Chapter 11

The decisive experiment

Sakura inhaled, but it was as if her breath had been caught in her throat. She had revised her decision several times; still, her determination didn't waver. It was – possibly – one of the most reckless things she had ever done.

It's going to change everything. She said to herself. Yet, I have to find out the truth. I must be honest with me.

There was really not an easy way out of the situation. She had to face it and hope for the best. Sakura had already tried running from her feelings, and it had led her to nowhere. She was tired.

Since Madara had confessed his sentiments towards Konohagakure, the first Hokage, and his brother, she avoided him. Not because she didn't believe him; more because she had no idea what to tell him. She had never been expecting such sincerity.

It disturbed him greatly as he was now under the impression he had made a fool out of himself. More than once Madara had told to himself that he should have kept his mouth shut. Her calculated indifference… hurt. A façade or not, he didn't care. Eventually, he had ceased approaching her. Being confident it was for the best, he let a few days pass.

It was the fourth day since that talk.

Sakura gathered her courage. It was going to be embarrassing and weird.

Standing in front of his door, she had a brief moment of hesitation. The medic wondered how would he react. Would he laugh, or he would even spare her a second glance? To be honest, she couldn't say it wasn't his right. Her behavior had been unacceptable.

But she hadn't hidden her chakra, letting him know she was there. There was no way in hell she would back down now.

`Don't make me regret it.` she whispered.

If Madara had been a lesser shinobi, he wouldn't have caught her words through the wooden door. It sparked his interest that she was there. He couldn't find a motive. The Uchiha he was, he just couldn't ease her situation. Just when she lifted her hand, prepared to knock, he opened widely the door.

Madara leaned on the door frame, looking bored. She quivered under his gaze. Her cheeks were suddenly pink and she was feeling ridiculous. Seriously, what had been in her mind coming with such a motion?!

Expectedly, his brow rose. Sakura could hear her heart beating fast – she was sure he was able to hear it, too. The pink-haired woman's mouth went dry. Her tongue passed rapidly over her lips, trying to moisturize them. His eyes twitched in a way that made her insides melt. If she hadn't known better, she would have sworn there was lust in them.

`May I come in?`

There was nobody in the building apart from them. Hence, there was no need for more intimacy. Madara was about to comment that it might not be the best idea – having the devilish woman inside gave his control a hard time. But her big green eyes coaxed him. He moved, so Sakura could enter. She sighted relieved.

Now the hard part begins.

She studied for a second his royal features. All she wanted to do was caress his lips… Her head snapped. Blinking fast, she changed her focus so that it wouldn't be on him anymore. Glad she didn't stare any further, he took in her appearance. She seemed troubled. Her hands were moving frenetically and if the dark skin under her orbs were any proof, she had been quite so for some time.

`I don't really know how to start.` she said.

It was such a strange situation for her, to be at a loss for words. Especially after she had made so many scenarios, and schemes and alternatives for this conversation.

`With the beginning, perhaps? Take your time. It's not like I've anywhere to go.`

He walked past her, lying on his bed. She was startled. His breathing was soft and relaxed and his muscles held nothing of her tenseness. Madara could point out that she felt out of place. He pitied her in a way, but he couldn't afford to get hurt – again. It was bad enough that she had any sort of power over him. It was true that Uchiha's were ruled by emotions, but they were very good at hiding it.

`I had been thinking.`

He waited for her to continue but she kept staring at the ceiling.

`It is good, I guess. What had you been thinking about?`

`About…`

Us. She couldn't say it out aloud, for Kami's sake.

`A theory I would like to test.` If he had expected any other response, he didn't show it. `I would need your help.`

`I hope you don't suggest that I should be your guinea pig.` he said tonelessly.

Sakura's eyes widened shocked. It seemed she had managed to vex him once again.

`Nothing of that sort! I wouldn't put your life in danger!` she added.

So worried was she that Madara misunderstood her intentions, that she missed the way his eyes softened, looking at her tenderly. Her spontaneous outburst satisfied him, as it was evident it was not over planed.

`Sorry to disappoint you, Sakura, but I have no affinity for medical Ninjutsu. At least not in the way you do.`

It's not like there is anything medical. It's more about the fact that I am a freak with a twisted mind while you have a haunted soul. What a couple we would make!

`Still, you can help me. All you have to do is trust me. You don't even have to lift one finger.`

Well, who said I am not a good liar?

`I am going to do everything. And if it really bothers you, we will stop immediately.`

His brows knitted together. She didn't like the suspicious look on his face. It was her fault that he was so. Hadn't she been one that threatened him all the time; that emphasized how much she despised him? She hadn't been vocal every time, but he was intelligent enough to figure it out.

`What is this experiment about, more precisely?`

`I cannot tell you. You have to trust me on this one.`

It was fishy that she was trying so hard to convince him. Madara wasn't born yesterday. There was a catch. But what?

`Please, Madara.`

His mind went black. He was staring incredulously at her. It was the first time she called him by his first name. As fast as he registered the warmth – and despair – in her tone he was hooked. The way his name was one her lips was elevating. It was like the whisper of a lover, like she cared.

`I'm in.` he stated simply, and she was taken aback by his rapid agreement.

Sakura had initially thought it would take her dozen of minutes to engage him in her craziness and then another eternity to actually set her plan into action. Now that it was happening so fast, she was afraid she might have been too rushed. Maybe she had misinterpreted his actions.

Poor you! The kisses you have shared could not be misunderstood.

Oh, you are my Inner. How does it come you seem to know things I do not?

Evidently, I am the rational one here.

Damn it. Of course, I am crazy since you don't stop talking. You just fill my mind with shallow things and get me distracted.

Getting in a fight with herself was the last thing she needed. But that was a way she knew for sure that helped her overcome stress. And it was safer than throwing punches to the right and to the left.

`When would you like to start?` his voice woke her from the reverie.

`Right now. Could you sit up, please?` He complied without a second word. `I know it may sound strange, but I need you to close your eyes.`

`Are you trying to kill me?` Madara said teasingly.

`You cannot be killed, remember? And to answer your question, no. I am merely following the plan of the experiment.`

`Still, I prefer not being stabbed, poisoned or punched, however. I will do as you say as long as you stop masking your chakra – I do not care that at the moment I can sense it. It is too subtle for my liking.`

Sakura did as he had instructed her. Madara's form relaxed all of a sudden. In essence, it wasn't that he didn't trust her – she was his medic! –, but he had learnt from a young age to not subdue rules if he could change them. Being able to impose his rules meant he was not in disadvantage. Sakura had a long path in life to follow in order to be taught such precious lessons.

He reluctantly closed his eyes and she approached him. Her footsteps were echoing loud in the silent room. She indulged herself observing his every line. His long lashes were thick, his lips full and his silky spike hair was also unruly. He had an aristocratic air she hadn't seen at anyone else before. And there was his self-confidence – which, true, tended to arrogance. He was proud but in the manner of a big lazy cat that knew she could have caught the mouse if she really had wanted to.

Sakura wondered if she did know what she was doing.

In front of her stood a broad-shouldered shinobi who could take down an entire nation on his own.

In front of her stood a haunted man who had decided to like in the safety of dark.

In front of her stood a man that made funny things to her insides with only his gaze.

She was strong, but she was out of his league. Sakura just couldn't compete against him. There he was, a man who could have killed her if she wasn't careful, who could have broken her heart.

In front of her was an Uchiha who could have cast a Genjutsu upon her of which she would die terrified.

She was now facing him. Sakura reached for his hand.

No! She screamed.

Right now, in front of her was neither a ruthless criminal nor an arrogant Uchiha.

He was just Madara.

And she was just Sakura.

He asked himself what she was doing. It appeared she was studying his hand which was beyond strange. He felt her soft fingers tracing various lines on his palm. He was mesmerized. Not necessarily by her action, but by the intimacy they shared. It felt comfortable.

It felt right.

There was a giant peewee in her throat. She was so nervous it was as if she was twelve all over again. Not that she had much more experience with men now. And Madara was so intimidating, so dangerously manly that was driving her nuts. Grabbing his other hand she forced herself to swallow her anxiety. The young woman didn't attempt to seduce him – like she had any idea about how to do so. But she needed him to be as relaxed as possible and, hopefully, eager. She had to put a spell on him!

Without thinking too much about it, she placed his big palms on her sides. He squeezed involuntarily. He had no idea what he had got himself into. When she came closer, allowing herself to touch him, Madara had to force his eye shut. He wanted so much to look her in the eye, to understand! He was afraid she might stop if he proceeded in that direction.

Instead, he stood still and enjoyed her little ministration. They were innocent but curious. She had a moment and indecision and he assured her in a low barely audible tone that she might do whatever she wanted. It had been the incentive she'd needed. Next, her warm fingers were pressed onto his hip bone. He felt the urge to moan, but he restrained himself. He was determined to let her have the initiative – this time.

Even so, Madara took the right to get his hands under her shirt, feeling the smooth flesh. Her scent was intoxicating. Never has he thought that being disposed of by one of his senses – namely his sight – could make such a drastic change. Everything seemed to be ten times more intense. She caressed his milky skin, preparing herself for what would follow. It was high time she did what she had come for.

Rising on the balls of her feet, Sakura wrapped her hands around his neck. Tangling her fingers in the ebony hair, she forced him to lower his face. She could feel his hot breath on her face. Even if she was embarrassed, it didn't feel awkward.

She put her mouth on top of his. It had started as something chaste, but it rapidly transformed into something more intense, more passionate. Sakura clung to him, and he didn't dare to let her go.

Their tongues were playing naughtily. She bit his bottom lip and he sucked the tip of her tongue, drinking her essence. For a moment she thought he had used a Katon Jutsu, for she felt her insides on fire. The world seemed suspended. Nothing really mattered.

I guess I found out. It was Sakura's last coherent thought.

Her plan had succeeded. Sakura had no idea whether she should have congratulated her for being right or smack the hell out of her.

She had wanted to see if there was more than lust. And there was, at least on her behalf. Her heart was aching for something unnamed. She had really fallen for him.

She wanted to see if he trusted her enough to yield her the control. It appeared so.

She was…

All at once they both froze. Some steps could be heard in the hallway. Even in their high time they were tremendously skilled shinobis. Madara's eyes snapped open and Sakura let out an angered noise. He positioned between her and the door – on which the possible threat might enter. Had she not been dizzy, she would have commented that she was able to protect herself.

Sakura could feel only an unknown chakra approach – it was either intentional or one of the men in the hallway wasn't so good. But there were more people. She could tell by the number of steps.

`There may be four or five. The one you have sensed included.` She spoke as she was rapidly coming back to her senses. The chakra was too poorly mask for a man of Madara's rank not to observe.

The door opened slowly. Sakura's fist clenched, charged with chakra. Madara's Sharingan started spinning. His form was tense. It wasn't that he couldn't fight. More that he was not still so well to be able to fight along keeping his little medic out of danger. She could take care of herself that he knew too well. However, from the moment, she had called him by his first name Sakura had signed her sentence. There was no way she would get rid of him now.

When the kunoichi observed who entered, she almost wished it was an enemy. They wouldn't have cared about her thoroughly kissed lips and messy hair. They wouldn't have looked at her as if she had made a mistake.

A damn enemy couldn't have judged her!

Madara was still tense and Sakura wanted a hole to appear out of nowhere and to eat her alive.

She really was screwed for she was now sure that there was no turning back.