Meetings
Indra was amazed at the advancements made in the time he was... indisposed. Some of them were truly marvelous. Clean water with just a few pumps of a lever? Cold boxes to keep food fresh? Wonderful! And the seals around the bath to keep the water hot? He had spent hours the past couple days just soaking.
Still, they could only distract him for so long.
His home was gone, his family and friends dust and ash. It was... Painful. Horribly so. How could his father do something so cruel just because he and Ashura had a tiff? And these people, his descendants, had no compassion for what he had lost. Well, most of them. The young clan head had been clearly excited about learning more of his origins, but when he noticed how tense Indra was he had backed off and upon thinking for a moment he looked beyond horrified. He stumbled over several attempts at an apology before seeming to steal himself to ask if there were any rituals Indra needed or would simply like to complete for his long dead loved ones.
It was good to know that at least one person could set aside their excitement and realize what he had lost. It didn't change how crushingly lonely he was. Or how cutnoff he felt from everything around him.
The rooms they gave him were splendid, wonderfully furnished and decorated with amazingly detailed paintings. He was particularly fond of the scroll depicting a plum tree amd koi pond. If it reminded him of the young man who had freed him, well, he was allowed to be fond of him. It was a good place to recover his strength and test what being sealed for so long had cost him. He wanted to be sure of his condition before going to look for his brother. That... Note his father had left made it very clear that he was sealed somewhere nearby as well. He supposed he should be greatful that he wasn't the only one being punished.
He looked around his rooms again and sighed. It was far beyond the simple sparsely furnished home he had grown up in and it made him rather uncomfortable. He had taken to spending most of his time out in the courtyard near the koi pond. The fish only cared that he had food for them. They didn't ask him for answers he couldn't or wouldn't give.
That was another thing that bothered him. Most of those he spoke to acted like he held the answers to all their questions. And they felt entitled to information about his personal life. It felt like such a lie when everytime someone saw him the bowed low and refused to meet his eyes, but demanded his time. Except, again, the young clanhead. He at least seemed to realize that, honored ancestor or not, Indra was just a man and one who was very out of place. He was still excited to speak with him, but he didn't push on topics Indra wasn't willing to discuss, and he accepted when Indra didn't have the answers he hoped for. He would ask about old teachings, always very curious about how things seemed to have changed. Somethings had come about after Indra was sealed, some had been lost and Madara's eyes would light up at learning something new. But for all that he seemed more interested in his family life and what things were like when he was growing up.
He also seemed to understand how lonely Indra was in this time and place. Perhaps that was why he agreed so easily to Indra's request to speak with Tobirama. He had promised to bring the young man after the afternoon meal, which would be soon. And that's another thing, he needed to insist on making his own meals. Waiting on someone else to cook was something he didn't particularly enjoy. He had been making his own meals gor years now, unless he was eating with his brother and his wife. Indra's own marriage was cold and purely for political reasons. His wife wouldn't have missed him. And at least she was free now to hopefully find a partner she could love. But his child... He hadn't even known for sure that his wife was pregnant. But he had hoped and perhaps thats what hurt most of all. Had his father waited until he knew the marriage was consummated? That their line wouldn't die out? Had he cared that he had taken one of the only things he had truly wanted from him?
He forced those thoughts down and sat before the mirror to comb out his hair. If only he had something to work on, or something to read... Anything to keep his thoughts from straying.
***
Tobirama arrived not long after lunch ended and Madara let out a small sigh. He had almost worried he wouldn't come. Silly perhaps, but he couldn't help it. He hadn't been the most welcoming of the younger man after all. He had no real reason to honor Indra's request to see him. And yet here he was, bearing gifts as any polite guest would.
Madara greeted him politely and accepted the gift held out to him. There was another package, carefully wrapped and cradled gently in his arm.
"My apologies if I'm late. It took longer than expected to secure a proper gift for Indra-san."
It was easy to wave off the apology and lead him to Indra's rooms and knocking politely.
"Indra-sama, Tobirama-san *has arrived.*"
The door opened and Tobirama finally got a good look at the man he saved.
His hair was a rich chestnut and it had been brushed until its natural highlights came through. He was pale, unnaturally so after so long locked away from the sun, but he had the flush of one regaining health. That was good. He looked good.
Indra smiled at him as he stepped in, gaze landing curiously on the gift Tobirama carried and suddenly he wondered just when the custom had begun. Oh well, he was here and he'd already gone through so much trouble to aquire it...
"Hello Indra-san." He bowed politely as Madara excused himself and offered Indra the package. There was no hesitation when he accepted the gift and a tension he hadn't even noticed left him.
"*Thank you, Tobirama-san. Please, sit. Would you like some tea?*"
They passed a while chatting, Indra looking amused but helping him correct his pronunciation and even asking Tobirama to repeat things in the modern tongue so he could work on learning it. He seemed so pleased to talk about the most common of things. The weather, the flowers in the garden, the koi pond. He seemed especially fond of the the pond and one particularly feisty little black and white koi. To the point of insisting they make their way to the garden to feed it. After they finished the tea of course.
With a pang of guilt Tobirama wondered weather he had been able to hold any kind of peaceful conversation since he had awoken, or indeed before he had been sealed. A few days could feel like a lifetime even when things were normal. It must have felt like an eternity to him. Tobirama was willing to let him talk as long as he needed, about what ever he liked. After a time Indra started to look worn, even with the time they sat feeding the fish. (Tobirama had to agree, the little one Indra was so fond of was something else) Clearly the few days had done him well, but he still had a ways to go before he was fully recovered. He led Tobirama back to his rooms with a wistful sigh, ignoring the looks they got from those they passed.
Once Indra was settled on his cushion he gave Tobirama a considering look.
"*I have taken up much of your time already, and not just today if Madara's words are true. I am deeply greatful, and I apologise for the trouble. But I fear I have a request that could cause you more problems.*"
"*I would be happy to help.*"
Indra nodded to the tablet Tobirama had found him with and grimaced.
"*My brother... He must be sealed the way I was. Please. You found me. I... Would you be willing to find my little brother? I can't... He shouldn't be trapped like this.*"
Without much thought Tobirama placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze.
"*Of course. I'll bring him back to you.*"
Indra's smile was brilliant, eyes relieved and warm.
"*It would be nice if you could then join us both for tea.*"
Tobirama smiled, unable to help himself. This was going to be a nightmare with the clans. But it was worth it if he could help someone bring their little brother home.
He excused himself after that to prepare for his search. He would warm Hashirama of course, so he could prepare. As he was leaving he saw Indra carefully begin to open the package. He shut the door quietly behind himself and made his way to Madara's office to bid him farewell, and to give him fair warning.
(In his rooms Indra cradled the carefully preserved scrolls, each full of his and his brothers handwriting.)