Hey guys,
so, here I am again with a new chapter. I hope, you'll have fun with it and maybe leave a review or two.
With my exams coming up soon I am not sure when I am going to post again. The chapters will have this length from now on and it takes some time to write them.
Have a great week!
Aravae
Chapter II - First Day
The next morning, Tobirama entered the dining area of their little house yawning, his hair tousled and his eyes barely visible between his lids. The night was short and full of dreams that he couldn't remember – or rather not wanted to – and he was surprised to see Hashirama sitting at the table.
Did he miss something?
His brother slept in as often and as long as he could. On some days, Tobirama had to kick him out at least three times, because he simply lay down again as soon as Tobirama turned his back. It was exhausting.
"You are up early."
Hashirama looked at his brother and smiled.
"Father asked me to attend breakfast today." Although it was early, his smile was bright and his eyes mirrored that. Not a strand of his ridiculous hair was out of place. Seriously, he asked – more begged – him to change his haircut so many times he couldn't remember all of them anymore. But Hashirama didn't listen and just did what he wanted to do. As always.
Sometimes, it drove Tobirama crazy and he wondered how he even put up with so much stupidity in one person. That must be the thing people called "love for family".
Another discrepancy caught his eyes and he raised an eyebrow. The table was already set as well and his mother then entered through the second door that lead to the kitchen. Normally, he would help her preparing breakfast. What was going on here?
Matsumae Senju was a beauty in every meaning of the word. As a former member of the Uzumakiclan, she was highly respected within the Senjuclan and a well-known specialist in sealwork.
"Good morning", she greeted her second youngest son who only grunted in response and plopped down opposite of Hashirama.
His mother rolled her eyes and put the bowl of rice right in front of him. No one doubted that they were related as Tobirama was the spitting image of their mother, while Hashirama looked more like their father. Her white hair was uncommon for the Uzumakiclan and it caused her many problems during her youth, but that didn't stop her from following her own path and marrying the head of the Senjuclan despite her elders being against it.
It was quite an uproar when they announced their betrothal, but in the end, they got what they wanted and Matsumae had the chance to start a new life within a clan that didn't judge her for her looks.
"My, aren't you a sunshine today."
Tobirama blinked and folded his arms in front of him.
"Couldn't sleep", he answered.
His mother smiled weakly and ruffled his hair. He growled and swatted away her hand, glaring at her at the same time. But that just made her laugh and he looked away quickly.
"Your father told me what happened yesterday", she said, "You couldn't stop thinking about the girl, could you?"
She shot him a knowing look and Tobirama felt his cheeks warming up. He was five, for Kami's sake! What did this stupid woman interpret into the situation now?
"What girl?", Hashirama asked, watching both his mother and his little brother.
"I don't know", Tobirama answered.
In that moment, the door opened and in came Kawarama and Itama, the oldest and youngest child of Butsuma and Matsumae. Both looked tired just like Tobirama and plopped into their seats after greeting their mother. Kawarama as the oldest had the seat right beside his father. He looked even more like Butsuma than Hashirama and had a big heart that was willing to do everything to see his baby brothers happy.
Itama meanwhile sat beside Tobirama, the furthest away from their father and right beside their mother. As a three-year-old, he was barely able to fend for himself and most of the times, he had one of the family members right behind him to catch him when he fell. All in all, he had the most protected childhood of the four and if his brothers had any say in it, it would stay like that.
"Your father will explain everything once he is here", Matsumae said and turned around to get the last bowls.
"So, now", Hashirama began once more, "You know this girl?"
Tobirama shook his head.
"She was not a Senju, that I am sure of. But father interrupted before I could find out more."
"What are you talking about?", Kawarama asked after yawning loudly.
"Tobirama found himself a girlfriend", Hashirama answered, not hiding his big grin.
"I certainly did not!", he rejected, but couldn't fight the blush spreading over his cheeks. For the second time that morning! What was wrong with him?
Both Kawarama and Hashirama snickered now and exchanged looks while Itama just watched them with a big question sign above his head.
"Why are your cheeks red?", Kawarama asked, "Did you speak to her?"
Tobirama scoffed and looked away. His stupid brothers only wanted to irritate him and he wouldn't fall for the bait.
"Of course not. She could have been an enemy for all I know."
"Yet you fancy her", Hashirama butted in and Tobirama barely refrained from wringing his neck. Kami, why him? Why was he stuck with so stupid and nosy brothers?
"I don't fancy her", he snapped, "I don't know her."
"So, you say, if you knew her, that might change?", Kawarama replied.
Tobirama jumped from his seat and glared at his brothers. His hands banged on the table and the dishes shook dangerously, clattering in the process.
"Of course not! You have no idea how stupid she was! Going playing in the woods alone, starring at a stupid leaf and showing off her talents for the whole world to see! She was an idiot."
"She was a kunoichi?" Kawarama raised an eyebrow, turning sober within seconds, and Hashirama followed right behind.
Tobirama sighed and slumped back into his seat. At last, they had another topic to speak about. He had feared that moment would not come any time soon.
"I think so", he answered, "she controlled ice on a high level for her age."
That caught their attention entirely and they shuffled closer to hear the whole story. However, Tobirama didn't have the chance as at that moment, Matsumae returned, her husband in tow. And another person.
Tobirama contained his surprise over the girl that peeked around Butsumas legs and eyed the four brothers. The door closed behind them and that was the only sound for a moment.
Now, he knew why Hashirama had to in be present during breakfast and why everything was prepared already when he entered the dining area. Instead of killing the girl as Tobirama expected his father to do, he took her in and now anticipated his family to make a good impression on her.
"Kids. We have a guest."
Butsuma stepped aside, so the brothers could have a good look at the girl. Standing alone now, facing curious and at the same time wary glances, she looked down and her face heated up.
"Her name is Miharu Sakae and she will stay with us."
Butsuma sat down after that and Matsumae followed after him. With them sitting and the brothers sitting as well, the only one standing was Miharu and Tobirama took a moment to watch her.
She changed into a simple, dark green yukata with sandals and a black obi. Her hair was braided with the exception of a few strands hanging in her face and her eyes lost the spark of curiosity and amusement that they had just a few hours earlier.
Although a flush adorned her cheeks, her expression remained blank and a shadow clouded her pupils. She seemed to have lost her will to live entirely and Tobirama wondered what happened to her to cause such a change.
"Hello", Hashirama said smiling and she looked up, "I am Hashirama. And that's Kawarama, Tobirama and Itama." He pointed at his brothers and she nodded.
"Sit down, Miharu", Butsuma ordered and she ducked her head and quickly shuffled over to the only seat available on Butsumas left side – the seat for houseguests.
The head of the house then began to eat and his family followed suit. Silence settled into the room as they helped themselves to a hearty meal. No one knew if it was their last in their current situation, so they made the best out of it.
Miharu had trouble pulling herself into the high chair and after achieving that, looked around uncomfortably. Tobirama eyed her while eating and quickly realized what caused his suspicion: her chakra was almost entirely gone. Sealed maybe? He wouldn't be surprised if it was.
He returned to his meal after that and shot her glance when he had the chance.
Meanwhile, Miharu observed every member of the family and her hardened glance softened a bit. As soon as her gaze fell on him, something shifted and Tobirama wondered what she was thinking. Did she recognize him after yesterday? It had been dark and she had been concentrating on her leaf so there was a chance that she didn't.
"You are the peeper."
She spoke gently and if it wasn't for the present silence – seriously, one person speaking would have been enough to cover her voice – no one would have heard.
Everyone was utterly silent as the family processed what had just happened. Tobirama stared at the little girl and couldn't believe what she had said. Peeper. He turned a dark shade of red – because of shame or anger, he couldn't say. His day became worse and worse and to his annoyance, she pointed directly at him to avoid any misunderstanding.
Miharu blinked, but did not turn away when he mustered the most furious glare, he was capable of. He wished he had never found her in the woods as Hashirama tried to hide his snicker behind his hand and Kawarama even turned away with his shoulders shaking conspicuously.
He would never hear the end of it.
"We don't say such words during breakfast", Butsuma scolded the young girl and she ducked her head again.
"I am sorry."
Finally, she grabbed something to eat and nibbled on a piece of bread. She avoided Tobiramas gaze now and rather watched his brother Hashirama who smiled widely at her.
But the damage was done and Tobirama shot Kawarama a scornful glare as he couldn't contain his laughter. By Kami, even his mother looked amused!
"Hashirama", Butsuma addressed his son, "I want you to watch Miharu. Don't let her out of her sight."
"Yes, father."
Butsuma nodded and turned to Tobirama.
"We will begin your training after breakfast. Kawarama will show you where you'll train."
Tobiramas face lit up and he nodded vigorously.
They finished quickly after that and Tobirama couldn't wait for Kawarama to finish helping their mother with clearing the table. Hashirama, Itama and he cleaned the room meanwhile. Butsuma disappeared soon after to look after the settlement and Miharu stood in a corner, shy and too intimidated to try anything.
Matsumae returned soon with Kawarama in tow and she smiled at the small girl who returned the gesture.
"Don't be shy, little one." She crouched in front of Miharu and yet again, the attention of the family was on her and Tobirama saw clearly that fleeing was an option she considered.
"It is a pleasure to meet you."
Matsumaes smile melted a glacier and it didn't miss its impact on Miharu who relaxed and eyed the family with less contempt.
"The pleasure is mine."
Tobirama watched the exchange suspiciously. He didn't like Miharu at all and he wondered why his father took her in. It was unheard of as the clans were in war with each other and an outsider always posed a threat. Maybe, her ice had something to do with it, but with her current chakralevel she wouldn't be able to cast a simple jutsu like the transformation jutsu – suffice to say, forming ice was entirely impossible.
"So, where are you from?", Matsumae asked and her sons gathered around them to listen in.
"My clan lived in the eastern parts of the Land of Fire." His mother exchanged looks with her oldest and Tobirama raised an eyebrow. He had his suspicions, but clearly, they knew even more.
"Lived?"
Miharu nodded.
"They were all killed in an assault."
That rendered Matsumae speechless as they all knew who led the assault against the eastern parts of the Land of the Fire. Tobirama closed his eyes and breathed in slowly. Not only did his father come back with a stranger, he brought her back after killing her family. Why would he be so cruel?
He didn't know all the details, but it had been a contract with the Daimyo stating that the Senjuclan was commissioned with putting down a rebellion of a few shinobiclans. The attack was fast, hard and without mercy and by the state of his fellow clan members, the rebels didn't put up much of a fight.
"Well then", his mother began hesitantly, "You are a member of our family now and I look forward to getting to know you better."
Miharus smile fell and she looked to the side. Tobirama couldn't blame her for it even if he wanted to. By Kami, he couldn't imagine how he would react if some stranger came to him and announced that he had a new family now.
"Thank you", Miharu murmured and his mother knew better than to push the girl further. Instead, she nodded und stood up.
"I believe, your father wants to train with you three", she said in the direction of her three sons and then added to Miharu, "Why don't you go with them and watch? Hashirama is responsible for you after all."
Miharu looked to the boys and assessed them. Tobirama would have killed to know what went through her head, but he refrained from asking and waited.
"How about I show you the settlement after training?", Hashirama proposed and it seemed to do the trick as Miharu showed a small smile and nodded. His big grin was just too capturing and nothing in his posture showed any contempt or meanness.
"Great!" Hashirama jumped to the startled girl and threw an arm around her shoulders, "Then come now, Miharu. Father's surely waiting for us!"
He led the way with Miharu having no chance to object and Tobirama rolled his eyes. His brother might be stupid, but he had a way with people. They warmed up to him quickly and became friends in an alarmingly fast rate. No matter how much they hated him in the beginning, Hashirama managed to turn that hate into something else and it seemed that it was the one thing Miharu needed right now:
A friend that treated her like an equal. And was still alive.
Miharu sighed and dangled her legs over the edge of the bench on which she sat. It had been over two hours that she left with the brothers and since then, she had watched them train with their father on an open field that was only ten minutes away from their house.
The settlement of the Senjuclan lay in the middle of the forest, but there were some clearings that the shinobi used for training and fighting. Butsuma pushed his sons pretty hard and did not accept any mistakes.
His training regime for the three consisted of meditation, fighting and jutsu training. They rotated through, so one was meditating on a foundling lying in the middle of the clearing, one was practicing transformation jutsu that day and the third fought against Butsuma using Kunai, Shuriken and swords.
Right now, Hashirama was training his special element Mokuton and managed to build her the bench she sat on within seconds. It wasn't pretty and it was unstable, but it carried her and it stood in the shadow of some trees so she wouldn't suffer from a heat stroke as the sun was burning down on them that day.
Once or twice, other clan members came by and watched the training, but beside that, no one dared to interrupt the session. Except for the elders of the clan who barged in, asked questions and let Butsuma show them how his kids were doing.
Miharu rolled her eyes as she watched the group. Unfortunately, she was out of hearing range and so could only watch as each brother had to show what he learned during the last couple of weeks. Except for Tobirama who the elders seemed to be the most interested in.
They ordered him to go through hand seals and perform simple, element-based jutsu. Miharu had seen that procedure before as it was standard for every young shinobi to determine his or her main element.
The boy remained calm and collected through the whole ordeal and she wondered how he managed that. She remembered the elders of her clan being obnoxious, nosy and intolerable know-it-alls. Her father complained about them at least once a day and because they were a distant branch family, they were treated worse than the dogs – his words, not hers.
In her short life, she couldn't think of one occasion they were outright unfriendly to her, but even she noticed the subtle glances or whispers that followed her every time she met them.
She shook her head. No more. They were dead just like her parents, her aunts and uncles and her grandparents. She knew that, but the fact had yet to sink in. A few days on the road and in the company of strangers didn't do the trick – though the change of scenery helped a lot as she was now able to view the assault from the distance. As if it happened to someone else and she was watching through a veil of water.
Miharu lowered her head and stared at her knees. Why did she try to lie to herself? Watching the three boys interact with their father made her miss hers even more and for the first time since the assault, she not only felt scared, but lonely as well.
The Senju wanted her to be their newest member, but she couldn't be that. Not so soon after her real family just vanished as if they had never existed. To her, it was a nightmare that just wouldn't stop, no matter how often she pinched herself.
Finally, the elders were satisfied with the development of the new generation, exchanged a few more words with Butsuma and left. One of them – an old man with white hair, so many wrinkles that his face resembled the surface of the moon and a traditional outfit of haori and wide pants – turned to her, stopped and raised an eyebrow.
Miharu tilted her head to the side and watched the following interaction between Butsuma and the man. The conversation was heated, but after a few minutes, the man scoffed and walked away with the other two.
She watched them until they were swallowed by the trees and wondered what they had been talking about. It must have had something to do with her, otherwise the man wouldn't have bothered to stop and scold the clan head.
"Miharu!"
She thought no more of it as Hashirama came running to her, waving his hand in the process. He stopped in front of her and rested his hand on his knees, panting and sweating after the training. His chakra levels were low, but not too low to keep him from wreaking havoc within the clan.
Meanwhile, Butsuma disappeared into the direction of the settlement.
Kawarama and Tobirama followed their brother in a much slower pace and talked about jutsu, the training and Tobiramas main element. Water was quite rare in the Land of Fire and the elders were excited about the prospect. Though with an Uzumaki as his mother, there was the possibility of him inheriting the element.
"I promised to show you the settlement after training", Hashirama said, "You wanna come?"
Miharu blinked and switched her attention to him. She turned up her nose at his smell and shook her head.
"You need a bath."
"She is right, brother", Kawarama said who just then joined them with Tobirama.
Hashiramas grin fell and he looked from Kawarama to Miharu and back again.
"I don't smell that bad, do I?"
"Like a puddle of mud in the sun", Miharu answered and leaned away from him to strengthen her point. Hashiramas cheeks turned red, while Kawarama started to grin and Tobirama simply shook his head.
"Why, you little-"
Hashirama lunged for her and Miharu shrieked and jumped aside. Unfortunately, Hashirama couldn't stop his momentum and crushed into the already unstable bench. The quick scuffle ended with him entangled in the remaining parts of the bench, Miharu and Kawarama laughing and Tobirama scoffing about his stupidity.
Hashirama though wasn't angry, but instead started to laugh with the two and accepted Tobiramas help to get free. He wiped some debris away from his pants and looked expectantly at Miharu.
"So, how about it?"
She hesitated. She came back with the warriors a few days ago, but since then had only seen the forest when she sneaked out and her small room in the house of an elder. The woman had treated her well, but with an indifference that unsettled her. The house of the clan head was way more welcoming and warmer, but no one could say if it was the same with the rest of the clan.
And she didn't know if she wanted to find out so soon.
"Oh, come on now", Hashirama whined and grabbed her hand. Miharu winced, but didn't struggle when he pulled her with him.
"It's not that bad."
To her surprise, Kawarama and Tobirama stayed behind to train a bit more. She looked over her shoulder, but soon lost sight of them and turned to the front.
Hashirama pulled her along without mercy, chattering the whole way about his fellow clan members, the settlement and his family.
Soon, a few huts came into view and they met a small group of shinobi who were on their way to another mission. They spared the pair one glance, but carried on after that without slowing down.
The settlement of the Senjuclan was huge in comparison to her own and well-hidden between the trees. One had to come very close to spot the buildings and there were a lot of shinobi who patrolled the borders to ensure that never happened.
Traditionally, the house of the clan head stood in the middle of the settlement to assure his safety, but Butsuma was a warrior first and foremost, so he put the elders, the children and all of those who were unable to fend for themselves in the middle and a ring of shinobi around them.
His family included.
In the centre stood the biggest house of the settlement and in front of that was a square on which the families traded their goods. There were farmers, craftsmen and merchants standing in their small booths and chatting with other clansmen. None paid any attention to the two children strolling around – especially not to Miharu who was so amazed, that she didn't know where to look first.
Despite the size of the settlement, every house or hut was designed to be removed within hours. A famous clan such as the Senju couldn't risk staying in one place for too long as they had many enemies who looked for chances to take them out.
So they were on their toes, never staying in a region more than a few weeks and moving around the Land of Fire to ensure that no one found the vulnerable families.
As far as Miharu knew, every shinobi clan in the five big countries adopted that behaviour and it had been that way for so long that no one remembered who started it in the first place.
"So", Hashirama started, "What do you think?"
They stood beside a booth that sold the biggest vegetables Miharu had ever seen and the smell of cooked meat wafted to them from across the square. As it was in the middle of the day, it seemed that everyone who had some free time went to the market to pick something up. People were standing everywhere either talking to the merchants or viewing wares. Children around Miharus age played catch and caused quite a havoc and a few shinobi stood around, guarding the area.
It was peaceful and chaotic at the same time and Miharu found herself captured by the sight. She had never seen so many people in one place, interacting with each other and being openly happy. As if war wasn't around the corner and all of them might die any second.
"It's beautiful."
Hashirama laughed about her statement and pulled her to the stand that sold delicious yakitori whose smell watered her mouth and remembered her that breakfast had been her last meal that day.
"You hungry?", he asked and she nodded vigorously. Her stomach growled while she watched the men behind the stand grilling some chicken.
"Hello, you two", he greeted them with a big smile that faltered as soon as he observed Miharu closer.
"I haven't seen you before."
Miharu shrunk under his wary glance and hid behind Hashirama who stood to his full height and did not lose his grin.
"She is with me, Honjou", he said and the man changed his demeanour entirely.
"Well, if it isn't young Hashirama. How are your brothers? Did Tobirama finally start shinobi training?"
Honjou was a tall, lean man with black, long hair, brown eyes and some wrinkles. He seemed to be a friendly fellow and addressed Hashirama in a polite way.
"Yeah, he has. He is with Kawarama right now."
Honjou grinned and cleaned his hands on a rag.
"Very well. What can I do for you and your little friend?"
Hashirama ordered for the both of them and they didn't have to wait long to get their food. He passed one over to Miharu and payed.
"Thank you very much. Say hello to Itagaki and Niiro. I haven't seen them in a while."
"I will. Thank you, young Hashirama."
Honjou bowed and said goodbye and Miharu and Hashirama went to the side to eat their meal in peace. Miharu watched the crowd, but no one spared them another glance. She was glad that the boy was by her side and protected her from unwanted attention.
"Thank you."
Hashirama smiled and ruffled her hair. She swatted his hand away and eyed him with annoyance.
"My pleasure."
After that they settled to eat their yakitori and while she ate the meal that Hashirama bought her, she thought that maybe – just maybe – she wasn't as alone as she thought.
Butsuma watched his second oldest son interacting with the girl and smiled. He knew that Hashirama had a way with people but even he didn't expect his son to wrap her around his finger so fast. Suffice to say, he was proud. He needed the girl to come to terms with her new position quickly and to develop a feeling of belonging. Creating bonds with his sons might just be enough to achieve that.
"You still have to tell me why you brought her back", Matsumae demanded his attention. He shifted his gaze to her and grinned. She stood beside him, a basket full of vegetables in her hand and watched the children as well. It was good to be home again after a month-long mission in the outer parts of the country, near the border of Yugakure.
They stood at the far end of the square having finished their shopping just now. He had meetings to attend to soon, but first he had wanted to check if Hashirama and Miharu got along. As it turned out, he mustn't worry.
"I told you about her kekkei genkai. Isn't that enough?", he replied. His wife shot him a glare.
"Don't be cheeky, Butsuma. I know as well as I do, that people with a kekkei genkai usually end up dead. Especially a three-year-old who can't defend herself."
Butsuma sighed and rubbed his temples. Of course, his wife would catch on fast. He married her for that trait after all – out of many others of course.
"I think she might be a great asset in the future and she is young enough that we can raise her the way we want."
"The elders will not be pleased", she mentioned.
"No, they are not", he said, "Takeya told me that she froze her entire room during the first night. The ice remained until noon."
"She stayed with Takeya?", Matsumae inquired. Takeya was the oldest Senju in the settlement and quirky enough that everyone kept their distance. Though Butsuma admitted that it wasn't his best idea, letting the girl stay with Takeya for a few days ensured that no one knew of her before he was prepared.
So he nodded.
"I had to make sure the girl was no immediate threat to the clan and Takeya might be old, but she knows how to deal with it."
Matsumae rolled her eyes and watched Miharu as she finished her yakitori and let Hashirama show her the rest of the booths.
"Where did you find her?", she changed the subject.
"She was with the Sakaeclan when we attacked them. Fortunately, she doesn't know we are responsible for the massacre and I want it to remain that way. We found her a few hours later in a hidden cellar, shaking and crying."
"Poor girl."
"Do you know what is interesting?", he asked and his wife shook her head, beckoning him to continue, "As far as I know, no one in the clan was able to use ice. My guess is that she inherited it by chance. Maybe an ancestor of hers possessed the trait."
"Even if that is true, it is highly unlikely that she is the only one who inherited it. There must have been someone else in the clan."
"None."
Matsumae raised an eyebrow and turned to him.
"Then I wonder, why they didn't try to get her out of the settlement, before you found her. Why hiding her?"
"They had no chance", Butsuma said, "We caught them by surprise."
Matsumae nodded and kept silent for a long while. Butsuma wondered what she was thinking about, but didn't inquire further. If it was important, she would inform him.
Hashirama and Miharu left the square and ventured in the direction of the training grounds again. Probably to join Kawarama and Tobirama again.
"I will try my best to calm her down and make her feel comfortable", Matsumae said, "Are you certain that she is no threat to our children?"
"I sealed her chakra for now", Butsuma replied, "She can't rampage in the settlement, even if she wanted to."
Matsumae seemed relieved and relaxed a bit. She felt sorry for Miharu, but if she had to decide between the girl and her children, she knew what she would do in a heartbeat.
After Miharu sneaked out to play in the woods, Butsuma was forced to seal her chakra to make sure she wouldn't do it again. Her heritage was dangerous as she couldn't control it and he intended to avoid as many accidents as possible. The elders were tense as it was and he wouldn't fuel the anger further.
Butsuma was aware, that he should have killed the girl the moment he found her. But he stayed his blade and took her in after he discovered her kekkei genkai – she almost killed him with an outburst of chakra; lucky for him, he reacted fast enough.
He was certain, that such a power was beneficial to the Senjuclan – especially when Miharu was so young and wouldn't remember a single thing that happened that day. They can form her and train her until she was loyal to the clan and killed without question.
But first, she needed to grow.
"Don't you have a meeting in a few minutes?", Matsumae asked and he winced. Of course. The old Kitajo wouldn't miss a chance to scold him about his actions and with Miharu now in the open, he was vulnerable.
Butsuma needed to settle this matter quickly and earn the support of the council. Otherwise, there would always be the possibility for others to butt in and state their discontent with a foreign child in the clan.
He was aware that no matter how much Miharu did for the people, they wouldn't stop seeing her as possible threat. Not until she married and was bound to the clan, but that was an issue for another day. For now, he needed to stabilize her position and redeem himself in the eyes of the elders.
Matsumae kissed him and smiled.
"For good luck", she said, "Don't be late for dinner."
He nodded.
"I can't promise. Kitajo was not amused this morning when he spotted the girl. He'll give me a hard time."
Matsumae rolled her eyes and patted his shoulder.
"He can go to hell for all I care", she spat. He couldn't blame her for it as Kitajo was the one who argued the most against their marriage and didn't welcome her into the clan as all the others did. She held a grudge for that and reminded the elder as often as she could that he had no friend in her.
"Don't be like that", Butsuma said softly.
She scoffed.
"He is in opposition to you all the time", she argued, "I would have kicked him out of the clan a long time ago if I were you."
Butsuma rolled his eyes.
"You know I can't do that."
"Of course not."
Matsumae kissed him one more time and then stepped back. Even after all those years together, she was still breath-taking and he was thankful that she was by his side through all of this. Kami knew, if the war was getting worse, they would be on the battlefield soon enough and he needed to know that his clan was taken care of.
Although Matsumae once followed him into battle, she stayed at home nowadays to take care of the children and protect the settlement if something happened to him. The thought was soothing and he went away with heavy heart, but a quiet conscience.
"I love you", he whispered and her smile widened. It did not happen often that he said that to her.
"I love you too."
They departed after that and Butsuma headed for the main building of the settlement in which the elders lived. It also contained a meeting hall that was big enough to accommodate the whole clan and some smaller meeting rooms for occasions like that.
Butsuma sighed as he stopped in front of the doors and straightened himself. He knew what he was getting into the moment he took the little girl in his arms and carried her away from the burning battlefield. Since then, he had been preparing his defence and although his arguments were valid, he felt like a child stepping in front of an angry parent after causing trouble.
As a seasoned warrior, he hated the feeling and all he wanted, was to get it over with. So, he breathed in slowly and prepared for the battle, before opening the doors and stepping inside.
Sunlight fell into the room through big windows and Butsumas steady steps were swallowed by a thick carpet. He turned to the right, followed a long corridor and stepped into a small room that was occupied already.
Six pairs of eyes turned to him as soon as he stepped in. They were all there. Ready to shred him to pieces. And Butsuma knew that sooner or later, he might regret the decision he made. But what was done, was done and he couldn't change that. Instead, he was going to stand by it and fight for what he thought was right.
No matter how many accusations he had to face because of it.
