Madara! Have I made myself clear about this matter?"
"I said yes, sir." He spoke with all the spite his heart could brew.
"Good. The sooner you deal with that, the better. Now go."
In a last excrutiating effort Madara swallowed the lump packed in his throat and bowed to the council, red in the face and abiding. That done, he turned around and left in a haste, leaving the Elder rubbing his temples in dismay. Next to him, his younger brother stirred and stretched, seemingly not as bothered by the situation. His tiny, furtive smirk drew the Elder's accusing gaze. "Are you sure this is working? Because it doesn't look like it to me!".
"Patience is a virtue. It will work, you just have to give it some time to show results."
"Oh you..." The Elder started, then finished with a sigh as he settled back into his chair. "You better be right, or else..."
A little chuckle concluded their session and one by one, the council members cleared the meeting room, leaving their leader to grumble on his own.
One day he wouldn't have to bend his back to this damn council. One day he'd be able to roam the village without seeing the fear, the disdain or the discontent in the eyes that laid upon him.
By the time he got out, the sun was close to its zenith. In an effort to calm down, Madara adjusted his breathing to the measured rythmn of his footsteps. One by one his knuckles relaxed, slowly bringing sensation back into his hands. The pounding in his temples eased along with the heat of his skin. Then after a couple meters of walking the waves of violent frustration had withdrawn, leaving behind the emptiness he had learnt to call his companion.
He followed the street leading the academy, passing by groups of workers and shinobis heading towards the various restaurants in town, eager for a tasty meal. Well, that was perfect. Not only would he have a peaceful time with Izuna, he'd be able to enjoy the quiet of the deserted ramen shop later. As he reached the training grounds minutes later, he glanced over at the younglings sparring there but couldn't see his brother anywhere. Still, he recognized a familiar face that he decided to call over.
"Hey Yori! Do you know where I can find Izuna?"
The young jonin turned around and waved at him. "Mornin' Lord Uchiha! He's in the library!" He said before returning to take care of his students.
The library, huh? Izuna wasn't one for reading. He had way too little patience for that. His curiosity thoroughly sparked, Madara walked up the dirt path that lead to the Academy, a playful smile plastered on his face. He made his way inside the building and headed to the library, where the book keeper welcomed him with his usual uptight demeanor.
Madara rarely set foot in the Academy's library. He had consulted the old archives a few times in the past, but that was that. The collections kept at the Uchiha residence were more than enough to satisfy his need for deeper knowledge, or just for a nice story to read before bedtime. He wandered among the tall shelves and colored book spines, resting his eyes on the many titles as he tried to find the stairs leading to the upper floors. The distraction proved much stronger than he anticipated, so much so that he didn't see himself running into a corner and into the person standing there. He backed off, ready to go on his way after a quick and discreet "sorry", but stopped to study the face of the woman staring at him with visible surprise.
"Lord Uchiha." She said bowing to him.
As she adjusted the small pile of books resting in her arm, Madara's memories kicked in. "You're Kuwa's handmaiden, right?"
She offered him a polite nod. "I am."
"What's your name?"
"Hitara."
"Nice to meet you, Hitara." After a moment of awkward silence, he pointed at the books. "I see your research was fruitful."
The maid flinched in recoil and hugged the three volumes closer against her chest. "They're not for me, I'm just keeping them for my Lady."
Her answer had him tense up. He was not supposed to see her! If the Elders, let alone the Senju, got wind of him breaking this sacred rule, the damn gossip could possibly cost him another chunk of his reputation. "Would you happen to know where the stairs are?" He asked while throwing glances around.
"Yes, they're-"
"Madara? Is that you?" Another feminine voice called, one that precipitated his fall into restlessness.
He shifted towards the source of the voice, which seemed to be coming from behind the nearest book shelf. The small gaps between the tomes allowed for a peek at a vague silhouette that Madara immediately averted his eyes from. "Hitara, give us some space. Make sure nobody comes this way."
"Yes, my Lady." The maid bowed to the both of them and walked away.
There was a moment of silence between the pair. Madara knew he couldn't stay, but he also knew that leaving Kuwa by herself now would only make matters worse to deal with later. That and, again, she didn't deserve such treatment. Pushing his emotions aside, he opened the conversation with a sharp breath in. "Kuwa... I should apologize for my absence these past few days. As your future husband I should pay closer attention to you." He spoke perhaps too quick.
"It's okay, Madara."
He was not ready for the calm and composed tone of her voice. Not that he had expected or even braced for any kind of reproach given what he had been told of her personality. It still felt strange, almost saddening for her to be so passive. "Are you sure?" He asked.
Her silhouette behind the shelf shifted. "You are a clan leader. You're bound to be busy with all kinds of things, some of which are probably out of your control." She paused to the sound of a book closing. "I am fine. Everything has gone well for me so far. After I met with the Elders I got to wander around the village and quickly found myself chatting with all kinds of people. They had so much to share and such kindness in their hearts... I think it helped soothing that homesick feeling in mine."
A small, gentle smile appeared on the Uchiha's face. Her words had brought a sense of relief, a soft halt to the racing thoughts in his head. A short lived comfort that eroded in the face of sudden rekindled grief. "I'm happy to hear that." He answered.
"You're looking for something?" She continued as she picked another book.
"No, not really. I'm waiting for my brother." He turned his back at her and let his eyes to roam the displays around him. "You?"
"I'm searching for books about my clan."
He glanced back. "Oh?"
"It's incredible how rich Konoha's collections are when it comes to foreign countries and clans. Every detail, every piece of information one could scout has been recorded and kept here." She spoke, amazed by her own discovery. "I found several works about the Uzumaki, including one study of the properties of Adamantine, which I plan to dive into."
The mention of Adamantine brought Madara bits and pieces of memories long buried. Chains that seal and drain one's chakra, near indestructible and powerful enough to bring a tailed beast to its knees. Even though his Mangekyō Sharingan was capable of a similar control, it could easily be broken by any advanced user of sealing techniques, a weakness that Adamantine didn't suffer from. "I see." He replied, thoughtful.
She was about to speak when Hitara rushed to her. "My Lady, you should not stay here."
"Why?"
The answer to her question came in the shape of Izuna walking in their direction, a few scrolls tucked under his arm. As he reached the end of the shelf separating the two betrothed ones he stopped, took one step back and stared at his future sister-in-law. He then proceeded with another set of steps forward, now meeting with the glare of his brother. A big grin appeared on his face. "Oooh, I see." He said in that all-too-knowing tone. "Don't worry you two, your secret is safe with me." He threw an exaggerated wink at the couple, earning him a discreet laugh from Kuwa.
On the other hand, Madara wasn't that keen on laughter. "I was looking for you. What are you doing here?"
"Had to research a few things for a course I'm preparing."
"Come with me." He lost no time and grabbed his brother's arm. "Kuwa. Hitara." He nodded in their direction.
"See you tomorrow at the ceremony, ladies!" Izuna said before being dragged off.
The two women bid them goodbye with a bow then looked at each other equally baffled by the scene. "Do you know what's going on between these two?" Kuwa asked.
The maid shook her head. "I have no idea."
Without slowing down the two Uchihas traveled the dedalus of shelves, avoiding the confused looks of people around them. Izuna complained discreetly at first, then started struggling and openly protesting. It took them crossing the main entrance of the library for Izuna to free himself from his brother's grip. "What was that for?" He asked with clear annoyance slipped in his words.
"I shouldn't be seen anywhere near Kuwa."
"Not that! Why are we leaving in such a hurry?" He paused as he took a step forward, his attitude shifting towards one the clan leader knew all too well. "Could it be that our mighty Lord be... intimidated by his bride?"
"Of course not, silly." Madara followed by grabbing Izuna and trapping him in his arms. "And if you insinuate such nonsense again I'll show you what true intimidation looks like!" He then let go of him to the sound of his own chuckle.
Izuna pressed a hand on his mistreated neck. "Alright, alright. Still, why not take advantage of the quiet setting and spend some time with her?"
Madara sighed as he pulled his brother in a more gentle accolade. "Don't worry. I'll have plenty of time to do that in the future."
"Ooh, that's right. You sure should treasure your last moments as a single man."
"Exactly." He replied pointing a finger at his chest. "See? You're starting to understand how these things work." Their closeness ended with a pat on Izuna's back. "Lunch?"
"Lunch it is."
By the time their conversation ended, the young Uchiha had already begun his brisk walk. Madara followed close in tow, to all appearances neutral but disappointed on the inside. No matter how much he tried, somehow every interaction with his future wife would leave his mind torn. On one hand his curiosity was nagging at him, eager to know more about this side of hers that the Elders didn't bother telling him about. On the other hand, his memories had him ache for such a forbidden, intimate moment with Inari, for how they could've shared their knowledge in much more depth than through brief letters every few weeks.
His rumbling stomach, accompanied by his brother's command to hurry helped him push aside the longing, one that he realized would be much tougher to shut up than he thought.
"Are you sure, my Lady? I mean... this might not be very appropriate..." Satsu mumbled as her fingers braided Mito's hair into a high bun.
"It's fine, Satsu. You deserve to relax after running errands all day. Besides, it's not like I need you to serve me while I sit still in a pool of water."
"But my Lady..." The maid complained. "Bathing before you wed is an important ritual. Us servants shouldn't meddle with it."
Mito glanced back at her, already shedding the first layer of her yukata. "If I say you can join me then you can and if somebody blames you, which I highly doubt will happen, then I'll deal with that."
"My Lady..."
"Satsu." She said before sitting Satsu beside her on the wooden bench. "This is the last day before I marry into the Senju. The last evening before a ton of responsabilities fall on my shoulders, ones that I'll have to carry for the rest of my life. You may be my maid, but you're also my friend, and I'd like to share this moment with you and the only Uzushio people here in Konoha."
The young maid's eyes filled up with a few tears, which she quickly wiped away with the back of her hand. "Then... Then I'll join you, my Lady. It would be rude of me to refuse you your wish."
Mito rose and got rid of the last pieces of clothing covering her body, then folded them neatly into the rattan basket under Satsu's uneasy look. Encouraged by her mistress's nod she started undressing too, piled up her clothes in another basket and tied her hair up into an updo she prayed would hold up. Now naked but never forgetting the proper manners, Satsu slid the doors open for Mito to step first into their privatised bath.
This bathing room was quieter and twice larger than the public ones and had its walls, ceiling and floors boarded in light birch wood. Bathing in a soft, warm light the massive tiled bathtub stood in its center, filled to the brim with precious hot source water and facing a most beautiful artificial garden. The Uzumaki marveled at the display of lush green bushes and white flowers growing in harmony alongside small bamboos and leafy vines. One deep breath in and her senses tingled delightfully.
"It's beautiful." Satsu said, not yet daring to come in. "But how can the plants grow? Is there no roof?"
Mito giggled at the sight of her maid tensing up. "There is. If I'm not mistaken, the sunlight is channeled down through a system of reflective light tunnels. You can't see it in action because the sun has already gone down."
"So nobody can see inside this room and spy on you, right?"
"Of course not! Besides, the premises are well guarded. I'm sure the roof is no exception."
Both the servant's hands clenched into fists, glowing faintly with swirls of chakra. "Well that's good, because if someone dares I'll take care of them myself!"
Mito brought a hand to her maid's shoulder. "Let's take care of ourselves first, shall we?" She replied pointing at the shower station in the corner of the room.
The duo took slow steps towards what they discovered was an empire of fragrances. Beside the buckets of hot water and folded cotton towels, the staff had arranged for them a collection of scented soaps and pots of rich fragrant ointments. Mito took one of the cream colored bars and brought it close to her nose. "This one is sweet. Almond, probably?" She asked handing it to her maid.
Satsu tried the bar for herself. "My lady is right! Judging by the small bitter note I'd say they were grown in the Land of Wind."
"You're the expert."
"If I may, my lady..." She put down the soap and picked several others, smelling them one by one until a wide, satisfied grin appeared on her face. "Use this one and follow up with the matching oil when you're done bathing. The fresh and soft floral notes of magnolia suit you, and not only will they help you relax and sleep, they should also last until you and Lord Hashirama... Well..." She substitued the end of her sentence with a wink.
It took a few seconds for the fact to dawn on Mito. "Satsu!" She exclaimed, a bright shade of red spreading on her cheeks.
"What did she say to make you so upset?" Someone yelled behind the door.
Satsu turned around. "I'm just saying that magnolia is a perfect fragrance for my lady to wear for the wedding night-" Her words died down behind Mito's firm palm pressing on her mouth. "If you keep talking I'll have you rinse with cold water." The mistress said in a tone that still betrayed a hint of playfulness.
The door slid open to reveal a naked Kuwa, hiding her most intimate parts behind her hands and arms as best as she could, followed closely by her still clothed servant. After a series of quick glances all around, she joined her cousin. "Sorry for being late. I didn't expect this place's menu to be so varied. Took me a while to decide which main dish to choose." She plunged her hands into the water and started rubbing soap on them. "It has also been a while since I last stepped into a bath house."
"I thought the summer palace had a bath house?"
"Had." Kuwa insisted. "The building was torn apart long ago."
The information left Mito confused. She hadn't set foot in the summer palace ever since her cousin and clansmen moved there and with a decade passed by, things were bound to change. The visible indifference Kuwa displayed regarding the matter pushed her not to investigate further.
"So, what have you been up to? Did you successfully avoid your fiancé?" Kuwa asked with a grin.
"Yes. Yes I did." She replied as she resumed her showering. "I was given a quick tour of the village by one of Tobirama's trusted jonins the day after we met the daimyo, and then I spent the remaining days with Senju women. I helped prepare a lovely party for a soon-to-be mother.
"Sounds like you had a great time."
"Indeed." Mito smiled at the tender thought. "What about you? Each time I passed your chambers you were nowhere to be found."
Kuwa chuckled. "You know how I am, I couldn't stay locked up in there. I walked the streets of Konoha for hours on end, taking in the sights and the people and the places I should drop by in the future." She paused to pour the remaining water from the bucket on her lathered body. "I had to see how my new home looked like."
"I understand." Mito followed her and rinsed herself as well. "And the Uchiha? Did you get to meet a few of them?"
The silence that befell their conversation was loud enough of an answer.
"Oh... Kuwa I-"
"Mito, I can't blame them. I'm not the one they were awaiting after all."
"But still..." Mito sighed. "They should make an effort to include you."
"Forcing them will only make them more reticent." She placed a hand on her shoulder."Don't worry. If I can't win their hearts, I'm sure that with time we'll at least learn to accept each other."
Mito eventually relaxed under Kuwa's gentle pat. "I hope everything will go well for you once you're married into the clan."
"I'm sure it will." Kuwa offered her a confident smile. "How about we bathe now? I'm getting cold."
"Alright." Mito approved.
The group headed for the bathtub and helped by their maids the two Uzumakis carefully slid into the hot water, sighing as it enveloped their bodies up to their necks. Satsu followed, making sure to leave enough distance between her and her mistresses. Once settled she turned to Hitara. "Aren't you joining us?"
The maid retreated from the bathtub. "I'd rather not."
"Come on, Hitara! We're among women, you have nothing to be ashamed about." Satsu punctuated her words with inviting gestures.
"I... I don't feel comfortable being naked around other people!"
"Satsu, enough!" Kuwa spoke, firm and imposing. "Not only it is rude to insist when she already answered you, it's also not up to you to ask her to join in the first place."
The maid sank into the water, shaken by the sudden rise in her tone. "I... Yes, my lady... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you or Hitara."
"I know." Kuwa leaned back against the tiles, her arms wrapping around her chest. "I... may have overreacted myself."
"It's fine, both of you." Mito chimed in. "You meant well, Satsu. We can let it slide this time. I just want you to remember Kuwa's words and heed them in the future.
The maid nodded and nestled into a corner of the bathtub, letting her head fall back on the edge. Mito followed in the same fashion while Kuwa turned her back at them. As seconds went by, the atmosphere lost its last hints of tension and had the ladies enveloped in a warm, serene haze. Breaths turned slow and deep to the sound of soothing silence, limbs relaxed into the hot embrace of water and eyes, heavy and tired, closed into a world of darkness.
Kuwa rested her chin on her forearms as her gaze wandered the garden. It jumped from leaf to leaf, from white chalices to the rough surface of thin branches, danced with the shadows that lamps brought to life. There was beauty in stillness, grace in the way life blossomed despite being grown between walls. She had grown like that too. A little bud, safe in her shelter and dependant on deep, strong roots. One that life and its calamities had nurtured to become a beautiful iris, at her loveliest when dressed in her shades of purple. One that was never supposed to surpass the crimson roses of the main branch.
"I ran into Madara today." Kuwa spoke, breaking the somnolent ambience. "At the Academy's library."
Mito's head snapped back up in a split second, her eyes wide. "What?"
"My lady..." Hitara mumbled as she kneeled behind her mistress.
"We didn't see each other, I swear!" Kuwa replied in the hopes of ridding her cousin of her scandalized expression. "An entire bookshelf stood between us, and I turned away!"
"Kuwa..." She held her face as her mind struggled to produce words. "You didn't actually see each other, I get it. But just imagine if someone had caught you two. The consequences, Kuwa!"
"I know, it would have been a catastrophy for both our clans."
"Simply put, yes."
"And I should consider myself lucky to still be able to face them in dignity." She recited.
"That too."
Silence returned as both ladies sat back down in the tub. Under the softening gaze of her cousin, Kuwa brought her knees close to her chest and hugged them tight. "I'm sorry, Mito. I know this could've brought a lot of trouble. I just..." She heaved a deep sigh. "I just wanted to have a conversation with him. A real one. But he leaves every time, he flees me."
Mito held her hand at the sight of her faltering, and as a way to earn herself some time to come up with the right answer to her trouble. A time cut short by fingers gripping hard at hers. "Mito... You know him better than I do. Did I do something wrong?" Kuwa asked.
Her lips pursed as she freed herself from Kuwa's grip. This time she knew how to answer, but she knew very well that the subject she was about to bring to the table wouldn't lift Kuwa's spirits. Careful not to slip she moved herself next to her cousin and mimicked her position. "Madara..." She started, hesitant. "I believe he is still not over his relationship with Inari."
"I had a feeling it was that." She replied with defeat in her voice.
"Though they never met in person, they held a correspondence for more than a year." She paused as fond memories resurfaced in her mind. "They were friends, each other's confidents, and I guess near the end they were probably in love. Inari wasn't overly vocal about that part." Her discreet laugh died as soon as it came.
"This is really sweet." Kuwa acknowledged with a small grin. "Was he aware of her condition?"
"Yes. I think his support is what allowed her to fight until the very end."
A quiet, melancholy-filled moment passed by where Mito seemingly drifted into her own thoughts, rubbing her eyes from time to time. "I also think having someone to pour his heart out to helped Madara adjust to this newfound peace and to Konoha itself."
"I'm not surprised." Kuwa admitted. "Losing Inari must have had him lose all his bearings."
"He did. Every aspect of his life was improving at last and then this happened." Mito turned away, choking on that last word. It took her a slow, long deep breath in to gather herself up and stare back at her cousin. "But don't you worry. Better days will come, and Hashirama and I will help you two savour them."
Kuwa reciprocated the genuine smile she was gazing at, before her whole face brightened with the light of realization. "Could you tell me more about Madara?"
The question took Mito by surprise. "Tell you more?"
"I mean... I don't know him. I know about his war prowesses, his rivalry with Hashirama and his story with Inari, but I don't know much about the man himself." She elaborated, stirring from her position into sitting in front of her. "I feel that maybe if I knew more about who he is I'd be able to connect with him better, you know?"
Mito shrugged. "I don't know everything but... I could try."
Though happy to help whenever she could, Mito had her doubts whether her intervention could prove useful, especially considered the fact Madara wasn't one to want his life openly talked about. But considered the current state these two were in, and the three pairs of eyes riveted on her, even more attentive and pressing than before, a little nudge in a potentially fruitful direction couldn't hurt, at least she hoped so.
"Okay. If you want to understand him better then I can tell you about his past." She looked at her reflection in the troubled water, silently bracing herself for her tale to come. "Just like Hashirama, Madara lost his mother at a very young age and had to watch his brothers and clansmen get killed on the battlefield. He witnessed horrors, countless bodies being lowered to the ground while survivors brewed hate against the enemy instead of mourning their dead. He never got to enjoy anything, not even his innocent friendship with Hashirama as children, and it took their fathers dying and Izuna defeated for them to stop fighting and slowly rekindle their friendship."
"What happened to Izuna?"
"Have you noticed how cold Madara becomes when Tobirama is around?"
"I haven't been paying attention to that." She admitted, a bit embarrassed.
"They hate each other. Tobirama has always despised Uchihas purely on principle and still does to this day, though for Hashirama's sake he keeps it all to himself. As for Madara, he hates Tobirama because Izuna nearly died by his hand."
Kuwa's eyes grew wide. "Died? How?"
"Not long after Madara and Hashirama became the leaders of their respective clans, they engaged in a ferocious battle to seize the fertile lands a few kilometers north from here. While Madara and Hashirama dueled, Tobirama took it upon himself to neutralize Izuna, who was decimating a large amount of Senju soldiers all on his own. They fought sword in hand, and taking advantage of a nearby commotion Tobirama struck Izuna in the heart."
Satsu gasped. "Oh heavens... What happened then?"
"Madara retreated as soon as he could to tend to his brother. In the eyes of all clansmen he was bound to die, except for Madara, who spent every waking hour by his side, feeding him his own chakra to keep him alive while the physicians worked to save him. In the end Izuna survived, but never recovered."
"What do you mean?" Kuwa asked, her tone matching Mito's ominous one.
"Izuna can no longer use his chakra or activate his Sharingan."
Jaws dropped under the weight of the revelation. Ladies looked at each other incredulous while Mito could only sigh at the truth. "Poor Izuna... He must have suffered a lot." Satsu said clutching at her chest.
"I... I would have never known." Kuwa declared. "He is such a enthusiastic young man, always smiling and full of life."
Mito shook her head. "Izuna is probably Madara's biggest reminder of their past of warfare. Even though Izuna put it all behind, it's not the case for Madara and I suggest you tread on this subject carefully with him."
"This one and Tobirama's, I suppose." Kuwa added.
"Indeed."
"So Lord Madara is a complicated man who has trouble letting go off his grief, hate and other inner demons but is definitely capable of deep love and affection for the people that are dear to him." Satsu stated, counting each fact on her fingers.
"That is a decent summary." Mito acknowledged before returning her attention on Kuwa. "I understand what you're trying to do, and even though you definitely should bond with him, I advise you do not rush these things. Give him time to get accustomed to your presence and warm up to you. Only then will you see the true him." She paused, a kind smile spreading on her face. "And discover all the other things I haven't and won't tell you about."
Kuwa grinned. "Fair enough. You've told me a lot already." She spoke before bringing both her hands out of the water to hold Mito's and lowering her head. "Thank you. I shall heed your advice and prove myself a caring wife."
Mito reciprocated the gesture and intertwined her hands with hers. "Madara will be a fantastic husband and you a fantastic wife, I have no doubts about that."
"My ladies." Hitara said as she got up on her feet. "I'm sorry for interrupting you, but your meals should be ready any minute now."
"It's time already?" Satsu complained.
Mito sat herself on the edge of the bathtub. "If you stay in there you'll end up like a dumpling."
She didn't have to wait long to see Satsu jump out of the water, nearly falling back in as she slipped on a puddle, and grab the large towel Hitara was handing her. Mito stayed at her place, swirling her feet in the water to enjoy its warmth for one last moment and allow her racing thoughts to settle. Whether she told too much or not enough, it was all in Kuwa's hands now. When handed her own towel she pulled herself up and quickly enveloped her shivering form, then headed for the shower station where the bottle of fragrant magnolia oil was waiting for her.