Chapter 14

Red patterned blankets acted as a shroud, covering her body from his tired, lustful eyes as she slept. Threads of dark hair littered the pillow as her body, spend and idle, laid next to his own aching frame. Madara watched as the woman slept serenely, feeling the tension inside slowly build up once again. No, she hadn't been enough to quench his thirst. How could she be? Her hair was nowhere near the colour he wanted, her figure wasn't as full or conservatively-dressed and her smile had nothing alluring about it. She was an Uchiha woman, so he should be attracted to her. But he had long grown too accustomed to his clan's good looks, thus he had developed an immunity to the women's coy glances, siren-like gestures and lustful promises.

He was entrapped by his own desire. Had he realised it sooner, he might have agreed to a different bargain. Hand the child over and keep the woman, perhaps, or something more. Hashirama had been planning a union between the clans, if he remembered correctly. He read that in one of the scrolls that night, when he and Izuna infiltrated the Senju stronghold and captured her—

No! He had to stop thinking about her!

He turned his back to the nameless woman, infuriated with his own thoughts and feelings and the urge to move agitating him further. Imagine Izuna's reaction if that happened! If he, Uchiha Madara, took a Senju for a wife for a peace treaty with the Senju! Izuna despised her enough, marrying the damn woman would only cause him further misery in this hellish life. How could Madara even consider doing such a thing to his own brother? His last living kin?

Outside was a cloudless, moonless night. Stars twinkled dully as though grieving the lost moon. Not too far away from the Uchiha fortress was another man deep in thought, troubled by the same woman. Tobirama sat, hands cupping his face and his face between his knees, on his bed.

Worry was etched across his features, terror for the possible future weighing on his mind. Anything could have happened to Satomi while in the midst of those bastards. Some of the Uchiha were especially bloodthirsty. Take Izuna, for example! From his clashes with him, Tobirama knew the hatred Izuna held for his clan. Satomi, regardless of being a woman, would always be a Senju and as so, she would be as guilty as any other Senju in Izuna's eyes.

What he would do to know if she was unharmed ...

His fingers scratched his scalp as unwavering concern ripped through him. Gods. Gods, what had he done? He should have been with her that night, but ever since they made the decision to be married they had spent more time apart. Satomi would feel ill and need rest while he still had his duties to perform as the clan leader's brother.

All that time they'd had he had wasted. He took her for granted, like always. He had wasted time at the beginning, hesitating about whether he wanted to be married, whether they would always be as happy, worrying over the future when he never had the power to foresee that time was like sand, each bit as precious as gold.

Her lips were illustrated by the firelight, her eyes soft and tired, her smile gentle and affectionate. "Tobirama ..." she murmured, blinking sleepily. "I love you."

He stared at the wall opposite, thoughts buzzing. He wrung his hands twice before becoming completely still. "What are you doing out there at this time of night? It's shady."

Hashirama slid the door open, grinning sheepishly. "Ha ha, I'll never ceased to be amazed by your sensing skills, brother." he chuckled.

"It would help if you didn't breath so heavily," Tobirama commented sternly. "Are you asking for a sneak attack, big brother? Be more careful and maybe I will not detect you." Hashirama smiled gently. "What?"

"Can you not sleep?"

Tobirama refused to answer. Hashirama sighed and sat beside him on the bed. "I do not recall saying you could come in," grunted Tobirama.

Hashirama rolled his eyes. "I see you haven't been sleeping properly for a while, then. You're grumpier than usual." Tobirama tsked quietly, as Hashirama continued, "If you are worrying about Satomi-san, then your concern will soon be over. The Elders have secured a time and place for her to be retrieved: in two days' time, at the northern creek near the cliffs." He paused, observing his brother. Tobirama remained motionless and silent. Hashirama, cautiously, continued,"I want to send a party of four ninja to collect her. Do you think you could lead or would you prefer I do it?"

"She is my betrothed, brother," Tobirama stated plainly, "I should be the one to go."

"That is not what I am asking," Hashirama said quickly, frowning, "I want to know whether you can remain composed when you see her. I cannot gurantee her state, whether she will be dirty, half-starved or what. I was able to get Madara agree to protect her from physical harm, but nothing else." Hashirama waited a moment. "Tobirama."

"I would not endanger her deliberately, Hashirama. I am aware of what state she may be in," Tobirama replied shortly. "I know how to prioritise, my beloved will always come before violence. We both know that." Tobirama sent him a hard stare. "Satomi and our child are more important than extracting revenge, brother, I am aware of that!" He exhaled deeply, his gaze downcast, hands in his hair. "Who else is going?"

"I thought you would like to decide. Who do you think would be the best choice for this mission?" Hashirama asked quietly.

"Obviously we need a team of clear-minded individuals, people who are not hotheaded or act rashly," Tobirama pursed his lips. "As for who, I am not sure. Toka is still recovering from her injuries, so maybe it would be wise to ask—"

"Wait until morning before making any definite decisions," Hashirama interrupted softly, "You have two days to make arrangements and prepare yourself."

"I will be fine. I am not irrational—"

"You are a man in love, Tobirama," Hashirama stood from the bed, staring at his brother searchingly. "Love is not rational, there is no logic in Love – stop acting like you can maintain your sanity if you see her hurt, otherwise I will begin thinking that you do not truly love her!"

Tobirama glowered at his elder brother. "What makes you think I do not love her? I care for her and her safety, but if I cannot control my emotions, it could endanger the entire team! I cannot allow my heart to rule my head in such a dangerous situation!"

"Then what do you love about her?" persisted Hashirama, staring hard at him.

Tobirama remained quiet.

"Can you not answer such a simple question?"

"Can you?" Tobirama narrowed his eyes. "If Love is so complex, big brother, then answer your question yourself. What do you love about Mito-san? Why? How much? Do you think such questions can be answered so easily?"

"Then why did you begin courting her?" fired Hashirama.

"She ..." Tobirama paused. There were so many reasons, but none of them explained why he wanted to marry her, why he laid down with her and created the life that she was now guarding amongst enemy Shinobi. Hashirama's eyes softened as Tobirama stared at him, speechless. "The past is nothing now," Tobirama said abruptly, his voice as soft as a summer breeze, his face blank and impassive. "Satomi is everything for me. We will be married soon and our child will be born shortly afterwards. There is only the future to look forward to."

Hashirama didn't smile. "I hope that is true."

In the early morning, Satomi woke up and found the door connecting hers and Madara's chamber open. The door was never left open. Curiosity prickled her senses and she crept out from under her covers to spy through the gap.

The view from the door showed Madara, draped in dark red sheets, his back as bare as a newborn baby. There was a thin slip of fabric, akin to a woman's obi, lying near the foot of the bed. Had Madara sought company last night? Satomi's cheeks flared crimson instantly at the thought. He was a very different man from Hashirama, she couldn't see the Senju leader looking at any other woman but Uzumaki Mito.

Suddenly Madara groaned from the bed and rolled onto his back. Satomi stared at his bare arm. It was so different from Tobirama's arms, it was more muscular. Tobirama tended to be lean and strong, although his muscles were not delicately defined underneath his flesh, while Madara's body seemed to be well-detailed and a pale ivory colour all over, with the occasional scar. Tobirama had a scar across his right thigh and half of his abdomen, but there was simply silvery coloured; Madara's scar, that stretched from his left collarbone to his right breast, was a pinkish colour. His chest didn't seem to move as Satomi's eyes roamed over it. Subconsciously she stepped into his chamber and begun coming closer to his bedside. Madara didn't shift.

By the side of his bed, without thinking, she streamed a small amount of chakra to her hand and placed her hand on his chest with the intention of healing the scarred tissue. As quick as light hitting the land at sunrise, Madara's hand caught her wrist and squeezed sharply. Satomi gasped and stopped her chakra flow instantly. Madara glared at her through Sharingan-lit eyes.

"What do you think you are doing?" he asked in an ominously slow voice.

"I was going to heal—"

"No."

Satomi stared down at him apprehensively while Madara continued glaring at her with his Sharingan. Finally, he said, "How did you get in here?"

"The door was open."

"So you thought you could enter a man's personal chambers?" Madara questioned, staring into her eyes, "Is that what happened between you and Tobirama?"

Satomi flustered. "No!" she cried, mortified by his suggestion.

Madara carried on studying her expression. "Do you know what happens when a woman wanders into a man's chambers?" Satomi didn't answer. Madara smirked, his Sharingan spinning. "I will demonstrate." With that, he yanked her into his bed and pinned her underneath him. Satomi trembled, breathless and afraid. "Normally men take those women to bed with them and thoroughly enjoy themselves, do you understand?"

Satomi shakily nodded her head.

Madara watched her carefully. "After all, you would know, having laid down with your love enough times to result in carrying his bastard." His eyes transformed back to obsidian black that remained cold. "You act like a whore. If Tobirama is absent, you are willing to lay with another man? Does that child inside of you not concern you at all?"

Tears doused her eyes as she retorted, "I wanted to heal your scar! It has not healed properly, not because I wanted to be dominated by you in any such way! How shameless do you think I am? Do you think I am a harlot? No, I am not! Tobirama and I are engaged to be wed – you stole me from him, do not forget! I am here because of you!"

Madara remained silent for a couple of seconds after her outburst, while Satomi sniffed and tried to not cry in front of this offensive man. Then he said, queitly, "If I had stolen you from him, you would be carrying his bastard but my own," He gripped her throat and watched as her eyes widened in fear. "Do you understand?" She nodded and he threw her head onto the pillows before sitting up and snapping, "Get out!"

Satomi did so and didn't look back. Madara watched as the door slammed shut.

It's getting there! Thank you for your review, RashaTemple, and everyone who has read the story so far! I'm nearly at the end of Satomi's story, and I'm writing the next chapter of Learning to Fall so that should be up soon. :) how many people want Satomi to return to Tobirama?