Time seemed to creep along in the tower. Not to say that the days were boring, but each second seemed like an eternity. Yet Yuki seemed perfectly content to run around talking and exploring the upper floors of the tower.
Three days after Yuki arrived, Madara walked into the room she was in with a surprise on his arm. He got an odd feeling when he saw her eyes light up.
"Oh, she's gorgeous!"
"She's yours." Madara chuckled.
Perched on his arm was a pure white hawk. She had a more delicate head than most, and a finely pointed beak. The very tips of her wings were bright gold flecked with silver.
"Wh-...M-Mine?"
Madara smirked and nodded his head patiently. Slowly he took her wrist and gave the bird a little push onto her forearm.
"Give her a name." Madara murmured, watching her sparkling eyes cautiously. "Anything you want."
The young woman felt a sort of nervous happiness. It was the first gift anybody had ever given her in her life, and the feeling was overwhelming.
"I like...Ai." Giggled Yuki. "Ai the messenger hawk!"
"You're going to teach her to send messages?" Madara asked with a smirk. "Good luck! Only trained specialists can do that properly."
The newly named Ai screeched loudly and flew swiftly around round walls of the room. As she watched the hawks progress, Yuki turned her eyes to Madara and let them widen innocently.
"But.....aren't you a trained specialist?"
Madara took one more step and froze, his eyes slowly opening, a frown growing across his face. He turned his head to the side and looked at her with one dark eye. It was a mistake he would at first regret, and then cherish for the rest of his life.
One look, no, one glance at her round, sad eyes and she had him instantly in her will. At that precise moment, he would have done absolutely anything she asked. But she didn't say anything at all, and maybe that was even worse. She simply stood there and looked sadly up at him, her beautiful eyes glistening.
"Well...I...guess I could show you how to train it." He said simply, barely aware of what he was saying.
It struck him just then, how extremely beautiful she was. Her pale skin looked soft and silky even from that distance, and it shone with a gentle silver glow. And despite the fact that she was so small, she still had a womanly figure, lean but present...and alluring. God curse her eyes. Her intoxicating stare that was even at that moment drawing Madara into her.
"Thank you...Madara-sama..." Yuki smiled and flounced out of the room, calling back that she wanted to go and find paper and a pen.
When he finally gained control of his head once again, Madara shook it slightly. It wasn't the first time he had wanted her but-...this time...something more than that had gripped him.
"Dammit, woman." He growled, slamming his fist down on the window sill. A tiny feminine gasp from behind him made him spin around in surprise.
"Did I...d-do something?" Yuki stammered, her eyes slightly fearful. "I-I'm sorry! If you do not wish to-to..."
"Never fear, Yuki-hime." Madara said with a devilish smirk. "I'm more than happy to spend all the time with you it takes to train that cursed bird."
At that moment, the hawk swooped down and clamped itself onto Yuki's shoulder. She jumped in surprise but looked ecstatically happy.
"Ai." She said, petting the birds fine beak. "Madara-Sama!" She gestured at Madara, and the bird followed her line of gaze intently, coming to rest on Madara's imposing form.
Ai screamed and flew to Madara's shoulder. The Uchiha Lord smirked and stroked the hawks wing softly. He almost because lost in thought as he stared at Yuki unblinkingly.
"She's a beautiful creature." He muttered. "Captivating..."
The sudden appearance of Yuki directly in front of him, snapped him back to reality. She gave him a gleaming smile and without really knowing what she was doing, threw her arms around him and laughed.
"It really worked!" she cried happily. Her eyes widened as she realized that she was hugging him and she hurriedly stepped back.
Inwardly, Madara cursed himself for not grabbing a hold of her. Her skin was soft.
As the hawk hopped up onto his forearm, he held it out to Yuki, who looked thoroughly abashed.
"Here." He said gently, trying to calm her, and took her wrist in his other hand. He held up her arm and let Ai hop onto it.
"I-I'm sorry-"
Madara put a finger over her lips, and she froze. So did he. Unable to believe that his day could get any stranger, Madara could hardly believe how his own body was betraying him.
Her lips were softer than silk. And they trembled ever so slightly beneath his touch. At the same time, he both wanted to comfort her softly, and stop her quivering... and take her mouth in a passionate kiss. He did neither, for he was simply at that point trying to remain in control of his carnal side.
"Again, there is nothing to apologize for, Yuki-hime. You look hungry and it grows late. Come eat and then rest."
"T-Thank you Madara-sama." She whispered, still shocked and shaking. "I think sleep sounds good right now."
"Very well. Head on back to the room."
Giving he a tiny nudge with his hand, Madara watched with a fake smile on his face that made Yuki's innocent eyes widen just the smallest bit.
When the door had shut behind her, and her enticing image was suddenly gone from his mind, Madara slumped against the wall in a tired defeat. Never before in his long life had he been forced to resist so hard. It was getting ridiculous! Even when she made an innocently naïve comment, he could barely resist the urge to crush her against him and just hold her, let alone his animal desires to kiss her.
"Damn it all!" He hissed and slammed his fist into the wall. Then, he saw the damage he had done and let his head fall. Tekke would kill him...a giant circular hole had been punched straight through the wall, leaving the entire room subject to the extremely cold high altitude winds. He laughed nervously and squinted his eyes against the bare winds.
"Oh...I'm so sorry, Madara-sama..." Said a quiet voice from the door- Madara froze in his place, his face calm but his mind shocked. "Madara-sama?" Yuki asked in a concerned voice. "I'm...lost..."
He couldn't help himself. Madara had to laugh when he heard the embarrassed and bashful tone of her voice. Or maybe it was a laugh to quell his urge to shout in anger.
"I'll take you." He said, still chuckling, and took her hand in his. The action surprised Yuki, and she gasped at the warmth of him. It was hard to keep walking when the heat just made her want to sleep.
"M-Maaadara...sama..." She said, barely stifling a yawn. "I might fall asleep right here!" Giggled Yuki. Grinning down at her, Madara studied her face for a moment and concluded that she was being perfectly serious. She looked like she was about to topple over!
"Up you go." He muttered, and slid one hand around her back. In one swift motion, he had pulled her up off her feet and into his arms. With one arm beneath her knees, the other around her waist, and with her squirming every which way he carried her back to the room.
Yuki was giggling and laughing the entire way. First hanging her head upside down and then holding onto Madara tighter when he started going down stairs and pretended to drop her.
"Ah! Don't let go!" She squealed and closed her eyes tightly. Madara chuckled evilly in a way that made Yuki frown cutely. "That laugh isn't making me feel safer!" As Madara opened the door to the hallway, the rush of air and jolt of movement made Yuki's hair fall over her face.
Madara paused, and the sudden stop made Yuki open her eyes. She let out a tiny gasp. Using one of his arm to hold her to his chest, Madara reached up with the other one and brushed her hair out of her face ever so gently. The tips of his fingers brushed her forehead and a shiver ran through her.
Then, Yuki's heart nearly stopped when...when she saw the look on Madara's face. It was a look of concentration, his entire face scowling. But his eyes! They were smiling. With a look of pure and truthful serenity he looked down at her, and then slowly took his hand away. Yuki had a sudden urge to grab it and hold it in her hands, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement, and her eyes flashed sideways.
Tekke leaned against the wall, right beside the room where Yuki slept. He had a humble smile on his face and as Madara walked past him to enter the room, he winked down at Yuki. A bright red blush splashed across her cheeks. Then she closed her eyes again and turned her face into Madara's armor nervously. A few seconds later, he held his arms out from his body, pulling her away from his warmth. Yuki slowly opened her eyes, still blushing, and looked up at him.
"You're going to drop me?" She questioned with a small laugh. Madara's hawk flew through the window and landed on his desk, spattering a bottle of ink over the side. He didn't even avert his gaze from his eyes, just shook his head slightly and bent his knees.
Treating her like a delicate flower, he softly put her down on the bed and pulled his arms away from her. He didn't miss the flash of emotion in her eyes as he started to turn away. Although Yuki felt that her heart was breaking at that moment, she felt herself slipping into sleep.
She spent one hour sleeping restlessly, tossing, turning, and murmuring incoherent words of terror in her sleep. When he could no longer stand the sound of her fear, Madara decided to abandon his work and walked over to the bed. Ripping of his armor, he sat down on the edge for a few seconds, and then rolled into the middle. As usual, Yuki slid down until her back bumped into his chest.
For a few minutes, Madara just lay there, looking at her sleeping with a sad look on his face. Then, his eyes widened in silent shock, for Yuki had rolled over and snuggled herself closer to him. She put both hands on his chest and nestled her head right beneath his.
"Madara...kun..." Whispered Yuki in her sleep, and she fell back into the soft, rhythmic breathing of a deep sleep.
"Yuki." He murmured back, and slowly put one of his arms protectively around her.
With her small, warm body pressed near to him, Madara too fell asleep. He didn't wake until several hours later:
"Madara..."
It was so quiet, nearly imperceptible. He almost missed it. At first he was unwilling to believe that she had said his name. Then, she repeated it.
"Madara!..."
He pushed himself up on his hands and looked down at her with a questioning look in his eyes. Cursing himself inwardly, Madara smirked and lowered his head so that is was directly over hers.
Yuki was angled slightly away from him and had a peaceful look on her face, relaxed in sleep. Moonlight seeped through the window and landed on the pillow, illuminating her beauty even more.
"Kiss...me?" She whispered, her lips barely moving. Madara slowly brought up one of his hands and put his palm against her cheek. Holding his breath, Madara traced his thumb around the curve of her lips and felt his throat go dry.
"As you wish."
He lowered his head the last half of an inch and felt a great warmth explode inside him as his lips touched hers. Yuki let out a noise half way between a whimper and a sigh and moved her lips back against hers, then, just as Madara pulled away, her eyes opened.
For a minute, she simply stared at him, a furious blush across her whole face, her body trembling beside his. Yuki realized the intimate closeness of their bodies, but she couldn't move. He had his arm around her...and she didn't really want to.
"How villainous of you..." Mumbled Yuki, her mind still reeling, her lips still burning. "To take advantage of a sleeping lady!" Then, she cracked a smile and giggled.
"Well I did warn you." Madara replied, never looking away from her eyes. "I am a villain."
"I thought you said you were honorable!" Exclaimed Yuki as she tilted her head to the side and tried to cool her lips that felt as if they were on fire.
"I tried to be..." A sigh escaped Madara. "But I just couldn't help myself." He admitted. "And..." He smirked evilly. "You asked me to kiss you."
"Wha-? I-I did not!" She cried, blushing deeper, for she knew exactly who she had dreamed about.
With a choked laugh, Madara touched his fingertip to her forehead and pulled her mind out. Inside his head she saw the memory. Saw her lips form the words, saw her voice give them life. Her mouth dropped open.
"Are you...mad at me?" He whispered into her ear, smirking all the while. Staring up at him with wide innocent eyes she managed to reply:
"Yes."
Madara's eyes darkened. "Because you're just lying there. Letting me get cold over here."
"You're still cold?" He asked concernedly, unconsciously brushing a loose strand of hair off her face. Even though her heart was beating a mile a minute, Yuki managed to force herself to move. She gently wrapped her cool hands around Madara's wrist and brought his hand back to the side of her face.
"You keep me warm!" Insisted Yuki quietly. "Without you here I would freeze!" Letting out a laugh, she pushed herself closer to him and nudged him with her elbow until he draped his other arm over her.
Gears in Madara's mind were spinning out of control. Inside his mind was purring with contentment. He had her! She would soon be his! Forever...But outside he was slightly hesitant. He...wasn't sure how to move forward.
Already asleep again, Yuki whimpered and pressed closer to him. She rolled over so that she faced him and buried her face in the curve of his neck.
"I won't leave you." Chuckled Madara, brushing her cheek with his own. "Despite what anybody thinks, its too late now. I want you forever...and I always get what I want."
"Madara-sama...nothing lasts forever..." Murmured Yuki softly. She pressed her cheek into his palm and bit her lip.
"Ah, Yuki-hime." Hissed Madara, barely able to control the volume of his voice. "That is one of the reasons I love you as much as I do." Yuki's eyes flashed open. "You say the most naïve things sometimes...if only you knew...just how easy it is. To last forever. Just how hard it is, to love somebody you cannot have. To love you."
Yuki's breath came in short gasps, her face blushing, her mind crying out. A single crystal tear formed at the corner of her eye and ran down her face.
"I-I love you Madara-sama." Said Yuki in a shaky voice. "You said you always get what you want! So take me with you!...Please..."
"Yes." Purred Madara out loud. "But sleep. You're so tired." When Yuki nodded and slowly sank her head back close to him, Madara closed his eyes and rocked her back and forth briefly.
"I love you." She repeated frantically.
"I know." He chuckled, then his eyes narrowed. "I know." "You are mine at last..."