It's been quite a while since I last updated, so I hope you all like this chapter. This is about an average chapter in length, but next chapter is going to see more perspectives from different characters.

I'll probably come back through and edit this some more, so don't judge too harshly.

This chapter is not perfect, but it's really more of a transition chapter so I can start writing for some of the other characters now that the war is over. Also Temari is having a tough time and she's a little emotionally all over the place. I hope you don't read it as out of character, it's really more as trying to adjust to a lot of changes with an underlying desperation to everything.

I appreciate all of your reviews! They truly help me get motivated. In fact it was a private message from riajaria that got me to finally update. So thank you Akatsuki Akuma, crazyuser, LovelyMystery, Sonnenblume, War Legend, Suna no Princess, demonslayeer, Weeaboo, Ebony, My Gun Goes Bang, Motherfuckin Flamer, Fiora, Lalala, Killer Queen A, Cyclone, Peaches, A Girl, Saint Row, DirtyLikeHell (I miss your stories), Anon, Metallic Taste, Don't Play With Me, Camille, and riajaria.

Remember that this is all just in fun. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

"...And finally there's Temari. Your sister can either be a symbol of your acceptance, and I will refer to her as a gift. Or she can be my prize and show the power and dominance I have over you. They are similar choices, but I will leave the framing up to you. Either way she will belong to me and she won't take a step out of Konoha."

"I know you've already spread rumors that she was a traitor who picked you over everything else. Why would anyone believe either of these new options now?" asked Gaara.

"I'll show you how easily people will believe what I tell them to believe. And you should know it's possible for there to be more than one truth. Now choose. But know that with your brother there is no choice. You know that I will not kill Temari, but I have no problem killing him."

Madara watched Gaara leave the palace before heading to the next item on his agenda. He hated the potential in Gaara to be a great leader. He wasn't jealous of the young boy; he just really wanted to kill him. The boy somehow managed to get around putting official language on what Temari was, and left the choice to him. He was absolutely insufferable. But Madara couldn't stop the smirk that came upon his face. He knew just the right kind of language to keep the framing of Temari a bit ambiguous for the masses. They still wouldn't know for sure if she was a gift, a prize, or willing participant.

Madara had learned how Gaara used to be. If only this Gaara still had a touch of his old madness, Madara could have taken a real liking to him. He would have even thought of taking him under his wing now that he had a relationship with his sister.

Madara thought about trying to bring his madness back out of him, but quickly dismissed it. Gaara would have to lose everything to consider entering that frame of mind, and Madara wasn't willing to lose Temari just to gain Gaara.

He could always kill Gaara, and it wouldn't matter. What would anyone do to him? What could anyone do to him? But he worried that if he killed Gaara that Temari would harm herself in return and become too despondent to be any fun. He remembered the hell he fell into after losing his siblings, and he wouldn't put Temari through that unless he absolutely had to. Of course, no one else needed to know that was how he actually felt about things.

He stopped mid-stride. He consistently surprised himself with how Temari made him feel. He was leaving her brothers alive despite what he wanted. It was further proof to him that she was supposed to be with him. He could imagine no one else he'd be willing to change his plans for.

He suddenly wanted to see her, but he needed to take care of a few things first. Madara entered his throne room and looked around.

"Uchiha-sama we've collected everyone you wanted."

"Good, now who wants to die?"

Temari learned from Tenten that she would begin cooking again tonight. This time instead of just fixing food for herself and Madara she had to prepare dinner for Tenten and Kankurou as well. However she only had to worry about dinner from now on.

Temari sighed at the unwelcome news. I'm not a freaking chef! Why do I have to spend so much time in this damn kitchen? I do not like cooking!

Kankurou began to laugh at the idea of Temari cooking every day, but stopped the instant he saw her face. Tenten noticed her distress as well and offered an explanation, "I think he just wants to keep you preoccupied. On busier days you probably won't have to cook."

No, Temari knew it was more than just busy work. Everything with him was more than just what it was on the surface.

Tenten showed her that one of the cabinets was actually a hidden bookshelf. "If you need any ingredients we don't have, just indicate which recipe you want to make, and I'll get it for you.

Kankurou started looking through some of the books. "I still can't believe he's making you cook. Has he had your cooking before? I mean, I'm much better at cooking than you. Better yet, he could just hire Chouji's mom or something, and have you do something else to keep busy."

Temari couldn't believe what he just said to her. She forgot how much of an insensitive jerk Kankurou could be. He was the kind of guy who never realized he was being a jerk until it was explained to him. Temari loved him, and that bit of innocence about him, but she really wanted to fight him. Thankfully Tenten smacked him on the head and told him to shut up.

"You're being an asshole, Kankurou."

Kankurou chose to ignore her, "Look Temari, he even has some books on Suna dishes. You should make us a meal from home sometime." Tenten hit him again. "Who gave you permission to keep hitting me?"

"Would you like to ask Uchiha-sama who gave me permission?" Kankurou shut up and continued looking through the cookbooks. "That's what I thought. How are you even related to Gaara and Temari? I didn't know intelligence skipped over middle siblings in some families."

Tenten and Kankurou stayed in the kitchen with her. One for company and the other to make sure she didn't eat anything. She prepared dinner and also remembered to make a fruit tart for dessert. Tenten lead her back to Madara's room, and told her to shower.

When she returned Tenten and Kankurou were waiting for her. Tenten had a strange look on her face, but Temari couldn't care less if something was troubling her. She finally spoke, "Madara wants you and Kankurou to witness something this evening. Kankurou, he wants you to wear something nice. Temari, he wants you dressed to perform for him or something. That creepy zetsu guy is back, and he'll be the one helping you." At that moment Zetsu came through the door. "I don't really get why Zetsu's the one helping you and I'm helping Kankurou, but whatever. Come on Kankurou. You follow me."

Temari wanted to say why don't you ask "Uchiha-sama" about it? And two seconds later she heard Kankurou say, "You can ask your wonderful Uchiha-sama about it when you tell him I don't want you hitting me for no reason."

Temari smiled. At least Kankurou said it for her. They left, and Temari surprisingly found that she was looking forward to some alone time with Zetsu. She wanted to know if he was actually OK, and to thank him for helping her escape.

Zetsu came in and immediately went for the closet filled with kimonos. Temari walked up to him waiting for his usual banter, but it never came.

Temari had enough of the silence by the time he started fixing her hair. She put both hands on his shoulders and gave him a questioning look.

"I'm sorry, Temari. But he'll kill me the next time I mess up. I have to make sure you look perfect. I'm also not allowed to converse with you the way we used to. Z was the funnier one anyway." He put the last decoration in her hair and helped her put on the uchikake and motioned for her to follow him.

Temari caught her reflection in the mirror and stopped to look at herself. The ensemble she had on was ridiculously opulent. It was gold and cream with a pair of red dancing cranes. It was gorgeous. The uchikake complemented the kimono beautifully and Temari didn't look or feel anything like herself. Her hair was in its normal style but her head seemed to be framed by gold filigree fans and pearls. She looked closer and made out small Uchiha crests within the ornate fans and her stomach dropped.

She became extremely worried when she saw Kankurou in a burgundy and white formal kimono that did not belong to him. What does he have planned? Zetsu left the three of them almost immediately.

Kankurou stopped to look at her. "Wow, Temari. I've never seen you look so pretty. You look like you're getting married or something." Kankurou's statement hung in the air for a moment. Temari couldn't respond verbally, but she was sure her face looked troubled because Kankurou muttered, "Sorry, I just- I'm sorry. I'm sorry about before too. I wasn't really thinking. "

Tenten added, "Yeah, you do look nice. Then again, anyone would probably look nice in that getup." They left the private wing and made their way to the throne room. Tenten stopped Temari and Kankurou before they entered. "Kankurou, we're going in first. After the door closes behind us count to ten and then enter."

Temari waited and when the doors opened she was more than surprised. She was also embarrassed. The room was large with an extremely tall ceiling, and the large amount of people in it only emphasized just how big it was. She saw Madara standing on an elevated section of the room in front of an austere throne. Temari wondered why he would contrast the rest of his surroundings with such a plain seat, but she was soon preoccupied.

She looked out at the large number of people present, and realized that they weren't just anybody. They were all shinobi.

These people knew her as a shinobi. She could tell by the shocked looks some were giving her that they never imagined they would see her dressed like this. She took her first step. The room was silent except for the soft tinkle of her kanzashi and the rustling of fabric. There were so many faces she vaguely recognized from the war. She looked through the crowd for the faces of the few people she talked to in Konoha, but she could only find Shino and Sakura. Sakura was easy to spot because of her hair and Shino and his family because of their glasses. Sakura looked at her with pity clearly expressed on her face. She couldn't tell what Shino thought, but he didn't turn away.

She walked over to Kankurou and stood next to him still surveying the crowd trying to pretend that half of them weren't staring at her.

"Now we can begin. Everyone," He motioned over to Temari, "this is my Temari. Temari, come here." She didn't move. The possibility of this meeting being about her was paralyzing.

She felt a small nudge from Tenten and reluctantly walked next to him. Her heart was beating so loudly that she was sure everyone in the room could hear it. She turned and faced the crowd. "Some of you may know her, but I assure you that you have never seen her look so radiant. Please extend her the respect my concubine deserves."

Temari's eyes widened and she looked over to Madara. CONCUBINE! I'm his concubine! He called me his concubine in front of everyone. What does that even mean in Konoha? She remembered that book he gave her about Konoha culture and recalled a short paragraph that stated concubines, though the status and term was no longer used, had even less social standing than they did in Suna.

This was a nightmare. Temari had stopped breathing until she felt two hands on her shoulders. He had moved directly behind her framing her entire body.

"Temari is an amazing person, and I deserve to have her. Her place is with me. She knows it, and now you all know it too." Temari wanted to move away from his firm grip. But it would be a fight she would lose, and it wouldn't be worth the punishment. She remembered what Hiroko told her. By now, everyone probably believed she wanted to be there, so the small struggle would only seem like a show to them anyway. She wanted to just disappear.

"Temari, is there anything you'd like to say?" Damn him! She wanted to shout that she would not be his concubine, but her pride wouldn't allow her to create such a useless scene. She couldn't show her true feelings. So instead she remained still, swallowing the words she couldn't say. He began speaking again after a moment.

"There really is nothing she has to say to any of you anymore. Temari is mine, and mine alone. If you find yourself jealous or upset about it, I do not blame you." He lightly traced the bare skin revealed by the kimono on her back. "Just come talk to me about it, and we will work something out for your needs. Of course not with Temari, but I do want everyone to be as happy as they can be. Konoha is the best place on earth, and I want everyone to know it and believe it. However there are more privileges allowed for the more compliant." Temari was beginning to feel sick. Was this all just to torture her?

"Now for the main reason I gathered you all here. Happiness requires sacrifice. I want to show you all how your loved ones come back, and I'm going to do this for the first time in front of you. Bring him out!"

Two guards wheeled out an unconscious man and a murmur went through the crowd. Temari guessed that many in the crowd recognized him. "Quiet! Place him in the middle of the markings."

Temari finally noticed the markings on the ground and became a bit worried when she saw that she was also standing on them. Madara easily ushered her to his side off of the seal on the floor.

He pulled out a scroll that disappeared in an instant and a talisman and began to go through signs more quickly than she could decipher. The man in the seal began to scream, and matter that seemed to come from nowhere engulfed his body. It was clear that whoever that man was, he was him no longer.

She heard a few cries come from the crowd and assumed that they were close to the man Madara had just murdered. She saw the once large man turn into a slender Yakushi Kabuto.

Temari wasn't that surprised. Wasn't Kabuto one of the main people fighting them during the war? Why wouldn't he begin by resurrecting his former comrades? She wasn't sure how Kabuto died, but he was always more evil than good.

He looked like the Kabuto she remembered seeing in Bingo books. But everyone else had a very different reaction. They were clearly surprised, and Temari didn't know why.

Kabuto looked confused at first, but quickly recognized the jutsu he had used so frequently. He began to go through the signs just as Madara did during the war, but Madara stuck a talisman into his neck and sealed him in an instant. "This one needs a little talking to before he realizes what's going on. But this is how it works. That man is gone. Even if you were to undo the jutsu, he'd still be dead. To bring the body completely back from the dead requires another sacrifice. So for every loved one you want returned to you, two people must die.

"Now I know that not everyone here wants someone returned to them, or perhaps this new knowledge upsets your delicate sense of morality and you want to change your mind. Those of you who want someone have already signed a contract and whether you want it or not I will bring the person back even if it is just to kill them again. For those of you here who have not signed, I obviously still want something from you or you would already be in prison or dead. You either give me what I want or I will sacrifice those you care about to bring back others.

"So you see if someone is desperate enough, they may turn you in for being a bad citizen if it means that they are going to get their loved ones back sooner or so that their loved one will not be the next one on the chopping block."

Temari looked up to Madara and then out among the crowd of people. He loved what he was doing to them. Temari felt pain for everyone in that room. Then she remembered that they could all leave this palace and figure out their lives. She was the only one who had to deal with Madara at all times, and her empathy for the crowd began to dissipate.

How many of them cared that she was the one who had to stand and lay next to him? She had to endure this man's touch and no one cared for her feelings. They all thought she was someone willing to sell herself for her and her family's safety.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized they were right. If given the choice to sleep with Madara or watch her brothers die she would have hardly hesitated. The problem was that she was never given that choice. What could she sell that he hadn't already laid claim to?

That was the difference. These people got to choose. They got a chance to weigh the options, sign contracts, and negotiate with their own conscious.

She was told to lie down and like it.

Everyone left and she followed Madara to a room she had not been in before. Tenten and Kankurou followed them too.

"I need to have a few words with Kabuto. You three wait for me here. Others will join you shortly."

Within ten minutes quite a few shinobi came into the room but not nearly as many as before. This appeared to be the VIP gathering.

As they filed into the room they all seemed to pause and look at the three of them before continuing to talk amongst themselves.

She noticed a lot of important Konoha shinobi like Sakura, Ino and a few other Yamanaka, Chouji and his dad, Kiba and his family, Shino and his dad, and Shikamaru just to name a few. They each had a person next to them who Temari didn't recognize but she could guess that they were important to most of the people there. Some had children next to them, but Temari couldn't guess why right away. Shizune was someone with a child by her, but Temari was positive that Shizune didn't have any children.

Her eyes went to Kabuto as he entered with Madara about fifteen minutes later. Something was off about him, but with Madara involved she wasn't that surprised. She was sure she seemed off too.

A few eyes left her rather quickly while others lingered. She was used to being looked at, but usually because of her own choices. These looks felt invasive and uninvited even though she was fully clothed.

She scanned the crowd and tried to keep her head up and proud. She refused to be ashamed in front of people who actually knew her for something that was beyond her control. It was not her fault she was here. This was the most she could do for herself at the moment, so she did it.

Madara walked into the center of the room and began, "You are all here because I would like you all to work for the Uchiha Empire. You all have special talents that I think would be a waste to destroy. However, I am willing to do just that or worse if you choose to not cooperate with me. Who here is having second thoughts about working for me?"

Temari looked around and she heard her kanzashi tinkle from the movement. Everyone seemed to be waiting for the first one to speak. Temari desperately wanted to say she didn't want to work for him, but not only could she literally not protest she knew her cooperation was not an option. Force seemed to be a perfectly legitimate option when it came to her.

Her eyes went to Shikamaru and the woman next to him. The woman looked tough and didn't show any signs of worry. Shikamaru wore his usual mask of indifference, but Temari could tell that he was thinking harder than usual and trying to hide it.

"I expected at least one of you to speak up. Is there really no one here who wants to test me?" He walked along them teasing each person. Taunting them to be the shinobi they wanted to be instead of the pitiful creatures they were.

No one took the bait. "I see. You all probably think it is better to serve under me now, and then take me down later when I least expect it. Well here is some information for your next resistance meeting: I am always expecting it. And with the seal on each and every one of you I can shut off or limit your chakra at a moment's notice."

This was news to Temari and suddenly things made more sense. This must have been the large complicated seal he was working on. Temari guessed that anyone who had been in the tree had this kind of seal on them.

She looked around to gauge their reactions to his words and she noticed Shikamaru now pointedly avoiding her, and Temari realized that it hurt. Why couldn't he even make eye contact with her? Was she so disgusting to him that he couldn't even look at her? He was her closest friend in Konoha, and if he was disgusted with her she had no hope for anyone else.

Madara continued, "As you can see, Kabuto is now completely revived and it only took another uncooperative prisoner. It is also evident that Kabuto had a change of heart near the end of his life, so he needed a little persuasion as well.

"I placed him in the God Tree in order to get my seal on him, and I happened to find a little orphanage he was fond of. I even identified some of his old friends from it. So he truly has the same motivations as the rest of you…and a few desires I have agreed to help come to fruition." Temari saw a devious look come across his face and knew that Kabuto's desires probably meant someone else's hell.

"Kabuto has agreed to be in charge of a few things for me, and one of those things is community health. I understand that Kabuto and Shizune have some history. I'd like to know if you two can move past it and work together." He gave Kabuto a sideways glance and asked, "Or should I just be asking Shizune? I already know how you feel Kabuto, and depending on how things go, you may or may not get what you want. Shizune, what's your answer?"

"Uchiha-sama, as long as all you ask me to do is my job as a healthcare provider, I will work with Kabuto. However, I will not participate in anything inhumane or unethical."

Madara smirked at her response and Temari got a horrible feeling for Shizune.

"From now on you are Temari's doctor. You will attend to her first before any other duties every morning unless otherwise directed." Madara turned to Shikamaru and paused. "Shizune, take Temari and do her first exam over in the next room. The child with you may leave." Temari followed Shizune out of the room. Madara waited until the door was closed and the child gone before he continued.

He turned and went back to Kabuto. "Kabuto and Shikamaru plus your asset stay. The rest of you can leave. You'll hear from a representative soon. Tenten and Kankurou, you stay too."

"Shikamaru, please follow me. I would like to talk to you privately for a moment." Shikamaru didn't hesitate to follow him, but he wore a calm look of disinterest. They went in the opposite direction and Madara observed him for a moment before quietly asking, "What do you think of the kimono?"

Shikamaru only let his surprise show for a moment before he assessed his situation. He glanced over to his mother and sighed with his whole body.

"I never would have imagined her actually wearing something like that. I don't think it's her taste."

"Hmm... You think it was a bad choice?"

"It was a good choice for your purpose. I don't think it suits her, but it suits you."

"Yes, that it does. And what 'suits me' is best. But what do you suppose was 'my purpose?'"

Shikamaru paused before answering. He knew that he was on shaky ground and that Madara could easily kill him and/or his mother without any warning. He finally answered, "I can't pretend to know what you intended to do. I only know that she was an impressive distraction for many in the room. And you've shown your dominance over one of the strongest kunoichi alive. It shows that you want to have domain over our cultural and social lives as well as our political and physical lives. There is no escaping your influence, and you don't plan on letting us lead our lives as usual."

"I am glad, but not surprised you told me the truth. I have another question for you: Can I trust you around her?" Shikamaru looked confused for a moment, and then remembered that Uchiha knew all of their desires. He knew that Shikamaru felt something for Temari, even though Shikamaru wasn't even sure what that something was.

"Of course, Uchiha-sama, Temari is off-limits. I understood that before you even came around."

"Yes, you are clever. But I won't tolerate anything when it comes to her. You can look all you want, but don't think about touching her. Now are we going to have a problem?"

Shikamaru shook his head. Madara went on, "You know, I can't blame you for dreaming about her, Nara. She is beyond words. But you were right. She was always off limits to you. We will talk about your official position in this empire soon. As for now, you can leave with your mother."

Madara returned to the three remaining people in the room. "Kabuto, I have you in a position of trust and authority, but you will have to prove yourself to me before I give you domain over Shizune."

Tenten's eyes widened in surprise, "What do you mean? What did Shizune do? And why trust him so much?"

"I trust him just the right amount. And Shizune has done absolutely nothing. But if someone loyal to me identifies her as key to his happiness then I'm willing to give her to him. There is nothing wrong with this. But Kabuto has not yet earned that kind of prize from me, and Shizune has not yet betrayed me to just give her to him."

Tenten nodded but it didn't sit right with her. She suddenly wanted to be by herself to think things over.

Temari followed Shizune out to the next room. She was sweating from the idea of Shizune finding her birth control. It was imperative that Shizune understood her situation. They sat down and Shizune began by asking Temari how she felt and if anything was worrying her.

Temari nodded and pointed to her belly and then her arm. Shizune did a quick body scan and handed Temari a small pad and pen.

"First off, why can't you speak?" Temari quickly wrote that Madara sealed her voice and no one but him could release it. "I see...So all of that back there must have been very hard for you." Temari nodded and Shizune went on, "So why are you worried about your birth control? It seems to be working just fine." Temari quickly wrote that Madara didn't know about it, and he expected her to eventually become pregnant.

Shizune quickly saw the quandary they were both in. Not even two minutes into her new job and she was faced with a dilemma. Madara would definitely ask about Temari's fertility if he was concerned about a child. Shizune didn't believe that Temari was here because she wanted to be and selling her out would feel like betraying a comrade. But what would Madara do to them if he found out they lied to him?

"Look Temari, I won't tell him about this, but I won't put a new one in you either. You have at least another year and a half before it needs replacement. Let's just hope for both our sakes that no one finds out."

Temari wrote that Zetsu knew, but he hasn't told Madara yet. Shizune nodded, "Well it looks like everything else is fine with you. Why does he want me to come over every day? Is he just overprotective?" Temari shook her head and wrote that he's the exact opposite. She wrote that sometimes he hurts her very badly, and she needs medical attention. It happens more often than not, and it's easier to just have Shizune come every day.

"What do you mean 'hurts you very badly?' He seems to dote on you and show you off."

Temari shook her head and wrote, "He's been waiting for a doctor to be on hand. He's almost killed me more than once. He can't not hit me. Frankly, I'll feel a lot safer knowing a real doctor will be able to see me on a regular basis."

Shizune nodded her slight understanding and they both stood to return to Madara as Shizune destroyed the pages Temari wrote on.

Madara dismissed Shizune. He also dismissed Tenten and Kankurou and told Temari to go wait for him for dinner.

It was just him and Kabuto.

Kabuto began, "There's no one I want to be revived."

"Yes, I know."

"Will you really get her for me?"

"Of course, I said I would do it."

"And then you're going to use her against me."

"I can already do that. You see I know that what you really want is a family and not just any family, but a real one. You can only get that from Shizune. Not just because you already love her, but because she's compassionate enough to put everyone above her own needs. She would end up caring more about your little orphanage than you, and that is just one thing you love about her.

"So understand that either before or after you have her I can get whatever I want out of you. And, thanks to one of my own clan, we both know that having people you care about is worth it. So you are not going to convince me all these things do not matter to you.

"I myself recently went through a metamorphosis. It may not seem it, but-and you should view this as a sign of trust, but I know firsthand what having someone you care about can do for you. Having your family will be worth everything in the end."

Kabuto remained suspicious, but he found his guard wanting to drop. His few interactions with Madara had proved to be some of the most honest ones he had in his life. He was used to being manipulated but this felt different from his dealings with Danzo and Orochimaru. This felt like a true exchange. Kabuto was always drawn to the powerful and for once Madara didn't seem to have any machinations he wasn't also willing to reveal to him.

"I have other things to do this evening, so I must leave you. Go to your room assignment and rest. Tomorrow will be the first day of your new life, and I promise you will like it."

Temari was sitting in the entertainment room waiting for Madara. All the food was laid out for him, and even though she was starving she didn't dare eat anything. It was all arranged in a way that would make it obvious if she did.

On top of that, she felt a bit sick after what she had seen earlier that day. She wondered if Tenten felt the same about Neji and Gai-sensei. And now that she had a moment to think, she figured that Madara could use Kankurou in one of those resurrection jutsu as easily as anyone else. He wanted her to be aware of how the jutsu worked just like everyone else.

Then there was the concubine issue? Temari didn't want to admit it, but she at least thought that she would garner wife status in his life. But as she thought more about it she acknowledged that she was exactly what he said. A wife was a partner; she was a slave.

I'm his concubine. Temari cried, and she didn't try to stop it. She felt like nothing. She eyed the knife on the table. She picked it up and envisioned her blood ruining the expensive garment she wore. She laughed. At this point she felt like she was worth less than her outfit. She heard the door slide open and looked up.

Madara's face quickly changed to one of concern. Everything was wrong: Temari was not up to greet him, he couldn't tell if she was laughing or crying, and she was holding a knife. He fought down his urge to knock her back to her senses and instead said, "Put the knife down, and come greet me."

Temari stopped laughing and put the knife back on the table, but the crying didn't stop.

She stood up, but couldn't make her legs move towards him. He sighed. He had hoped that she would not react this way.

"Serve me." They both sat down and Temari fixed him his plate. "I am sorry you are upset." Temari froze for a second and then finished placing his plate before him. "I needed you to understand what is at stake with your brother. And perhaps I should have warned you about today, but I think you handled it all beautifully. And you looked so regal."

Madara and Temari ate for a while, but something was still bothering her, and he didn't like it. He asked her, "Are you upset that you're my concubine?"

If Temari wasn't so hungry she would've slammed down her chopsticks, instead she just tensed her grip.

"You are upset I told everyone you're my concubine, aren't you?" Temari ignored the question and continued to eat. It was one thing to be treated like one in private, but to actually hear him say it in front of everyone was something else entirely. She felt shame, and something else she couldn't quite pinpoint. She was almost afraid to question her own feelings about what just happened.

"Listen Temari, I don't think you should think about the label so much. It does not mean I care for you any less. It's just what you are. You are my concubine, but it's more important to remember that you are mine.

"As far as marriage goes, I don't plan on marrying anyone. I do recognize the benefits a marriage can have. Even though I don't see the need arising, it's always an option for me. And why should I marry you when I already have you? Your children will still be legitimate, and you still belong to me.

"Actually, this way you belong to me even more. To get technical, you are my prisoner of war, and I have the legal right to make you whatever I want. A concubine is my property. I could have chosen to make you my slave; this is much better. And if you were my wife, cheating would be adultery. This way you have no rights, and I can legally punish you if you violate my rules in any manner. If you cheated on me, I could do whatever I wanted to you, and the fool who dared to touch you could be legally punished.

"Do not worry about there being others either. I do not plan on having a whole compound of concubines. The word was just the best choice. And it kind of reinforces the idea that you are from Suna. And when it comes to the people from Konoha, well you know what they think of most foreigners."

Temari was horrified by what she just heard. There was so much in what he said that she could barely stay calm. He was right about her being his concubine. She wouldn't want to marry him anyway, then she would need a divorce to be truly free of him. So should she be happy he made her a concubine instead? At least this meant that there was a possibility that he could tire of her and turn her out of the palace. There was nothing binding him to her just her to him.

Hiroko was right. He probably really does love me, and literally has no idea how love should be manifested. This is fine to him because I'm not powerful enough to stop it, and neither is anyone else. So he's free to make me whatever he wants, and I'm free to do nothing but please him.

He leaned towards her and held her. "Temari, I'm going to let you speak for a little while." She felt his thumb run down her throat. "Now tell me if I'm right about why you're upset."

"No." Temari hadn't heard her own voice in so long she almost didn't recognize it. It sounded a little raspy, but it wasn't as hoarse as she expected. But most importantly it was back. "You're wrong. I don't want to be anything to you."

He slapped her then pinned her to the ground by her throat. "That is the last thing you want to be, and it's not why you were crying. Now tell me why you're upset."

"I'm upset because I'm still stuck here with you. Why can't you just get with someone who wants to be with you?"

Madara chuckled and stroked her face. "I see. You are worried I am going to choose someone else to be with. I could never find someone like you. There is no one I want to be with more, and there never will be."

He moved lower to kiss her, but Temari slapped his hand away from her face. "You should have told them the truth. I am a slave, and calling me one would have been better than a concubine." Temari stared up at him and felt his hand tense around her throat.

But Madara stopped and sat back up releasing her throat. "You have no clue what it's like to be a slave. Now get up there and dance." She didn't expect him to let her go and she was a bit apprehensive.

Temari stood with a small tinkle from her kanzashi. She was unsettled and annoyed that she really did let his word choice get to her. But she was even more upset that everyone knew exactly what she was doing with him. And then there was the rumor he spread about her choosing to be with him. How many people already believed him? They probably thought she was an idiot, and that she deserved to be his concubine.

He had just isolated and embarrassed her in front of everyone. He made sure that she would get no advantage from being in a close position to him.

She readied the music and grabbed the two smaller fans. The music that started was a very traditional song called Sakura. [ youtu .b/ AK51Lblc EOw? list= PLGEgu6lN fuQMeIzRBeX oO4jSo -XCRfzpI]

It wasn't the dance she had planned to do, but she wanted to irritate him as much as he did her. Nothing she had done before was so traditional and so boring to her, but she did it as a way to retaliate.

He wanted a traditional label for her. He wanted her decked out in these opulent traditional clothes. He could deal with a traditional dance.

Near the end she began to wonder how he would react. She couldn't discern anything during it, but as the song ended she became incredibly worried.

She went to sit and he stopped her. "Do not sit. Go to the bedroom and wait for me there. I need to make sure I have attended to everything for the evening."

Temari did not like this. The last time he didn't pounce on her right after her dance she almost drowned with him inside her. The secret room flashed before her, and she was already formulating an apology before she even reached the door.

Temari went over to the shallow pit of pillows and blankets and quickly checked for the hidden rope. She sighed from relief when she found it, but she still had no clue how it could help her.

She went over to the bed and sat on the edge waiting for Madara. She hoped that he would never come, but the quiet slide from the door informed her that she was in for another disappointment. Her head jerked up when she heard the door to the secret room open, but she didn't meet his eyes.

"Madara-sama, I thought you would like that dance. I know it's not like anything I've done before, but since we were back in Konoha I thought you'd appreciate something more classic than what I usually do."

She could no longer see Madara from the bed, and he didn't answer her. "I'm sorry you didn't like it. I won't do it again." Temari found herself at a new low, but what was one more indignity after a long day of them. "Please, just come join me on the bed. We can- I want to-"

Temari couldn't bring herself to voice what was so hard to even think of. She readied herself to try again, but stopped when she saw Madara leave the secret room. He walked over to her and she felt her mouth go dry. Their eyes met and Temari felt like a child.

Even on the elevated bed he seemed impossibly imposing. She stood to try to negate the effect of his presence, but the act just made her feel light-headed.

He walked up the few steps to her, their eyes never leaving the other's. She opened her mouth not knowing what she would say, but he kissed her instead. It was almost gentle; it was completely disorienting.

She remembered the open door to a possibility of incredible pain and she returned the kiss. She was an emotional wreck, and she didn't care. She didn't stop her tears from falling. They added a salty taste to their lips and it was the best kiss she had ever had. She sobbed a little more and kissed him a little harder from the depressing realization.

He began to untie her obi, and she let him. Temari didn't know if it was the possibility of torture or the horrible day she had, but she wanted someone to care about her. She needed to believe that at least one person in the world wanted her, even if it was the man who caused it all.

He pushed the many layers she wore past her shoulders and Temari let them fall to the floor. She felt the chill in the air and then the warmth of his body.

She choose warmth and leaned into him with her eyes closed. No longer just returning his kiss, but initiating her own. Her arms went to his chest and for once she did not push him away. Her hands tingled from the sudden heat from his body, and a fire was kindling in her stomach.

He held her to him with one hand on her back and the other on her neck, but she didn't mind. She didn't want the kiss to stop. But it did, almost as abruptly as it started.

Temari leaned in to kiss him again but found nothing. She opened her eyes and found him looking at her with a small smile that reached his eyes. He let out a small chuckle then pushed her back onto the bed.

He looked down on her beginning to undress himself. She saw him grow in his pants, and Temari quickly left the daze she was in. This is not what I want.

She moved back towards the middle of the large bed. She felt like a mouse cornered by a cat, and Madara's smile grew.

"I do not know what to make of you half the time. I knew that dance of yours was some kind of rebellion. I thought about it, and I could only think that it was because you were truly angry with me. Tell me why you chose that dance." Madara was undressed and sitting on the edge of the bed massaging Temari's leg.

She wanted to kick his hand off of her, but instead she sat up and naturally pulled her leg away from him. "I figured that if you wanted a proper label for me, that you would want a proper dance. How was I to know that you wouldn't like it? I thought it was what you wanted from me in the first place."

"So what made you think I did not like it, if you thought it was what I originally wanted?"

"I'm not sure, but I was right, wasn't I? You didn't like it."

Madara sighed, "I used to and still do like the older style of dancing. However, when you move it is not just about your style. It is about your soul. I am going to give you the benefit of doubt this one time, but do not disappoint me again."

Temari shook her head. Madara continued, "You must realize that I had different plans for you tonight?"

Temari nodded. "I know."

"Then that is your first official rule. Do not disappoint me with your dance. Anything below your best will be met with severe punishment." He grabbed her leg again and pulled her down on her back.

"Now about what just happened." He moved over her and the warmth that used to be in Temari's stomach turned to acid. "I really enjoyed that. And if all it took was the threat of me taking you into that room, I cannot wait to see what you will do once you have actually gotten a taste of it." He came down on her and kissed the hollow of her throat. "And in the spirit of being 'proper' tonight, tell me where your proper place is, concubine." A hand playfully danced down her stomach and circled around her belly button. "It's an easy question with an easy answer."

Her heart beat faster as he lightly moved his lips down her neck to her collar. It was light and unlike him. His breath tickled her skin and she squirmed from it. His hair brushed against her breasts. She wanted to hold it. To get a better feel of it. She reached for him but Madara found her wrist and held it down. "Answer me."

"My proper place is beneath you." With that all of her emotions from the cave flooded back into her. Feelings of depression and inferiority overwhelmed anything else that may have been growing within her. The curiosity she thought of sating was instantly forgotten. She remembered the looks she had to bear from the shinobi earlier that day, and it felt like they were there with her now. She knew they all knew who occupied Madara's nights.

His fingers moved inside her and made her tense from discomfort. She thought of asking him to stop. But she wanted to keep her voice, so she remained quiet. He added another finger and she cried out from the addition.

"I have been without your voice for too long, and I can think of many more places you belong. Tell me. Tell me of the places you should be." Madara bit down on her nipple, and Temari used her free hand to grab the blanket beneath her. Madara was as rough as usual with her and she needed to think. "I belong in front of you dancing and next to you when you want me."

He pulled his fingers from her. He licked two clean before tracing her lips with the third. "Where else?"

Temari instinctively licked her lips and tried to hide her reaction from tasting herself. She wasn't exactly as sweet as Madara might say, but it really wasn't that unpleasant. Madara kissed her and bit her lip before speaking into her neck, "Answer me."

"I belong wherever you want me."

Madara chuckled deeply and Temari could feel the vibrations through her body. "You belong on your knees." Madara heard her inhale sharply as he swiftly stood and pulled her off the bed by her wrist. Temari practically flew down the stairs after him and across the room to the pit of pillows.

"Show me where your place is." Temari looked up at him and then down at the pillows beneath her. No one could deny that she had gone through things that should have broken her spirit. She had said things that she shuddered to think of and she had done things that shamed her. Today alone Madara basically told the world that she was in Konoha as some sort of willing tribute from Suna to be used as he saw fit. Her friends openly judged her.

She was left alone to deal with a monster who continually proved that he had very human desires.

She met his eyes once more and shook her head. She braced herself for the slap she knew would come, but was instead met with a punch to the stomach. She groaned from the pain and he kicked her knee. She heard a pop and was forced to support her weight on one leg. "I lost control. I didn't mean to hurt your knee. Breaking a bone is better. It's easier to heal."

Temari saw him prepare his leg for a kick. She screamed, "No, don't!" But he kicked her shin and Temari could only squeak from the pain it caused. She fell and hissed from the impact she made on her injured knee.

"This is why I didn't mean to hurt your knee. Now you're going to be preoccupied when your mind should be on bigger things." Temari sat down and started to shake from the crazed laughter coming from a deep place within her.

"I don't care what bones you snap or joints you dislocate. If you put that thing anywhere near my mouth I promise you'll never use it again."

He cradled her face and kissed her on the forehead. "You are a veritable whirlwind tonight. First you're distraught and pleading, then you're absolutely amazing. But when it's time for the real fun you become withdrawn and now indignant."

"I must admit that a part of me thinks it means you live up to your abilities, but the part of me that doesn't want to test your conviction is telling me to wait. I sometimes forget that pain can only push you so far." He bent down to her level and laid her down into the pillows. "The one thing I do know is that I don't mind any of it."

He pushed on her injured knee and calf while forcing her to spread her legs. Temari did her best to not react, but the effort made Madara's smile a bit broader. The pain he caused her from this made him incredibly hard and even more impatient. He practically growled when he pushed into her and Temari met it with her own howl of defiance and pain. He was aggressive as usual and Temari felt every move. She was thankful that he didn't take the time to get any tools to add to her pain. His own two hands were more than enough.

The next morning she found herself literally unable to leave the bed. Madara left her there for what seemed like hours before he returned. He carried her wrapped in a sheet to a sitting room, and Temari wondered just how many rooms this palace had.

Shizune was waiting for her. Madara dropped her on a couch and sat across from them. "I will not always be here, but I had a few questions for you, Shizune. First is there anything wrong with her that would affect her fertility?"

Shizune carefully unwound the sheet while she conversed with him. "No, but things like children can take time. It's a game of chance and sometimes the outcome isn't what you want." Shizune could finally look at Temari and she swallowed hard at what she saw. She was covered in contusions and she had at least three broken bones. Shizune began a preliminary body scan and noticed the dried blood on her inner thighs. Temari looked at the ceiling to avoid the look on her face.

Madara nodded, "Yes, that is good to hear. I don't want her to receive any kind of medication without my permission first. I also don't want her to receive any kind of pain relief. Whatever she feels she deserves. And make sure her legs are in perfect condition by this evening. She has certain duties I require of her and her limbs are vital to them."

Shizune went to her legs and nodded. "It will take a few hours for her knee to heal, but it would seem that you avoided permanently damaging it. The rest are breaks and should be fine before this evening. There are a couple deep tissue bruises but they too can be healed by this evening."

Madara readied to leave the room, "I trust that nothing you see or hear will leave this room?"

"Of course not, Uchiha-sama." With that he left and Shizune turned back to Temari with eyes brimming with tears. She pulled out a pad and paper, but Temari told her it wasn't necessary.

She began with her knee and the more serious injuries first. "Um...Temari, would you like to talk about this?"

Temari didn't dare look away from the ceiling. She felt humiliated beyond belief and she just couldn't stand to see a perfect looking Shizune pitying her.

Shizune went on, "It's OK if you don't want to talk. I understand, but I need you to spread your legs for me. I need to touch you in order to heal you properly and fast." Temari did as she asked, but she sobbed until she ran out tears and then cried some more. "I'm so sorry, Temari. But I think it's important I heal you perfectly here as well as your legs. Something tells me you...um, have a burden of duties more plentiful than most."

Temari's voice was soft from crying when she replied, "It probably would have been worse if he hadn't hurt my knee." Shizune held in her reaction and wondered how it could be "worse" than this.

"How could him hurting your knee lead to fewer injuries?"

Temari could barely say it, but she knew from her training that she needed to talk about her experiences, and who better to than to a doctor. "Because I could not support myself on only one knee and still-" Shizune was horrified and wanted to just give Temari a hug, but as a doctor she knew that physical contact may be the last thing she wanted. She sadly had little experience dealing with torture victims and even less with victims of sexual abuse. Temari was dealing with both and, as far as Shizune knew, she was the only one who knew the true extent of it.

"Temari, I know that Madara said I could do nothing to relieve your pain, but I'm going to put you to sleep. It will make my work go by faster and, frankly you need it. We all heal better while we sleep anyway. Do you have any objections?"

"Just make it dreamless."

Thank you for taking the time to read this!