Ties that Bind

                                    

                                          
SenPOV

                          
Amagiri's dispassionate eyes stared down at Sen and Kimigiku. He stood a step outside of the main entrance of the Kazama manor, blocking their way in. Sen glared up at the giant, balled up her fist, and struck him in the chest in the most unladylike of fashions. Kimigiku lunged for the princess, restraining her from further lashing out. Not that her outburst did any damage to Amagiri, but she could cause a dispute of honor between the clans if she wasn't careful. 
                          
"Amagiri, I swear if you don't let us pass, I will turn every eastern clan against you!"
                          
"Princess!" Kimigiku scolded. 
                          
"I never would have believed that you would use your high standings to settle your own personal grudges," Amagiri frowned.
                          
"This isn't a personal grudge you kidnapped Chizuru!"
                          
"Chizuru agreed to stay on her own free will," Kazama said from behind Amagiri.
                          
Amagiri stepped out of the way and allowed Kazama to pass. 
                          
"Seeing as you won't take mine or your shinobi's word for it, you may come inside and see for yourself."
                          
Sen knocked past Kazama and Amagiri and stormed the Kazama manner. She had been here numerous times before and didn't need directions to the common area where she found Chizuru kneeling in front of her dinner. Chizuru choked on her food when she spotted Sen. She went into a violent fit of coughs, turning her face as red as the kimono she was wearing. Her eyes were as wide as the two bowls on her plate, though Sen wasn't sure if that was from the shock of seeing her or the panic of choking. When Chizuru finally recovered, she threw herself to the floor in a low bow. 
                          
"Please forgive me for leaving so suddenly, your highness. Though I cannot say that I regret my actions, I can say that I deeply regret causing you such worry and distress." 
                          
Sen noticed Kazama raise an eyebrow in curiosity at her statement. Sen shared his interest. 
                          
"What could Kazama possibly do for you that I cannot?" Sen demanded.
                          
"My father was at the Ikedaya Inn last night. I needed a message delivered to him, and I would have never asked you or your people to go into such a place. Especially knowing the bloodbath that was going to be occurring there."
                          
"So instead, you sacrifice yourself? You're the sole heir and head of the Yukimura clan; how could you be so foolish and give up your power so easily?"
                          
Chizuru paled.
                          
"You didn't think about that, did you? If you allow Kazama to take you as his bride, the two of you will breed a very powerful offspring, one that will be raised to be loyal to him and to do his bidding. Is that something you want to be a part of?"
                          
Chizuru's mouth fell open. She looked to Kazama, giving him the chance to deny the claim, but his face remained impassive. She opened her mouth, but no air went in, nor did any words come out. All she could manage was to shake her head vigorously. 
                          
"You should have come to me before agreeing to such a selfish plan."
                          
"I- I didn't agree to marry him...just...t-to stay with him through the summer," Chizuru's voice was as weak and pitiful as her defense. 
                          
"Did he specify where you two would be spending the summer? Did he agree to return you back to my manner or your father when the time had passed? Did you negotiate contact with the outside world or any precautionary terms for yourself?"
                          
All of the color had drained from Chizuru's face as she realized exactly what she had bargained away. She looked again to Kazama to give her some sort of reassurance or contradiction to the realities Sen was illuminating, but his expression never changed from its apathetic stare. Chizuru curled in on herself. Her hands balled into fists, and she hugged herself as though she was trying to keep her innards from falling out of her chest.