When the Dark unfolds it wings
~ Chapter Ten ~
Mid-morning, following the festival~
Seated in a secluded booth, at the back of a small but undeniably successful establishment, Madara can feel the headache before it forms.
The comfortable chill of the proprietor's exceedingly uncommon elemental Ice Chakra keeps the place cool, but his conversationalist is a blushing mess. Rasa's "heated" memories of "Ayame", his bride of two and a half weeks.
"When I wanted information, this is NOT what I had in mind." Madara thought with irritation.
"You actually heard her father play. Last I mean. At the festival, it was Isamu's flute that accompanied our Little Sakuya's opening. Her balance too." gushed Rasa.
His puppy-like devotion this Ayame and her father "Isamu" is visible to Madara as the plain beige headband around Rasa's arched brow.
"Ah, the part where I noticed Sakuya WASN'T deploying any expected usage of chakra.
It makes sense now, obviously, she was saving for the grand finale, but how much skill and stamina did performing such complex, technical steps (without the aid of chakra to alleviate the physical burden) require?’ wondered Madara.
‘Perhaps it's a matter of pride for her too?
' Any idiot can channel chakra to their body and dance "well enough", but much like in mastering the shinobi arts, to be sincerely impressive, a performer must work long and hard.
Devotion to a slow, steady improvement is not optional. Annoying and tedious as it tends to be, developing any true mastery over one's own body will never be an easy task.
' Not if you want it done right.
' Yes, though it would make things "easier" I can see exactly why Sakuya would find incorporating Chakra to be "undermining" her ability.
If nothing else the girl's dedication to "the hard path" is commendable. I too-
' And I see Rasa is STILL talking about his Ayame... Amaterasu above, why won't he get it? I. Don't. Care.' Madara releases a silent sigh.
"I see. Yes, well I'm not familiar with music let alone composition Rasa, but I suppose the orchestra was impressive on the ears.
"Your Ayame is a gifted conductor. If she is anything like her father, so skilled with the flute, I'm sure you'll do well as a family together." Said Madara diplomatically.
"She really is," Rasa murmured. Pepping up a hair, he said a bit louder.
"Though she's more of a composer than a player herself, my Ayame is no slouch. When it comes to anything music she's the one you want to consult."
"Yes, yes, I'm sure that's incredibly... nice for you. Enjoy your marital bliss."
His patience wearing thin, Madara's polite disinterest in the subject should have been all too apparent.
"Thank you Lord Uchiha! You may not believe me, but I've been asking Ayame to marry me every day since I was only six years-"
' Seriously?' Whether his unsubtle hints were either ignored or not noticed, Madara couldn't say.
Taking a sip of his chilled, slush-like sweet drink, (one of the shop's unique offerings) Madara resigns himself to further tuning out his escort's talk of love and "joyful bonds".
'I need to find someone else to question. Hopefully someone less... simple-!
Wait could this be on purpose?'
' He does work for her brothers,
a stall tactic would be all too appropriate. Especially in keeping their precious Wellspring Maiden safe from wandering "visitors". '
Observing the tan rambling man more closely, his build is strong but Madara sees no traces of guile.
The formerly stoic, sturdy young man before him now seems no better than a twelve-year-old girl experiencing her first crush.
If that's his game he's exceptionally gifted. That said, I sincerely doubt it's an act.
'I mean look at him. No dignity. Surely a "performer" would be more tactful.
Sighing to himself Madara concedes Rasa's lack of deceit.
At least now I see why her brothers don't mind her being alone with him. Still, the man needs a hobby... Preferably one unrelated to this... Ayame.
Izuna, please save me. I truly pity any unfortunate soul who may have had a crush on him brother.
' Rasa has what I assume to be a nice face, he must have been popular. Too bad he wouldn't have even known anyone else exists.'
To Madara's annoyance, the topic is still not at its end.
"Heck Ayame is the WHOLE reason I even picked up the flute in the first-"
"I think that's quite enough Rasa." A woman's voice cuts him off. "Not everyone cares about "the miracle of a first and ONLY love."
We can't all be so fortunate plus, you are a lord now, yet here you are practically driving our esteemed guest here to madness. How will that reflect on our abode?"
Looking up to meet his pretty "savior" in the eyes to express gratitude, Madara recognizes her from yesterday afternoon.
' Ah, the woman with Lord Reiji. I figured they were close. '
"Thank you Lady Yuukina. I trust you are doing well."
The brunette nodded in sympathy. "I am, and it's no trouble at all. I know how Rasa can get. He's a good man but can sometimes be a bit... much."
Her voice was teasing, but Rasa didn't seem to appreciate the jest.
"Oh don't be so mellow-dramatic Yuuki, Sakuya loves hearing about it."
"Does she? Or is our dear friend simply too polite-" she's interrupted by Rasa.
"Excuse me, but with all due respect Yuuki, who do you think encouraged me? When I first began learning, it was frustrating.”
“Of course this was before our lords brought you here so I don't expect you to understand completely."
"Just please try to get that it was a dark time for me.
It was a constant struggle, I had been cooperating with Shiro and Rei, the Security Corps was in its infancy, and life in general wasn't easy.
My main bright side, was that Ayame agreed to let me court her. She even gifted me a wonderful flute. Her father carved it by hand.
“I put so many hours into learning it but nothing was right.
“In my growing haze, I was really starting to fear my hands were only for kunai blades and destruction."
"I... I'm sorry Rasa." The woman "Yuuki apologized softly.
"No, it's my fault for getting overly passionate. Again.
"Like you said Yuukina, I can sometimes be a bit much." Rasa placated humorously.
"Then it was right about that time when Sakuya pushed me to keep trying."
The warm nostalgia in Rasa's voice provokes Madara's curiosity.
' So there is more? Well, that explains this protectiveness towards his employer's sister.'
"Oh? Could you be more specific Rasa?"
Nodding his head Rasa shared his memory.
"Don't give up on yourself so easily Rasa" she said to me.
"If memory serves we were at the Yellow Apple Orchard. You know, at Sakuya's Lake."
"Your melody will be born and once you find it, I know the depth of your sincerity will touch Ayame's heart."
I'll never be able to thank her enough."
"Okay, I get it. I see why it matters to you." Yuukina said regretfully.
"Thank you for sharing such a lovely memory, I can see Sakuya saying that and I shouldn't have been so harsh earlier... But let's please be serious here.
"There's a time and place, and while my shop probably qualifies as "an acceptable place" now certainly isn't the "right" time."
Looking at the growing number of customers, Rasa's ears pinken. "Right, the old "Lunch rush", that's no fun. Sorry Yuuki! Tell you what, grab me an apron I'll help you out."
~
With the lunch rush in full swing, Madara makes himself scarce.
Taking Rasa's offered permission to explore alone, Madara knows exactly where he's going next.
"An interesting comradery, it's always nice to see a healthy friendship in action, but that's not why I'm here."
"At least it wasn’t a complete loss on my time. It was most kind of them to mention the orchard.”
“There sure are a lot of those here, but with Rasa's specification, "yellow apples" and "Sakuya's Lake… Hm."
“It does bear her name perhaps it’s only a given that this one is on the special side… Oh, I can’t wait to see what I uncover."