I'm preparing my exams resits so I don't know how soon I will be able to update the next chapter. I will probably be posting other small things in the meantime though.
The wedding is such a beautiful event that it even closes with a spectacular party where a bride and a groom dance, oblivious to the happy gaze of the rest of the guests. Karen raises the glass with the others after some emotional words of good wishes from the counselors.
The bride's father and her brother are in the background, watching everything with certainty that this will be productive for their families and that the old promise of a former Senju leader was fulfilled after years of waiting.
Mito is radiant... smiling and embraced by the groom and Hashirama, in his own way, reciprocates.
"You should not worry." Tobirama shows a light gesture in her direction. Like the shadow that she has been, so candid and confident that she didn't expect her to be perceived by him.
Those red eyes search for her, as she sighs with a soft smile ignoring the look of the Daimyo, curious about their interaction, as well as the nearby shinobi, who seem to suspect something.
Only Izuna and Madara fall into that category; surely the latter told the former about their situation.
She doesn't like being the talk of the two, but... in this reality, being part of the gossip has been her daily life.
"I... I can't help it," she sighs with a double blink at who observes her. "I just... I'm sorry I'm not very good at pretending." The girl changes the language to English, sure that she won't be understood.
It's been a long time since she used it... and it's so nostalgic that it makes her a little sad.
"You are a civilian."
"I know," she admits with a soft smile. Surely other people far from her understanding would appreciate a normal conversation between two lovers. She carelessly takes the man's arm with a firm squeeze. "I... I don't know how to proceed now."
She feels stupid... idiotic for not having realized her friend's feelings. She knows she should keep going... pretending that this didn't happen for the sake of the work of everyone involved.
And the woman's feelings.
Mito does not deserve it.
"My brother... he only acted like an idiot."
"I also didn't notice," Karen sighs frustrated. "I'm sure I'm the laughingstock of all those who did," she comments still in English. The music resonates along with several pleasant conversations.
Among the smiles and laughter, the fact that this ceremony is held in the new compound with the attempt of making more alliances for the clan and upcoming moves marks the new era.
However, Karen... she just turns off that emotion brimming with success in her dealings, supplied by the irritation of being so foolish.
"You are not the laughingstock."
"Tobirama."
"You are not the type of person who notices things like this... just leave it."
"Mmm..." The woman is not so convinced. "I don't kn- I never got a clue what to doin these cases, that's why I never fell in love," she growls.
The bitter shinobi does not say anything.
"By the way..." Karen decides to change back to the local language, distracting those who are beginning to realize that they are not communicating through something unknown. "Is the temple that far away?" She tries to divert any attention to her sentimental chaos to something else before ending up crying out of pure frustration.
She raises her glass of sake to the person who responds on the other side of the dancing area that begins to fill. The Daimyo is happy... well, it seems so, although his gaze makes her feel very uncomfortable.
At least the leader of the Uzumaki clan has him distracted... with his son.
It's so confusing... anxiety begins to well up inside her when she thinks about everything she has had to deal with. Not to mention the bad memories of the last event of this magnitude where the redheads were involved.
It didn't surprise her when Mikami left, but she was so focused on how to work with this for the future that she let her go alone to clear her head, leaving Matsuo with his grandmother.
A matter apart from her main focus.
"..." Tobirama gives her a look that says 'the topic you're bringing up is stupid, but I'll let it slide'. It almost makes her huff indignantly. "It is far away."
"I see."
"Do you want to go?"
"Can I?"
"I do not see why not."
"If I remember correctly, I think you were the one who said I should stay inside the walls," the girl mocks that silly remark the shinobi said when they first moved in.
"I still maintain that... but if I accompany you, it would not be so bad."
"Mmmmm..." she frowns, suspicious that this was so easy. "You really want to get me out of here, don't you?"
"No. You just need to clear your head." Tobirama speaks perfect English now. They switch to their previous communication with dignity and stealth; you can see how trained and capable he is.
"I'll pretend I believe you," she snorts, tired of this topic. "How about we dance?"
"No."
"Come on... we didn't do it in the engagement."
"..." Tobirama positions himself as a statue for a long time while she tries to keep up with the rest. Dancing was the best way to relax and even if the steps are traditional and archaic, the civilian is able to follow the rhythm.
"I will not to be annoying during all week... and go with you on that trip without asking any more questions," she raises her hand in a promising gesture. "Come on..." She's not begging... she just needs to move her feet a little and continue with the picture of a match made in heaven.
And what better way to do it than in the middle of the wedding of the year, right?
"Do you swear it?"
"I swear," the civilian calmly accepts, giving a subtle smile to the one who snorts tiredly. Tobirama is the worst companion she can choose... but that shadow is now her only consolation among all this mess.
Because there is no mockery nor a stupid comment about her own blindness, and although it is still strange, she will let herself go, taking that initiative to perhaps start a, unlike before, less tense friendship.
Where the man is cold, and she is too clueless.
A weird couple.
The hangover is normal when she only drank one glass of sake the night before. Her tongue is dry, but she doesn't comment anything to keep walking to the kitchen... in her pajamas with her messy hair. Karen sighs, incensed about committing such stupidity again.
At least Madara wasn't an idiot to challenge her like last time.
Tobirama was not happy with the fact that she had had a glass of something so strong, though. "Good morning." Kaori smiles jubilantly, blinking with those abnormal motherly eyes that have emerged since she has supposedly started an active sexual life with her boyfriend.
A scandalous thing... that she frankly won't deny, considering her scene yesterday and the smudged makeup.
Besides, that was the reason why they compromised her, right?
"Good morning," Karen greets belatedly.
"Tobirama-sama said he would pick you up this afternoon."
"This afternoon."
"Yes, he said you would be leaving the compound," the old woman accepts, preparing some special tea for these occasions. Surely many have asked her for the recipe at this point, especially considering the party the day before.
"Oh..." She blinks, remembering the previous conversation.
"Is there something wrong?"
"Well, I didn't think it would be so soon."
"The young master looked enthusiastic," the former kunoichi sings, and although Karen can't imagine the man in that scenario, she just resigns herself to drinking the bitter drink.
"Yuck! I don't know why they don't make it with a better flavor."
"Do not complain, girl. That is what you get for drinking."
"Ugh... it was just one glass."
"It did not seem so yesterday."
"I'm not the best drinker."
"I noticed it... and not for the first time," the old woman scolds firmly with a severe frown. Karen smiles and limits herself to listening to the entire litany she had prepared for the poor civilian.
At least, so far, there have been no delays or anything like that.
Her life looks peaceful in her eyes for now.
Izuna is not very adept at coming to her house but now he just raises his eyebrow petulantly in her direction. She sighs and shakes her head, refusing to accept something she said to look around.
"There is no one here," the man mocks, crossing his arms indignantly at her doubt.
"You sure?"
"Of course. Who do you take me for?" The bitter shinobi laughs with an audible sigh.
Karen says nothing, serving some tea away from the rumors that may spread due to this unforeseen visit. Izuna is a calm man in his own sarcastic way and, although he has sharp comments, is not malicious.
At least not intentionally and considering that he has never dealt with a civilian before...
"So..." the shinobi starts, breaking the silence and making her raise her eyebrow. "My brother told me."
"Oh..."
"Oh? What is that supposed to mean?"
"I didn't know you were a gossip."
"I'm not."
"Then why do you want to know?"
"Curiosity."
"You are a gossip."
"I would be if I spread it through both clans, but I won't," the young man boasts with a strong gesture.
"And an idiot."
"Feel satisfied to know that you are the only civilian who speaks like that to me."
"Of course," the girl says with a tired snort. "You're not going to leave the subject, are you?"
"No."
"Mmmm..." Karen looks at the sky. "It's... confusing... I wasn't expecting it."
"Then, you don't love him."
"No."
"You could have started with that."
"I don't want to hurt his feelings, not all of us are that apathetic," the woman complains, making the man laugh, oblivious to any bitter comment.
"Falling in love... is complicated, especially for a shinobi."
"Sounds like you're talking from experience."
"No." She sees Izuna blushing for the first time which makes her laugh mischievously, trying to hide it with loud coughs. "It's none of your business."
"Right... I have to come loose while you keep quiet."
"It's not the same."
"Of course it is. This is my love life that's at stake here."
"Mine is of no interest to you."
"Come on, let's make an exchange. I told you stuff, now you tell me."
Izuna stands up bitterly and disappears with his annoying art of quick stealth that makes her laugh a little. She could see the embarrassment all over his face even though he ran without answering her.
The girl noticed it and will be surely using it against him in the future.
Karen looks at the sky again, amused by such an interaction. Izuna is apparently an idiot in love. The only mystery is with whom.
The afternoon announces the arrival of Tobirama with an embittered gesture and armor well placed in its position. "Are you ready?" he does not ask, but orders dryly.
"Kaori-san told me and prepared something," she accepts, taking a small backpack. "I didn't think we needed this much."
"Only the basics."
"How many days?"
"Not many."
"Uh... but... what about my job?"
"I spoke with Izuna about it. He shall be your substitute."
"But I didn't even train him."
"He will take care of it," the shinobi pressures to take her carelessly, which makes her huff tiredly.
"Seriously, this is becoming a fixation."
"You are too slow."
"I know, I know..." she rolls her eyes. "Just let me know that you're going to carry me a little earlier next time."
Tobirama ignores her without wanting to explain anything else. She was locked up that whole day and it was the first time in a long time that she had gone out. Karen smiles... and can't help but feel faint when they reach the door in one jump, making the exit process so rigorous that he does not slow down, even if he is the brother of the clan leader.
They look at them with various peculiar smiles that she prefers to ignore.
"Have fun, Tobirama-sama," one of them dares to say, earning a silent reprimand from the infamous white-haired man who loses his cool for a moment.
Which makes her wonder... what kind of gesture is he making if that guygot so scared?
"Hashirama... will leave in the morning tomorrow," Tobirama states curtly, giving light peeks as if waiting for some reaction from her part.
But that's not her business. Karen is still surprised that they didn't go at night during their honeymoon. There is something similar for couples, of course, even though it's not called that. A weird name that she doesn't remember and that it only relates to this already known one.
The woman blinks as she is taken carelessly. In a matter of seconds, which she didn't expect, they were already in the forest. She looks at the lovely view of a cliff not too far away next to a river at the bottom.
So beautiful that she looks for a long time.
Tobirama doesn't say anything, acting like a gargoyle who took her out for his own selfish intentions. Or maybe not... but Karen promised not to ask unnecessary questions some time ago.
More so if they involve her in some way.
So, she keeps quiet and they continue the trip, hoping that perhaps her mind will relax, and she will be able to take her previous position without any problems upon her return.
And to work with Hashirama, in some way... even though things aren't the same anymore.
Karen is sure that she will remain professional.
It's her job... right?
Author's notes:
As you can see, this is the closing of Hashirama's wedding arc. Now, they took her out for reasons that thye frankly don't want to express, but I will tell you that they have to do with the clan leader's feelings... Tobirama hopes that not seeing her will clear his idiotic mind and let her live.
Or could it be because of something else?
I don't know... Thanks for your kudos and comments.
Author-chan out!