~ A Hunger which he can't repress
~ Chapter 9 ~
In Oasis ~ The day of Mito's tragic passing.
~
Smiles all around him, the bustling atmosphere joyful. Such is Madara Uchiha's first impression of the Oasis Village. An interesting juxtaposition as Outside the confines of this bubble of a village, The desert is sweltering and inhospitable as he expected.
' Madara notes to himself that the impossibly drastic difference in temperature within the Oasis and its surroundings to be practically comical. "The difference is ridiculous, we may as well be in a different part of the continent entirely."
Inside the village proper, he estimates it's roughly 24, maybe 25 degrees Celcius while a few short steps out things skyrocket well past 37 Celcius. (about 100 degrees Fahrenheit)
Granted the immediate border and its surroundings do remain quite flush with vivid greenery.
That observation aside, Madara learned on his journey from Fire to Wind that the further one journies in any direction from Oasis, the dryer and less enchantingly "hospitable" the scenery tends to be.
As the tan-skinned young man before him continues his lecture, Madara is too impatient to listen further. He wants answers now.
"But no further, correct?" He interrupted Rasa, a newly appointed lord and Madara's official escort for the duration of his visit to Oasis.
"It's as you suggest my Lord Uchiha, she doesn't impede our neighbor's jurisdiction.
"Our Sakuya knows better." Rasa elaborated. If he was bothered by Madara's lack of deference, it doesn't show.
"Her power is wonderful, yes, a miracle to our desert lives. Yet taken out of context, our neighbors could so easily view her usage as an act of aggression."
Noting the pride and uninhibited affection present in Rasa's tone, Madara wonders if his proximity to this Sakuya is coloring his impressions.
' Interesting. But he mentioned earlier that he knows Sakuya primarily through her brothers.
' Apparently they all grew up in the same shelter but, it wasn't until the brothers rose in influence and recruited Rasa and his curious "golden sands" to "their cause" that this new lord knew Sakuya as anything but a child younger than himself... albeit an "abnormally pretty" one.'
' So why downplay the connection earlier? I guess tonight I'll know for sure.' Resuming his attention to Rasa's tour, Madara takes in the sights.
The white stone buildings entwined with green patches and many colored blossoms and various trees are a fascinating contrast. Madara is drawn out of his observations by Rasa.
"Ah, Lords Shiroyuki and Reiji? They mentioned it would be nice to speak with you Lord Uchiha. How about now?"
Nodding in approval, Madara agrees. ' May as well, let's get these niceties over with." '
~
Early that evening.
~
As the energetic festival draws to an end, Madara is surprised by the sense of contentment in his heart.
'The food was plentiful, varied and delicious, and the entertainment was very well organized."
' The intricate paper floats were a nice visual touch too. Some exceptionally talented people put a lot of effort into today's festivities.'
Seated in his private box, for the closing entertainment from Madara's vantage point, he sees other foreign dignitaries are also comfortable. Some with an anticipation on their faces that lends to Madara's theory that they are more used to this than others.
' So they've been here before? That makes sense, just because it was never explicitly open, that wouldn't stop anyone bored or curious.'
His expression neutral, inwardly Madara thanks his brother for urging him to take this opportunity.
'Izuna my brother, you were right. Even if the rumors are provincial exaggerations, the time away from the war will be worth it.'
Glancing around the packed vicinity, it's apparent that pretty much the entire village is present.
' This isn't a real theatre, more a center square, yet so many people, locals and visitors alike went out of their way to be here.
Good organization, for a relatively small village to make this so cohesive... it couldn't possibly be an easy feat.'
The sound of several woodwind instruments catches his attention. Directing his priorly wandering eyes to the glimmering, half-circle stage across, Madara folds his arms expectantly.
' It's beginning? Finally, one way or another I'm getting my answers.'
~
The music swells and from the left, a lone girl emerges upon the stone.
Dressed in a style foreign to Madara, he can't yet see her face.
Attempting to analyze the choices (whether practical or artistic, one's decisions will always reveal a lot about them.) Madara hungrily zooms in on the detailing.
' The gown is nice. The supple, white silk is sleek but flowy enough, I see it won't hinder the performance.
I guess the arrangement of asymmetrical gold ornaments at the left hip is meant to emulate bird feathers.
The circlet of black and white pearls around her brow and into her hair is another- wait... I've seen that somewhere...'
Before Madara's memory can recall where he recognizes the spiraling pearl jewelry adorning the red-blonde-haired dancer, Sakuya strides in elegant, turning circles about the stage.
She lifts a single elegant arm straight up, and her hand is positioned in a way that emulates the iconic imagery of a dancing peacock.
Against the black shadows bouncing upon the white curtains behind her, the wellspring maiden's thumb and index finger form a beak-like form.
Her remaining three fingers were like the crown of plumage upon its head. Shifting seamlessly from dance to a mesmerizing aria, Sakuya's warm voice has the audience breathless.
Her body moving about fluidly, Sakuya's dance "Soul of the Peacock", proves a multifaceted spectacle of intricately timed grace, vocal trills, and aahs. All of which flow seamlessly along to the changing music.
Caught in the moment, Madara sees that every time Sakuya's song and dance seems to be near an end, a new equally fluid element is brought forth. Cohesively building upon what came before.
The Uzumaki chains fan outward from behind the back of her hips, metamorphising into swaying garlands of different flowers extending in all directions. Several of which he can't recognize, Madara vaguely realizes he can only barely breathe.
Unable to look away from the inhuman vision before him. Sakuya's soaring soprano pitches down, now an alluring lower medium register.
'So very... primal, yet unmistakably beautiful. These sights,-'
' Wait. It couldn't be.'
' She does share our blood... Her brothers too.'
"Release," Madara whispered. The technique briefly interrupted his body's Chakra flow. Hopefully dispelling himself from whatever chakra illusions the girl is surely deploying.
To his near disappointment, nothing is any different.
The songstress before them continues on unabated. Every bit as magnificent as she began. The power in Sakuya's magnificent Wood release resonated in all directions.
'No change.' "It isn't Genjutsu? Of course not, he chided himself.
"What was I thinking? I'm not a toddler, I am Uchiha, illusions are our clan's bread and butter.
' If they were so foolish as to use Genjutsu, I would have felt it immediately."
Settling himself back down, his suspicions at ease (for now at least) Madara is content to enjoy himself. Lost in the exquisite splendor of the evening.
Rain falling gently against the coverings of their location, arms stretched to her audience, Sakuya bends down on a single knee.
More than ever, the now settling, adamantine chains resemble the flowy, regal tail feathers of an elegant peahen.
A sense of joy and gratitude written all over her being, the extraordinary performance was over all too soon.
As the enraptured applause thunders around him, Madara steps up from his seat to join in.
'Izuna... you should be seeing this too.' he thought warmly.
Finally catching a glimpse of the wellspring maiden's incomparable face, her silver eyes briefly meet his own. Her gaze moving on, Madara realizes she is acknowledging and appreciating those who came to see her.
Standing in the glow of the closing fireworks, Madara is only vaguely aware of the rising hunger brewing within his heart and mind.