Hey all,
This is the new chappie!
Full of Madara x OC so enjoy! =D And some fluff...
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And, check out my other story: 'Sanctuary'
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As expected, Madara had long since left Fuma with that commoner woman by the time she had returned to the palace. As she quietly closed her bedroom door, a voice spoke.
"Where were you sister?"
Standing in the middle of her room, was the bane of her existence.
"Natsuyo. I don't have time nor patience to deal with you so do us both a favour and get out."
The woman in question feigned hurt. "Is that any way to talk to your big sister? Besides, I want to know why you are here, alone and without a suitor?"
"That's none of your concern. Don't you have better things to do?"
"Oh I do. But, you see, I couldn't simply pass up the chance to see your face in the dirt after what you did to me. You ruined my proposal to the same man, after all." Natsuyo said calmly. "I suppose karma truly is a bitch…"
"It's not over yet. He will come begging for my hand, you'll see."
"Is that so? Well, I just caught him running off with the hand of another... and so did the rest of this clan. Sad really… that he would prefer the company of a commoner than yours, Akane. Although, I can't say I blame him." She sneered.
Akane shook in anger. Natsuyo always had a way to make her feel worthless. "Shut up! You know nothing so get lost!"
Natsuyo continued, "Tsk Tsk. Remember your place, sister. I heard father didn't put up a single ryo for you – I'm not surprised. You are the daughter of a whore after all, nothing more than a drunken consequence. And you would have been one too, if my mother hadn't taken mercy on you." She turned to leave. "I heard she's very beautiful, and kind – this woman of Madara's. Perhaps you should throw in the towel while you still can, sister."
Izuna stormed into the main hall, wondering what the hell was going on.
There, standing before him was their top informant, sweating profusely. "Hiroshi. I've been told you have important news for me. Out with it, NOW."
The young man bowed nervously. "M-my liege, p-pardon me but the Fuma clan is after Madara-sama. They have sent out over 20000 shinobi to find him!"
"What?!"
That cant be right, Madara was meant to be training at the valley of the end...
"Yes, Izuna-sama. They were last seen leaving the Fuma palace, but their current whereabouts are unknown."
"They? Who's they?"
The messenger gulped uneasily. "Um, the lord and his female companion sir…"
Izuna paled. The fuck…?!
Madara couldn't fight off the smirk that crawled its way onto his face, thanks to the frustrated little beauty trudging behind him.
She hadn't spoken a word to him since they left Fuma. She had her arms crossed against her chest, muttering under her breath whole way, deliberately walking as slow as possible even though she was fully aware that Madara was in a hurry.
Even in anger, she was enchanting… and thoroughly amusing.
What made the scene extra endearing was Mitsuki perched on her shoulder nipping playfully at her cheek in mock kisses. The young woman tried (in vain) to shoo the bird away but it simply flew to her other shoulder and did the same to the other cheek, until Aria (eventually) gave in – her cheeks cheery red and puffy. Madara never thought he'd see the day where he would be envious of a blasted bird. Still, this was not the time to dwell on such things.
By nightfall, they had reached a small village by the name of Mino.
They paused in front of a sign that said 'Inn'. "Wait here." He instructed, "I won't be long."
Aria gathered her arms around herself, debating on whether or not to disobey him. If it weren't for the gnawing in her stomach and tired legs, she would have.
A few moments later, the man in question emerged. "We'll rest here for the night. It's decent enough."
Aria wanted to retort with a snide remark, but came up with none. She was tired, hungry and in desperate need of a bath - and in this instance, it wouldn't hurt to do as he said. He led her past the reception desk and down the hall into moderately sized quarters where Aria's mouth fell open in awe. Decent? The suite was beautiful! – tastefully decorated with polished timber floors, tatami mats, an ornate table with fluffy cushions and sliding rice paper doors that led out into a small private garden.
Madara strode into the main room. "The living arrangements are to your liking, I see."
Aria ignored him and went to inspect the sleeping quarter.
She returned scowling. "There's only one futon!" she hissed, "Is this some kind of joke?!"
Madara sat at the low table and helped himself to a generous serving sake. "Ah. So the ice princess speaks after all. I would hate to spend my nights with a mute." He grinned, knowing it would irk her.
She shot him a glare. "Screw you!"
Madara smirked. "It would be my pleasure."
Aria flushed crimson at the insinuation. "Why you –"
A knock on the door interrupted them. Madara shot her a wry glance and went to open it. "Hold that thought, will you?"
The inn staff bowed politely. "The meal, as requested for the master and his wife. Will there be anything else, Sir?"
"No." Replied the Uchiha, taking the ample tray. "That will be all."
By now, Aria was fuming. "Are you crazy?! Telling him such a thing!"
"Well, what would you have me tell him then?"
"Anything but that!"
"Fine. Next time, I'll let them think that you're my company for the evening." He teased, enjoying himself at her expense.
Aria's widened in shock, completely oblivious to the fact that he was toying with her. "No! That's even worse!" she screamed in all-seriousness. "Couldn't you have just said something that would've secured us two beds, or better yet, two rooms?!"
"Why would I do that? It goes against my interests as a man."
"Because goes against my honour!" Aria was panicking now. "I can't believe you! We're not married! What will everyone think?!" She shrieked, pacing restlessly about the room.
Sensing that matters were getting out of hand, Madara decided to placate her. "Look, it's the only room they had left and since Fuma is after us, it's best if we stick together. Got it?"
"Really? You're not lying to me are you?"
Of course I am… you naïve, little girl. "No. Can we eat now?"
She beamed at him. "Yes, please."
Aria had forgotten her anger and resentment towards him as soon as she laid eyes on the assortment of meat, vegetable, rice dishes and sweetmeats piled onto the overly laden wooden tray. He chucked quietly as Aria helped herself to generous servings of food, and proceeded to shove as much of it as she could down her throat.
"Take it easy, will you? It's nice to see that you have an appetite but death by choking isn't particularly glorious or... pleasant."
"Sorry," she replied, swallowing a mouthful of food. "I'm so hungry and it's all so delicious. I've never had anything like this in my life!"
"Hn… I've had better. So, I take it I'm forgiven then?"
A mischievous look flitted across her eyes. "Not quite. I'm still mad at you for lying to me… but I might be willing to overlook it… on one condition."
Madara was no stranger to conditions, and he was interested to see what she came up with. "And what's that?"
"Just let me to get to know the real you."
A bitter laugh escaped his throat. "The leader of one of the most powerful shinobi clans sits before you - and that's what you ask for? I advise you to reconsider."
Aria shook her head. "No. All I ever wanted was to get to know the enigma that was Haru. Now that I have that chance, I'm not going to pass it up."
Madara looked at her incredulously. "I hate to disappoint you, but there's not much to tell."
"Somehow, I doubt that." She wasn't going to give in. "Let's start with your family."
He crossed his arms in front of him. "What do you want to know?" He may have agreed to her foolish little request, but that didn't mean he was going to make it easier for her.
"Your parents, your brother… significant other… You know, that kind of thing..."
Madara scoffed at significant other. Was she really that daft?
"My father was Tajima Uchiha, head of the Uchiha clan during his time. My mother's name was Hinako, born into the branch family. I had three older brothers who died in battle and now I only have one brother left – Izuna." And as for significant other, well that's where you come in...
Aria looked down sheepishly. "I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to –"
"Hn. Are we done here?"
"No. Tell me about yourself. You revealed so little about yourself in our letters, and I still feel like you're such a mystery."
"I thought you women liked mysterious men." He remarked snidely.
Aria flushed red. "Just answer the question."
"My name is Madara. I am currently the head of the Uchiha clan. My favourite dish is inarizushi and I hate roe. I enjoy falconry and training with my brother. My ambition is to lead the Uchiha to greatness and unite the shinobi nations."
Aria smiled widely. "See! That wasn't so hard!"
"Hn. Now, then… It's my turn to interrogate you."
"Sure, ask me anything!" she said, enthusiastically. "I'm an open book!"
"Tell me..., have you ever been with a man?"
Aria turned fifty shades of crimson in a matter of seconds. "What kind of question is that?!"
Madara smirked. "You did say anything."
She refused to meet his gaze. Damn it. She did say that... "Um, no…" she replied quietly. "You…?"
"Hell no. I prefer women."
Aria shot him a look, unimpressed.
He took a sip of sake before replying. "A few. Nothing serious and never with the same woman twice."
Aria's heart sank.
Why did she think it would be any different?
He was young, dangerously handsome and accomplished. Any woman would want him.
She got up, despite herself. "Sorry – I need to use the restroom."
Aria blinked back tears in the bathroom and apprised her miserable reflection in the mirror. She was pretty in a non-conventional sense, but nothing spectacular. Madara, on the hand, was envisionment of a dark king. He had eyes the colour of the darkest obsidian, alabaster skin, thin lips and a strong jawline. His unruly ebony mane only added to the majestic appeal of his dark, aristocratic features. On top of that, he was a leader of shinobi clan.
Naturally, he wouldn't be interested in her.
With Haru, at least she had a chance - however small.
And now, there was none.
The steam wafted through the washroom, the hot water beckoning her to come in. She removed her clothes, dropping them to the floor and in the mirror she saw an average woman. Not beautiful, not ugly. Just average. She sighed, washed up and got into the wooden tub for a good, long soak. 'Forget it,' she thought as the hot water unclenched her muscles and soothing them instantly.
Tired, she closed her eyes...
Madara stared after her.
Had he said something wrong?
Tch, probably. He was never good at dealing with women, which is why he avoided such relationships in the first place.
Fine, so perhaps it wasn't a good idea to inquire about her personal experience. Judging by the way she reacted, Madara supposed that women were sensitive to such matters. Although the one's he encountered weren't... In any case, he didn't regret asking her. It was something that plagued his mind constantly while he was at the Uchiha compound. He always wondered if she had attained a lover since she moved to Fuma...
After all she was the perfect combination of beautiful, witty and charming: a lethal trap for any man.
The thought of her in the arms of another man left him restless, frustrated and full of rage. He knew he had no right to feel such things, but he couldn't help it. Since he had met Aria, he hadn't been with or even looked at another woman – and the mere thought being intimate with someone other than her repulsed him.
But her answer tonight had satisfied him immensely – and he was going to make sure that he was her first and last. When she belonged to him, he would show her pleasure beyond her wildest imagination. His body ached for her, and whenever she touched him, it screamed for more. The places where she hugged him on the night of his arrival still tingled whenever she looked at him. A huge part of him hated the effect she had on him, while the other seemed to get perverse, sadistic pleasure from the way she was completely oblivious to him.
He wanted Aria, plain and simple.
But did she desire him?
Glancing at the clock, Madara wondered how long one could possibly take to bathe. When the first half-an-hour passed, he thought nothing of it, knowing that women generally took their time with their nonsense beauty rituals. But, after the hour mark – he began to speculate if that was normal.
He got up and knocked on the door. "Aria?"
No answer.
He knocked again. "Aria, have you finished with your bathing?" he said, this time more firmly.
Still no answer.
Fearing the worst, he gave door a hard push, snapping it from its hinges. A cloud of steam assaulted him upon entry and the fog made it hard to see. His footsteps echoed loudly in the bathroom as he approached the bathtub. A mass of long, damp hair spilled from the tub, her head resting on its rim while the rest of her body remained in the water. She appeared to be... sleeping.
A faint tinge of pink appeared on Madara's face while he fought to regain control.
What was he to do now?!
She was naked!
He grabbed the towel and closed his eyes. He knew she wouldn't appreciate him looking at her unclothed, even though that's what he desperately wanted to do. He pulled her out of the water and wrapped the large towel around her middle. She stirred but didn't wake. Madara let out a breath of relief. Then, he carried her out of the bathroom and placed her in the bed, pulling the blankets upto her neck.
Aria woke with a start, shivering with cold.
As she sat up, the blankets fell to her waist and a wave of cold wind assaulted her skin. It took her a moment to register that she was completely bare, and then promptly screamed. She quickly drew the blankets around her body and looked nervously around the room but no one was there. She moved her hand to the other side of the bed and noticed that it was cold, unslept in.
Then, she remembered where she was.
Gathering the blanket around herself like a cloak, she opened the bedroom door and peered out. A faint light was coming from the garden. Trembling as she slid the door open, she saw him on the deck in a meditative position.
His back was towards her. "You're awake. Finally." He said. "Your clothes are on the table. We're leaving."
Her throat felt hoarse as she spoke. "But it's still so dark..."
"Exactly."
Aria moved to the table where a selection of the clothes were laid out for her, and a pot of tea. How thoughtful of him… She smiled as she put on the clothes. She was drinking her tea when he walked in. He was already dressed – but not the casual kimono he was wearing the day before. He had his armour on and decked with weapons.
"What's the time?" She asked drowsily, carefully avoiding the subject of how she woke up naked. "I'm so sleepy."
"Three am." He answered curtly. "You can sleep once we reach the compound."
Madara refrained from looking at the sleep-ridden beauty sipping at her tea.
He had a hard night - the object of his desires slept in the next room and it took everything he had not to go in there and join her.
And so, he decided to stay in the main room after his bath, but every time he closed his eyes, the vision of her in that tub wouldn't go away. Milky skin, luscious hair, and soft feminine curves that he could feel through the towel challenged his control and senses. But he was a shinobi: born and raised to have composure and maintain control, however futile. Evident that he wasn't going to get any rest, he went into the garden to meditate. It had helped immensely, until now.
Aria's eyes were half-lidded with sleep, her hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun. Madara wanted to twirl a lock of the stray hair that spilled from it but instead; he busied himself with his weapons. Once she was ready, they headed out. As expected, the inn and the town was still asleep. It served in their favour to leave unnoticed.
Once they reached Mino's walls, Madara felt an alarming concentration of chakra from the western and southern borders: their exit. Madara cursed loudly, causing Aria to jump back in defense.
"Fuck!" He muttered through gritted teeth."They've been waiting for us all along."
He grabbed her hand roughly, and pulled her in the opposite direction towards the east. "Brace yourself. Looks like we'll be taking a detour... through the Senju lands."
A/N: Another chapter! I can't believe how many times I've written this chappie. Gah!
Hope you all liked the perverse working of Madara's mind, and Aria utter naivety and obliviousness. Teehee!
Next chapter, I'll be introducing the Senju brothers! Stay tuned!
And I solemnly promise that chaos will ensue. Muahaha!
Wonder how they will react to the two runaways? Hm – tell me what your ideas! Hehe. I love how you guys think!
As always, love to hear what you think of the chapter/series.
Please review and message!
They really make my day and churns out faster updates! *wink wink* *hint hint*