I've got a snow day today. Weeeeh!
Thank you all so much for your reviews, they really keep me going some days. ^^
This is short, I know, I know, don't beat me. D:
I wanted a nice break before going into the next arc, though.
When Sae returned to the bedroom that evening, she found Madara reclining on the bed, hands laid comfortably over his stomach. Giving him a passing glance, she riffled through her bag, pulling out oil and a fine cloth and set to polishing her katana.
"Can't you heal your hand?" She spoke after some time, the blade in her grip considerably more handsome, reflecting light like it had when she first obtained it.
"I can't manufacture that much chakra at once." He was blunt, glancing over to where she was sat cross-legged on the floor.
"...I'm sorry." She adverted her eyes, disinterestedly picking at a rivet on her katana with a sharp fingernail.
"Aa." He looked to the ceiling, face neutral. Ever aware of her sullen silence, he sidled his gaze back; Sae's unhappy expression was set as she fiddled with the sharp edge of her blade, picking at a knot in the wood floor. "You could give me your chakra, however, if it bothers you so." His lips quirked at her startle, big eyes swiftly darting up to meet his. She blinked twice, before ambling to her feet in one steady movement, slipping her katana into the horizontal sheath at her waist.
"What do I do?" She shifted, as Madara sat up from the many throw pillows strewn at the head of the bed. He gestured for her, watching as she settled across from him on the plush surface.
"Your hands." Saezuri held them out, letting Madara take hold of them in his over-large ones after he stripped the stained bandages. She could feel the sickly heat radiating out of the wound as he grasped her hands tight. "All you have to do is give a steady flow." His gaze was strong, confident, compared to Sae's quiver as she bit at her lip nervously-- the action reminded her of the bruises still marring her visage.
"Alright." She spoke as she gathered chakra, focusing the stream on her hands. Madara inclined his head minutely at the sensation. Her energy was smooth and softly warm, malleable as he bent it to his will; nothing like his own intense chakra, accustomed to the comforting heat it seared through his veins. Saezuri's eyes searched his as she waited for something to happen, her dark orbs darting down when a pulsing green glow covered their hands collectively. She watched the meat and muscles of Madara's hand stitch back together, before smooth, tanned skin stretched over the opening. Elated, Sae smiled and gently kissed his knuckles as the glow dissipated, happy to have helped fix what she ruined. Madara cocked his head, the feel of her swelled lip reminding him. Gathering up the remnants of her energy still coursing through his chakra system, he touched first her cheekbone before tracing to her lip, the dark bruises fading away with relative ease. She shivered at the unexpected touch of his textured fingertips, her own slim ones skimming over her now clear skin, mingling with his rough hands. Madara smiled at the effect he had on her, angular eyes thinning deviously. Taking her chin, he smoothly leaned forward and overwhelmed her lips, possession roaring strong in his blood. She chirped lightly in surprise, stunned as he dipped forward, furthering his hold on her. His fingers slid around to the bottom of her hairline, strong hands enclosing her neck in both a display of power and tenderness; he could feel her pulse throbbing just below, spiking when he smoothed her petal lips open. His thumbs massaged her throat as her hands tentatively rose to thread through his hair, a very soft mumble coming from her at the luxurious swipes of his tongue. Sae sucked down much needed oxygen as Madara broke away, nuzzling the underside of her jaw with the ridge of his nose, a contented rumble coming from his chest as she drew close.
"O-oh my..." Sae twitched when the shoji slid open softly, the maid's face blazing red as she clutched at the linen basket she was carrying. Madara's eyes dulled as the servant hurriedly closed the screening, aware of Saezuri's tensed body.
"Well." She nervously detangled herself from him, giving a little titter of a laugh as she adverted her eyes, suddenly embarrassed. Madara studied her as her fingers twisted in the duvet, having to remind himself that she wasn't that long into adulthood; no doubt that she hadn't experienced anything this intense, her nineteen years paling next to Madara's long life. He chuckled and ruffled her hair, glancing out the window. The sun was long down, and if they were to accomplish all that he had planned tomorrow, he would need all the daylight he could salvage.
"Get some sleep." Madara shifted under the duvet as Sae unbelted her katana and kunai, settling next to him. She cocked her head at his sudden distance, scooting closer. With a small curl of his lips, Madara obliged and engulfed her in his arm; pleased when her head fit comfortably into the crook of his arm, her hands curled between their chests. Dusty blonde strands mingled with the ink of his own hair, something Madara played with as Sae quickly dropped off into unconsciousness as per usual.
Madara sat up straight abruptly as he watched Sae disappear right in front of his eyes.
"Madara!" He heard her voice cry out in elation, her silhouette coming back into existence as her concentration was lost. She stumbled as chakra exhaustion took its toll, a large grin spread across her face. Sae fell to the earth, hair mingling in the dust as she fought to gain her breath back.
"Excellent." Madara slipped from the veranda, extending a sinuous hand to help her to her feet.
"Now what?" Sae asked as she dusted her tan clothes off, looking to his cunning face. Madara crossed his arms and smirked, aware of the daimyo silently watching them from across the courtyard, leaning out one of his study's windows casually.
"Take this." He slipped a square of paper from his kunai pouch, giving it to Sae. She took it bewilderedly, seeing nothing worth noting. "Exert a small amount of chakra." She frowned, jerking with surprise as the paper wilted, soaked thoroughly. Madara cocked his head interestedly, tossing the ruined paper to the ground.
"What does that mean?" Sae asked as she rolled up the scroll for Toorima, too exhausted to even think of attempting it again.
"You're water natured, my dear." He watched as she seized up, eyes unfocused as she processed that information. Frowning at her reaction, he pinned her with his gaze when she raised her head.
"My father was water natured." She supplied at his look, glancing off the the side. With a forceful jerk, she tied off the scroll in her hand, replacing it into the pouch at her hip.
"Aa?" Madara cocked a brow, waiting.
"He died when I was young. I don't like to think of him, is all." Sae turned and glanced up at the sun, noting its position in the sky. Madara discarded his next question, instead prodding between Sae's shoulder blades, beckoning her to go inside the house.
"We'll be going this afternoon." His eyes slid over to where Bunpei was still looking out his window, meeting the man's eyes. "I do think we've overstayed our welcome, anyhow." He smirked deviously, aware of Sae shaking her head bemusedly. They hadn't exactly been welcomed guests.
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