Madara did not miss the insistent care Ayumi would treat Izuna with. It had been a week or so now, which mainly consisted of the Hyuga princess constantly re-checking his vitals every five minutes, as if she had regarded Izuna as her own blood to protect too. Madara couldn't help but suddenly think of how his own clan mates would try persuading the leader into marriage, as he was coming of age now and his acquaintance brat of a Senju, Hashirama, had been newly wed to that Uzumaki Mito. He couldn't help but ponder about a married life with Ayumi. She was caring and considerate, but the most attractive aspect of her to Madara was that she was strong too.
"You would make a good wife." Madara suddenly blurted, breaking out of his labyrinth of contemplation. His eyes were still set forward, mindlessly drinking his tea. He hadn't even realized the weight of his words.
Ayumi's heart stopped. As if she needed another scare, an involuntary heat rose to her cheeks, dropping the paperwork that she was analyzing so carefully. She couldn't help but cover her face.
It hadn't even affected him! He just continued to sip on his tea unaware of what her reaction was.
"M-Madara!" She yelped. Madara spared her an unimpressed glance. To Madara, he was merely stating a fact.
"I speak the truth, you turn into a writhling mess." Madara crossed his arms, "What am I to do?"
"M-Madara! Baka... It's because I...I..."
It's because I like you! She screamed inside of her head.
Well, I wouldn't mind it being with you... She twiddled with her fingers.
Madara tilted his chin to her direction at the odd action, now curious as to what she was going to say. Her pale eyes were darting back and forth between his dark ones.
"What?" Madara egged her to continue, continuing to sip his tea, not missing her hesitance.
"Besides, that shyness will do you no good when we actually do wed each other." His voice grew deeper. Madara widened his eyes now, he could not believe he was so brazen with her. He clenched his breath biting down on his tongue, he didn't know why that came out of him.
If she had been red before, she was definitely redder now. And she did not miss the light pink that was dusting the Uchiha clan leader's cheeks.
"Now you're blushing!" Ayumi pointed a finger at him.
"Shut up! Forget I said anything, or else I'll place you into an eternal genjutsu." He looked away to the side, his tone lacking a malice.
"Hahah!" She rolled in her spot humorously. "Now you know you can't do that to me!" She pulled her cheeks, making her grin wider.
"Mataku." Madara muttered underneath his breath, his eyes closed. He took another sip of his tea. He stood up on his two feet now, looking outside of the window and he admired the moon. It was so bright that it illuminated Izuna's face who was inside, still laying down on the futon with a washcloth over his head.
"I suppose I do owe you a thanks." Madara took another sip of his tea, swirling the cup, it was finished now. Ayumi had saved me, and now my younger brother, Madara thought. He did not like the thought that he was indebted so greatly to her, but that's the way it would be.
"It's nothing." She said.
Madara set his cup on the windowsill, and turned around to meet Ayumi's eyes. He looked sad, the corners of his lips were turned down, his eyebrows were furrowed.
"I couldn't even protect my own brother." Madara spoke solemnly, "And the clan is growing a distrust towards me."
The tone in Madara's voice indicated to Ayumi that he was severely confused as to what he should do in the future, but he did not want to directly ask for help. Ayumi would take that step, she thought. He wouldn't like her words next, but it had to be said.
"Sign the treaty, Madara." Ayumi narrowed her eyes, "It's the only way this would all stop. Izuna's injury was a result of this war."
He looked angry now - how dare she have the guts to suggest that when they nearly killed his brother? He considered scrapping that proposition for a slight second.
"We need to surrender, Madara!" Ayumi stood up on her two feet. "Look at your Izuna. He was barely salvaged. And I almost died because of it. If we weren't fighting in the first place..." She was stifling tears now. "None of this would have happened! I wouldn't have lost my sister! You're lucky you still even have him here-!" She bit her tongue, regretting the latter of her outburst.
"Be quiet!" Madara yelled loudly, enough to make her flinch. Madara yearned to scream because of this wretched world that almost took his only blood left. Madara's murderous sharingan flared a red deeper than usual. It was at that moment Ayumi understood what awakening the sharingan for any Uchiha signified. A deep love that had been converted into a misery greater than that love. The eyes that reflect the heart, or so they'd say.
"Madara..." She was wavering in despair in her tone now, taking a couple of steps towards him, now in front of him. "Please. Madara. Take this as an omen to go with a treaty. Let us take heed to these signs. What if this happens again? How do I know we'll be so lucky next time?" Ayumi pointed to Izuna's fallen condition.
Madara bit his lower lip and looked at his younger brother's weak body on the ground. He recalled the many Uchiha who were defectors to recent battles, surrendering themselves to the Senju. She had a point and there was no use in denying it.
"Madara, do you see now-"
"Enough." He interjected her line of thought, and he sighed deeply. If she spoke any more, he was sure he would cry remembering the memories of his broken family. Ayumi fell silent, granting the Uchiha's leader her full attention.
"You have been pestering me for an alliance with the Senju ever since we've met." Madara said, "I think it's about time."
She jumped in her place much like a child that was given new toys to play with. "Yosh! Madara!" Then what she did next was completely unexpected to him. Ayumi jumped onto Madara, hugging him. Madara looked down to see her face burrowed in his chest.
"Ayumi..." Madara spoke, shocked, frozen in his spot. This was probably the closest he had ever been to her. She felt fragile and thin and he instinctively wanted to wrap himself around her to protect her.
"Madara." She was blushing now, and he slowly relaxed his limbs, wrapping his arms around her too. They stayed like that for a moment, until she retracted from him, looking up at Madara.
"I think I enjoy being around you." Ayumi admitted softly. It was music to Madara's ears to hear that she was on the same page.
He turned wide-eyed. In truth, he did not know what to say. His facade had no cracks in it, but before her, she would be able to see right through him. For now, a gentle pat on her head would suffice, he thought.
"Petting me like I'm a child." She punched his arm, her eyebrow twitching.
Madara winced - she had hit the exact spot his skin had grazed with shuriken. "Oi! You want another injury to treat?!"
Ayumi laughed, waving her hands in the air defensively.
Soon the pair heard a muffled groan.
"You lovebirds done fooling around yet?" A hoarse voice spoke.
"Eeehhh?!" Ayumi's jaw dropped to the floor.
"Izuna!" Madara approached his brother quickly, leaning down on his knees to examine him.
"You're conscious!" Ayumi followed him.
Izuna managed to open one of his eyes, groaning, while adjusting himself to the lighting around him.
"What happened?" Izuna rubbed his forehead.
Ayumi and Madara spared each other a glance, hesitating on what to say. She would offer Madara the spotlight, she thought it was only fitting that way.
"You almost succumbed to the wounds you received that day on the battlefield." Madara sadly explained.
"But I'm still here." Izuna clenched his fists, reassuring himself that indeed he was still alive. "Who saved me?" Izuna eyed his elder brother.
Madara's eyes flickered to Ayumi's pale ones. "Ayumi did."
Ayumi couldn't help but avert her gaze from the Uchiha brothers. It stayed quiet for a moment.
"Ayumi, you saved my family again." Izuna said, "Thank you."
"Mm. It's nothing. Conditions state in our alliance to help each other." Ayumi spoke with one of her eyes open, peeking at Izuna.
"Or your smitten self did not want to see my brother hurt." He pointed a finger to Madara, who was lowly chuckling now.
"H-hey!" She rubbed the back of her neck, "Maybe that too..." She mumbled.