Chapter 3-

10 MONTHS EARLIER

Shuri studied M'Baku's face. She looked down at her watch, it had been almost an hour and he wasn't saying anything. She still didn't really know him well enough yet to read every shift of position or every furrow in his brow as he read. Nor could she decipher every 'hmmm' under his breath as he inspected the work her team had begun. She nervously watched him inspect what would one day be the world's fastest network of high speed railway lines, fast enough to rival the THSR 700T in Taiwan. These High powered speed trains would transport citizens and cargo alike to and from the heart of Jabari Land into the heart of the Birnin Zana in record time and at no cost to the environment. The aim wasn't to drastically change the Jabari's way of life, but make it easier in the smallest of ways now that there was a concerted effort to make them a significant part of a unified Wakanda.

Panic began to build in the pit of Shuri's stomach. M'Baku still wasn't saying anything as he went from blueprint to blueprint then back again. When he came to the scale models, he paused and began studying them with an unparalleled attention. Shuri could feel sweat building on her brow.

She had been meticulous in preparing a speech to go along with the plans, but M'Baku hadn't wanted to hear it, instead preferring to go straight to the paperwork. This wasn't the first meeting that they had of course, but it was the first official one since their wedding. They had gone through the initial blueprints, renderings and prototypes for months with the aid of her team of architects, engineers and subcontractors and now it was just them. Laid out before them now were the finalized plans.

M'Baku finally looked up to meet Shuri's anxious eyes. "This." He began slowly ".. is impressive."

Shuri internally breathed a sigh of relief. "It will be. Once it is finished."

"I don't doubt it." He smiled, wide and genuine. Shuri couldn't help but smile back, she was more than glad that he was giving her his seal of approval. It had taken a lot to win his trust but now that she had it, she didn't intend to let him or the Jabari people down. "So, are you giving me the go-ahead?" Shuri asked.

M'Baku leaned back in his seat, and took his reading glasses off. "Yes."

"Shall we shake on it?" Shuri held out her hand towards M'Baku who took it in his own firm grasp. If either one felt a tingle the moment their hands touched, neither commented on it. Instead M'Baku released her hand and stood up.

"I like what you've done with the place." M'Baku cocked his head to the side to indicate their current surroundings. What Shuri had managed to accomplish in the space of a month was no mean feat. She had managed to put together a fully functional tech-lab in the cave basement of his great lodge, while much smaller than the one she had in the city it was incredibly impressive.

"You've been very generous in allowing me this space to continue my work."

M'Baku studied Shuri for a second. "You must be missing home."

" I am home." Shuri said softly, meeting M'Baku's warm gaze with her own.

For reasons he couldn't comprehend, and didn't care to examine, that statement alone suddenly made M'Baku's heart skip a beat.

"… I mean, we are still in Wakanda, are we not?" Shuri looked away, gathering some of the paperwork in front of her. " And besides, Birnin Zana is only 2 hours away. 45 minutes if I charter a helicopter."

M'Baku smiled. "True". He looked down at his watch. "I think lunch is in order. Will I have the pleasure of your company this afternoon?". He placed a hand gently on her elbow. He had taken to doing that. Touching her for no apparent reason. Nothing offensive or overly familiar. Just a hand on her back to usher her forward or a careless hand on her arm or shoulder in greeting. Touches so innocuous that they probably wouldn't register on anyone else but for Shuri, they had begun to light her up from the inside out.

"Unfortunately not. " Shuri looked down at her feet. "I have much to be getting on with. I am working to a deadline after all." It wasn't that she couldn't spare 30 minutes to eat something, but she often found that when she was around M'Baku for long periods of time without company or the façade of her work to hide behind, her mouth would go dry and her mind a little too fuzzy.

" Very well." M'Baku said a little too briskly, placing his hand back at his side. Deep down he was relieved that she had turned him down for the umpteenth time. It wasn't that he didn't want to spend time getting to know the young woman who currently invaded his home and much of his waking thoughts, it was just easier to tell himself that he was intimidated by her intelligence, or that her youthful zest for life irritated him, but that wasn't it. He could feel himself slowly gravitating towards her, wanting to study her, hear her talk, maybe even touch her in ways that were not completely innocent and he feared it. What they had here was a business arrangement not a real marriage. And if he were being really honest with himself, Shuri wasn't even his type. And in 18 months she would be gone, back to her old life as per their agreement. " I will see you later tonight then. "

"Yes, I can barely wait." Shuri rolled her eyes dramatically. They were hosting the annual coalition dinner for the leaders and delegates of every Wakandan tribe as well as the heads of states of the African Union. Their first official duty as a married couple.

"I know how much you just love getting dressed up." M'Baku teased as he headed out of the door.

Shuri genuinely laughed as she watched him exit. The moment the electronic door closed behind him she flopped down on the nearest chair. Certain that she was alone ,she raised her legs, resting them on the table in front of her. She closed her eyes and waited for her heart to return to its normal pace.

On the otherside of the door it took every ounce of M'Baku's self-control to not to turn around in hope of catching one last glimpse of her. He wasn't sure what scent she was wearing but it was striking and smelled incredible. As M'Baku made his way to the elevator that would take him back up to the great lodge, he took a long deep breath. Who had he become? Fortunately, he'd maintained his cool while being in her presence, but he'd felt anything but relaxed. M'Baku silently chided himself.

-x-

Later that day Shuri watched from a safe distance as the Echo-star helicopter landed on the helipad. Once the rotary wings stopped rotating she began to get closer. Out stepped two Dora Milaje guards, then T'Challa who turned and helped Nakia off. Their mother hadn't been able to come due to attending a charity function for which she was a patron.

"Shuri." T'Challa said walking towards his younger sister.

"Brother."

"Did you miss me?"

"Not even a little bit. " Shuri squealed as T'Challa picked her up and swung her around. She was so happy to see family. Even though she kept in regular contact with her family in the golden city, it wasn't the same as having Kin in her sight and in her arms. Once T'Challa put her down, she greeted Nakia and the Dora. She was so excited to have them there, if only for one night.

"Come let me show you around." Shuri said excitedly as her guests followed her.

-x-

Being a princess, Shuri had seen her fair share of pomp and ceremony. But the Jabari really knew how to put on a show. The great lodge's grand ballroom had been transformed into what could only be described as an African winter wonderland. The banquet had been filling and delicious full of Wakandan and southern African delicacies. It had been a pleasure to look across and see T'Challa, Nakia and M'Baku deep in conversation with President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia and the leader of the Border tribe.

Once dinner was over, it was time for the entertainment portion of the evening. The live band began to play as the guests gathered around . The ballrooms huge doors swung open and in came at least two dozen Jabari tribal dancers, decorated in leather, and feathers and beads.

The lead dancer was beautiful. Tall, and shapely and Shuri couldn't keep her eyes off of her as she leaped and twirled to the sound of beating drums. For 5 minutes the crowd stood in awe watching the festivities until the routine came to a satisfying end. Applause erupted through the room, as the dancers bowed and filed out. The band continued to play.

"That was wonderful," Shuri sighed clapping loudly along with all of their guests. She couldn't help but notice that M'baku, who stood next to her grimaced slightly. She had wanted to ask what was wrong but he suddenly turned to her abruptly and asked, "Would you like to dance?"

The question caught Shuri off-guard, but she looked around at other couples taking to the floor and conceded. "Um…sure." She followed M'Baku to the centre, and bashfully stepped into his arms, careful to keep a respectable distance. "I wish I'd taken my dance classes more seriously when I was a child, just so I could understand a little bit of what it means to move like that and tell stories with my body." Shuri took several steps on her toes, careful not to tread on his feet.

"It's not too late," M'Baku said, twirling her in a circle.

Shuri laughed. "No, I assure you it is too late for me, but a girl can dream."

"You have a different calling. You help so many people with the work you do."

Shuri was speechless. Never in her life did she think such a thing would come out of M'Baku's mouth. Just five short years ago he had condescendingly claimed that Wakanda's technological advancements were being overseen by a child.

"Even if you still scoff at tradition." He added with a cheeky wink as the band's song came to an end.

Shuri smirked and looked at their fingers threaded together, and then up at M'Baku. "Thank you for the dance." She said softly. His gaze was heavy. That was the only way to describe his expression and the way his eyes held her to the spot. "My pleasure, princess." There it was again, something in the way he said princess that felt entirely too intimate, like they weren't surrounded by almost 100 people.

A cough made them both jump apart, as though they had just been caught inflagrante delicto. There stood a smiling T'Challa. " May I?" he asked in M'Baku's direction.

"You may." M'Baku said, taking a step back to let T'Challa take his place.

Shuri watched as M'Baku moved away, weaving his way through the crowd. For a second she mourned the loss of his warmth, his smell, his touch, him.

T'Challa watched her intently. "Marriage looks good on you, usisi omncinci."

Shuri rolled her eyes. "Thula!". They both laughed.

Shuri was having a good time, she danced with T'Challa and Nakia in turn, and even had a few glasses of imported French champagne before she noticed that she hadn't seen M'Baku in quite a while.

She quietly extricated herself from the heads of state who had now become unashamed revellers, and made her way out of the ballroom, and through the halls of the great lodge looking for her husband. Shuri shook her head at the last though. Her husband. The concept still seemed so wild.

It was the sound of hushed whispers coming from the west facing balcony that stopped her in her tracks. From where she stood she could make out M'Baku deep in conversation. Shuri shifted position slightly, to see who held his attention. It was the lead dancer from before. She was no longer in her costume but was now wearing a beautifully Ankara wax print gown, over her shoulders was an expensive looking fur stole. She and M'Baku faced each other, both intense. Whoever she was, she went from sombre to distraught then angry and back again. She was gesticulating wildly. Their conversation was clearly heated but both seemed at pains to keep their volume down.

Shuri slid further into the shadows trying to hear or at least lipread what was being said but it was no use, she wasn't close enough. And her curiosity was getting the better of her. She took a deep breath and stepped out, acting as though she hadn't spent the last few moment trying to eavesdrop.

"Oh, there you are. Some of our guests are leaving." Shuri said, forcing a smile on to her face.

M'Baku and his sparring partner looked like two antelopes caught in headlights. It was M'Baku who broke the awkward silence. "Let me introduce you to my wife, her royal highness crowned princess of the golden tribe, Shuri of Wakanda."

Shuri internally grimaced. Something didn't feel right. They had spent the evening consorting with some of Africa's most powerful and never once had he used such an ostentatious moniker.

"Your Highness" Malaika curtsied slightly.

"No need for formalities. Call me Shuri." Shuri smiled and offered her hand, Malaika hesitated and then took it, shaking it ever so slightly before letting it go.

"I am Malaika Abara. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, Malaika. You are an amazing dancer. I really enjoyed watching you and your company perform tonight."

"Thank you." Malaika said genuinely.

Then nothing. The three lapsed into another awkward silence.

"So.." Shuri began "how do you and M'Baku know each other?"

"We've known each other since we were children. Isn't that right, Baku?"

Shuri couldn't claim to know M'Baku well but she knew he was no actor. The use of the nickname seemed to make him uncomfortable. Shuri could feel the tension emanating from his body. She could tell he was clenching his jaw. "We should go and see to our guest." M'Baku said gruffly, as if he hadn't just been asked a question. .

"It's Ok. I will take care of our guests." Shuri held up her hand to stop him from moving.

" Speak with your friend."

Shuri turned to leave, completely unsure of how to feel, and as she left she could feel their eyes on her back. She knew they would not return to whatever they were heatedly discussing until they were certain she was out of earshot.

That night alone in bed, Shuri swallowed her vitamins with a mouthful of water and then turned out her bedside lamp. But she couldn't unwind, couldn't fall asleep. One particular question kept swirling around in mind. Who was this Malaika and what did she mean to M'Baku?

XHOSA:

usisi omncinci – Little sister.

Thula! – Shut up.

To be continued.