Well, my time is up. By the time you find this letter, I'll probably be dead. Actually, make that I will be dead. But don't be sad. I'll be in a better place, maybe. I'll always be with you, if you remember me... Keep on living for me...

The pen scratched against the paper as he wrote his letter. He sighed, blinking a little and shaking his head before continuing. Words came more easily once he started writing. No-one would mind if he disappeared forever, right? It wasn't as if they cared about him, right? His father had yelled at him and hit him, kicking him out of the house and disowning him. He had dropped out of college, because he was sick of the comments and abuse from some of his classmates, just because he was different. They didn't care for him. He was essentially homeless and running out of money for basic things. He blinked again, wiping at his eyes as he stopped the tears. He had to finish the letter.

Izuna. I'm sorry, so very sorry. I love you, otouto. Make sure you live, be strong and most importantly, be happy. We'll meet again someday, but for now, just live and be strong without me. I know you can do it.

Madara leaned back in the chair, blinking furiously. He had to finish the letter. He needed to say goodbye to everyone. Just for closure- he wasn't sure that they would even care anymore, but he just wanted. Why couldn't he have done this in person? Oh yeah, it was easier to say goodbye through a letter than by talking to others. Speaking to people, he'd just falter, and that would make everything so, so much harder for him. Complications. He didn't need them, he just needed to disappear, with the letter as the only evidence that he even existed.

Dad, I'm sorry. I can't change who I am, but I wish I could have been a better son to you. Maybe things would have been different if I had turned out the way you wanted me to. Well, it's kinda too late, now. I'm gone. I'm sorry.

Madara's breath caught in his throat a little, and he shook his head. Keep calm, don't let the tears fall. But it was too late; the tears fell fast down his cheeks. Some of the drops fell onto the edges of the paper. Madara smiled sadly, closing his eyes and taking a long breath before opening his eyes. He continued writing the letter, tears still falling down his cheeks. Some of the words were smudged a little. He started to finish his letter.

Oh, I'm shedding tears over this? Don't be sad, I'm sure that I'll always be there in your hearts, if you remember me. After all this time, I guess I was just trying to be strong for far too long. This is my final goodbye, I'm so sorry for giving up. Thanks for the memories, even if they weren't that great.

~Madara

The young man finished his letter, reading it through carefully. Good enough. Folding it delicately, he tucked the letter into an inside pocket of his jacket. He got up from his chair, making his way to the door. He couldn't do it here. Not inside. He needed a more peaceful place to stay. Madara made his way to outside, just wandering until he found the spot. The park. Beautiful and totally empty. A perfect spot. He went into the fields, leaning against an old gnarled tree. Madara looked up to the night sky, smiling sadly at the stars.

This would be the perfect setting to end his long, hard struggle with the world. More tears fell down his cheeks as he put the gun to his head. He closed his eyes and counted to ten slowly, his finger on the trigger. He counted down, pulling the trigger as soon as he reached zero. He felt himself be pushed to the ground, a soft noise escaping his lips. He could still feel everything. His breath caught a little. The gun was loaded, why was he still here? Madara flexed a hand cautiously. There was nothing in his hands. But how? He turned his head to the left, looking at the gun on the ground. It had jammed, much to his dazed surprise. Jammed from the impact of being knocked away?

The black-haired boy suddenly became aware that there was a weight on top of him. He drew his eyes away from the gun, looking up. Ruby met onyx, and he was caught in the gaze of someone almost familiar. "Hey, who…?" He made a sound of confusion as the other gripped his wrists. Well, a stranger just came up and stopped him from shooting himself, and then grabbed his arms. That wasn't exactly expected, or normal. The stranger just smiled reassuringly before replying. "I'm Hashirama, Senju Hashirama. Tobirama's brother." Madara just stared a little. There was something familiar in the face. He did know Tobirama Senju; he was a guy who had been in his class and who stayed in the dorm room across from his, before he left. But, Tobirama was different- a rather stoic and cold young man, who took things way too seriously. "What were you thinking?" The voice was low, and there were notes of concern. Madara, brought out of his thoughts, blinked a little before looking away. Hashirama spoke again. "Please, talk to me." He then moved back, helping the younger male so that he was sat up.

The brunette loosened his grip slightly, staring into Madara's eyes. "Why were you… why did you want to try that?" Madara lowered his head, tears threatening to fall down his cheeks, much to his embarrassment and displeasure. Why did someone have to here, this was making it worse! He looked up to the other male. "I couldn't take it anymore…" He replied weakly, shaking his head. "I just… I can't." Hashirama shook his head, trying to be reassuring and trying to calm the raven-haired male down.

"Mada -" Hashirama said softly, but the young Uchiha cut him off. "No, Hashirama. Everything is just... Nobody would even care if I just disappeared..." The young male stopped talking as Hashirama put a hand over his mouth, giving the older male another startled look. Madara pushed the Senju's hand away. "Why would they care? All I am to most people is a punching bag… or a disappointment." Hashirama took the younger male's hand. His tone was calm and gentle, but firm. "Madara, listen to me. Whatever's happened, don't let it get to you. People care. You just need to talk to someone." The brunette replied, looking into Madara's startled eyes. "It might not seem like it, but I promise. There are people who care." He insisted.

"Why… why would they…?" Madara shook his head- he didn't believe it. Hashirama just sighed, standing up. He slid the gun out of the Uchiha's reach as he did so, taking his hands and helping Madara to his feet. "Come over to mine, okay?" Madara just nodded in response, glancing to the gun as it was moved away. He then fixed his eyes to the other's face. Hashirama smiled gently and walked off, stopping and glancing back to make sure the other was following. Madara walked forwards, towards the Senju. He was led to a car, a well-cared-for red Toyota Prius. The brunette opened the door for his passenger, and Madara went into the car. Hashirama sat in the driver's seat, glancing to the other with a slight smile before starting the car, driving off.

"Yeah, so Tobi mentioned you just dropping out, about a week ago," Hashirama mentioned as he drove, glancing to the younger male in the passenger seat. "He said you were having a hard time and that nobody had heard from you in a while..." Madara remained silent, just nodding his head slowly. An awkward silence fell between the two, and this silence remained until Hashirama pulled up outside his house. He opened the door and stepped out. "Come on," He said, opening the door to the passenger's side. Madara stepped out cautiously, still trying to avoid the other's gaze. The Senju shut the doors, and led the other inside. "Make yourself at home," He said, glancing to the younger male with a warm smile, motioning to the couch. Madara nodded slowly, going to sit down. "You want anything? Beer, coffee…?" The Uchiha shook his head. The brunette went to the kitchen, grabbing himself a beer before coming back to the lounge, sitting in the chair across from Madara.

"I want to know why," Hashirama said softly, looking to the other. Madara shifted nervously and looked down, but the Senju continued. "I want to help you, Mada, but I can't do much if I don't know what's wrong." The younger male bit his lip, trying not to let his tears fall. Hashirama put a hand on the other's shoulder gently, softening his voice a little. "Madara, please talk to me." The other stared at the floor silently for a moment before he started to speak.
"I… I got kicked out of home and I dropped college. I have nowhere to go." He admitted quietly. "My dad pretty much disowned me." Hashirama narrowed his eyes a little, a little shocked. From what Tobirama had said, Madara was a hard-working kid, if a little quiet and shy. No reasons to be kicked out. "Why would he do that?" The brunette asked, fixing his onyx gaze on the other. Madara kept his eyes on the floor.

"He… well, found out that I was... um… that I had no attraction to girls…" Madara looked nervously to the other. Hashirama's face was impassive. Weren't parents supposed to be there for their child, no matter what? Of course, he knew that it wasn't the same in all places, but surely a parent should care for their child? Madara's eyes were on the brunette, biting his lip as the other had a stony expression. "Hashirama…?" The young male froze up a little as the other suddenly wrapped his arms around him, comfortingly.

"Mada, it's okay." Hashirama replied softly, pulling away to look at him. Madara looked confused. The brunette carried on. "You can stay here, if you've got nowhere else to go." The Uchiha tilted his head, his tone apprehensive as he spoke. "You mean it…? Even if I'm…" Hashirama laughed softly, ruffling the other's hair gently. "Madara, it doesn't matter what sexuality you have. You're still a person, and I want to help you," He responded gently. Madara flushed, bowing his head. "Ah, thank you, Hashirama." The brunette smiled, standing up. "Ah, you can just call me Hashi, if you want."