A/N: Sorry for the delay 3 my internet was out but it's finally back! x

Chapter 19: Rain

"Kanako, have you seen my brother?" Izuna asks as Kanako steps out of the Kazue's room,

"He's gone to train, Izuna-sama. He said he'd be a day or so." She bows apologetically, Izuna frowns

"And Kazue-ne-san?"

"She's regaining some memories periodically, the traumatic ones seem to be returning first in random order. She even quarrelled with Mito-sama at one point. To think, Mito-sama and Hashirama-sama must already leave for Konoha this afternoon…"

"Whoever did this intended to distance her from us. She'll have a tonne of questions, rather than wait for the flashbacks to catch her off guard and shake her mind up we need to keep informing her of what's been happening."

"But Hashirama-sama says she may not be ready to hear about her present self."

"The present Kazue never got any warnings before things happened to her. This is the same Kazue and she can handle it, she must, otherwise the rogue-nin will accomplish Kami knows what in the time we're standing idle and distracted. Not only this, but the current situation is compromising Madara-ni-san. He's our leader and this is urgent." His stern expression convinces Kanako. As much as Izuna worried for Kazue, his focus remains on his elder brother's health. Kazue's condition was only damaging Madara's ability to lead.

"We should discuss how this should be done with them." She agrees.

Kazue's injury had almost stopped hurting, though the markings across her rib cage remain. She doesn't question it, analysing every bruise and bump would take up too much headspace. Izuna arrives to speak with Mito and Hashirama for a while as she sits reading a stack of letters she had sent in the last month. Her head perks up to see Hashirama and Mito stare at her with slight worry before nodding at Izuna.

"What's happening?" Kazue asks

"We were going to wait for your memory to return in time, Kazu-chan. But it seems it's better for the clan and for you to help you piece it together now. The flashbacks are traumatic for you and there's no predictable moment they occur. But the knowledge you have may affect the outcome of the rogue-nin situation." Hashirama frowns gauging her reaction

"To speed up the process?"

"Mhm. It's just that Mito and I have been summoned back to Konoha so Izuna-san and Kanako-chan will most likely go through this with you, they've spent more time with you…"

"I don't mind." She replies plainly, "Whatever benefits the people's safety, I'm willing to do. If this is the best option then I consent wholly."

The others blink in relief and stare at each other impressed at Kazue's response. No doubt, she carried herself like a true leader, no amount of memory loss could diminish her authority and resolve. Later in the day, they all see off Mito and Hashirama, Mito pulls Kazue into a stifling embrace that makes her wheeze in annoyance. Though she smiles all the same at her affectionate sister. Izuna pours a cup of tea as the three of them return to the library. Haruo leaps across the courtyard with a kite as they sit down together.

"Before we go further, I had a question." Kazue fiddles with the teacup

"Of course." Izuna smiles

"The flashbacks I had when I met Madara-san earlier yesterday…." She begins while Izuna and Kanako tense slightly, "Did all of that really happen?"

"Yes. And you can respond to them as you wish." Izuna clears his throat,

"Even the fight between you and him?"

"Yes, that did happen. I'm sorry you had to see us that way."

"I feel like I should hate him, but I can't. I'm remembering bits and pieces but it's like I'm studying someone's life. The emotions are taking longer to come back."

Izuna and Kanako take her through another month and a half of events. Kazue maintains her concentration the entire time, not wanting to miss details and asking questions occasionally.

"Wait wait! When the rogues tried to capture Haruo and took me instead, did you say I wilfully extracted nearly all of my chakra?! How could I have survived that without Mito?" Kazue's eyes widen in disbelief,

"I feel you should speak with Madara-sama about this." Kanako glances at Izuna

"I think we should conclude for tonight!" Izuna beams a smile to cut the tension, "We can pick up tomorrow, you need to rest, ne-san."

"I-I suppose. But could I… could I go to my old room? I mean the one I should be staying in." Kazue raises a brow

"That could trigger a lot of flashbacks, ne-san…" he cautions

"I know. But you said yourself, I need to put myself in that environment. I need things that can clue me onto what I know." She persists, Izuna and Kanako stare at each other in concern before nodding hesitantly.

Izuna leaves the door open and makes sure the entire room is bright with candle-light before bidding her goodnight, though Kazue seems fearless and inquisitive, running her hands across the doors and desks inside. Hours pass as she investigates the room, it was true, many flashbacks were triggered in that time although none as violent as when she had not mentally prepared like earlier. There was more positive energy than negative in this room, she could sense that much. She pulls her jewellery box onto her lap. She pulls out a silvery chain from the top compartment. A pendant hangs at the bottom in an interesting shape, she recognises the Uzumaki emblem on it. It takes her several moments to decipher that another emblem accompanies her own. The Uchiha fan. The two shapes mould seamlessly into each other. The urge to put the necklace on almost becomes too great before she sets it down. Her jewellery box had once belonged to her mother… she would only ever put items of great value to her in it. Pulling another box onto her lap she discovers a delicately folded kimono with her mother's wedding veil atop it. She didn't have to trigger a flashback to know it belonged to her.

Her hands caress the fabric before the glimmer of obsidian eyes flash before her, the hint of intrigue in them captivating her attention. In front of her, she and Madara lie exhausted on the bed, their wedding attire still on them. She sees herself rise from the bed to change.

"Where are you going?" Madara's deep voice issues from behind her, strong palms splay across the fabric on her waist, making her gasp in shock. She can smell some sake on his breath,

"T-to change." She tries to maintain a firm tone but stutters trying to pull away, his behaviour catching her entirely off guard.

"Change here." He orders, Kazue can feel his breath on her bare neck, a sense of apprehension and embarrassment fill her.

"No."

"It's only a matter of time before we see each other naked." He states, subtly amused

"It doesn't mean it has to be tonight. Besides I'm sure you wouldn't want to waste your wedding night on a virgin." She tries to step away but he steps with her and grips her hips in his hands.

"Afraid?" Madara lowers his lips to her neck and lets his teeth gently graze the soft skin beneath them, Kazue's breath catches and her body tenses against him. His hands pull her hips into his with enough pressure to make her gasp.

She snaps her attention back to the present and sets the box aside, a deep blush covering her cheeks. Suddenly, she's in her room in Uzushiogakure. She lies in Madara Uchiha's arms with a smile on her face as she speaks:

"I remember how we were when we first met."

"Would you imagine we'd come to this point?"

"Not in my dizziest daydreams."

She nuzzles into his arms and closes her eyes, Madara does so too as he traces circles across her shoulder.

When Kazue regains her focus on the present, the disorientation is replaced with curiosity. Though the last time she spoke with him she felt nothing but apprehension and fear, she feels determination… the closer she got to him, the intensity of the flashbacks increased and she gained more insight into their relationship. She puts away the boxes and waits for the sunset.

"Aida?!" Tobirama nearly knocks down her door before it's opened. His intense expression drops into one of disappointment and embarrassment when Sasuke opens the door and Hiruzen gurgles in greeting on his hip.

"My sister isn't here, Tobirama-san." Sasuke looks irritated

"Sasuke-san, I need to know where she is." He pants

"I can't tell you. She wanted to leave Konoha for a while to clear her mind, I think that it's best you leave her to do so."

"I've made enough mistakes, I need to make things right."

"You've done enough. Let her recover now."

"I love her." He pleads

"Didn't think you could actually say it…" Sasuke raises a brow, "Either way, it doesn't matter. She's not coming back for a while now."

"Sasuke-san, please."

"I won't tell you where she is. If you choose to go and find her despite that, it's up to her to choose." He shrugs, but Tobirama has already bounded down to the main square.

Hiruzen pouts at his father.

"Don't you cry. You've seen how hurt Aida-chan is." He sighs. "Don't make me the villain, Hiru-chan. I'm protecting her… Easy for you to gripe, you've never had to deal with stubborn adults, you only have to shit in your diap-"

Sasuke continues retorting at the pouting child for several minutes before he notices a pair of eyes on him. Their eighty-year-old neighbour stands with a confused expression as she witnesses the fully-grown man argue with an infant. Sasuke blushes sheepishly before clicking his door shut at inhuman speed.

Madara's body protests as he returns to the Uchiha compound. He had a tendency of overdoing it when his mind was occupied. It was especially for that that he travelled to the training ground furthest from any village, and the largest, … he'd levelled the earth to a pulp without realising the force of his strength. Even then, his effort seemed half-assed thanks to his mind being occupied.

The evening air soothes his overheated muscles. He passes Kazue's closed door, fighting the overwhelming urge to open it and pull her into his arms for the night. Who would have thought there was a time he had lived without her near him, without wondering whether she was in as much pain as he? An emotionless smile appears on his lips, the irony that they fought that night… He should never have let her leave upset. He should never have let her walk back to her room alone. As much as he hoped it had all been a nightmare, the stark luminescence of the moon staring deeply back into him from the sky reminds him that he is conscious. The library seems like a good idea. At least there, he felt that things had remained the same.

Kazue notices muted footsteps across the veranda, she knew who they belonged to and she had waited for them the whole evening. She would get answers from Madara Uchiha, and she would decide if they were enough to change her perception of him. She stands from her desk and blows out it's candle before wrapping a shawl around her and leaving for the library.

The gentle push of her hand on the library doors, edge them open slightly. Without making a noise, Kazue peeks through. Madara stands in front of a large shelf of texts, his back to her. Tight muscles flex with each movement he makes, they ripple around two dimples at the small of his hips, the rest of his musculature hidden under the waistband of his slacks.

"Are you going to come in?" his soft voice makes her jump a few feet into the air before she shuffles inside with her eyes affixed to the ground

"S-sorry. Are you occupied at the moment?" Kazue's cheeks burn with embarrassment.

"No. I tend to read when I can't sleep."

"Me too." Kazue frowns in confusion as he turns around, trying to avoid staring at his chiselled core. She can't believe Madara Uchiha likes reading.

"I know." His eyes are sad, though he moves to the fireplace causing his jet-black hair to brush over them. "You shouldn't be here, my presence isn't good for you now. Is there something you need?" he clears his throat

"I- No. I had a few questions to ask you."

"I will answer any you have." he replies, an air of apprehension in his voice. Taking a deep breath, Kazue sits at the edge of the table near the fireplace. Madara moves slowly to sit at the far opposite end, trying not to alarm her, he shrugs on a shirt.

"Why did you hit me?" she finally says

"I have no excuse to defend myself regarding that." He sighs in disappointment, staring away into the glowing embers of the fire

"And why did you try to- to-" Kazue stutters. His eyes fall on her, softening upon seeing her discomfort.

"Force myself on you? Again, something I cannot defend myself on. I was jealous. I thought you had fallen in love with Tobirama. I thought you had been seeing him in secret."

"So it was fine for you to sleep with other women in the mean time?" Kazue raises a brow, not annoyed, but curious. Madara looks away,

"By some logic I had thought so. Or perhaps I had conveniently forgotten. I actually turned out to be the arrogant man you imagined me to be." He gives an empty chuckle, bereft of humour

"Kanako-san and Izuna-san told me a lot has happened since we were married. The rogue-ninja… is there anything I don't know about them?"

"Since the attack on Uzushiogakure there haven't been any incidents. But I believe they did this to you. Konoha is gathering intel as well, we haven't deciphered their motives yet." Madara crosses his fingers and leans on the desk with his elbows

"When Haruo-san was kidnapped. My chakra was drained…I remember that. How did I recover without Mito to heal me?"

"I gave you my chakra. What little I could give that is."

"Even with the reserve of chakra you possess, you would have needed to give me some less than a life-threatening amount for me to regain consciousness within a night. Why would you do something so reckless knowing it could put your life, the leader of the Uchiha, in danger?"

"It was reckless and I slept for a day afterward, I didn't imagine I'd be getting scolded by you even with your memory gone." He smiles to himself, Kazue finds herself wanting to smile too, "I didn't think. I knew I didn't want to lose you." He states plainly. Kazue freezes for a moment, shocked at how easily he'd admitted those words. This man seemed nothing like the Madara Uchiha she had heard of, only his physical features were accurate. Other than that, the threads of selflessness and genuine care, of emotion and patience are evident on his character.

"They told me I told Tobirama-san I could not return his feelings because I had fallen for you." Kazue massages her temples, feeling a headache developing with all the information she'd started to process

"I will wait until you remember that yourself."

"H-Have we- slept uh tog-" she mumbles, unable to get the words out

"Slept together? Yes, a few times." He replies as a matter of fact-ly, Kazue's blush deepens. Madara notices shy red blooming across his wife's cheeks. How he missed caressing her cheeks and running his hands through her crimson hair.

"I- I see." She clears her throat, "Did we regret it?" Kazue notices a flash of hurt mar his features before he stands and faces the fireplace again.

"I won't speak for you, but I didn't." Madara straightens up and gathers several texts, Kazue can tell he's avoiding her gaze. "If you'll excuse me, I have to move to my study."

"Goodnight..." Kazue starts though he's gone before she can finish. An anxious feeling stirs at the pit of her stomach. The expression in his eyes just now… it hurt her to see it, she never wanted him to look at her that way again. As if his eyes were begging her to remember something important before it's too late, then they became emotionless... as if they had given up. Unprecedented tears pool in her eyes and an overwhelming sadness in her heart follows.

He hadn't felt such emptiness in his heart for a long time. An unfamiliar moisture dampens his eyes slightly. What irony was this? It had taken them this long to trust one and other and only moments for someone else to take it away from them. He would break mountains if it meant Kazue remembered something…just something. How much more of this could he bear?

Several days pass like torture, Kazue re-experiences the nightmares Kanako had informed her about. Unbeknownst to her, Madara would send Kanako to her each night he heard Kazue cry in her sleep. He had managed to avoid all contact with Kazue, who had tried her best to seek him out to no avail. Nightmares and constant bouts of intense training ravage Madara's sleep too.

Kazue jerks up to sit in her bed, her sleep broken by bloodshed and screams for the fourth time that week. She shakily exhales in a combination of sleep deprivation and frustration. When would these nightmares cease?! No matter who she spoke with, no one knew how her sleep kept getting interrupted… they said it had been fine earlier. She'd asked everyone… there was only one person she hadn't. She gathers her blanket and runs to the library, hoping the light is on.

Madara jumps when the library doors are all but swung open in a gust of cool air. Kazue stands half-dressed and half wrapped in a fluffy blanket with an adamant expression on her small face.

"Kazue?!" he blurts out

"I know you've been avoiding me but this is enough, we're practically nocturnal!" She stomps her foot and sinks onto the library couch, "Tell me what stops these nightmares."

"Should I call Kanako?" he asks, flustered

"No. You're not going to run off. I'm angry and I haven't slept properly this whole week. I'm not leaving or letting you leave until you answer me."

Madara stands quietly for a moment, incredulous at her outburst. He quells his own irritation, being sleep deprived himself, and sighs.

"The nightmares for both of us stopped when…" he frowns

"When?!" she probes

"When we slept together- I mean beside each other." He presses the bridge of his nose. "I just think, until your memory returns-"

"Come and sit beside me then." She says plainly

"What?" he blinks

"Are you afraid of me? You always look reluctant to be near me."

"I'm not. I just don't want you to become distressed."

"Okay I won't. Just sit by me, if what you say is true then maybe the both of us can get enough sleep." Kazue says nonchalantly although she knows her pride and sanity are too weak with sleep deprivation now to respond logically. She herself can't place where her boldness is coming from.

Though Madara hesitates, he finds himself sit on the farthest corner from Kazue on the couch. She scowls and shuffles herself closer to him until her thigh touches his. Madara's warmth carries an aura of comfort and security which she doesn't question. Madara sits as still as possible. A wave of fatigue hits her, and she gives in to the instinctive urge to sleep.

Kazue wakes slowly this time, her heart racing and her eyes searching for Madara. He leans on the back of the couch with his arms crossed tightly across his chest, the same position as he had during the night. His eyes are closed and the furrow of his brow relaxed in sleep, though his stoic demeanour is evident.

Kazue takes a moment to catch her breath, though a nightmare was not the cause of the sheen of sweat on her forehead and the blush on her cheeks, against her better judgement the thoughts form plainly and bluntly in her mind when she dares to look back at Madara. She wants him. She knew it in the marrow of her bones. Despite everything else, the confusion of her memory-loss and the anxiety of their situations, the debilitating feeling of desire melts away her concentration until only the sight of him entwined with her remains. The feeling of their bodies together rings vividly like a bell through her mind. Was it real? Had they experienced this before or was it only a dream? Did she want him or not?! Which one was it? She sits there dazed for several moments before Madara wakes.

"Kazue, are you alright?" he asks cautiously

"Kiss me." She demands

"What?" Had he heard right?

"Just, kiss me… please, I need to know something." She moves closer to him, she had to test this out. Just like Madara said, she had slept better with him beside her and now… she had to know why she had that dream or flashback. Madara gives a hesitant nod, he'd just slept for the longest time since Kazue lost her memory and he couldn't deny he was in a good mood.

Their lips meet and desire washes through them both. The intensity of the sensation of his lips were no flashback, she knew she wanted him with every fibre of her. Madara tries to maintain the distance between them in an effort to control himself, though Kazue moves closer to him still, her kisses becoming more and more passionate. Her tongue traces his lip before he holds her at arm's length.

"Kazue, I don't want us to do this until your memories return. I can't touch you while there's fear in your eyes. It's wrong." He tucks the blankets around her and heads to the doors abruptly, Kazue finds herself huff in irritation to which he turns around with an amused expression on his face. Half a smile plays on the corners of his mouth when he sees Kazue cross her arms in annoyance that he denied her.

"Just have enough patience to wait until you remember, Kazue. You have no idea what I've been reigning in." He winks at her and leaves, a flustered sigh escapes him as the doors shut.

Kazue blinks several times, did he just wink at me? Apparently he had. Yet she couldn't rebut that she didn't like it.

The muted thuds of Kazue's feet are quick atop the muddy forest floor. The sound of thunder and the hum of rain had triggered some instinct within her moments ago. Izuna had been called away for a meeting and Kanako was busy with Haruo, she had retired to the library to read when the irresistible allure of the trees calling to her from the Uchiha compound Memories of her home, of her family, flood through her mind. The vividness of them increasing as she ventures deeper into the storm. The smell of old leaves and sharp herbs mix with the mustiness of the rain, it felt as if Uzushio was everywhere around her. The clap of thunder and the splash of water reminding her of the relentless whirlpools and wide shores of her home. How she wished things would return to how they were. A time where her marriage was prospering, her father was alive and her memories weren't hidden in the depths of her subconscious.

Madara returns from training, the sudden downpour making him uneasy yet grateful. With this kind of storm, there wouldn't be any evening council meeting. His gunbai feels heavy on his back. A rustle in the foliage around him catches his attention, instinctively, his Sharingan activates to analyse the terrain. He makes out a large chakra signature a mile north from him, carefully he sets out to investigate. It doesn't take him more than a hundred metres forward to recognise the signature. Less than several inhuman leaps later he arrives at a clearing.

"Kazue, what the hell do you think you're doing here?!" He shouts. Kazue's head snaps toward the sound of his voice, her drenched crimson hair flipping around. As he waits for a response, her eyes widen in shock. "Kazue?" he asks, confused. She takes a step back, her frame wobbling slightly. He realises her focus on his eyes and immediately deactivates his Sharingan, her gaze softens. "It's me."

"Madara…" She remains cautious although less tense, Madara looks tired although still fearsome with his gunbai strapped tightly across his bare chest and his black waist-length hair falling around his shoulders.

"Why are you out here?"

"The storm. It reminded me of Uzushio. I didn't mean to make anyone worry." She shakes her head

"Kazue, it's too dangerous to go out on your own like this, especially as you are now." He frowns, "Come, let me take you home. You'll get a fever out here."

Kazue doesn't argue as Madara approaches and takes her hand into his. When they return, Madara informs a flustered Kanako, that Kazue is to be thoroughly dried and warmed. Izuna sighs at Kazue, who manages to grin at him through her drenched locks. How many times would this girl run off so stealthily? Although no one was irritated. They knew they had to consider her condition rather than tie her to a post. A frown crosses Izuna's face as his older brother pulls a towel over his hair, Madara looks exhausted and sleep-deprived. He couldn't blame him, Kazue's memory-loss had taken a toll on the leader. Madara had increased security around the compound and Konoha and the Uchiha had regular communication to exchange intel, it hurt to see him hold everything together when their lives had been shaken up so suddenly.

Both Uchiha brothers jolt in surprise when Madara sneezes.

It had been several hours, though Aida is determined to trek further from the village before setting up camp. The physical exertion occupies her thoughts effectively, the last thing she wanted was his face on her mind. She'd stopped several times to vomit, the hangover was finally receding. The heavy rain around her cools and calms her mind. Just a little further.

"Aida! Aida wait!"

Aida turns in shock to see him behind her, the silver-haired Senju wears little more than slacks and his chest glistens with sweat, his eyes are weary and his brows are in a concerned frown. The heat from his body radiates into the cold air in an aura of steam.

"What the hell are you doing out here?!" Aida exclaims in shock

"It's you… It's you." He pants in fatigue,

"You're not making any sense, go back to Konohagakure."

"I'm in love with you." He huffs, adamant to hear Aida's reply

"You don't have to pretend just to keep me in Konoha. Leave me alone." Her eyes glaze over with emotion for a moment before she shakes herself out of it

"I'm not pretending! I never was…" He shakes his head. Aida purses her lips into a line. "Ai, last night meant something to me. Something I can't explain. It isn't just physical with you, I know it isn't…I haven't been able to think of anyone but you."

"I'm not coming back, so go home, Tobirama-san." She turns on her heel to leave until she hears a thud behind her.

"Please don't go." He kneels on the earth before her. Aida's eyes widen in shock. "Please…" his voice trails off and Aida manages to catch his large frame before it falls to the ground.

"Tobirama?!" she shouts, examining his face. His cheeks have a red feverish glow and his skin is hot to the touch, his breath is laboured and exhausted. Was he sick?! How long had he been running in the rain without protection? Without further thought, she finds herself heave his arm around her shoulder before setting out for Konoha.

Hashirama sighs in disappointment as he helps Aida set Tobirama onto the bed. His brother had really outdone himself this time.

"Even after all you've done, I hope you don't mind staying with him?" Hashirama smiles

"I'll stay for a while before I set out again." Aida huffs, towelling her wet hair

"You know, he's never dealt well with new stresses. They even weaken his immune system…" Hashirama chuckles as Aida settles beside a slumbering Tobirama, "He seems nonchalant and bereft of expression, although he's more emotional than me."

"I think he was delirious."

"He's not good at saying what he feels. I understand that has caused you pain."

"With all due respect Hashirama-sama, I don't want to be someone he settles for."

"What would make you realise that he isn't forcing his feelings?"

"There's no need for that. I've made the decision to move away because I know this is not meant to be."

"You're almost as stubborn as him." He laughs as she remains expressionless.

"Perhaps you would speak with me?"

Hashirama and Aida both turn around to see Mito standing in the doorway, her scarlet hair pulled elegantly atop her head and her white kimono falling beautifully across her curves. Both irritation and dread spark in Aida. As if she would have a heart to heart with the sister of the woman Tobirama was in love with… Hashirama bows before stepping out into the courtyard.

"Mito-sama." Aida bows,

"I know it seems I'm the last person you'd want to speak with." Mito smiles warmly, "But I feel I should offer insight into Tobirama-kun's personality too."

"I appreciate it, although I doubt it would change anything."

"Perhaps not. But it wouldn't be fair not to tell you everything about his feelings for you." Mito frowns as Aida's attention focuses on her.