Chapter 2
"On the night of the wedding, the sake will be poisoned."
That's right. During the ceremony the bride and groom pour each other a cup of sake and take nine sips each. The plan was to perform the ceremony in front of all the members of the clan and then later move to the much bigger wedding hall and sit together with Madara and greet all the guests.
Unfortunately for me, I had no plans to stop the poisoning as Kibi was putting the thick white veil, called wataboshi, over my head. Heck, if Madara died I would probably be sent back and could finally try to figure out what happened to me.
"Remember; don't look up." She told me in a motherly tone, before gently guiding me out the sliding doors and into a brightly lit room. The door closed after her with a quiet echo. I felt my legs start shaking when my eyes met his.
He stood in the middle of the room wearing all black, with his hair tied back in a ponytail going down his back, yet still somehow despite this, he emitted an aura of dominance. It made me uncomfortable the more I stood still, drowning in his intense gaze.
He reaches out a hand wordlessly and I can't help but notice how large and rough it feels as I place mine in his. We had led two very different lives. It could be seen in the way everyone's faces light up when we entered the hall, all eyes were on him.
I kept my head down as we separated, with me walking to the left and him to the right to approach our seats at the end of the altar. He sits down smoothly, coordinating the motion with me who took a bit longer due to the bulky dress. The crowd bows before a small table is placed in front of us by a priest.
During the next forty-five minutes I spaced out completely. The old priest gave a sermon on the importance of the institution of marriage and somewhere between "love" and "obey" I noticed a familiar face in the front row of the crowd.
He almost seemed to be sleeping with his eyes open. I cock my head in confusion at the unblinking Izuna staring a hole into the old priests bald head. It seems like the bride isn't the only one bored to death.
"The path of a true shinobi is fraught with perils." Said the old priest. The whole crowd nods solemnly.
Finally, it seems like he's finished. My legs had fallen asleep so long ago I can't remember where they begin on my body.
A young Uchiha girl comes and ties a red string on my left ring finger and Madara's right before bowing and walking backwards to her seat.
I watch Maria, dressed in a dark blue kimono, make her way to us carrying a tray. Kibi follows behind her with a second tray. Maria elegantly places it next to the priest and backs away slowly. I don't miss the looks some of the Uchiha men throw her way as she sits down.
Three red cups are placed on the table in front of us. My body fills with dread.
The priest starts by filling the smallest cup, and offers it to Madara.
He takes it up to his lips and recites a vow between each sip.
The priest fills the second biggest cup, and offers it to Madara.
I looked up at the shinobi's face but he showed as much emotion as a rock.
The priest fills the third, final and largest cup, and offers it to Madara.
He repeats the same vows between each sip and puts down the cup.
I swallow hard. It's my turn.
'Fuck.'
He gives me an empty stare of complete indifference
I pick up the cup and slowly raise it to my lips. If I refuse to drink they'll eventually think I am the poisoner if Uchiha Madara dies. But my own life is at risk if I ingest the beverage. Who even says the alcohol was poisonous? That little weird, old lady who predicted I would end up with a dark haired, red-eyed freaky murderer? It could all be a coincidence. Probably not. If dying brings me back to my normal life then—
His rough hand slams down on my own, and I notice tensions along with confusion filling the atmosphere. Yet, no one dared to interrupt their leader. We all waited with bated breath as he wiped his hand dry.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Madara spoke. "The best sake. That is what I recall ordering."
Kibi coughs indiscreetly and elbows Maria. "Is there something wrong with the sake, my lord?" She asks demure.
I sigh in annoyance. I don't know where this blatant dislike comes from. She just rubs me the wrong way.
Maria bats her eyelashes and looks up innocently. Her blatant disregard for his fiancee and soon-to-be wife garners a few curious looks from the Uchiha. They probably don't see foreign women often.
Madara frowns. "I recall specifically ordering from my own collection sake. Surely, Kibi has taught you better." He turns to face his brother. "Izuna. Bring over a bottle from my private reserves." I could see Maria inwardly cringing at the emphasis.
Izuna stood up and disappeared out of the room.
I sit still, not daring to make a move. Maria looked stumped. One of the elders glared at her for displeasing their leader until Madara spoke again.
"Proceed."
Izuna appeared behind the priest, one hand gripping the neck of a large bottle. Nobody batted an eye, like it was perfectly normal for humans to disappear in a puff of smoke and reappear seconds later. These brothers were in sync. How did Madara know Izuna was going to come back at that moment, I wonder?
Damn these ninjas.
Once again, the three cups sat ominously in front of me and I was faced with the same decision. I could feel the stare of dozens of eyes simultaneously drilling holes into my head in anticipation. I pretend not to notice and down the smallest cup in three sips. The liquid should taste disgusting, however the sting of strong alcohol never comes and I smack my mouth to get a better taste. Then realization hits me.
It's water.
The second cup was downed easily. The third and largest required equal mouthfuls and I had to pretend it was strong, so as I put it down I made sure to breathe in sharply through my teeth. I grimaced as I set the cup down and looked up at the priest.
For all I know, this could be the sake that was poisoned. Although it was much more probable that they'd realized our drinks were spiked. But that doesn't explain how Madara drank from the cups and seemed perfectly fine. The priest says something and the room rumbles with cheers and applause. I look at the man beside me who seems just fine after supposedly drinking poison.
I feel faint. So weak. So hopeless.
Never did I ever think I'd get married at only twenty-one years old.
After changing into a traditional western wedding dress, Kibi and Maria drag me off to Madara for our second entrance. This time, the nervousness was replaced with exhaustion. My husband stood a respectable distance away and busied himself by buttoning his sleeve, eyebrows furrowed together in concentration.
We made another entrance and this time the crowd was exponentially bigger and louder. The celebrations lasted for hours and at the end I found myself in his bedroom. The door shut quietly behind him. I had been redressed and put in a simple, white satin nightgown, with a thin kimono on top.
The silence rings in my ears as he walks behind me, his shadow casting against the floor in front of me. I feel a tug at my corset and stiffen knowing what his intentions are. Or at least; I think the worst for myself. I still don't know what kind of person he is. From the little interaction we've had I know that he's arrogant and nothing more.
"We may be married," His voice cuts through the air. I almost jumped."but I am not your husband. You have my name, but you won't be my wife. We shall be married on paper only. A shallow misalliance, nothing more."
I turn around to look at him and he smirks down at me. "Isn't that what you said?"
Not knowing what to say, I search for an answer in his eyes, however the only thing going through my head in this moment is:
'Have Daphne and Madara met before?'
I play it safe and step back. Because my heart is beating so fast, I think he might hear it.
"Did I say that? I don't remember saying any such thing." He takes a step towards me. He's so close his hair is tickling my shoulder. His dark eyes bore into mine, not searching, but staring confidently into face like he's seeing through my act and waiting for me to give him the truth. And, oh God, I feel myself cracking under pressure.
I turn away and stare at the floor instead.
"You do as you please, as long as it does not tarnish my name. Keep up appearances in front of curious eyes." I walk backwards, trying to avoid any intimate contact. It's hard to focus on his words and I'm not trying to fall in this heavy dress. "Make them all believe this is a successful match."
So Daphne and Madara wanted the same thing? Then why is he angrily stepping into my personal bubble right now? He's completely overpowering me. I moved back some more.
The more I back away the closer he gets every time. His long mane is in my face again and I push against his chest in irritation. The man doesn't even budge, at this point I can't even see his face but I'm guessing it's radiating as much stoicism as he has for the past few hours.
I break.
"Ugh! Get off me!" I squealed, throwing my fists at him.
Madara doesn't budge, doesn't react. Doesn't move. For a second I think he's been replaced by a mannequin, but then his hands shoot up and grip my wrists so tightly that I wince audibly.
"Did you honestly believe I didn't notice?" I hear him say.
"Notice what?" I ask.
I look up at him and our eyes meet. "You…"
"What?" I say.
"I am agreeing with your conditions, yet you tried to poison me in front of my people?"
I shake my head. "No. NoNoNoNo."
He lets go of me and steps back slightly. Just enough so that I can breathe more comfortably.
"I don't know what conditions you're talking about, I didn't have anything to do with any poison or drink." It was the honest truth. When I open my mouth to continue speaking, he interrupts briskly.
"I did not mention any drinks."
'Fuck. No matter what I do–'
My eyes darted to the door for a split second, searching for an escape.
"You can try." Madara says. He looks almost amused at the thought that I'd even looked at the door. "The odds are not in your favour, Wife."
He crosses his arms and looks at me coldly. "Seeing as you broke your promise to never hurt me…I think I will be doing the same. It's only fair."
"The Uchiha Clan needs you, more specifically your family influence. But I don't need all of you…" He leans in close to whisper the last words in my ear. "Just the parts needed to make my heir."
I grew faint. Once again my head turned towards the door.
"I'll give you a five minute head start."
I sprint. With all my might. With all the strength I never realized I had and bolted right through the door, the corridors and down the never ending stairs. I ran to the only place I knew; the bathhouse. Behind it was a large forest, through the windows of the bedrooms it seemed infinite and like a great place to hide from a murderous psychopath who thinks I tried to kill him.
Within seconds, I'm outside. My bare feet against the forest ground. Somewhere in my frenzy, the pain in my lungs becomes unbearable and I pause in my steps to look around, I lean against a random branch and survey my surroundings.
"Fuck." I whisper between breaths.
I had reached a point where the trees were getting huge and the grounds were covered in earthy roots. Everything looked the same in all directions. I pushed my body off the tree, ready to continue my escape when I felt a familiar feeling which sent shivers down my spine. Somebody was watching me.
I pinch my nose bridge in frustration. "I know you're there. Come out."
A complacent grunt sounded from behind me. I spun around and glared at the man standing just inches from me.
He gives me a smug look, before something behind my head catches his interest and he leans over me, squinting. In my carelessness I stepped back to avoid his hair and almost tripped on a big root. My hand instinctively reached out to grab the nearest thing. The branch. A searing, hot pain shot through my whole body. The last thing I remember was Madara's eyes widening just slightly, completely caught off guard.
