Author's note: You guys are the cutest, I love your messages/reviews.
Kitsune def handed this man a broom because he started sweeping.
Dixi, absolutely follow that instinct.
Chapter: Acting Strangely
"Why are you here?" The words retched from Madara's throat. He placed his hands flat against the dining room table, lurched over, trying to still his ragged breaths. His body was covered in cold sweat. His hair clung to his neck and back.
"I thought you'd be happier to see me."
"I…." The Uchiha man glanced up for a fraction of a second, unable to look into those eyes any longer.
"You look pathetic."
"I…tr-tried to—" Madara wanted so desperately to cry out, but his body would not allow it. It was paralyzed with fear.
"No, you gave in."
"I-I'm sorry."
"You were a warrior once. You were Madara Uchiha! …look at you now. Nothing but a lap dog for the Senju."
"I'm sorry, Izuna." Madara rasped.
"Madara?" a sweeter voice called out to him. He didn't turn to face its source.
"I loved her, Madara. I told you to keep her safe." Izuna's spiteful expression haunted him.
"Madara, what are you doing down here?" the girl circled around him until she could see his face. "It's the middle of the night. Are you okay?" He tried to focus just on breathing. He lifted his eyes to Izuna's face. Panic began to build in him.
"Thank the gods Umika's loyalty runs deeper than yours. She wouldn't lay with one of them." Izuna rebuked.
"Madara, look at me." Umika soothed.
"I'm sorry, Izuna. I'm so sorry." he mumbled the phrase under his breath repeatedly. Umika's brow drew together with concern. She had never seen him so hysterical before. She glanced over her shoulder, into the darkness of the corner his gaze was focused on. A jolt of fear slammed through her. She almost expected to see something. She even reached her arm into it, just to be sure.
"Madara…there's no one here but us." She placed her hands on his face and refocused his eyes on her. "Come back to bed. You need to rest."
Umika sat in the hallway, her leg bouncing anxiously. She jumped up at the sound of a door opening, releasing her held breath with a soft puff when she noticed it was just Tobirama's office.
"Waiting for my brother?" Tobirama asked, raising his brow at the disquieted girl.
"N-No. I—I mean, yes. I heard Lord Hachiro was m-meeting with him, so I'm…just waiting for them to…." Her broken string of thoughts faded as she tried to ease her jittered words. Tobirama shifted paperwork from one hand to the other. He took a few steps to the Hokage's office door and knocked.
"Come in." Hashirama's voice called. Umika watched Tobirama stick his head in briefly.
"Hachiro?" the white-haired man called. "Someone here to see you." The Hyūga clan head stepped out and offered a gentle smile to the distressed girl.
"Umika, what brings you by?"
"Lord Hachiro…." She immediately broke down into tears. "Please, come see Madara." She bowed to the man. "He hasn't been feeling well."
"Madara's sick?!" Hashirama yelled from the office. Umika heard a few things crash to the floor as the Hokage stumbled through his doors and out into the hallway with everyone else.
"Watch yourself!" Tobirama chastised his brother's ungraceful behavior.
"Can you take me to him?" the older Senju implored the Uchiha girl, ignoring the glare from his brother. She glanced nervously at Hachiro, hemming to buy time.
"Lord Hashirama is a far more skilled medic than I." Hachiro assured. "With my eyes and his technique, I'm sure we can cure Lord Madara."
"O-okay…." the girl reluctantly agreed.
It was just past noon when Tobirama resigned himself to the reality of the situation: trying to do any more work was useless. His mind kept wandering after reading a few sentences or writing a few words. It would take him ten to fifteen minutes just to get back on task. After the third iteration of the same song and dance, he decided to head home for the day. He stepped out of his office, and knocked on Hashirama's door, intending to let the Hokage know that he would be taking leave. When no answer came, he mentally berated himself for forgetting that his brother had left to treat Madara.
Tobirama decided to take the long way home, past Madara's house. It wasn't that he wished death on the Uchiha leader. But he had to admit it would make life easier. Madara had become more erratic as of late. Hashirama had insisted on making him a liaison for the village, and it had been disastrous at every turn. After being in the position for only two years, Madara had reneged on deals, antagonized neighboring colonies, even threatened war with growing settlements in the north. The Earth Lord had already blessed the establishment of their own shinobi village. Tobirama was sure other major countries would follow in stride. At that time, he had no intention of letting Madara continue to be an obstacle to peace.
"Lord Tobirama?" a small voice called out. The Senju had been so lost in his thoughts, he had not noticed Umika sitting on the front deck of her house.
"I told you before, you don't have to use honorifics with me." Tobirama replied, taking a seat next to her. "How's Madara?"
"I don't know." She hugged her knees to her chest. "They're still with him. Lord Hachiro said it would be a few hours."
"And you just plan on sitting here?" he asked. She nodded meekly. He sighed. "I need a favor."
"From me?"
"Mhm." He stood and faced her. "You cooked for me one night, when we were defectors."
"The trout?" She tilted her head to the side cutely.
"It's been on my mind." he said with a nod. "Could you make it for me again?"
"I…don't have any at home. I could go to the market and—"
"No, I like them fresh caught." He held his hand out for her, hoping she wouldn't rebuff his feeble attempt to distract her. The truth was, a lot more than trout had been on his mind since their return. In these two years, he had found himself acting strangely. He would stare at Umika incessantly when she crossed his sight on the streets. He would find ways to prolong their usually brief and rare interactions well beyond their natural spans. He would tease her sometimes, when she was in a particularly good mood, and chuckle at how she blushed and stumbled over her words.
"Is there a river with them nearby?" she asked, taking his hand. His heart fluttered at her touch.
"Follow me." he answered, keeping hold of her hand as they walked.
