Hello lovelies,
I hope you all have been well.
Here is another chapter. We finally get to hear from Aria and a bit lighter than previous chapters :)
Thank you to everyone that followed and favorited, and shout out to Karla44997, Bitter Reader and Charliepan for reviewing - they really make my day and help me grow.
On a side note, I need a beta. Is anyone interested in beta'ing for this story? Or maybe recommend someone who can?
xoxox
Aria is not ready for this.
She thought she was back at the Sanada compound, but now, at the Uchiha compound and Madara's home?
Aria would much rather crawl under her covers, go into hibernation, and not come out until the end of winter.
The Uchiha Stronghold is a formidable structure and so too were its inhabitants. With various shades of dark hair, fair skin, pitch black eyes, and carefully masked expressions - all the Uchiha look very much the same. Every single one of them exude pride, and posses higher than average chakra reserves and strength, including the women and children. No one smiles as they enter, and many frown. Some even sneer as the Sanada pass by leaving Aria much unnerved, giving her impression that the Uchiha do not take well to outsiders.
The Sanada, in comparison, were much more amicable and hospitable - and perhaps that was due to the long standing peace between the clans residing on the northern peninsula. Aria was pleasantly surprised to see people from all walks of life dwelling on Sanada territory. They were afforded the protection of her clan in return for taxes and services, with many of them eventually married into the clan. There were no imposing walls like the Uchiha compound, only borders, and people were free to come and go as they pleased for business or trade once they had been vetted by the clan.
So far, Aria did not see anyone on Uchiha territory other than their own clansfolk, and cannot shake off the feeling that they are trespassing despite being invited.
Her grandfather notices her discomfort and offers her a small, encouraging smile.
Aria gives him a weak smile in return. They had gotten off to a rocky start but things slowly got better with time. She had grown quite accustomed to his warm, honey eyes that made her feel safe whenever she looked into them. Just like her Mama's. He was gentle and patient, even after all her tantrums and mean utterances against him, and he never raised his voice at her or lost his temper. The Sanada must have thought of their heiress as a feral cat from the way she had hissed and spat at him, but he paid them no mind. He made sure that anything she destroyed in rage was quietly taken away and replaced by the servants, and if she refused a meal out of spite, he left it outside her door.
He tried his best to make her feel comfortable. He instructed the cooks to prepare only her favourite meals, served with an array of fresh fruit, and assorted delicacies. He filled her dresser with clothes and shoes in the latest style and fashion, and every morning, she would wake to a wonderful arrangement of flowers and a new book. He even had a swing installed in her chamber after noting how much she enjoyed reading on the ones outdoors.
Eventually, Aria ran out of steam.
With her energy exhausted and anger dwindling away, Aria half-heartedly accepted his invitation to dinner one evening at a quaint restaurant that he used to frequent with his late wife. She wore one of her mother's dresses and paired it with her grandmother's jewellery and a touch of makeup. She would never forget how he smiled that night, so happy yet mournful, as they both enjoyed their dinner in silence which marked the turning point for both of them.
When they received treaty invitation from the Uchiha, her grandfather had called her into his office. He wanted to show it to her before he presented it to the council. Gravely serious, he asked her to think very carefully about the next steps and the repercussions it would have for their family. For their clan.
But Aria, overjoyed with the prospect of seeing him again, agreed on impulse without any real consideration for her grandfather's words.
She cannot explain a sinking feeling deep in her stomach as they cross the threshold into the Uchiha Compound, and Aria winces when the gates are immediately shut and locked behind them. She curses at her foolishness - the Uchiha have the Sanada trapped on all sides by a large wall and an army of ninja who posses one of the strongest doujustu known throughout the shinobi realm.
An overwhelming panic overtakes her, and a dangerous thought crosses her mind.
Madara wouldn't hurt the Sanada... would he?!
Madara's heart thunders in his chest.
Events of the past rush to him in sickening nostalgia, while rage, hot and infernal, envelops his entire being.
He shifts, on edge, as he senses her chakra approach amidst many others that he does not recognise. His stomach knots painfully in anticipation of what he is yet to see, to confirm.
Izuna places a hand on his back, and they exchange weary glances.
The moment of truth.
She feels him before she sees him.
Aria never comprehended the dark charisma or magnitude of his chakra until her training on chakra control. It was baffling - how could one posses so much?! He made no effort to mask or suppress it either, and his chakra - black, hot and intense - surrounded him in a sphere of energy suffocating the air around him. Aria feels herself choke. 'How could the Uchiha live like this?' she wonders, 'How could they stand to be in his constant presence like this?'
Gosh, he was so... so... ugh!!
The feelings she tried so hard to bury over the last few months violently bubble to the surface.
How could she just 'forget' about him, like her grandfather suggested?
Their last moments were engraved into her memory, replaying in her mind like a broken record. It was like getting a shot of something wonderful, a drug, only for her to become addicted with no chance of another hit. She craved him like she would another dose - the warmth of his embrace, the burn of his touch, and the way he felt in her arms in the moments where nothing else mattered. Heck, she missed that damn smirk, the devilish glint, and the infuriating presumptuousness that went so well with his cynical attitude. She'll take it, all of it, in the messed up package it came in.
But he might not be an available option anymore.
Too much time had passed and their circumstances had changed.
She had changed.
'Aria' had became 'Aria Sanada, Heiress of the Sanada Clan'. Her new identity came with a title and rank, a sizeable inheritance, and a string of unwanted suitors (much to her dismay). They all paled in comparison to him, she thought miserably, who had pursued her when she was a low-class civilian with no name, no clan, and no money. A nobody. If there was anyone's suit she would accept, it would be his, but he made no attempt to contact her after their last encounter.
Grandfather said it was for the best. Madara had a duty to his clan and she had a duty to hers. But being an heiress came with so many rules and regulations that it made her head spin, and Aria felt like she had been cast aside by the one person who could help her make sense of it all.
She wasn't 'crazy' only 'curious', she assured herself, as she obsessed with finding out as much as she could about him, the Uchiha, and his coveted bloodline. She learned that he lived in Fire Country, an entirely different continent, ruled by another daimyo. It was several days journey from her new home, and she had no idea how to reach him without eliciting help from someone within the clan alongside the risk her grandfather finding out. Then, if she somehow did manage to write to him, what were the chances that it would be well received? Would he bother responding to her? Would he care?
What if the reason behind his silence was because he had moved on?
Her eyes prick, and she forces back the tears with every fibre in her being.
No!
She will not cry.
A waterworks display in front of two proud clans would be utterly humiliating, and Aria needed to project a strong image for her clan.
Grandpa had said that the Uchiha were powerful and wealthy. It was pertinent that this treaty and trade deal went well, for the Uchiha would serve as a strong ally for when she became the head of their clan.
But Aria had come because she needed closure, and the only one who could give it to her was him.
Yet, as the two come to face each other, Aria realises that she may not be ready for the answers to the questions that kept her up at night.
Seeing him stand in opposition to her feels weird and unnatural, and her confidence shakes.
She's missed him terribly and there is so much she wants to tell him;
Like how the Sanada Compound is sprawled out on the peninsula in such a way that it overlooks the North Sea from every angle.
She wants to describe to him her first time at the beach. How glorious the white sand felt beneath her feet and between her toes, How crystal clear and blue water was that one could see the little fish and crab swim under the surface, how the salty water felt on her skin, and how she loved the sea breeze tousling her hair.
She wants to show him the portrait of her family featuring a young Asuka, Aikaterini, and Masayuki Sanada that hangs in the chamber that once belonged to her mother, that is now hers, along with everything in it.
She wants to drag him through the garden that her grandmother, Aikaterini Sanada, planted with her own hands, all seven acres of it, as she waited patiently to be blessed with child. The garden is her happy place, filled with succulent fruit trees, flowerbeds, vegetables and herbs, but the rose garden is her favourite.
She wants him to try the pastries from the cute bakery down the road that she and her grandfather frequent despite his problems with sugar.
And more than anything she wants to show him to her sword which has become an extension of her very being. Aria swells in pride every time she holds it to see that the name engraved upon it is no longer 'Asuka Sanada', but 'Aria Sanada' instead, marking her acceptance as its new master.
But she can't.
So she avoids looking at him.
She can feel his gaze lock onto her, and it makes the hair on the back of her neck stand.
Smouldering and intense, it commands reciprocation.
But Aria refuses.
If she makes the mistake of catching his gaze, she will loose what little is left of her resolve.
So instead, she focuses on Tsume Uchiha and her grandfather as they make the introductions. Her breath hitches as the two clan leaders shake hands in civil gesture and she hopes the negotiations go smoothly. Her grandfather does not like Madara at all, and that feeling was undeniably mutual.
Madara's breath catches in his throat, as he watches her enter with Masayuki and the rest of the Sanada.
His heart races. Seeing her in her clan's formal robes stirs something deep within him, along with sudden desire to dominate. He grins and admits that yes, maroon is a good colour on her, but dark blue would look much better.
He activates his sharingan and his eyes rake over her form, scanning for any signs of harm or mistreatment. Beside him, Izuna does the same.
After checking thrice, he determines that there are none.
Her skin is clear, there are no injuries or bruises, and no chakra pooling where it shouldn't. Her chakra nature is just as he remembers it, perhaps a bit skittish given the occasion, but is otherwise unchanged. More importantly, there are no rings on designated wedding fingers, and no discernible chakra growing within her belly either.
Relief washes over him like a wave, calming him instantly, and reduces his chakra to a baseline simmer.
His shoulders relax and he deactivates his sharingan.
He shifts into a more casual stance, adopting his usual, bored expression as he listens to the tedious pleasantry made by their grandparents.
He endeavours repeatedly to meet her gaze, and it irks him when she doesn't.
'No matter', he resigns. He has a plan.
Aria is struck in awe by Tsume Uchiha.
She didn't mean to stare, but she couldn't help it.
Powerful, majestic and hauntingly beautiful - Tsume-sama is everything Aria could ever hope to be.
The Uchiha Matriarch catches her, and Aria freezes.
She had been warned not to look directly into the eyes of an Uchiha, and now the Matriarch's attention was solely focused on her.
The matron suddenly appears before her, and Aria looses her capability to think. 'So this is where Madara gets it from', she muses darkly as Tsume-sama reaches for her neck, 'the predatory stalk, the deathly grace, and the silent kill.'
Tsume's eyes bleed into red, spinning rapidly, and Aria finds herself clutching at her head from a splitting migraine. She has to take a few moments to recover.
Tsume-sama retreats. "You all must be tired from your travel. Please, follow me."
Aria had barely taken a step when she hears a high pitched screech up in the sky. Her head snaps up, and sees a bird descend rapidly. It tucks in its wings to increase speed, and makes a dive. At her!
Aria has no time to react as it's features come into view - black feathers, yellow-rimmed ebony eyes, and a sharp grey-tipped beak.
She gasps, Mitsuki?!!
The bird screeches again. It opens its wings, flapping them to increase turbulence and slow down. With its talons outstretched, everyone gapes in horror as the falcon swoops in to attack the Sanada Heiress. Aria manages to move out of the way just in time, but looses her footing in the process. The falcon shrieks in disappointment, and takes to the air again. Aria stumbles, and braces herself for impact.
She falls.
Not onto the ground as she expected, but into strong arms that steady her.
Confused, her eyes flutter open to see him.
Her world stops.
Aria's emotions flood through her. His hold on her sends sparks jolting through her body, and his eyes transfix her with a gaze so magnetic that it leaves her unable to tear away from his gaze.
Her mouth goes dry.
The unruly raven hair that normally obscured half his face had been combed and tied back for the occasion, enabling a full view of his face which Aria has never seen before in its entirety. She is forced to re-examine his striking appearance, which is now inches away from her face, and her heart races. He is breathtakingly gorgeous with his sharp aristocratic features and masculine contours of his face. He has a strong jawline and neck and his skin is flawless. His eyes, dark as that moonless night beckon her to come and drown in their abyss.
And she would have too, if Mitsuki had not wailed up above them.
Aria is snapped out of her trance at once. Suddenly cognisant of their surroundings, she lets go of him immediately.
Blushing furiously, she desperately tries to compose herself.
He smirks at her and she turns away, appalled at his nerve for catching her in such a manner, with their families watching.
The falcon swoops past in a flutter of wings, and Madara holds out his arm for her. It lands on his outstreched arm, talons digging into his flesh. Madara grunts in pain, he does not have on his falconry gloves and Mitsuki's claws penetrating at great speed has drawn blood. He winces as Mitsuki perches on his arm, tall and proud, while her keen eyes observe the surroundings.
Aria's eyes are wide with surprise. Mitsuki is so much bigger than the last time she saw her. Why, she must have been a juvenile when they first met!
The falcon begins to preen on Madara's arm, and Aria cautiously moves in for a closer look. The falcon turns around immediately and comes face to face with the young woman. The falcon sniffs at her, and after a few moments, soft bird noises begin to erupt from its throat.
Aria's heart swells with joy at the adorable feathered creature, Mitsuki remembers!
Feeling rather bold, she holds out her hand again, just like she did when they first met, and the falcon inches forward to nip playfully at her fingers. Aria begins to stroke her lightly, and the falcon chitters happily.
"Oh my gosh..." Aria remarks, enjoying the wondrous feel of Mitsuki's feathers under her fingertips, "She's huge!"
Madara grins, "Heh, she's an adult now."
Aria coo's at the bird, and Madara preens like a proud parent while Mitsuki chirps at all the attention.
"Is it a peregrine?"
Their attention is snapped towards a ginger-haired girl stands who before them, her strong northern accent interrupting the rather weird bird-human reunion.
Madara turns to her, "No. Mitsuki is a black falcon."
"Ah, a rare breed." Replies Yuna.
Aria moves over to make room for the other Sanada girl.
Yuna's eyes light up as she examines the falcon. "She's magnificent," she exclaims, noting it's glossy feathers, bright eyes, and overall excellent health. "Her speed and form are incredible."
"...Thank you."
The young girl smiles, "May I?" She asks, wanting to pet the falcon.
Madara is surprised by the request but obliges. He senses no harmful intent from this particular Sanada, and Mitsuki has not attacked her yet either which is a good sign. The girl approaches slowly, and the falcon stares her down for a few moments. Then, in a rare show of acceptance, Mitsuki cocks her head to the side and allows Yuna to pet her. Madara's eyes widen in shock - this 'Yuna' girl is the only other person apart from himself and Aria that Mitsuki has allowed to get close.
Aria stifles a giggle at the bewildered look on Madara's face.
"Yuna is an avid bird lover," she explains, "She has an impressive aviary back home."
His curiosity is sufficiently piqued; the girl's manner for handling a bird of prey, especially Mitsuki, was impressive.
"Do you raise falcons?"
The other Sanada girl laughs, a tinkering one very similar to Aria's. "Unfortunately no. My father's kestrel died a few years back but he got too old for the hunt... Though I have wanted an arctic peregrine for some time now."
She sends Shizuka Sanada a pleading glance.
"Absolutely not." Replies her mother in a clipped tone, "...Not until you get rid of those horrid chickens."
The Sanada laugh abruptly, and somehow the tense air lessens considerably.
Yuna places her hand on her hips indignantly. "I'll have you know they're exotic and exuberant!"
"They're pompous and vicious." Aria retorts.
"Quite so!" Grumbles a Sanada Elder, agreeing with their Heiress. "They destroy the vegetable gardens and leave feathers everywhere."
"A useful chicken would be one that lays eggs," chides another Sanada Elder, "those monstrosities of yours do not."
"And with hens like yours, who needs hounds?" Sneers Seiko.
Yuna's mouth falls open, offended. "Grandpa!" She pouts, seeking aid from him against the slander of her beloved chickens, "Won't you say something to them?!"
Masayuki shrugs and sighs. "Yuna my dear, were it not for our love for you, I'm afraid those chickens would have long ago found themselves in a pot."
The Sanada erupt with laughter, except for the young girl who huffs. Madara cannot fight off the tiny smile that appears on his face. He notices Izuna chuckle softly and Nene giggle, while his grandmother's on-edge chakra had somewhat calms.
Tsume clears her throat as the laughter dies down. "Shall we?" She asks, this time with a smile that meets her eyes.
"Yes, of course." Replies Masayuki, offering his arm to his granddaughter who takes it. As they pass him by, Masayuki sends Madara a stern glare, in clear disapproval of their little 'scene' earlier.
Madara is not perturbed in the least.
He grins and pets Mitsuki for a job well done before releasing her into the air. Mitsuki never forgets a scent, and the plan went better than expected. He shall have to reward his feathered accomplice with extra treats later this evening.
He watches the Sanada disappear into the Main Hall behind his grandmother, and he lets out a breath he didn't realise he'd been holding.
A huge weight feels like it has been lifted off his shoulders. Aria seems to have been treated well and appears to be in good health and spirits. She's put on weight, he notes with a sly smile, filling out in deliciously womanly places. Her cheeks are notably fuller, and her skin sports a healthy glow. Her hair is longer too, to waist length now, and her eyes are more green than he remembered. Her chakra has started to develop, and the insides of her palms are slightly calloused in areas that would presumably come into contact with a sword. His blood rushes hot, she has yielded a blade, and it excites him more than it should. She has been training, and he wants a taste in more than ways than one.
The Sanada are not what he expected at all, especially that ginger-haired girl, Yuna.
He doesn't know what to make of her just yet, but Mitsuki has always been an excellent judge of character.
Author's Note:
Another chapter done and dusted :) Penny for your thoughts?
Details of Aria's time at with the Sanada will probably be drip-fed into the fic with time, and I hope that's ok. It's too much overload to have it all in one go. What did you think of this chapter? To weave in Aria's feelings, thoughts, and experience with the Sanada and somehow make it all flow was quite a task. I refused to use flashback for this chapter because I wanted it all current, and in the forefront of her mind as Aria walked into the Uchiha compound. Not sure how it went, and I would love your feedback on this.
Also, I just had to have Madara misbehave a little. Tee hee. :)
P.S. I have realised I may have bitten off more than what I can chew with this fic. My aim was to have it completed by 20 chapters. Yet, I find myself continuing to add details and layers that I probably shouldn't, thereby digging myself a hole that only seems get larger. *Sigh* I will try to reign in my writing.
P.P.S. I have envisioned so many different endings for this fic and the one I wanted for Madara x Aria when I started writing this is so different to the one I want for them now. Part of this is because often in life, things don't follow the path or timeline we want them to. Sometimes, it's just not the right time or place. Many of you have messaged me asking if I am going to give them a happy ending, and the short answer is yes. I would like to finish this though, but it depends on how it all plays out. I am a bit of a people pleaser, and what you readers like/wish to see will probably steer the outcome. So, what ending would you like them to have?
I hope you enjoyed this instalment, Please review and message! :) xoxoxox