Bonding
~*~*~*~*~
Kageyasu liked routine, and Madara thrived off it.
Sitting on the rail by the bow, he swung his legs to and fro, watching the grey and blue waters below. They were an hour or so away from the Senju’s territory, and Madara waited for their arrival with anticipation and bated breath.
It took only a few more minutes for him to lose patience with the ship's slow pace. With a sigh, he twisted around, hopping off the railing and pacing towards the helm, where Kageyasu was studying some old map.
“I’m taking a vacation this week,” he announced, quirking an eyebrow when Kageyasu chuckled.
“That bored already?”
He shrugged. “We have had no issues with sea serpents since our first voyage, Yasu. During my flights to look for our old attacker I found a nice island, with pristine sandy beaches. I’m going to take the week to relax on said sandy beaches, in the sun, and I will catch you on your trip back.”
“Nothing I say is going to convince you otherwise, is it?” Kageyasu asked in amusement.
“Nope.”
“Fine, fine, take a vacation. You’ll need it, seeing as you won’t have any time to soon enough. WIth you going to become clan head and all.”
“Don’t remind me. Save travels, Yasu. If you need me…” He paused, considering. “Well, just don’t. Don’t need me. I won’t come.”
“Yes sir. Have a good sun bathing trip.”
Madara shoved him on the shoulder gently as he passed by, heading for the end of the stern and hopping onto the railing. “See you, Yasu,” he called, jumping off the railing and shifting forms at the same time.
Kageyasu waved as he spread his wings, streaking ahead of the ship, following the same path they always did.
He flew past the usual island and its sea stacks, making his way to another further away, deeper in the Senju’s territory. Maybe he was taking a risk, daring to travel so far in. But he wanted to see if the other would be angry with him or not.
It took a while before he finally reached it. With a sense of delighted glee, he landed on the beach, the beats of his wings stirring up the sand and sending it everywhere. Disgruntled, he huffed some out of his nostrils, and shook the sand out of his wings.
The white sand beneath him was very warm. A little further inland, trees and grasses began to grow. It wasn’t a huge island, but it was a miniature paradise. Distantly, he wondered how long it would take the Senju to find him out here.
Probably not long at all. Tucking his wings to his sides, he turned back to the sea, and carefully waded into the water till it reached his belly, lapping along his sides with the movement of the waves. Then he stood stock still, cocking his head at the water, intently watching the sea creatures swim around him.
It took a few minutes of patiently waiting until he saw something he liked. Carefully, so as not to startle his prey, he leaned forward. Then he dunked his head under the water, snatching the fish between his jaws and yanking it out of the water. It squirmed and wiggled and fought, all slimy and wet and gross.
He tossed it up into the air above him, breathing out a jet of flame and toasting the fish. When he caught it again, it was nice and warm and crispy. After a few chews, he swallowed it down, carefully stalking to another section of the shallows and freezing again, watching the waters for another fish.
The hunting was good here, and the fish apparently fearless. He had caught and eaten another 5 before the Senju serpent finally showed up. It emerged out of the water beyond the shallows, hissing quietly. Madara paid it no mind, focussed on another fish, bigger and thicker than the others he had eaten.
He speared this one on his talons, lifting it up out of the water to show the Senju. “You want some?” he offered. The Senju’s red eyes narrowed, and it huffed at him. “Not saying you don’t know how to hunt yourself, if you’re being all pissy and offended. I mean, obviously you can hunt. Have you seen how freakishly huge you are? Can’t get that way without eating lots, right?” He waved the fish around. “I’ll even cook it for you.”
The serpent’s muzzle wrinkled in what looked like disgust. “Oh, don’t tell me you prefer it raw?” he said in disbelief, and the Senju growled. “You’re disgusting,” Madara decided, rearing back onto his hind legs and shewing the fish with his other talons as well. Carefully, he breathed a well controlled flame over the fish, cooking it nice and evenly, until its perfect aroma made his mouth water.
“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it,” he said. “Catch!”
He tossed the fish towards the serpent, and it instinctively opened its jaws, snatching the fish and swallowing it whole. “You didn’t even taste it!” Madara accused. The Senju rumbled, opening and closing its jaws a few times meaningfully. “Oh, right, right.” Obviously he didn’t taste it. The fish was too small to even think about chewing. “I’m starting to think you’re unnaturally big. I mean, I’ve seen a couple serpents in my life, obviously, but never one as gigantic as you.” He sighed heavily. “Such a shame. That was a perfectly cooked morsel.”
The Senju regarded him for a long moment. Then it nodded, as if to itself, turning around and diving back into the water. Madara watched the waves from its departure roll and settle, the water going calm again, as if it had never been there to begin with.
“If you really didn’t want it, you could have just said so,” he growled.
~*~*~
The serpent came back about half an hour later, lifting its head out of the water and making a strange, half roar, half rumbling sound. Lying curled up on the beach, belly full of nicely cooked fish and basking in the sun, Madara sleepily looked up, and yawned. “Well, look who came back,” he said in lieu of greeting, unwrapping his tail from where he had it curled around him.
The Senju snorted, slithering closer, wiggling through the shallow waters. It drew its tail closer, and it was then that Madara noticed he had something with him. He sat up curiously as the Senju dragged something to the shore. “What’s this?” he asked, standing up fully and striding into the water.
It was a….a fish? No, it was too big. A shark? A whale?
“What is it?” he asked again. The Senju ignored him, nudging the dead sea creature closer. “I’m going to say it’s a small whale. What do you want with this?” The Senju gave him a look, then the whale, and then back. He opened and closed his jaws a couple times.
“You want me to cook this?” Madara asked, blinking owlishly at him. The Senju tilted its head at him, then nodded once. “Oh. Well. It’s kinda big. It’s gonna take a while for it to cook.”
He stepped closer, eying the whale. The Senju was only meters away, and the water came up past his back now. If the serpent wanted to, he’d have no problems snatching him up and dragging him into deeper waters. He elected to ignore that fact.
With a thoughtful hum, he dug his claws into the whale’s side, and started dragging it to shore. It was big, nearly the same size as him, and terribly heavier. The Senju watched him drag it closer with something like amusement, clearly enjoying his struggles.
Then it seemed to take pity on him, setting his muzzle against the whale and shoving it to shore with him. It’s serpentine body coiled and slithered through the shallow water, making Madara think of a snake traveling over the ground.
Finally, they got the thing to shore, and Madara started digging in the sand, making a shallow pit. The Senju was nearly on shore with him, staying only a few feet away from the sand, in just a foot or so of water. With this much of him exposed, Madara realized just how enormous he really was.
Would a small whale this size even be a meal for him? More like a little snack. Huffing, Madara breathed a torrent of fire over the whale, crouching down on his belly to get a nice, even roast. The Senju eventually coiled himself up, stacking himself like pancakes, and watched him work.
It took well over an hour until Madara deemed the whale fully cooked. His throat was sore from breathing so much flame so continuously. With a tired sigh, he flopped down onto his haunches, spreading his wings in a mock imitation of a bow. “Your dinner, your Majesty,” he said sarcastically.
The Senju snorted, but unwound himself, slithering closer until the front half of his body was on the shore with Madara. It poked around the cooked whale, then delicately bit down, peeling a strip of meat off. He chewed carefully, slowly. Madara watched him swallow, and lick the tip of his sharp fangs with his tongue.
“Well?” he demanded. “Cooked is better, right?” The Senju gave him a look, but didn’t reply, instead taking another bite. Smugly, Madara twitched his wings back, sitting on his haunches and sweeping the sand with his tail.
The whale was soon nothing but bones, and Madara dug the sand pit a little deeper to bury them. The Senju drew back somewhat to the water, but left his head and the upper portion of his neck on the shore.
He watched Madara intently, as he paced in the sand, pushing the sand this way and that until it was to his liking, and curling up on his stomach, tucking his wings and tail close to him, and resting his chin on his paws. He stared back at him, and yawned. It was twilight now; the sun was setting, and he admired the way it cast its light over the waters.
The serpent’s white scales were washed in tones of pink and orange, and the translucent fin running down his spine looked more red than usual. It was strangely….aesthetically pleasing.
Who would have thought, just a few weeks ago, that he’d be here, watching the sunset with a Senju serpent, on an island deep in Uchiha enemy territory.
~*~*~*~
Sleeping with an enemy only a few meters away on the beach was not the smartest choice he’s made. Then again, he wasn’t the only one who did it.
The dragon was still curled up on the sand like a cat in the morning, wings tucked to his sides, and tail wrapped around him. His head was snuggled under his wing, and only the tips of the spiky crown protruding from the back of his skull were visible.
Tobirama grunted, arching his neck and cracking it. He didn’t normally sleep stretched out like that, and the ache in his neck was a reminder of that. His scales dryly itched from the lack of water, and he silently slid back into the sea to refresh them, taking care not to wake the dragon.
He swam around for a little while, and then resurfaced, just as the dragon was slowly spreading his wings, uncurling his tail and stretching his neck. “Good morning,” he said with a huge yawn. His sharp teeth glinted in the slowly brightening light of the morning.
Tobirama rumbled in response, and the dragon hefted himself to his feet, spreading his wings and shaking himself like a dog. A shower of sand fell from him with the movement, and Tobirama couldn’t help an amused snort from escaping.
“Shut up,” the Uchiha growled, giving him an annoyed look. Tobirama just snorted again, watching the dragon lift his wings and take flight. He looped around a few times, stretching out, then dove towards the water, claws skimming over the waves and sending sea spray everywhere.
Tobirama slid away from the beach, slipping under the water and following him. He swam close to the surface, where he could easily see the dragon and the dragon could easily see him. He watched and followed just to keep an eye on him. That was all. There was no other reason to mention.
They flew and swam together, the two of them, for a time. Then the dragon paused, turning to look at him, wings beating powerfully to keep him in one place. Intrigued, Tobirama rose out of the water, rumbling inquisitively.
“Are there any more sea stacks nearby?” he called. “One’s that are nice and close together?”
Tobirama tilted his head, thinking. There was an island nearby that was practically all rock. It had towering sea cliffs and hundreds of sea stacks surrounding it, sharp and jagged, small and large. He nodded once.
“Great. Care to show me?”
Wondering what the dragon was thinking, but curious despite himself, he dove into the water, and headed towards the island. The dragon followed closely, weaving back and forth above like an impatient child.
When they finally reached the island and its sea stacks, the dragon darted ahead, exploring them. Tobirama curled around one of the shorter ones, resting his head on the top and watching him dash around.
“I know I asked you already, but do you have siblings?” the dragon asked, sweeping around him to land on another sea stack. Tobirama huffed in response. “Right, right. You don’t like to share anything about yourself. Anywhos. Are you up to a race?”
Tobirama lifted his head in interest, and hummed to encourage him to continue.
“You and me, come on,” the other said cheerfully. “One time around the whole island, BUT, through the sea stacks. An obstacle course race. First one back here wins, and the loser has to do whatever the other wants. A favour, so to speak.”
Now, what could the little dragon want?
Drawing himself higher, he nodded, and the dragon grinned, baring his teeth. “Good! Now unwind yourself and get ready.” He pranced in place like an excited horse, and Tobirama slowly slipped off the sea stack, diving back under the water, and then lifting his head out. “Ready?” the Uchiha asked, leaning over the edge of his sea stack, wings spread and entire body trembling with barely restrained excitement.
Tobirama nodded. “All righty. Get set…..and…..GO!”
They both moved at the same time. Tobirama dove under water, whipping his tail powerfully and propelling forward. The dragon pushed off the sea stack, flapping quick and mightily, wings catching the air and thrusting himself forward..
The water around the island was dark and murky, but Tobirama’s eyes were well adapted to seeing in the dark. He wound around the sea stacks quickly, weaving through them like a snake.
At one point, he glanced up, and watched the dragon soaring above him.
Great Sages, he was fast. He moved with a powerful grace, darting this way and that, rolling and diving and climbing, as if the sea stacks weren’t dangerously close together.
The dragon was going to win….
Now, if only Tobirama knew of a certain undersea tunnel that ran under the island…..
He changed direction, following the islands base until he found the tunnel. He slipped through it, and came out the other side a few minutes later. Quickly, he made his way back to the starting point, settling himself around his sea stack, and waited.
He didn’t have to wait long. The dragon came blazing around the corner like a hurricane, wing beats faltering in surprise when he saw him already waiting there. “WHAT?” he screeched, flapping towards him and landing on his own sea stack. “What the hell?! Did you cheat? You cheated!”
Tobirama chuckled quietly, enjoying the sight of the dragon having a miniature meltdown in amusement. The Uchiha finally settled, sitting down on his haunches and honest-to-goodness pouting.
“That’s not fair,” he whined, shooting an accusing glare at him. Tobirama lifted his tail out of the water and flicked it at him, showering him in a few drops, and slithered off his sea stack. Taking the hint, the dragon lifted off, and followed him back to their sandy beach island.
~*~*~~*
The next five days were rather the same. They hunted, swam and flew, raced every once in a while. The dragon went through periods of talking nonstop and sitting in silence. He liked to watch the sunset, sitting on the edge of the beach, talons curled into the wet sand. Tobirama no longer worried about curling up in the shallow waters and sleeping only a few meters away from him.
And he’d never admit it….but he actually kinda liked the way he cooked sea food.
On the 6th morning, the dragon said his farewell. It was time for him to return to his ship. He paced the sandy beach before he went, back and forth, back and forth. He seemed restless, hesitant. Coiled up in the shallows, Tobirama watched him.
At long last, the dragon paused, wings lifted and poised to fly. “That first race,” he said suddenly. “I made a wager, remember? Whoever lost owed the winner a favour.” He dug his claws into the sand. “If I won, I was going to ask for your name.”
That took him by surprise, and he drew back, eyes widening. The dragon turned away, facing the direction of the mainland.
Then he glanced back over his shoulder, lowering his wings. “My name is Madara. In case you wanted to know.”
Shaking his head, he bounded into the air, wings snapping up and down, beating fast and strong and bearing him into the air.
Tobirama watched him go, until he had vanished from sight.
’Madara…’
Spots? What kind of self respecting dragon had a name that meant “Spots”?
Amused, he retreated back into the sea, riding a current that would take him back to the mainland near the Senju compound.
As he went, he wondered where he should take the Uchiha next week. There was an island a few hours swim away, right on the borders of his territory that he could take him too. It had a retired volcano, and lava rocks. It might appeal to the dragon.
To Madara.
This past week had been rather….enjoyable.
Despite himself, he looked forward to next.
~*~*~*~
There was only one thing Tobirama didn’t take into account.
Madara didn’t return the next week.
When he never showed up at either of their islands, Tobirama got tired of waiting, picking up on miniscule vibrations in the waves and finding the Uchiha’s ship as it sailed its regular, weekly route.
A dragon flew above it, circling slowly like a watchful hawk. But it wasn’t Madara.
It was a little smaller, and only had two horns on its head, instead of a crown of sharp spikes. And from what Tobirama could tell, it’s scales were dark purple, not black and red.
More than a little annoyed that his Uchiha hadn’t shown up, he sulked on the ocean floor for a while. If he wasn’t here, as he usually was, then where was he? He tapped his tail on the sand, growling.
Tobirama liked routine and stability, and Madara had thrown him off by not showing up.
Well, then.
If Madara wasn’t going to come for their weekly visits, then Tobirama would go to him. Besides, the Uchiha had seen where he lived. Now he wanted to know about the others' homes. It was only fair, after all.