It had been a little over four years since Tobirama last saw Mito. His clan helped the Uzumaki retake some land from an enemy clan, and they feasted together. Before that, probably not since they were children, he couldn't exactly pinpoint when. Hashirama had a present made for her in honor of their betrothal, and he had come to deliver it to her family. Even though they already knew the bride, Hashirama was still to keep his distance from her until their wedding day.

He was just handing the wrapped valuable to her father, when the door opened behind him. Gentle, somewhat hasty steps approached them. He looked over his shoulder to face the newcomer, almost instantly feeling a small smile tug at the corners of his lips.

"Tobirama!" Mito came closer. Turning around to face her, he was tempted to take a step back, finding they stood so close to each other it was just barely appropriate. Her commonly smooth, calm face was brightened by a delighted smile. "It's so good to see you again. How have you been?" Leaning her head back to gawk up at him, it was as if she wished to make a comment about his height. However, Mito was never the one to point out the obvious.

Indeed, in the few years they hadn't had a chance to look upon each other, he did grow taller. He always was tall, but he also remembered Mito to be a lanky girl, so the difference never was too apparent. Looking at her, Tobirama noted she had grown as well. Not in height, but in… girth. She had gotten quite curvy, so much so that her modest dress did nothing to hide the enticing width of her hips, nor the roundness of her chest. Her cheeks appeared fuller, redder, nicely matching her intense hair. She'd become a proper woman. Tobirama caught himself thinking his brother was a lucky man.

"Tobirama?" She called.

"I'm sorry." He cleared his throat, finally deciding to take that one step back, after all. "You've grown very beautiful, I was rendered silent." Mito's cheeks turned redder yet, and she graced him with a tiny laugh. "I've been well. How are you? Ready for the wedding?"

"Yes… Yes, I am ready." The sudden lack of vigor in her voice confused him, but he chose not to point it out. "Will you stay with us? It's a long way back to your village."

"He will stay, child." Mito's father spoke. "Let him have some rest now."

"Thank you." Tobirama bowed to the old man, watching as he called a servant over, instructing them to draw him a bath and show him to the guestroom.

"Are you very tired?" He faced Mito once more when she spoke. Her smile was gone, yet her eyes appeared hopeful. Whatever she wanted could be important, Tobirama thought. "I'd like to talk to you."

"I'm not that tired. I'll join you as soon as I'm clean." Of course. Even a collected person such as Mito would be anxious with their wedding approaching. As her brother in law to be, he was more than willing to offer support.

"How can I help you, Mito?" About half an hour later Tobirama sat on a bench in their backyard. Looking around, he only just recalled how inconvenient it was to reside within a camp. The few houses, tents, stalls – all of them grouped together way too close for comfort; or privacy for that matter. In the village, things were blissfully different. With a casual movement of her hand, Mito sent her handmaiden away, and he found himself growing slightly worried. What in the world could be so crucial that even her most trusted servant couldn't hear?

Approaching slowly, she took a seat beside him. Heavy sigh raised her chest.

"It's about the arrangement…"

"I guessed as much." Tobirama offered an encouraging nod. "Rest assured. Everything will proceed in perfect order, we'll make sure there's nothing for you to worry about."

"I know that." She looked away, her voice bearing a hint of… annoyance, perhaps. "I'm not worried for the ceremony."

"Are you unhappy that it's arranged?" He raised an eyebrow in question. "You're a leader's daughter. I find it hard to believe you haven't been long prepared for this."

"I have been, Tobirama! And I knew… well, I hoped it would be your clan I'd marry into." She pursed her lips together, watching him intently. "I just…" Closing her eyes, she appeared completely weighed down by her troubles. "I didn't think it would be your brother. I didn't—" Tobirama's eyes widened as hers watered, and she abruptly stood up, turning away from him. Inhaling a long breath, she seemed to ponder on her coming words. "I didn't expect you'd be married when the time came." Gesturing dismissively, she continued, "To an Uchiha, no less!"

Even before he knew he was doing it, Tobirama rose to his feet as well. He could feel the muscles on his face contorting from shock. Rendered mute, all he could do was stare at her with an expression that hid none of his stupefaction. She turned to return his gaze, eyes glistening before releasing a few tears.

"Say something." Mito whispered, taking a step towards him. Thanks to the little control he had managed to gather, Tobirama didn't recoil in his shock. The Uzumaki Mito he knew was a put together, calm, proper person. She wouldn't waste her time on dreaming of stupid things, nor would she ever be so daring to say to his face she'd prefer him over his brother – all the while knowing he was also taken. What had gotten into her?

"Say what exactly?! That I'm sorry your little dreams shattered?" He noticed her expression going limp at his tone. "Too bad you have to marry a person you don't love? Well, guess what, Mito – we all did. I did, my wife did, Hashirama does. That's how it is for us. You better stop this right now and I will pretend I never heard any of it."

"Yes, I will marry the one I don't love, and will have to live with the one I do! My father even promised me he'd do everything to give my hand to you, and then we hear you're married? Don't belittle my feelings, I've loved you since we were children!" Covering her face, she sobbed, loudly, and he looked around worried someone would come looking for them. He'd honestly had it with blubbering by now! Why couldn't he have an argument with anyone without them crying?!

"Feelings don't matter, can't you understand? All you can do is fulfill you duty and—"

"That's what I've always done! That's all I ever did, Tobirama! Being with you was the one thing I looked forward to, just one thing I could have my way. My father even agreed, I knew you liked me, our clans are close. Everything was perfect! And yet…" She shrugged her shoulders in loss. "Nothing. If…" She sighed. "If only I hadn't hoped, it wouldn't hurt this much." Reaching into her belt, she took out a napkin and used it to carefully pat her cheeks dry.

"What am I even supposed to do with that knowledge? Where were you planning to take this?"

"I'd ask you for a favor." Her malachite eyes bore into him; nervous, hurt, hopeful. For a respectable person such as her to allow herself to fall apart before someone, she must have endured a lot. He suddenly felt empathetic for her. Yes, Mito truly always was a perfect girl and a woman. Because she had to be, because she tried very hard to be.

"What?" Tobirama's own voice softened, and his hand slowly traveled to rest on her arm. He didn't want to see her so sad. He wished her joy, he always had.

"Kiss me. Just once, at least my first kiss should be spent on you."

"Here?" He asked, distressed, as if the place was the biggest issue. Mito shook her head.

"I'll come visit you tonight." Taking another deep breath, she straightened her back, seemingly taking back control over herself. "Wait for me."

He said nothing.

….

He said nothing. And he should have. He should have scolded her, or perhaps threatened to tell her father she was being indecent – he should have done anything! Instead, here he was, lying in bed, wondering how in the world he should handle her once she arrives.

And arrive she did. It took her a while, since she had to wait for the household to fall asleep. But she did come, and he, as instructed, did wait. Why had he done that? He should have gone to sleep. If she came to his door, or even was so bold to enter his room uninvited, she'd surely give up if she found him asleep. That would have sent a very clear message. But the thing was… Tobirama had no clear message to send.

Curiosity, admiration, those hips of hers… they all came together, clouding his judgment. He knew as well – had he never gotten married to Sumi and the Uzumaki decided to give Mito to him, he'd be over the moon. They knew each other for many years, had things in common, liked and cared for each other. It would have been perfect. But the reality was different.

He had a wife he was in love with, and even if not, Mito would soon come to belong to his brother. Dreaming of what things could have been like was futile. Sitting up, he observed her figure as she approached and joined him on the mattress. Her red hair was down, wavy and wild, nothing like he'd imagine it to be. She always kept it tied. The sleeping gown, even if loose, was unable to hide her curves. Tobirama didn't bother to stop his eyes from taking in contours of her bosom, thighs and even the small arch her lower belly made on the silk.

Looking up to face her, he noted the redness on her cheeks. As she came closer yet, making her way over on her hands and knees, his focus shifted to her eyes. She'd never done this before, he realized. Her breathing was heavy, her eyes concerned, posture insecure. He knew well what that felt like, feeling a sharp sting of guilt at the memory of kissing his wife. He should send Mito away.

He opened his mouth to speak, but she beat him to it.

"I won't stay long. I don't plan to take this too far." Mito whispered, almost against him at this point, as she was kneeling between his legs. "Just one kiss."

"That one kiss… In itself would be too far." Tobirama felt a subconscious frown tugging at his brows. "You shouldn't have come." Gulping, he forced his gaze not to slip away as much as her lips seemed to call for its attention. "You need to leave."

"You don't want me to leave." Her soft breath tickled his cheek, her scent was sweet and alluring just as the rest of her. Clearing his throat, he tried backing away, but there was nowhere to go. Pillows, headboard, wall. It was as though all three wanted him to go to her, to allow her even closer.

"I don't want to sully you either, nor myself. I'd never be able to face my brother or my wife, nor you for that matter." He sighed, lying his palm on her shoulder and guiding her away from himself, as gently as he could. "I'm your brother in law. And I order you to leave."

Although his voice remained soft, the words behind it were harsh. And they affected her. Mito closed her eyes, and he opened his mouth to offer some sort of meaningless consolation, but her sudden tears rendered him silent.

"How am I supposed to live with your brother, but spend my life looking at you with another woman?"

"You must. How – doesn't matter."

Sniffing, she finally moved further away and got up from the bed. Having dried her face, she inhaled a deep breath before facing him.

"You're right, of course. Thank you. I completely lost my composure."

"It happens."

She sighed, nodding as if trying to convince herself that his words were indeed true.

"Good night…" She gulped, struggling to release her coming words. "Brother in law."

"Good night, Mito."

….

Having been told she had a visitor left Sumi to rush down to hall and into the receiving room, not even bothering to ask who it was. She knew. She'd been expecting the woman to come see her for days already.

"Lady Amako." She greeted upon entering the room. She felt her body stiffen once the old woman made her way over and pulled her into a tight embrace. A few moments later she remembered to return the gesture, caressing the lady's back with a sigh. She couldn't even bring herself to imagine her heartache because of Mego.

"Oh, Sumi." She cried, a handkerchief in her hand crumpled from use.

Continuing to offer support, Sumi patted her back yet again, leading her over to the nearest seat. Calling a servant over, she instructed they bring tea and sweets.

"Did you know?" Amako asked, voice coarse and exhausted from weeping. Her pale skin commonly resisted showing the signs of her very old age, but it seemed to have caught up with her in a matter of days. "If she confided in anyone, it would be you."

Sumi shook her head.

"I had no idea. Truth be told, we didn't talk much in the past months. I don't know if Mego told you, but we had a small fight, over Ma—lord Madara." Out of habit she reverted to her old manner of speech, growing slightly annoyed as result, since she had managed to repress it until now.

"Curse him." The old woman whispered, utterly jaded. "He'd managed to part her even from you." Sumi said nothing, not really knowing whether she agreed with the statement or not. Madara always had influence on Mego, but even when he disliked Sumi most, nothing suggested he meant to hinder their friendship. "Do you still care for her?"

"Of course! Why would you ask that?" The younger woman found the question borderline offensive. Despite the recent distance that grew between them, she loved Mego just the same as always. Not to mention, she was certain that distance would have disappeared in a few weeks, and was left completely lost now that Mego no longer lived in the village.

"Then get Senju Hashirama to look for her. Why hasn't he already sent someone after them?"

"But… Mego wrote in her note that she wished to leave. Nothing suggests that—"

"I don't believe that! He always had a grip on her, and I know he did something to make her come along!" Letting her head fall into her hands, Amako looked all but desperate, and Sumi didn't blame her for her dark thoughts, but struggled to find any of it to be likely. "I never should have asked him to marry her."

"My lady," Sumi sighed, rubbing the woman's shoulder in hopes of calming her down. "He's a strange man, but he'd never hurt her. Mego is very devoted to him, I wouldn't be surprised if she indeed decided to come along."

"Just help me." Amako sniffed, the already wet handkerchief did nothing to absorb new tears. "I need to make sure. How could she leave without saying goodbye to any of us? That's not my Mego. She cares for Madara, but she cares for us too! Please, ask Hokage to help."

"I'll see what I can do." Maybe Mego really needed their aid, maybe not. However, Sumi couldn't say she wasn't hungry for answers, as well. "We have to wait for his wedding to pass. He's got too much to deal with right now."