The Light of Darkness | Madara Uchiha

38: Recuperating

Izuna walked back to check up on Aiyama and her condition. Saio and Kitō weren't around to direct him to her room since they resumed in that corridor.

Izuna sighed believing her room was the one on the right opposite of Kitō's room. He knocked once to make sure she was fine.

No answer.

He knocked a second time feeling more frantic this time.

No answer.

This made his heart sped up a little knowing she usually answers. Izuna burst the door open in a hurry and saw no trace of Aiyama anywhere. The sheets were sprawled over the bed. Her chakra signature is nowhere to be found. 'Madara-nii is going to murder me...'

Exactly what he hoped wouldn't happen.

Izuna left in a hurry to prepare to find the girl before his elder brother would have any knowledge of her disappearance. 'Did her memories returned?' Izuna was more anticipated at finding her first. It was strange how she suddenly "disappeared" without a trace. Was it willingly? Or did the enemy infiltrated in secret? Izuna was eager to find out.

_________

Aiyama gasped for air, her memories began to return slowly. Aiyama's eyes remained shut as she can not physically open them just yet. She nearly felt immense pain course through her body and mind.  The tragic memories playing through her mind like a playlist back to back. Her eyes brimmed darkly from her late brothers passing all those years ago. She remembers her Otō-san's last words were.

"Find peace and unity. I only wish my successors will bring the end of this era. Please... Aiya-chi, don't stop looking for happiness when you're looking in the wrong places. Love those close to you." Batsuma took his last straw of breath looking happily up at the night sky. Hashirama cried softly in his chest while Aiyama was experiencing shock; her younger brother Tobi-onii hugged her close.

One tragic moment after the next played through her mind. Her screeching echoed throughout the hallways. The day Madara stabbed her through her heart to become stronger from something she would never have understood at a young age.

Her breathing shallowed; her body convulsed feeling electricity run through her body. 'Where the hell am I?'

Aiyama remembered all the issues the Leaf was having and the Daiymo being a current rebel in most nations. Now that he is a fugitive, things have gotten more serious. Madara had tried to keep her out of this business.

"So it seems you've been caught in the torrent. Now, what will you do." Chōmei laughed profusely in her mind. Aiyama couldn't think straight and didn't remember why her memories returned in the first place. What happened?

"Shut up. I need to concentrate on this, I seemly can't wake up!" Aiyama felt her heart race a bit as sweat drops formed across her temple. She looked up to see the large insect looking down at her amusingly. Still, Aiyama looked at him confusedly but with slight pain in her eyes.

Then it hit her like a lightning bolt. She finally managed to open her eyes with full ounces of acrimony.

'Madara on purposely removed many years worth of my memories with a seal, and somehow the seal was broken. Why would he?! I can't trust anyone these days. I can't let my emotions override this situation now, I can't even sense the arrogant Uchiha.' Aiyama felt anger course through her paralyzed body as she managed to pull herself up off the cold hard ground.

She was underground it seems while cages barricaded her surroundings. This doesn't seem the greatest to look into as to why she was hunted for specifically. Her brothers will go ape wired if they'd known she was kidnapped. Hashirama will do the most ridiculous things such as leaving the office to rescue her. He was overprotective, and Aiyama hated that. She wanted to get out of her own situation. However, Tobirama would just leave without notice and claim to be on a mission which is to "retrieve" her alone from the enemy's fortress.

Izuna... she loved him as a third brother. She knew he would follow whoever goes after her since he isn't much of a leader himself.

Madara... she would admit how much she loved him still and hopes he doesn't know of her disappearance as of yet. Her protectiveness is becoming overbearing. She knew he was like a god, but somethings can come to an end. She didn't want him to put himself at risk even though Aiyama knew he would do it anyways.

Tears threatened to fall as she didn't know if she was prepared to die. 'He'll kill them all, every single one of them. An Uchiha's weakness is love.'

"Ah isn't it Aiyama Senju! It's such a pleasure to see you again." A grinning black-haired female looked down through the bars. "Reini..." Aiyama mumbled while she barely looked at her. 'She is so greedy and unbearable to look at! Is she still mad she lost something she never had?! She lost her freaking mind!!'

Aiyama hissed at the girl who stood before her. "Oh don't worry I would do much worse to your pathetic body. The men here would love to get their hands on you and do whatever." Reini lets out an insane laugh, "you're still upset that Leader-sama chose me instead of you? You're quite pathetic waiting now to get your revenge. Madara will never choose you, either way, he'd kill you if anything happens to me!" Aiyama growled and slid back near the wall avoiding looking at her.

"I'll wait until Jirū-sama tells you more about everything. I don't give two rats ass about Madara, I am not an idiot if he chooses you over me any day... then what can I do? He won't ever look at me the way he does with you. Besides, I think the next upcoming plans will be quite a handful. Especially if the Hidden Mist village is delighted to join forces." Reini swiftly turns around without looking back at the shocking Senju.

"What the hell—" Aiyama was immediately cut off.

"Reini-san, don't scare off the pretty woman we have here. Oh, I see it's you Aiyama-san." A striking mock tone sliced through the air in the cell chambers.

"H-Hozuki?!" Aiyama screeched while her heart clenched. 'This man was nice, and asked me to leave Konohagakure to reside in Kirigakure.'

"It's quite a surprise eh? You're still so beautiful... sadly we have different plans here on out." The man was beginning to send shivers down her spine as his creepy gaze lingers over her body up and down. Hozuki placed a finger under his chin.

"I think claiming you as my concubine would be a little too much since my wife, is the jealous type." And that made Aiyama bubble with anger.

"Hmmm, you sure don't look like you love it here especially in a cell, Aiyama-san." Hozuki was mocking her more now which was beginning to infuriate her more.

"I won't do shit for you. Release me out of here or you'll regret every ounce to the marrow of your bones." Aiyama seethed through her teeth. Hozuki laughed outwardly at the poor girl.

"You think you can even land a hit on me in your state. I would watch your words, the Daimyo has plans and you better pay attention to them." Hozuki sneered and glanced at Reini who had her arms crossed. Aiyama knew that Reini would never get over Madara. 'You can never forget the one you love even if they hurt you.'

Aiyama wondered why would Madara hurt her as well. Aiyama was madly in love with him as well and knew that he felt the same. Aiyama thought maybe she should be lucky after all. He did hurt her multiple times, but not enough to use and manipulate someone to their own game and stomp on their heart for good. She wondered why would Madara do that to Reini and felt sympathy for the girl.

'He wanted to intentionally "near" kill me so he can gain the Mangekyō to protect his loved ones better. He wanted me to hate him... tch. It must have been a painful decision since Izuna wouldn't have worked for that plan.'

"Keep her in here in the meantime. I don't want any Leaf shinobi out and about." Hozuki twirled a set of keys and flicked them to Reini who caught them.

"Hai, I'll take watch. Don't be too long, Hozuki-san." She tiredly says and turned her back towards Aiyama.

Aiyama lastly thought about how she could possibly make Reini turn sides. She wasn't after Madara or chasing after something she now realized she can never have. Aiyama has now only one option which is to oblige to their plans.