by gamorasquill

"I am sorry." 

 Madara waved away the servant tending to his clothes and turned to face the other monarch. The Senju King watched him with sorrowful eyes but immediately turned to gaze at the ground when he looked his way. Both curious and confused the Uchiha sauntered over to him. 

 "What are you going on about?" He asked softly, gripping his chin when the man refused to look at him. 

 Hashirama met his gaze for a second before turning back to the ground. Gently, he tugged himself away from the gentle touch. "The poisoning of your brother was no scheme of mine." 

 "Yes, as you have stated a million times over already." 

 "But it still happened within the walls of my palace. You were supposed to be kept safe here and I...I failed you and your people in that regard. Now, your younger brother lays in bed under horrendous pain and my only hope for peace may walk out of the door and never return." 

 Madara fell to his knees before the other man so their eyes were level with each other. Both hands reached up to clasp at Hashirama's face and forced him to meet his eyes."What are you going on about?" He asked again. 

 The Senju sighed and pulled his head away from the other man's hands; grasping them in his own. He placed a kiss to each of his knuckles before releasing them. "I..I have come to realize my failures as a King and your potential suitor. Prince Izuna could have died because of my ill preparations or worse! Both of you could have fallen ill and died here! Then our countries would never know peace, all because I was careless and--!" 

 "Enough." Madara ordered, more than surprised by this sudden outburst of regret. "I am still in perfect health and while my brother does lay sick in bed your doctor has assured us of his recovery." 

 "Yes, but he still could have--!" 

 "This is not about what could have happened. You waste your time on these awful fantasies and they will do nothing but haunt you. The reality is both my brother and I shall live and our pursuit of peace will not be hindered by this poisoning." 

 Hashirama's wide eyes bore into his, glittering with confusion. "I don't understand...you were furious with me and my people just last night." 

 Now it was the Uchiha's turn to look away. "I thought I was going to the last remaining member of my blood last night." He stated simply. "I was afraid and angry. I will be the first to admit that I am not much of a thinker when I'm upset and you will have to forgive me for that. I said many things that I did not mean but I have no intention of leaving here without securing peace between our kingdoms." 

 The Senju continued to stare at him; his brown eyes portraying a thousand different emotions. A hand raised to cup the other's face and his lips twitched as a small smile broke out. "I...thank you." 

 Madara returned the smile softly with a curt nod. He motioned to move away but was held in place when the other captured his wrist in his grasp. Curious, he turned to the Senju to find an optimistic chocolate gaze staring back at him. 

 "Let me take you on a stroll through the gardens this afternoon." Hashirama quickly blurted out. "I know that you're still upset with the poisoning of your brother but I think you will find the gardens quite therapeutic."

 Despite the overwhelming hope planted in the other's eyes, the Uchiha still found himself hesitant to accept the kind offer. He cleared his throat softly and gently pulled his wrist out of the other's grip. "I...I would feel much better with this proposal if I was allowed to see my brother first." 

 Hashirama's entire being lit up with understanding and he nodded quickly. "Oh, of course! Of course! Please, by all means go and see him." 

 a smile spread across the Uchiha's face and he nodded gratefully."Thank you." With that he turned to make his way out of the room but halted his steps just as he reached the door. "I look forward to seeing your gardens. Hopefully, they will be just as colorful and artistic as their King." 

 And with that he was gone, leaving Hashirama with nothing but a bright grin and soft daydreams of their rendezvous.

 ............................. 

 "And what fresh hell is this!?"Crimson eyes sprang open and Tobirama leapt up from his seat, hand immediately reaching for the sword attached to his hip. He slowly relaxed when he caught sight of the Uchiha King's female subordinate Tsume standing in the doorway. 

 The feral woman was dressed in a shimmering silver gown; a velvet cloak pinned to her shoulders. Her wild curly brown hair was pinned up in ringlets that bounced with every step she took and jewels glittered all about her person. In all honesty, she looked like a true noblewoman but her ever present snarl and furious eyes ruined the nearly perfect picture. 

 He sank back into his chair, red eyes narrowing. "Lower your voice." Tobirama ordered, one hand motioning to the stirring man at his side. "Or you'll wake him up." 

 "You are in no position to give me orders!"A teasing smirk tugged at the Senju's lips and he crossed his arms; leaning back to relax in his seat once more. "You forget, I am a Prince and so naturally my station is above yours." 

 "You are no Prince of mine!" Tsume growled as she stalked over to the bed and pressed the back of her hand to Izuna's clammy forehead. "Why are you even here?" 

 "To offer protection." Tobirama stated matter-of-factly. 

 A huff escaped the noblewoman and her dark eyes rolled. "And is this sudden protection from you out of guilt?" She inquired accusingly. "After all was it not your people who nearly murdered our only heir to the throne?" 

 Now it was Tobirama's turn to glare. "For the last time...my people had nothing to do with poisoning him." 

 Tsume rose to her feet, her skepticism more than clear on her face. "As you two continue to insist but I find your claims of innocence to be more than hard to believe." 

 "Keep in mind that your King chose to come here!" 

 "Yes, and it was your brother who invited him here in the first place! Does that mean his very presence serve as a good enough reason to poison us!?" 

 "We. Did not. POISON. Him!" Tobirama reiterated, his cheeks flushing red with annoyance and anger. "Your King wasn't even the one who suffered last night!" 

 "No, instead it was his little brother! Our Prince!" She growled back. "The only surviving heir to our throne and the key to the Uchiha's future! Without him our kingdom would be thrown into chaos and a marriage between our kings would be impossible! The war would not be stopped but prolonged and eventually we would drive ourselves to destruction! Is that what you and your people truly want!?" 

 "Ts..Tsume..." 

 The weak and small sound startled both into silence and they turned to find a wakened Izuna. He was struggling to sit up, his cheeks drained of color and his eyes horribly bloodshot. His skin, which was drenched in sweat, made his long onyx hair cling to him and the sheets underneath.

"Your Highness, what are you doing!?" Tsume asked, quickly laying him back on the bed. "You are still unwell. Please, lie still. You need your rest--!" 

 "Mada..." The Prince murmured, his head slowly moving from side to side. His eyes searched the woman's face but she had the strangest feeling that he saw nothing. "Where is my brother? Where is Madara?" 

 The noblewoman felt a pang of grief strike through her heart. She had not heard the Prince refer to his brother by that nickname in years. It was a childhood name that he had lovingly given to the elder Uchiha but it faded away during the years of war and bloodshed that claimed their adolescence. 

 Gently, she clasped his hand in her own and gave it a squeeze. Her heart ached for her Prince and she thumbed his forehead. "He is on his way to see you now I'm sure." 

 "What about Papa? Will he be coming too? A..and little Kohaku?" 

 Slowly, Tsume's face fell and her eyes moved to the ground. Tobirama didn't need to see her face to know that there was sorrow written all over it. He watched as she turned to give him a soft smile. She gripped a small handkerchief and wiped at the growing sweat on his brow. 

 "Your Highness...your father and brother are gone." She stated gently, taking a seat on the bed beside him. Her voice was grief stricken but her visage remained proud and void of emotion. Delirium was the villain responsible for the Prince's words. "You know that." 

 Izuna groaned lightly, arching up off the bed only to turn onto his side, facing Tobirama. Their eyes met for a single second but it ignited a strange spark in the Senju. Something ethereal lurked in those dark orbs and before the Uchiha let his eyes slip closed he gave the other a soft smile. 

 The poison. The Senju told himself. It must be the poison...