Valley region | Hokage residence: Saloon
The marriage ceremony had ended. A cocktail was being held in the couple's honor afterwards but only a few guests from the prestigious clans were enjoying the cocktail.
The ceremony had been quite modest and low profile. Very much like how they had been asked by both parties (although they chose it separately and without consulting each other). It was rather awkward, even for an arranged marriage.
Most of the guests thought the serious semblance of the bride was due to her father's absence who had been trapped in a thunderstorm and couldn't make the trip, or so they had heard. The groom's stoic face had always been his habitual expression so no one questioned it.
For Tobirama, though, he was the definition of stoicism. He still felt uneasy inside and he was struggling not to show it. He knew she didn't want this, and while he didn't enjoy social encounters, he wished for this one to never end.
The knot in the pit of his stomach didn't allow him to taste the food properly. Then the fact that he had to receive congratulations at her side from people he didn't know didn't do him any favors. He just wanted to dip his head in sake and wake when everything was done.
During the course of the war he had engaged in some intimate encounters with some women, but even then he preferred other activities. His thoughts on women were; they were always complicated, with the tendency to ask for too much time and dedication. Then to top it all off he was required to confirm her alias while in the course of said encounters.
What would he do if she was Kokuyo?
Hashirama had insisted he must keep it to himself or make some kind of truce with her. Nothing too difficult, but what happened after that? Would she attack him? Deny it or just shrug it off? Would she let him touch her at all? Hashirama had just laughed when he expressed his concern, "You just have to know how to kindle her fire, little brother. Maybe her sister can offer you some details." That was the last time he would comment on the subject. He wasn't a prude, but those kinds of details were private.
It was an arranged marriage but he made an oath and because of that he owed her respect.
Tobirama was so lost in his worries that he didn't notice that all the guests had left and/or were out drinking their lives away in the gardens. Makoto had tugged on his sleeve after a moment when he didn't answer her call.
When he came too she was already half the way through the corridor, dragging the Uchikake dress (which she had been forced to wear) with grace. Hashirama winked at him over his shoulder as he swayed with his own wife. Tobirama rolled his eyes at his intoxicated brother before following after his newly made spouse.
-o-
Hokage residence: Tobirama's Room
His room had been changed dramatically with the zen double sized bed. He used to sleep on a futon he stored during the day. They must have had it changed while they were at the ceremony because it wasn't there when he had left. The bed had a nice dark wood platform and white conventional sheets. It looked quite comfortable.
She had walked into the middle of the room and was beginning to remove several layers of cloth. It was a shame though, he did have to admit that she looked breathtaking in red and gold.
Her voluminous hair had been tamed, golden brown silk that ran softly to her chest framing her face rather well. Fire red painted lips matched her dress and wild turquoise eyes outlined in black to highlight them.
It was supposed to be his chore to remove her clothes, but the word uncomfortable was lacking in description for what he felt at that moment. He had intended to shrug it off and then remove his own clothes but he just managed to get a grip on his haori. He was used to women coming to him, not him to them.
By the time he finally removed his haori she was already in her hadajuban, but instead of waiting for him to make the first move she opened the blanket, knelt down on the bed and looked at him.
His eyes narrowed, what did she intend to do?
She didn't look nervous and to take off the Uchikake by herself, that was a bold move. It seemed even she wasn't untouched, not that it actually mattered to him.
"I know my sister told you."
"Are you confessing?"
"Have I committed a crime?"
"Don't play fool with me, prove your statement, now."
She smiled under her eyelashes, "Ohh? If you want me naked you will have to be gentler, you know?"
She was playing with him but he wasn't going to take it. She could be hiding the smuggler under this lie. She clearly knew he was talking about the scar. Then it was true she was involved with Kokuyo. He slowly began to close the distance and her playful smile disappeared.
"I know you don't make void threats. I'm sorry I broke your fingers but they seem to be perfectly healed now."
"He could have told you that." He didn't stop his movement.
"I'm not bedding you tonight."
"That's not in your hands to decide, it's my right-"
"Are you going to force me?" The tone in her question was meant to be a challenge, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "Look, I know it's my duty to submit myself to you and I will not stain the name of my father, but I would like some time to be acquainted with you." She breathed those words with the same blank look she had worn all day. Was that glint of playfulness in her expression her true nature?
Tobirama didn't have a clue on how to get her to show him her scar (if she in fact had it). She had said that if he wished she would consummate the marriage tonight, but that held the promise of a dark future and a very tense relationship. On the other hand, she was asking for time. For what? He did not believe she needed that familiarization. He thought she would use it to warn the smuggler of their movements, or to flee.
He held his ground. They held a long staring contest.
A sigh drew from her burning lips. "Alright, I'll show you. We are allies and shouldn't keep secrets after all." She moved to remove her hadajuban. She didn't have a clue on how he would react. However, she was ready to fight with her bare hands if necessary. She pulled her right arm out of the thin nightgown to expose her right breast.
Tobirama's eyes grew wide. Right there, under her breast, sat the scar. It was thin with an unusual yellow color almost diffused into her natural skin tone. He made a move to touch it but she immediately covered it. Pulling her arm back, rearranging the nightgown, then waited for his reaction.
She was the smuggler.
He was kind of relieved. It brought things to a more personal level.
His mind began to wander too quickly. He wanted to ask her so many things. How did she do the smuggling? Why did she do it at all? Her contacts, how she kept her secret for so long, was she completely and utterly devoted to Konoha and peace? Her sister had already told him they were but he needed to hear it from her.
Makoto saw all the questions in his eyes. His expression went from astonishment to confusion in under second. She wasn't used to seeing so many expressions on him. It amused her in some way. He clenched his fist and she thought he was going to attack her.
She flinched back and quickly clambered up into a defensive stance on top of the bed. Instead of attacking he made a deep exhalation and exited the room swiftly.
She wasn't going to chase him, though. She simply shrugged it off and moved to lay in the bed until sleep would come to her.
It had honestly not been as bad as she expected, considering it was the first time they had exchanged more than three sentences.
-o-
Tobirama didn't know what to do.
He had played out all the possible outcomes in his mind and prepared a course of action for each one of them. But when the moment come, he couldn't touch a single hair on her head.
He was trembling slightly from impotence, cold sweat on his forehead. He needed some air and time to think alone. He ran his hands through his hair on his way to Hashirama's inner garden.
In his head he had planned on grabbing her by the hem of her nightgown and interrogating her all night if it were necessary, until he was content with her sources and motives. In reality she looked way too fragile and soft as the faint light of the paper lamp bathed her exposed skin. He was flesh and blood after all. Of course he looked the scar but he also noticed the small firm breast and the equally small pink areola decorating it. He only remembered he was staring at a warrior when he noticed the toned shoulder and the way her sternomastoid ran furiously in her neck. It was strength and femininity all together that took him (and his hormones) completely by surprise, and he found himself too attracted to her for his liking.
How should he proceed? He scrubbed his hand over his face, frustrated. He felt as if he were drowning in a glass of water. It would have been easier if Kokuyo were a man. No, he was being unfair. For what he had seen, and for a woman, she was almost as practical as he was. She had offered low resistance and precise answers (except for the flirtatious joke). He chastised himself for forty minutes before Hashirama took notice of him seated on a bank beside his largest bonsai when he was on his way back to his room.
"Tobirama? What are you doing here? You should be enjoying your new wife!" Hashirama asked in what seemed to be an angry tone attenuated by alcohol.
"This is all your fault." He huffed, he needed someone to vent his anger and frustration.
"Are you having problems in that department? Cause I told you to make a halt at the brothel before-"
"Stop it Hashirama!" He nearly shouted.
Hashirama was surprised. His brother only called him by name when he was truly enraged. This had happened only twice in the past.
"She is…" He lowered his voice. "She has the scar."
"Then it's true." Hashirama suddenly came to his senses.
Tobirama gave a flat nod.
"What did you-"
"Nothing."
"Nothing? Why? I thought you had a plan?"
"I had a plan, but she…" Tobirama didn't know how to explain his mesmerized reaction to her.
"She…?"
Red began to climb from his neck to his face. It was much too dark for Hashirama to notice it from that distance, but he knew that expression and was very amused to see it on his usually stoic brother.
"She got under your skin so easily? Pfft… I think you should've experienced more of the company and ways of ladies little brother."
"She didn't do anything." He hissed.
"That's even worse! She dismantled your carefully planned course of action and she wasn't even trying!"
"Anija, lower your voice!"
"No. Now you listen green sprout. You are a twenty-eight year old married man and you have to learn how to treat a woman. First-"
"Hashirama it's four in the morning! Stop screaming and come here!" Mito shouted from their shared room.
"But… Woman, my brother needs my knowledge-"
"And you'll be in need of a new wife if I have to wait another second."
Hashirama shrugged and scurried to his room as quickly as a drunk man could.
"Pff." He snorted. He wouldn't let her treat him like that. Well she apparently already knew her place, so it was one less discussion.
He finally decided he will go through it as always- ignoring needless interaction. Once he made his decision he went back to his room and decided he wanted his futon back, but that could be arranged in the morning when he no longer had a sleeping wife in 'their' bed. For now he would settle for sharing oxygen and space, while secretly enjoying her body heat and soft smell.
-o-
She wasn't in bed when he woke up the next morning.
He dressed and a maiden informed him that his wife was taking her breakfast. He began with the arrangements:
"Take the double sized bed into to the next room."
"To your spare room my Lord?"
"Yes. From now on it will be my wife's."
"As you wish my Lord."
-o-
Hokage's residence: Dojo
Tobirama felt like himself again. Sweat and sword polisher in his nose, nothing like a fast cardio workout to begin the day. He was in the last stretching stage when Hashirama interrupted, disgust written on his face.
"What do you think you are doing Tobirama!?" His shrill yell confirmed the anger.
"I'm training."
Hashirama grabbed a fistfull of the hem of his shirt, "You are dishonoring your wife." Hashirama hissed to his face.
"We are not comfortable with each other. I placed her beside my room, what's the problem?" He freed himself from his brother's tight grip and began to clean and sheathe his sword.
"You haven't even tried to get to know her. Did you even ask her?" Hashirama threw his hands up, "Aaargh, I don't even want to ask about the consummation."
"No, but I assure you she will agree."
"Because she made an oath! Maybe she wants a normal relationship. Why are you distancing her from you?"
"She is the one pushing me away. And you are putting too much effort into this to have it fulfil your ideal family concept. This marriage wasn't made for that." Tobirama let out in a hurtful tone.
"You don't need to remind me of that. I thought it would be good for you." Hashirama spoke the last sentence with a sad tone and withdrew himself.
He knew Hashirama was being touchy, but that didn't change the guilt that plagued him. He would overcome it.
He decided to wash down the bitter taste in his mouth with some breakfast.
-o-
A maid was removing the plates from the breakfast table. Mito was with Makoto but was already leaving.
Tobirama greeted her and he made a motion for Makoto, demanding that she would stay. She nodded and sat back down while Tobirama took Mito's place and waited for the maid to bring his habitual breakfast.
She was admiring the gardens which were exposed when the rice paper door was opened. She looked bored.
"You don't seem upset." Tobirama began casually.
"Should I be?" She said in a lazy tone.
"Well, my brother is. Did he tell you about the bedroom change? Or perhaps Mito?"
"Yes, she did. She seemed quite appalled."
"Are you?"
"No. In fact, I'm quite pleased to have some privacy. It has been a considerate act from you to accept my petition."
"Are you thanking me?"
"Yeah, why?"
She came and went from formal to informal dialogue. Sometimes her informality grated against his nerves since he wasn't used to informal relations with women. He dismissed the issue this time.
"I thought you would be unhappy since I didn't tell you before the change of plans."
She pursed her lips slightly, "I'm only here as an advisor, the final decision falls on your shoulders."
Formal speech came back. He wondered how long she could wear the formal mask in front of him. His breakfast arrived and he sipped his tea quickly.
"The council meeting is planned for around four in the afternoon. I'll go to my room when it ends. Be alert."
She picked up the underlying message and left after nodding. Real problems were beginning.