"Would anyone care to explain to me why exactly I have been pulled from my very, very comfortable bed to be here?" Madara takes a long drag from his cigarette. Regardless of his new found irritation he is still feeling quite satisfied with his earlier romps with his Blossom. His. Flashes of their time spent together between his overly expensive sheets fill his mind as he blows smoke through his nose.
"Now, listen… before you get mad, I just want to preface this by saying that the job got done, however, there was a teeny tiny um…. Glitch in the plan in the form of about two fresh Senju bodies buried on the side of the I-20." Madara can feel his blood start to boil. Leave it Shisui to fuck it up. This is going to cause a lot of problems. Madara flicks the finished butt onto the floor before closing the gap between them.
"How exactly did this happen?" The sound of shuffling cards permeate the air as Izuna, Kagami, Itachi, Obito and Suigetsu sit at the poker table.
"Heh… well… it's kind of a funny story, I really think you're going to laugh. So ya know everything was going great BUT, as soon as we opened up the warehouse there was a couple fellas, real good lookin ones…" Shisui lets out a nervous laugh before continuing, "I mean they ain't so good looking now, their faces kind of have bullets in them soooo… long story short, job got done just with some collateral, completely unavoidable damage." The curly headed man smiles, rubbing the back of his head.
"You're a goddamn idiot. Honestly the fact the you have lived to be 25 is shocking." Madara's voice is flat, the epitome of emptiness. "But, you got the job done regardless of how fucking ill prepared for it you were... I'll will give you credit where credit is due…" He gives a few not so gentle slaps on his nephew's cheek. "Good job, kid."
"Thanks! Crisis averted, we can all go home." Shisui sings, rubbing the newly forming red spot on his right cheek.
"Wait… this is the only FUCKING THING YOU LOT CALLED ME HERE FOR." Madara grabs Shisui by the shoulder of his jacket, stopping him from walking away.
"Hey, man. Don't look at me! I said it was a bad idea to call you here, Obito is the one who made the VERY executive decision to call you." The curly headed man just raises his hands in defense.
"Madara, I just felt that it would have been a wiser choice to tell you now, instead of you just finding out about it." Obito's voice is gruff with exasperation, never looking up from the cards fanned out in his hand.
"And this couldn't be a phone call...because?" The vein in Madara's forehead is popping out, he can feel it. He's pretty sure it will explode if there is one more insanely insignificant reason for him to be here.
"They can tap phones, Madara. You know this." Obito huffs, nearly slamming his hand of cards down onto the table in frustration of having to explain this for the 40th time this month.
"You've got to be shitting me. You are completely unhinged. I-I'm leaving. I can no longer stand the IDIOCY." Madara turns to walk out the door. "Shisui, please in the future, shoot the paranoid, micromanager in the fucking leg next time he wants to pull me away from the side of what i'm pretty sure was a religious experience in my bed." He leaves without another word. Itachi following after him.
"I have never seen him so upset about pussy before." Izuna laughs, finally breaking from his silent spectator position at the table. "Suck on this scum bags, full house." Izuna busts into maniacal laughter, grabbing the small sum of cash in the middle of the table.
"It must be some pretty euphoric pussy." Shisui murmurs to himself, wringing his hands, battling inside himself with what his cousin had told him in confidence, wondering if it's really true, that Madara is sleeping with Sasuke's ex. The girl he had for so long pined after. He quickly makes his way to his car, trying to push those thoughts from his mind.
Outside, Itachi catches Madara before he gets into his SUV.
"Is there something I can do for you, Itachi?" Madara huffs, his irritation rising all over again.
"I wish to speak with you. Also, I had to dump my car so if you could take me to home we can talk on the way." Itachi grabs the handle of the passenger side door, getting in before his uncle can protest.
"I am so going to regret this." The wild hair man sighs, scratching at the stubble on his chin. Madara takes his seat in front of the steering wheel and pulls away from the warehouse. "So, what troubles you, nephew?"
"You, uncle."
"What is it about me that is an issue?" Madara's gut twists, assuming he knows exactly what… who this is about.
"Is it true?" Itachi rubs his forehead, trying hard to be vague enough that he doesn't feel the need to strangle the Uchiha Clan head.
"You have to be more specific."
"Did you sleep with Sakura? Sasuke had an entire farm about the accusations he's made against you." Madara takes in a long breath, attempting to put together the best response.
"Sleeping, as continuing to do so. I can imagine Sasuke is quite upset with these recent turn of events however, his feelings towards the situation are not going to deter me from pursuing what I want." He can feel Itachi tense.
"I suggest you tread carefully. Sasuke is a spiteful thing. Besides, what can she offer you that you don't already have with all the other women you bring to bed?"
"Equal partnership, a life, a family someday. Something that's actually meaningful when my life is over run by mindless killing and violence. So, I suggest that you keep this as low as possible because I will not let anyone ruin this for me. I am letting myself be selfish for once."
"I won't get in your way. Sasuke is another issue though. I'm pretty sure he will sabotage you every chance he gets."
The sun is just above the horizon, Madara has been up for nearly 24 hours now and he can feel bags forming under his eyes. What should have been an easy night with Sakura has turned into a cluster fuck interally and with the Senju. The 2 fresh ones will be troublesome, he knows this, but there is little he can do about it until Hashirama shows up, Tobirama tries to kill him, or 2 of his men get killed in relatilation. Madara prays to whatever power is out there that he only has to deal with Hashirama, Tobirama is like the lovechild of a rabid attack dog and open ended, boundless, black void. The sheer thought of Tobirama's information extraction tactics makes bile rise in Madara's throat. Yes, he has done vile, cruel things to get what he needs, but the stories of some of the lengths Tobirama has gone to is just sociopathic, killing children, rape, genital mutilation, this is the legacy of the younger Senju, a monster. Eye of the beholder, he supposes. To many he may also be considered a monster, to the underground world he is seen as a benevolent, fair, force to be reckoned with. Don't do anything to get on his bad side, it's smooth sailing. Disappoint, hurt, betray him or his people and one will feel the full reach of his abilities. Walking into the house his anxiety is put to rest seeing Sakura's little brown heeled booties still next to the door. Madara opens the fridge, pulling out a bottled water, chugging down the entire thing in a few gulps.
"Madara? Is that you?" Sakura's voice squeaks, emerging from his bedroom rubbing the sleep from her eyes. One of his grey tshirts hang long on her smaller form and her hair piled loosely on top of her head
"Yes, Blossom. You should still be sleeping." Madara pulls her small form against his, taking a long inhale of her scent.
"Can we talk?" Her voice is still gruff from sleep.
"Sure. What's on your mind?" His hands move from her shoulders to her hips, turning her towards the couch, giving her a little push.
"Um.. well… okay. I don't want to come off as pushy or anything, but I guess i'm really confused as to what it is you want out of this and what to even do in this situation. If you just want sex that's fine, but dating? A relationship? I'm just really confused. I have no idea what i'm doing." Sakura pulls her knees to her chest at the end of the dark espresso leather couch.
"Way to put a man on the spot Sakura." Madara grins slightly at her courage to ask the 'What are we?' question. One that so many women have never asked, just passively accepted, happy to be in his bed. To be in the bed of a powerful, rich man, those who usually liked to use him to make their friends and ex boyfriends jealous or to get away and shove a proverbial fuck you to their parents. Sakura has mostly always been surrounded by Uchihas and wealth from what he has gathered so far. She had been childhood friends with Sasuke, which means she is also friends with Naruto, the Uzumaki family has generations of lawyers and others within the legal system. "Well, in all honesty I haven't put much thought into it. I have never been one to date or be in a relationship of any kind beyond a sexual one. However, I think i'd like to make an exception this time. There would need to a few rules, lines in the sand, but I think we could be either very good for each other or very very bad for each other." Madara finishes, trying to find any hint of how she feels about his proposal in her eyes, he can find none.
"What kind of rules does a relationship with you entail." Sakura begins to chew her thumb nail. Something he has noticed in the incredibly short time they have spent together. She always bites her nails.
"Well, given your previous relationship with my dimwit nephew, I would like to keep this just between us for now. For awhile actually, until we are sure this isn't simply lust induced. Beyond that, I don't think you know who I am exactly, if you do then you have played ignorance very well an-" Sakura cuts him off.
"I know who you are Madara. I have the internet. Besides, I haven't been playing ignorance, I've just been treating you like a human. I'm not going to become a servile, foot worshipping lamb just to serve your already over-inflated ego. I've had quite enough of playing that part."
"I would call it perfectly inflated, i've earned my ego." Madara laughs as Sakura playfully smacks his bicep. The more he contemplates her words his attitude shifts towards serious. "I have never, nor will ever ask you to be those things, Sakura. I'm not him. What i'm trying to say is that I am a very public figure, one who enjoys privacy. So I would like as little of my personal like to be out there as possible. Plus, that could put you in danger and it would put your life on blast." Madara places his hand on hers, pulling is down away from her mouth. "Let's just take it slow, okay? We don't have to commit or put labels on anything until you're ready or want to."
"Fine, but, I need to know how exclusive you want this to be. I don't want to expect something I shouldn't" Sakura can feel the shrinking happening, her confidence clawing into a hole inside her.
"How exclusive do you want this to be?" Madara leans his head back, arms spread across the back of the couch. He takes a long deep breath watching the fan spin on the ceiling.
"I would really prefer if we are only sleeping with each other." Sakura tries to pull her quickly burrowing confidence to the surface and stand her ground. Her gaze lands on Madara's seemingly careless form and breaks. "But if not it's fine. I understand." Madara's head immediately snaps up to look at her.
"I asked you what you wanted, not what you would prefer or accept. Never accept anything less than you know you deserve. If you want exclusivity I am more than happy to give that to you. I will never fault you for asking for what you want." Madara runs a hand over her hair, settling on her shoulder. "Let's leave it for now, okay? Let's not over think. We are exclusively sleeping with each other and I will take you on dates every now and then, and we are keeping it quiet. Does that sound right to you?" She just nods in response. "It's settled then. Let's just take it easy. Would you like to go back to bed with me? Or I can take you home if you would prefer to leave." Like a child Sakura lifts her arms up, signaling she wishes to be picked up. Madara scoffs at her childish gestures, but obliges anyway. He lifts her from the couch as she immediately wraps her arms and legs around his torso.
"You aren't helping my back at all." He laughs at her.
"Ahh, c'mon you're spry for an old man." she pinches his nipple through his black thermal shirt.
"Don't be naughty, daddy will have to punish you." Madara lays her on the bed.
"Don't threaten me with a good time. You're just asking me to misbehave at this point." Madara begins to strip off his clothing, feeling her hungry eyes on him. Pulling his wild mane into a ponytail he climbs into bed.
At the Uchiha Home that evening
"I really appreciate you having me for dinner, Mikoto." Karin smiles, adjusting her glasses.
"Mrs. Uchiha will do fine. So tell me, what is it you do Karin?" Mikoto attempts to makes nice with the red haired tramp at her dinner table.
"Well, I don't really work right now bu-" her words are cut off by a strong male voice.
"You go to school then?" Fugaku asks her, hoping that his son hasn't really down graded so harshly.
"No, I don't really feel like school is a good fit for me. I always figured I would just work until hopefully I can marry someone and just be a trophy wife." Mikoto chokes on her food, the simple thought that this woman thinks she is worth so much is almost hilarious. It takes all of her energy not to laugh in the poor girls face.
"Sasuke, dear, How has Sakura been? Is she in med school yet?" The Uchiha mother decides to take a more passive aggressive approach to taking the girl down a few notches.
"I don't know mother. I haven't seen her since the split until recently. We didn't exactly catch up." Sasuke's frustration is apparent in his voice.
"Fugaku, we should really have her over for dinner soon. I miss her, she was always such nice company and so ambitious. I hope she's well." Karin can feel the personal digs coming out. She doesn't care, she knows she has Sasuke in her purse after what is to come for the evening.
"I actually have some good news, I think you all will be happy to hear." Karin sets her utensils down, wiping her hands on the cloth napkin in her lap.
"Karin…" Sasuke's silent pleas for her to put whatever she is about to say past him first are ignored. Mikoto takes a long drink from her champagne glass.
"There will be a new addition to the Uchiha clan in late October." The glass in Mikoto's hand shatters, Fugaku throws his fork onto the plate before quickly rising and leaving the room without a word, Sasuke simply just stares at her. "I'm about 3 months along now since it's still early May."
"Get out." the voice is demonic. She turns to looks at Sasuke who is shaking now.
"Sasuke wha-"
"Leave Karin. You can't be here." Sasuke stands, nearly pushing his chair onto the floor with the force.
"But wait I-"
"I said leave, you lying bitch! I don't want to see your face right now." A single tear runs down her cheek before she speaks.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Mrs. Uchiha. I'll see myself out." She turns, after a few moments the front door quietly opens and shuts. Rage clouds Sasuke's vision. She said she was sterile, she said she was on birth control for precautionary and health measures, she said she wasn't pregnant 2 weeks ago. His rage boils over and in one fell swoop he underhands the chair next to him across the room.
"I don't want to hear it, mother."