Disclaimer: We don't own anything but Akane and Uchiha OC's, Masashi Kishimoto ©
Hot and sweaty, Akane took a ragged breath, her hazel eyes darting in every direction. She took a quick moment to regain her composure before she had to defend herself again against that crazy Uchiha teacher of hers. She listened closely. For the past week, Izuna had been making her focus on chakra control and using it to detect presences from miles away; however, she had only been able to go up to forty meters or so. Akane was upset with her progress, but Izuna had more faith in her than she had in herself. He was the only one who had faith in her abilities as a ninja, which Akane greatly appreciated.
Akane turned her head, hearing sharp metal cut through air. She quickly jumped out of the way, when an enormous shuriken wedged itself into a tree right where once stood. She choked on her own breath in shock. Was he trying to kill her? How was Izuna so sure she'd dodge in time?
She wiped the sweat from her brow with a shaky hand, working to calm herself. She scanned the area. No sign of the Uchiha. No sight, or sound, or presence. Where had he gone? Panic set in. She trembled in place, eyes bouncing, breath shaky. She had managed to evade Izuna's attacks so far. Granted, he wasn't putting forth all effort. He was training her after all, not trying to give her nightmares for the rest of her life, but that didn't necessarily mean he took it easy on her.
Akane stepped back, left foot snapping a twig. Glancing down, she realized there was no twig beneath her. No leaves or pebbles. The ground cracked. It split, and before she could process what was happening, she found herself peering down and swallowing hard at the kunai poking the flesh of her throat. A drop of blood trickled. Dropping the kunai to the grass, Izuna gently placed his warm hand against the base of her neck. Akane gasped and held her breath, watching ebony eyes peer into her hazel. There was a kindness in his eyes, a warmth. Akane squeaked in surprise when Izuna gently brushed her grazed throat with the pad of his thumb, wiping the bit of blood.
"I-Izu..." she said, eyeing him with worry. Izuna smiled, bringing his thumb close to his lips to tease her. He then leaned forward, mouth by her ear.
"You lose, Akane." Akane pressed back against the tree. Izuna hovered over her, caging her in. She tried. Akane tried not to be afraid of him, sure he wouldn't hurt her, but she couldn't help it, the fear and panic consuming her.
Lowering her head, the brunette pressed her hands against his chest trying to push his bigger body away from her own. Izuna seemed to notice her strain, immediately backing away.
"I'm sorry," she said, squatting before him, hands over her eyes. Izuna hadn't seen her break down before, and he knew he never wanted to again. Falling to his knees, he, without hesitation, pulled the frightened brunette into his chest, wrapping her up like a present in his arms. It hurt him to see a woman cry, especially one he had grown quite close to so quickly. That was one of the many things that separated him from Madara. Izuna was willing to give comfort when comfort was due. Madara, though not a cruel man, always held back. No one was sure why, not even the leader himself.
"I won't hurt you," he said against her brown hair. Akane buried her face in his chest, seeking the comfort she so desperately desired. Akane promised herself she'd stay strong, to stand up rather than cower in fear before men who ignored her limits, but she still found herself afraid, plagued with memories of her father.
The two sat there for what felt like hours. It was for the most part silent. Every now and then Izuna would question if the brunette was all right. Akane would nod in agreement, never moving away from him, this being the first time anyone other than her brother held and comforted her.
Pulling away from the second in command, Akane leaned back on her legs, placing her hands upon her lap. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment as she wiped her eyes.
"Arigato, Izuna." she said. Izuna remained quiet as he pushed himself off the ground. He bent over slightly, helping Akane to her feet. She stumbled a bit before gaining balance. He watched her with a tilt of his head; the red of her eyes, her tear stained cheeks, the strands of hair that clung to damp skin. It was similar to when Madara encountered Akane that fateful night, when Yushiro had tracked her down; how the strong and intelligent medic was reduced to a disheveled young woman in the dirt, shaking and in tears. He pointed his head towards home, starting off with her close by.
For a while it remained quiet between the two, Izuna not wanting to push her and Akane taking time to sniffle and clear her head in the night breeze.
"Akane," he said. She faced him questioningly. "There's a mission I'm going on tomorrow."
"Oh?" she said.
"Some information gathering, checking up on things. It's nothing too serious." He went on. She nodded, confused when he looked at her as if waiting for an answer.
"Why tell me?"
"You should come."
"Nani?" Her eyes widened. "Me accompany you?"
"Hai. What's all the shock about?" He raised an eyebrow.
"You're - you're Uchiha Izuna. You're you! Why would I go with someone of your status? I can't even fight."
"Sure you can. Besides, I said it was information gathering. I doubt we'll encounter anyone."
"But...I've never really been outside on my own."
"Don't you listen, Aka-chan?" He sighed, placing his hands on his hips after coming to a stop. "You'll be with me. You're fully capable of defending yourself. And it's not like we'll split up."
"I…" She bit her lip, conflicted, tempted. "I'm scared."
"Ugh…" He released a disappointed sigh.
"But I'm also curious. I've only ever been in my own village and here at the compound. I don't think the bit of forest on the way here with Madara counts. I want to see the world, honest, but I know it's terrifying, and I know all people want to do is hurt each other. I don't think I'm strong enough."
"Sure you're strong. Strength isn't all about fighting, Akane. You could be the only woman on a field with men, but in war they would all die if not for your medical jutsu. You may lack physical power at the moment, but your mind is a glorious thing. Also! You need real life experience to get better. I promise I won't toss you out in the middle of a fight," he snickered. "It'll be fine."
"Hmmm," she hummed, chewing on her lip. "What about Madara?"
"What about him?" He crossed his arms. She gave him a look. He truly was the only person who could get away with brushing Madara off like that.
"I need to check with him first."
"Since when?"
"Since he brought me here?" She flashed another look. Why was he acting as if she wanted something so absurd?
"You're saying you need my miserable brother's permission?"
"Uh...yeah I guess." She shrugged.
"I don't think so. You'll just follow me when I leave, no worries." He started off again.
"Izu," she said firmly, not leaving her place. He smirked at his nickname.
"Naaaani?" He faced her.
"Madara brought me here for a reason. I have a job - responsibilities. Besides, who am I to just announce I'm going with you? If he gets upset -"
"What? If he gets upset what's gonna happen? He'll yell and huff and puff. He'll do this scary thing with his eyes, and I'm not talking about the sharingan, and then he'll sit down and turn his face and not talk to anyone until he has to. He won't do anything. It's not as if you're running away. You're with me."
"Still," she said. "I'd like his permission...for me." She finally released her lip. Izuna shook his head with another sigh.
"Fine, fine. If you want to be all polite and obedient like he expects you to, be my guest," he said, almost disappointed she wouldn't rebel like himself.
"Arigato," she said with a nod, walking past him.
"I thought I was a handful."
"Hurry up." Izuna waited, impatiently tapping his foot. Akane rolled around in her bed, pulling the blanket over her head. "Aka-chaaaan get up! We have to leave in an hour and you still haven't asked Madara like you wanted to!" Izuna marched in and grabbed the blanket, deciding to join in on her childish antics.
"Nooo, Izuuu...I don't wanna get up anymore... it's my only day off and..." Izuna rolled his eyes ripping the blanket off her and throwing it across the room. She yelped as the cool morning air grazed her skin.
Flexing his fingers, Izuna attacked her, trailing tickling fingers along her waist which caused loud laughter to escape her pink lips. Satisfied with her little burst, Izuna pulled away and brushed off his shoulders. After catching her breath, Akane felt the cool air again. Eyes widening, she reached for the blanket, hiding her exposed skin. Izuna realized the cause for her actions, a blush threatening to spread. He cleared his throat and warned her to get ready before rushing out.
Akane sat up, hugging her knees to her chest, a smile tugging at her lips. Izuna always made her feel...warm. He made her laugh, he earned her trust. She truly was thankful to have met him, and so to make it up to him, she jumped to her feet and scurried to prepare herself.
"Would you just drop it? Madara knows I'm leaving. Just come with me."
"Not now."
"Why not?"
"What if he says no, Izuna?"
"Don't ask him, Akane."
"Nope." She turned her face, about to knock gently on the door.
"You slip into attractive clothes and think you're better all of a sudden?" he sneered. She stiffened.
"Attractive?"
"Don't tell me you didn't notice." He pointed at all of her. "This was not an accident."
"I thought it'd be easier to move in! And - and I've never really had the chance to wear something like this...I was always flapping around in a stained, white jacket," she muttered. "I didn't do it for attention."
"Well whether you did or didn't, you sure got the attention."
"But…" She made a face, a face he thought was discomfort. Remembering her little meltdown last night,
"I'm joking."
"No you're not."
"Ok I'm not, but I mean it in a nice way, Aka-chan. I'm only teasing." He nudged her. She couldn't help but smile. He stole one last glance before stepping up and knocking.
"Oh hell, do you really have to let me know you're leaving, Izuna? It's my one day off," Madara said.
"Good morning to you too, Nii-san," he said, stepping in with a roll of his eyes. Madara sat nuzzled against pillows, hair a mess, eyes tired, and tea in hand. He looked up with a glare.
"One day, Izuna. One day I'd like to lock myself away and not be bothered, even by you."
"Good to know you love me so much. Why do you look like hell? Shouldn't the Uchiha leader look a little more decent in front of an outsider?" Izuna folded his arms as he spoke. Madara glanced behind his brother, furrowing his brow.
"What in the…" He snapped his gaze back to Izuna. "Why is she with you and not in the clinic?" He thought of commenting on her dramatic wardrobe change, but decided against it for his own reasons.
"Who? Akane? She's coming with me."
"And by going with you, you mean following you back that way to the clinic to do her job, right?"
"Noooo. She's off today, I mean she's coming on the mission."
"Izuna…" He leaned forward, rubbing his face. "You are taking our greatest tool right now, one who can barely fight, out on a mission? You're smarter than this, aren't you?"
"I don't know Madara. You're the one asking all these silly questions. She's coming. It's simple. We'll see you when we get back." He started to leave.
"Wait!" Akane grabbed his shoulder, keeping him in place. "I came to ask you, Madara. Izuna decided against it."
"Ask me what?" He stared at them in disbelief. Was this really happening?
"For your permission to go…" She was confused by his expression. "I...if you don't want me -"
"Nonsense! He's perfectly fine with it, right, Nii-san?" Izuna piped. Madara sighed the deepest sigh, slowly rising to his feet, deliberately dropping the empty tea cup against the small plate.
"Is that a yes?" Akane mustered the courage to say.
"Yes on what?"
"Can I...go?" She eyed him.
"Go ahead go."
"Really?"
"Really?" Izuna raised an eyebrow, equally surprised.
"Of course. I'll be coming with you though."
"Damn it," the younger spat, pouting.
"Oh? Did you think I was going to let my little brother and the new medic run around on adventures when we were attacked by Senju not long ago?"
"I don't need you, Madara. I'm fully capable."
"Do I care?"
"Nii-san, it'll be fine."
"Izuna, I still get to go. It's ok if he comes. I mean I feel bad about interrupting his day off, but I do feel better if you're both there," Akane said.
"But he's no fun."
"Fun? I'm in charge of this clan. I have no time for fun. And as my second in command, neither do you. Now go wait while I get ready...ruining my one day of peace," Madara mumbled in the end.
"No one told you to come," Izuna also mumbled. Madara met his brother's eyes. Akane nearly squealed. She slowly inched back and slipped out of the room, peeking in through the small crack of the door.
"Leave." Izuna looked away and turned, following Akane.
Madara left his room in his suit of scarlet armor. He glared over at the two who stood a few feet down the hall. For a moment Madara watched their body language. Izuna leaned up against the wall, his arm snaked around the brunette's shoulder. Akane peered up at him with worry, her body hidden, turned in towards Izuna.
"You finished stalling us, Madara? Let's go before I'm even later." Izuna released Akane and started to walk. Akane offered Madara a smile before she too followed after Izuna, walking by his side. Madara sighed, shaking his head, and followed.
Izuna and Akane casually strolled through the compound towards the main entrance, Akane doing all she could to lighten Izuna's mood. She never thought he'd get so worked up over Madara coming along. A few Uchiha spotted the group making their way, eyeing Akane, whispering and pointing. Madara furrowed his brow, surprised Akane hadn't dropped her head in shame or curled up in embarrassment. That was odd. Just two weeks ago she barely left her room unless needed, and here she was now strolling through the Uchiha compound alongside Uchiha Madara and Izuna. He crossed his arms, still watching her with a tilt of his head. To be honest that wasn't the only odd thing about her. She was smiling, chatting with Izuna with a spring in her step, dressed in new clothes that he never thought she'd wear.
"Oi," Madara called out not long after they had left the compound. Izuna kept walking. Akane turned to look back at him - when Izuna suddenly put a hand on her head, forcing her to face forward.
"Izuna," she mumbled, pushing his hand off.
"Are you alright?" she asked Madara.
"Me? Great," he sneered. "You on the other hand...what's gotten into you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're different." Akane cocked her head to the side momentarily before peering down at her clothes. A flush spread across her cheeks in realization.
"Are my clothes really that-"
"It's not just your clothes." Madara rolled his eyes. "You in general. When did you become so confident?" Madara noticed her smile, noticed her eyes drift towards Izuna.
"I-I don't...I still don't have much confidence in myself, but I do feel better when I'm with Izu. I don't have to worry about what other people think." She scratched her cheek. "I guess it's because he has confidence in me." Speaking her mind, especially saying something like that, left her wide open for embarrassment and she was sure Izuna would jump right on that. Like Akane had expected, Izuna grinned, snaking an arm around her waist once more to pull her closer.
Madara raised his eyebrows at his brother, never before seeing him act like this. Madara continued to watch the spectacle before him, unable to look away. Akane was way too comfortable around his brother, especially since she had been through so much. She stood too close, didn't flinch whenever he touched her. For someone who had only been there two weeks, well she shouldn't be as comfortable as she was.
Madara was no idiot. They must have been spending more time together, and Madara found himself curious more so than angry. What did they do? What did they talk about? Where did they go? Madara had been so deep in thought that he hadn't even noticed name being called.
"What's up with you, Nii-san? Did you hear me? Why are you spacing out so much?" Izuna asked. Madara also hadn't noticed that they were now walking on either side of him.
"What?" Madara blinked. Izuna sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"We're here." Ahead of them was a village that Izuna usually stayed at during these information gathering missions. It was a small village much like Akane's.
"Ah, so we are."
"Hai, so let's go," Izuna chided, annoyed with his brothers disinterest. "Ya know, you could have stayed home."
"Enough, Izuna. Your constant complaining is starting to piss me off. Stop acting like a child and continue with your mission." Izuna peered at his brother from the corner of his eye, unhappy with the turn of events. There was a look between the two that said it all, they'd definitely talk later. Akane grabbed onto both their arms and stepped forward.
"Come, you two. Enough bickering. We're all here now, so no use complaining about it. If you ask me, you're both acting childish."
"Which is why nobody asked you. We're here on a mission not on vacation," Madara said.
"You're so mean, you know that, Madara? She has a point. Lighten up."
Akane usually didn't feel awkward around Madara, he was just some guy who happened to be a clan leader. But he knew how to get a rise out of her, knew which buttons to push. He stared at her while sitting in the hotel room. Izuna left for a few hours to meet up with some spies and collect information. Akane grew nervous under his gaze.
"Are - are you hungry?" Akane asked, mustering enough confidence to break the silence between the two. "I just... you know figured we could go out somewhere..." She swallowed hard, eyes to the floor.
"Sometimes I feel I have you all figured out, and then you surprise me," he said suddenly, catching her off guard. She gave him a look.
"One minute you're walking around calling me Madara as if you've known me for decades, and now you can't even look at me. I thought it might be a female thing, but you're strange even for a woman." He leaned forward, eyeing her. She sat back with a nervous smile.
"Is that - is that so?"
"It is."
"Ever think I can't look at you because you keep staring?" she mumbled.
"I make you uncomfortable, Akane?" he teased, folding his arms across his chest. "In a good way or bad way?"
"There's a good discomfort?" She fiddled with her thumbs. "So, Izuna's not back. Shouldn't you go find your otouto?"
"And let the Senju find you here all alone? Nah. He can take care of himself to some degree. He's done this before."
"So why were you so against the two of us going alone?"
"Because Izuna turns into this babbling moron when he's with you. You'd be too distracting. Someone has to be mature about this."
"You? Mature? I don't think so," she laughed, shaking her head.
"If you have an opinion about me, don't hold back. You can't start and expect me not to be curious, Akane," he pushed, a light warning in his voice.
"Heh, all you do is complain about the elders behind their backs. And - and you argue with Izuna over every little thing, every tiny detail," she explained. "Oh! And every time I need to talk to you, you're a zombie mess in your room whining about being the leader with papers and tea everywhere. You, Uchiha Madara, are a child."
"See?" he said, surprising her yet again. "Now you're calling ME a child as if it were nothing. I don't understand you," he sighed, dropping his arms to his sides. "I don't understand why you do it."
"Well...you haven't killed me yet," she said with a shrug. He lowered his head with soft laugh.
"I suppose I haven't...yet, as you said."
"See?" she mocked, smiling coyly.
"What do you want to eat?" Akane asked, looking up at Madara. They strolled around town side by side. Madara had changed out of his armor, now wearing a loose, dark blue turtleneck and black pants, the only weapon on him his katana.
"It doesn't matter, just pick a place, Akane."
"How about here?" She pointed at a restaurant that served dango and onigiri. Madara shrugged.
"Sure."
"You really have no opinion on anything?"
"If I had an opinion, you'd surely be the first to hear it."
"Tch, and you call Izu childish," she said. Madara flashed a look that had the girl pinch her lips and scurry off ahead of him. Messing with him wasn't always the best idea. It was his day off after all.