"What do we do?" Mego asked, watching Sumi as the girl sat on the edge of her bed. The very next day, she approached her to ask for explanation about everything that went on with her and Madara, left to wonder how things managed to get so complicated in matter of days. "What are those scrolls he lost? Why are they so important?"
"I don't know." Sumi shrugged. "But he clearly wants to keep them a secret. Otherwise, he'd just get them himself, right?"
"Yes! Well, then… We'll just go back to my house and—"
"We can't, lady. Not until they come to visit here first, you know that." Sumi explained, reminding her of the custom she was familiar with already. Indeed, their families won't be truly considered united until her parents come over, brining gifts for everyone. Mego never really questioned the logistics behind their practices, but at the moment she really wished she had to power to defy them.
"I'll try talking to my brother in law. Maybe he will understand."
"Huh." Sumi sighed, getting across just how little hope she had in him caring. Watching her clench her jaw uncomfortably at the sole mention of him, Mego felt anger coming over her. She was obliged to show him respect and reverence, but already knew she'd have a hard time holding back on telling him to stay away from Sumi, having heard what he did to her.
….
"What is the meaning of this?" Madara asked, watching the sweet sushi rolls Mego had placed before him. She had ambushed him as soon as she noticed he was staying home for the day.
During the week, Izuna was home for a few days, finally able to rest from going on missions, so she spent the time with him. Obviously, she didn't want him to take notice of her, Sumi and Madara being secretive. She wanted to leave the best impression possible on him. Once Izuna left, Madara was also suddenly gone, and she heard he was also away to complete work. And so, she had to wait a whole week before being able to talk to him.
"It's…" She paused, searching for the right word. "Truce. I'd ask you to please wait for my parents to honor the customs before Sumi and I can look for your scroll." She sighed. "There's no way for us to get it before then."
"You see, sister in law, that's not my problem. If you can't go, then just send her, she's not the bride." He said coldly, just as Sumi anticipated, not showing any compassion for their situation. Mego honestly wished to be on good terms with him, pretty sure she was unable to even hide how sad all of this made her.
"Those papers sound important to you, and it seems to me you have something to hide. Your options are to wait for us to get the chance to look for it, or just look for it yourself… brother in law." She added quietly, knowing she had already crossed the line by talking back to him.
"And what should I tell Izuna, where am I going?" He stood up, not bothering to try her delish, even though she went through trouble to find out his favorite food. "I'm going to rummage through his bride's collection of erotica? I don't think he'd like that very much."
"Then you'd also have to reveal your own secret." Mego shrugged, trying her hardest to appear collected. Were they fighting? Was she actually arguing with her brother in law?
"And you know my secret? Have your read the scroll?"
"I haven't."
"Are you sure?" He came just one step closer, and she inexplicably felt like the room grew smaller, slowly taking a seat to avoid having to face him up close.
"Yes… L-Look, brother in law," She looked up at him. "Sumi and I make sure to hide the novels very carefully. Mother would just burn the in a pile if she managed to find any. Whatever secret you're keeping, it's safe there." She gulped, as he gave no reaction. "I p-promise." She added, knowing her promises meant nothing to Madara, who sighed exhaustedly, covering his eyes as if wanting to suppress a headache.
"Fine, so be it. If it's found out, you and that handmaiden of yours will be personally responsible to me." On his way out, he paused once more. "Not a word of this to anyone."
….
"Is Madara alright?" Izuna asked, gently brushing his fingers over Mego's shoulder as they lied in bed in the evening. She didn't answer immediately. She didn't want to say something wrong, and was uncertain why he decided to ask her about his own brother's wellbeing. Did he know something? What if he heard about the whole ordeal and would now catch her in a lie?
"Why?" Mego asked slowly in return. "Did something happen?"
"No, it's just… He's so secretive and jumpy, even more than usual." Izuna grimaced, talking about his brother. "And you're always here, so I thought you might have noticed something."
"I didn't, nothing unusual." She looked up to face him. He is so good, she thought, taking in his gentle features. Izuna had been kept busy almost every day since they were wed. From what she understood, Tajima insisted for Madara to train separately to develop his abilities, and instead sent Izuna on missions with other shinobi of the clan. He had barely spent two whole days at home, with her. Usually, she would see him early in the morning and then at night.
Yet, with all that work and pressure, he was worried for his brother. He was truly good… And she lied to him. And it wasn't just keeping Madara's mysterious secret. She wasn't used to lying, and had to constantly work on acting nonchalant in order not to give anything away. All she was able to think of was not getting caught in a lie. She wasn't even able to enjoy her time with her husband.
"Alright, then." He smiled and kissed her forehead lovingly. "How are you?" Izuna inquired after short, pleasant silence. "Are you happy here?"
"Yes, very happy." Mego relaxed even more into his arms. "I just wish you were around more." She admitted, even though she kept telling herself not to put more pressure on him, as her mother taught her. But, she missed him. He would want to know that, right?
"I know. I only have a few more missions left." He reassured her, and then his face lit up, as if he had just remembered something nice. "But tell me, are there any changes?" With his hand sliding to her stomach, Mego understood his question. She smiled.
"Oh, no. Not yet."
She was surprised that there were none, honestly. The two of them had been making love very regularly. The only days they passed were when Izuna came home extremely late or not at all, and during the days she bled.
"We ought to do something about that, then." He grinned naughtily, and stole a kiss from her.
….
Madara was jerked awake when the door of his room was suddenly opened, making noise when the wooden edges of the door collided with the wall. Cold sweat had a few strands of his hair sticking to his forehead.
"What?" He gasped, already tossing his blanket aside and getting up.
"Senju." Izuna replied simply, adjusting his belt and checking his weapons as he walked away, leaving Madara to wash the sleep off his face and get his own things ready.
He was slightly let down, but not surprised to hear they attacked. He did wish to believe that Hashirama and he could be friends again, but always with a reserve. Hashirama might not have even had anything to do with it. Gods know how many times he urged his own father not to attack if there was any other way to deal with the other clan. He never listened…
…
The battles occurred again, and again, nearly three times a week, every time forcing Madara to delay his planned conversation with Tajima. He had already thought out every word inside his head, but he simply couldn't approach his father talking about peace when someone important to them was just taken away by the other clan. Just several days before, Tajima lost his eldest brother.
Every time he closed his eyes he unintentionally recalled the way Hashirama looked at him whenever their gazes met during the battle. His eyes were hopeful, pleading; he obviously waited for Madara to say or do something first, to help out, to quit the battle and tell everyone to stop, but… the same goes for Madara! Why did he have to be the one to take hints and break the ice? He didn't want to be labeled a traitor by his kin! Yet… ironically, that could be the only thing that could save them.
….
"Brother in law?" Mego approached him, as he sat alone by the fire. Finally, they had a peaceful day. Storm was raging outside for the whole night, he doubted either side would bring themselves to attack.
Madara faced her, waiting to hear what she wanted. Looking at her at that moment, he realized they hadn't spoken to each other for over two weeks. She did greet him and was still perfectly polite if they happened to walk past each other in the house, but they didn't spend any time together. Frowning, he wondered to himself why he even bothered to notice. She had lived with them for barely a month, it's not like she meant something to him.
After she learned about the issues he had with her handmaiden and after their last conversation, she grew quite distant. Madara did too, but he never really even bothered to approach her on his own. And even if he didn't really feel like she was there, he certainly did feel her absence. That was no tragedy compared to his many other problems, but it only added on to his misery.
"My mother informed me they are coming to see me in three days. When they leave, Sumi and I will be able to look for your scroll." She didn't speak in her usual cheerful tone, she didn't babble on unnecessarily… But they did just bury his uncle a few days ago, it's possible that she felt the need to act solemn because of the occasion. Or was it indeed because she was now angry with him? Who knew what that wench told her, Madara didn't trust her from the very first moment— But, on the more important matter, did he really have nothing better to obsess over? Gods, I'm stupid. He thought tiredly to himself.
"Alright." He said simply, watching her as she turned away to leave almost immediately. Before long, he turned his attention to the cut on his arm, busying himself with picking the hardened blood, when he caught a glimpse of her feet as she was back to stand before him again.
"What is it, Mego?" Sister in law sounded endearing, or at least it became that. He couldn't bring himself to call her that in this atmosphere.
"Do you… Are you in love with my Sumi?"
Madara remained silent for a few seconds, just taking his time to look up at her. He looked for hints of laughter on her face, he frankly thought she might be joking. But her lips were pressed together, her gaze intense and bold. She was actually being serious.
"I'm not in love with your servant." He stated calmly.
"Please, brother in law, do not call—"
"Why? She dresses you, bathes you, entertains you, cleans after you. She is a servant."
"She is like a sister to me. And I wish you wouldn't…" She stopped abruptly, her gaze suddenly getting hesitant, avoiding his face. She was nervous, Madara judged. "I wish you wouldn't force yourself on her again."
"What in the world are you talking about?" He watched her take a surprised step back as he stood up from his chair. "Force myself on her? She told you I did that?"
"W-Well… Not in those exact words but… You did kiss her by force…" Mego's voice grew quieter, as talking about this with him obviously made her uncomfortable.
"I'd say I kissed her, saw she didn't like it, and left her alone."
"But you kept approaching her again!"
"Yes! Because you little— You two have something important of mine, and I didn't want to upset you, so…" He sighed, letting the rest of his sentence complete itself.
Mego gazed at him with her big eyes, and even if she would eventually say something, it didn't matter, because they were interrupted when a servant came in. The boy stopped for a moment, sensing they were in the middle of something, but what he had to say was of greater importance, anyway.
"My lord, your father has summoned you. The Senju are approaching the camp."
Curse them. Of course they were. They hoped Tajima wouldn't leave anyone on the lookout because of the weather. They were wrong, but still, he hoped for a day of peace.
"Take care, brother in law!" He heard Mego call out as he and the young boy were already leaving. He looked at her over his shoulder and nodded once, then left. At least that weight was lifted off his chest.
