"… And he chased after me first! Then – wait for it – I come for my first day and find out he's my boss! How crazy is that?" Shizu took a long, frustrated sip of her morning coffee. "I mean, what are the odds for that to happen?"

"I told you I don't want to listen." Madara repeated himself tiredly, honestly not in any kind of mood to listen about her past lovers; especially not the one whom she still seemed to care for. He took a small bite of the ham sandwich before him, thinking how it was definitely a bad idea to let Shizu make breakfast. It's always half-assed and nutrition-less. He did it so much better.

"Ah, what kind of man are you? You want to sleep with me but you won't even listen to the stories I tell you." She took a bite herself, munching on it with an attitude which managed to bring corners of his mouth to lift in the tiniest of smiles.

"Alright." He finally sighed in defeat – if that's what it takes to make you shut up about it – he thought but refrained from voicing it out. "So what was the problem in the end?"

"He was married." She replied nonchalantly.

"Oh, don't look at me like that! I didn't know until later on. That's why I broke up." She swallowed another large bite of her sandwich, and much to Madara's dismay, went on, "It was really awkward at first, you know – since we saw each other at work every day. But with time I just learned to ignore it and now I don't even care."

"And that's it?" He brought himself to ask further. The sooner he makes her get to the end the better.

"Yes. Now we even greet each other, it's been a long time since we broke up, neither of us cares anymore. It's just my mom who can't get over it." She rolled her eyes.

"Anyway, I decided on what you and I will do today." She added, standing up to collect the dishes from the table and leave them in the sink.

Thankful for the unwanted conversation finally being over, but not any more interested, Madara simply narrowed his dark eyes at Shizu questionably, waiting for her to reveal her plans. Probably something stupid. He thought to himself.

"Let's go on a date."

"Harder!" Shizu urged excitedly, her hand's grasp firm on Madara's shoulder. "Faster, Madara. Ah… We're almost there!"

"No, we're not. I am almost there. Now get off of my back and stop whining or I'll lose again." He jerked his shoulder to brush her off and set his concentration back on the arcade game. They were aiming to win a tablet, but kept losing. He despised games and bets like this – you keep losing, but each time it seems like you're a little closer to winning, so you keep it up.

Hashirama liked to bet and play lucky games, and he was pathetically bad at both. Madara felt like he could understand a piece of his sorrows now.

"Nah, I give up! Let's just go do something else." He was tempted to kick the damned machine, but decided against it in the last moment. He's a civilized citizen here, yeah…

"Right." Shizu agreed shortly, picking up her pace in order to keep up with him. Once they walked side by side, he watched her sneak closer and bite her bottom lip as her hand slowly found its way around his waist, hugging him as they walked.

A few awfully stupid moments had passed before he finally threw his arm over her shoulder and pulled her slightly closer to himself.

Truth be told, Madara had never gone on a date before. He had had women before, obviously, but he never had to walk around with them and spend days doing useless things, which he had done many today. If he liked the woman and she him, they'd just go ahead and take it to bed. Only if he meant to marry her would he have to take her around for everyone to see them together.

Such things did not matter here, apparently. One could have a dozen of partners who they showed to everyone even if they don't mean seriously with each other. He was glad for that – otherwise, he and Shizu wouldn't be doing this today. No matter how much he'd like to mean seriously and keep her around for… well, forever, it wasn't doable.

Unconsciously, he brought her closer to himself, the thoughts of never seeing her again ruined his good mood. And the thoughts of how they had spent most of their valuable time made it even worse.

They bickered and argued like stupid children most of that time. Very little of it was spent on nourishing their relationship, and he couldn't even tell how did it get down to this? How had he managed to start loving her out of all of that? Honestly, by all his parameters, she sucks.

"This is really weird." Shizu said slowly while her fingers were restless on his waist, probably itching to pull back but was unable to find the right moment to do so.

Madara hummed in agreement.

"Right? Let's just hold hands." She pulled away from their rotten hug and slipped her hand into his while they walked on. "This is better."

"Where are we going now?"

"Well…" She dragged out the beginning, "Since you still have some saved money left from the time you worked, and since you're a perfect gentlemen," She went on without reacting to his snort, "You're going to buy me something."

"No doubt, you're a fine lady, yourself." Madara couldn't help his sarcasm, as he followed along nevertheless.

"Excuse me, I didn't spot an exchange office anywhere in Uchiha camp? You have nothing else to do with that money. And this is our first date – you ought to buy me a present."

"And the last one. Indeed, I ought."

And just like that, the tension was back. Way to go, Madara.

Solid two hours were wasted on sitting in the fitting room and watching as Shizu pranced around in different clothing combinations. He was forced to give comments on nearly each one of them, but some he hadn't even seen properly. His eyes would just go out of focus and he let them be. This was a moronic idea, anyway. She could have just taken his credit cards and buy stuff on her own later.

"Remind me, why do I need to buy you rags?" He leaned back into the soft, luxurious recliner.

"Hey, this is the newest collection of the brand, and it's beautiful! And we already made it clear that you should buy me a present." Shizu continued to check herself out in the wall sized mirror, unbothered by his complaints.

"Yes, but shouldn't the present be something longer lasting than a pair of jeans or a blouse? Why not jewelry? Or, uh… an ornamented hair comb? Something you can have for a long time and that will make you think of me. Something that won't end up in garbage in a few months…" At last, he stopped, realizing that he had been babbling far more than usual.

Pathetic. It doesn't even matter that much and he let himself get all worked up.

She turned to look at him, a thoughtful expression on her face. He wondered what it will be this time around. Necklace? Or perhaps a ring? Or maybe even that comb, since it was so 'his era', as she called it, it would have a nice symbolic, by the way. He liked that one.

But, what's with all the damned romantic ideas? If his profession already wasn't a shinobi, he could have been a fucking wedding planner. Sickening.

"Buy me a beautiful house by the sea so I can think of you during every moment I spend there."

"Tsk." He gave her an irritated look. "I don't have that much money! Ask for something realistic!"

"Oh, you don't? Then buy me the rags and give me good di** and be done with it. Jeez, so dramatic…" She disappeared behind the curtain again.

"Is… Is that so…" Madara mumbled into his chin, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. May he be damned for bringing up the proposal for them to sleep together, in the first place. It brought him nothing good, only a whole hill of unpleasant, handful conversations.

Entering through the apartment door seemed to have served as a trigger for Shizu – she was probably preying on the moment they get hidden behind the door – as she had carelessly thrown the bags with her purchased goods in the corner and jumped Madara as soon as he stepped inside after her.

He had managed to push the door closed with his foot before being shoved against the wall. Don't misunderstand, he was the one who allowed himself to be shoved – just to make sure nobody dares to doubt his undeniable strength.

She kissed him harshly and impatiently, already working on undoing his shirt. Once more, he was pulled in by her desirable, almost aggressive approach, responding with similar force.

The situation was awfully familiar; he's been there before. Encounter between him and the woman he would be involved with at a time gets delayed, then when it finally comes around, they jump each other like furious lions, each looking to achieve one goal – their own pleasure.

However, the pleasure is usually shortlived and they separate in shame at how animalistic they had presented themselves to be. In normal circumstances he would soon brush it off and simply make another arrangement to do better next time.

Only that now, there will be no next time.

Shizu was busy spreading hungry kisses down his throat, her fingers eagerly unclasping his belt, only to look at him with displeased expression – almost a pout – when he grabbed her wrists and held them away from himself.

He swiftly changed their positions, so that Shizu was leaned against the wall and he was the one in power. Rising one of her hands up to his mouth, he planted a soft kiss onto the pale skin that covered veins of her wrists. Letting go of her other hand, his fingers found their way to her face, cupping it lovingly before he leaned in and joined their lips into passionate yet gentle kiss.

Once he could feel she had relaxed, Madara let go of her completely and hugged her waist instead, letting their hips meet and make them both shudder with a new wave of excitement.

When their lips parted, Madara leaned his forehead against Shizu's, observing as her eyes traveled from his own and down to his mouth times and times again.

"I have many good things to give you before we get to the one you asked for", he whispered, smiling as his words made her chuckle.

He planted a small peck on her cheek and took her hand, leading the way to the bedroom.

If someone happens to decide to barge in this time, he silently swore to burn then with Amaterasu.