Capítulo 11: Alliance.
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Yuki returned to the compound as fast as she could, and to her bad luck Izuna was back and he caught her red-handed. Again.
"Yuki."
She got up and turned around in her bed to face him.
"Care to explain?" He was angry.
She just shook her head and lowered her face.
Izuna walked to her and took his seat beside her. A whirlpool of emotions inside his head as he tried to reason her 'visits to certain places.'
He knew she couldn't be a spy, but he also knew sooner or later he will have to report it to Aniki or father.The one thing he was worried about was her fate.
He noticed her uneasiness, the way she bit onto her lip nervously.'She look like a scared kitten right now.'
He lifted her chin and tucked her hair behind her ears.Soon, his fingers pinched her cheeks, while the the corner of his lips curled at how adorable she looked.
After a few seconds of holding in his laughter, he burst out.
She glared at him.
"Nii san! will you please stop?" She muttered, annoyed, but didn't want to show it. It's been a while since Izuna had talked to her so freely.
"Okay, my bad...sorry." Izuna smirked. He fixed his gaze back on her face and felt proud of how truly beautiful his sister had become. But of course that's something he would never tell her.
Yuki got up from her bed and headed towards her mirror. Her eyes fell on her table, a box placed on top of it.
"Nii, what is that?"
"Well,that's for you." Izuna mumbled, a bit embarrassed.
"For me?" she smiled, "Can I open it?"
"Sure."
She opened the box and her eyes fell on the most beautiful silk she'd ever seen. It was an elegant navy blue kimono with her clan insignia in it. The material looked like a sky full of stars and was just so beautiful.
"Nii san... It's beautiful!" smiling, she pulled him into a tight hug.
Izuna smiled, "I'm glad you like it."
"I thought you didn't knew how to prepare gifts." She teased him.
"I don't. This was chosen by Aniki."
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"Madara nii? He still remember me huh?" Yuki mumbled, a strange mix of sadness and happiness swirling within her.
Izuna frowned, "Of course he does!"
"Then why didn't he come here himself?" she questioned. It wasn't the first time Izuna was delivering Madara's gift to her. Even though she was thankful for the gifts, it felt empty to her somehow.
"That's... You know Aniki is quite busy, right?"
"That's what you always say." Yuki mumbled. She knew Madara was avoiding her. But if he planned on sending her gifts, the least he could do is show up to her.
'How can one be so busy to not have few minutes to spare in two years?'
Just when Izuna was about to ask her why she'd appeared so scared before, a knock on the door drew their attention.
"Yuki sama, you need to get ready for the evening banquet," the servant bowed.
"You may leave and call Hemiko." Yuki ordered.
"Nii, if you would please excuse me. I need to get dressed."
"Okay, see you in the evening then." Izuna nodded. He felt something was bothering her, but she didn't want to confide in him.
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Yuki stared at herself in the mirror, Hemiko was combing her long hair.She was wearing the elegant navy blue kimono gifted to her by Madara.
"What kind of hairstyle would you like to try? I think an up-do would look really beautiful!" Hemiko chimed in.
"Just do a simple one Hemiko, and I don't want all these Jewelries...bring me our clan's crest ring." Yuki instructed. She hated getting all dolled up. It felt weird, she felt like a doll—that could be sold.
"But my lady! Today our alliances will be present!" Hemiko pouted, "I will make sure no one can take their eyes off of you today." she had a strange shine in her eyes.
Yuki signed inwardly. 'She won't listen to me when she's this fired up.'
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"Oh! So that's the younger brother." Lady Ichiko of the Hagoromo clan smiled in approval, fanning herself with her hand, her makeup a bit overdone. She was now batting her eyes at Izuna who was smiling in their direction. "He's such a handsome young man." She added.
Yuki just smiled mechanically. She pulled a little at her obi, trying to loosen it up a bit. As usual, she could barely breathe or feel her waist.
She was looking towards the cluster of people gathered around her brothers. Soon her eyes moved to Uchiha Sayuri, who had immersed herself in a conversation with Madara, and by the looks of it, it seemed like she was flirting with him. Yuki thinned her lips ever so slightly. She knew Sayuri acted friendly towards her just to get close to her brothers. Sayuri would often tell her to see her as a big sister… As if she would be her future sister-in-law.
Yuki wouldn't have minded her marrying any of her brothers, but once she learned her habit of sleeping around with various men, she could no longer picture Sayuri as her sister.
"Just look at that one, shamelessly flirting with your brother." Ichiko laughed, a strange pig-like snort escaping her nose. "Your brother should stop entertaining whores like her. He better get himself a proper wife once he becomes the leader." Her eyes shone dangerously, her garish makeup wasn't helping either.
Yuki moved her gaze onto Izuna now. He was talking to some men that she did not recognize. But from their clothing, she could surmise they were from merchant groups that distributed weapons. Some women were also gathered around him, flashing him shy smiles while batting their eyelashes.
Ichiko's eyes narrowed slightly, "That includes you as well, dear." She turned to face her now, "You know my son Nobuyori, right? He fancies you. Your father is fond of him as well."
Yuki felt a crawling shiver travel up her spine as her finger inadvertently twitched, smiling palely she mechanically nodded.
"Now that our clans are allies, I believe it'll be much easier to settle matters of dowry," she added.
Looking around Lady Ichiko, Yuki noticed other Lords and Ladies waiting to talk to her, and she could see some of them with their sons with them.
'Of course.' She had almost forgotten that she was of marriageable age now, and all the unmarried clan heads or soon-to-be clan heads would want her as a wife.
Her expression turned indifferent as she regarded Lady Ichiko's suggestion. She'd been through this conversation many times and had many suitors come forward with proposals ever since her coming of age. Thus knew how to avoid their advances now.
"I truly appreciate your suggestions, Lady Ichiko. But matters regarding my arranged marriage is decided by my guardian. I'm sure father will answer your requests. Anything you wish to discuss for dowry and such you will have to ask him." she finally said.
Lady Ichiko raised a brow, "What a surprise. With such blood running through your veins, I never expected you to be such a docile young lady."
Yuki smiled at her, "I'm sorry to disappoint you then." Her lips curling a little more than necessary.
"Greetings Lady Ichiko, Lady Yuki." A guard bowed, "Excuse me for interrupting your conversation, but Tajima sama has requested Yuki Sama's presence at the entrance."
"Very well. Seems like our conversation will have to wait for another time." Yuki smiled.
Lady Ichiko clicked her tongue, "Of course." She returned the smile, though her eyes were clearly laced with irritation.
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The evening banquet was bustling with life.
Madara and Izuna kept engaging with the guests while Yuki stayed beside her father to welcome the clan leaders. Tajima noticed as every single one of them took notice of his daughter. He expected it, after all, she's truly beautiful. But he was waiting for the response of a certain someone. And they were soon to arrive.
The Uchiha brothers got ready to greet their most important guest—The Hyuuga's. They decided to form an alliance, all thanks to Tajima.
Madara wondered how his father managed to convince such a stuck up clan. They were too much to deal with, but were too powerful to ignore.
The Heir to the Hyuuga clan was 25 years old Hyuuga Yohako, he had one brother five years younger to him named Hyuuga Yako. Both were talented and powerful just like their father; the current leader of the Clan Hyuuga Jin.
As they entered, they were welcomed by the Uchiha's
Tajima noticed Yohako's eyes glued to Yuki. The corners of his lips lifted in approval. This is what he wanted.
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Throughout the meeting, Tajima monitored the Hyuuga heir.
Yohako tried to not look at her, but one way or another his eyes would find her.The moment he laid his eyes on her, he'd felt as if time had stopped. To say she's beautiful would be an understatement...She's breathtaking.
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Yuki knew the Hyuuga heir was peeking glances at her for a while now, but strangely he didn't fell creepy.
She had heard a lot about Hyuuga Yohako. He was a Genius and had unique crystal eyes—the hallmark of Hyuuga's. She was fascinated by their eyes, and was tempted to look at them close up but didn't dare to.The last thing she wanted was for them to have a poor impression on the Uchiha princess. She was willing herself to be on her best behaviour and not do anything unnecessary, simply gripping onto her hands instead.
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She let out an inaudible sigh once the meeting concluded.
'Finally, this boring meeting is over.' Yuki moved out to the garden to find solace. After a few minutes of walking around, she looked up at the night sky.The moon shone down on the earth and thousands of stars spread across the dark sky—twinkling like tiny diamonds.
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"Beautiful, isn't it?"
She heard a smooth deep voice which startled her.
Maintaining her composure Yuki bowed, "Yohako Sama."
Even after she stood up straight, she kept her head slightly lowered and her eyes downcast in reverence. "What brings you here?"
"I just wanted to take a stroll outside." he looked up at the sky.
"Oh." She wasn't sure how to respond.
After an awkward silence, Yohako moved his gaze back on her, his crystal eyes piercing, forcing her to gaze away. "If you don't mind, can we just...talk?" he asked, wishing to know her a bit.
"Ah, yes." Yuki replied, her hands fiddling underneath the folds of her sleeves.
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They talked for a while about various things. Yohako couldn't help but smile in between.
Yuki found herself staring at him in wonder.It surprised her at how polite the Hyuuga was despite his stony expressions. 'I never thought I would ever see a Hyuuga smile.'
'They normally look so scary, but his smiling face is... truly pleasant!'
"Is something...wrong?"
"No! No, I was just surprised. I've never seen a Hyuuga smile so brightly before."
"I have heard the same about Uchiha's. But I can see that's not the case. At least, not with you," he replied, "You have a beautiful smile, Yuki san."
"Thank you." She blushed. Yuki knew calling each other informally was not proper, but after getting to know each other a bit, they didn't feel like talking so formally. And thankfully no elders were around.
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Meanwhile, from the main compound, Tajima and Jin looked at their children as they bonded.
"Seems like our children are getting along well." Jin commented.
"Hn. This could strengthen our Alliance. What do you think, Madara?" Tajima asked.
Madara stood there with an impassive face, watching Yuki as she casually smiled and blushed while talking to Yohako.
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Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder