The broken hero (Madara Uchiha)

2. The fire and the water

The moment Madara casted his fireball jutsu, the guy ran away, but the hut caught fire. All of them managed to take away all the necessary things out from the hut but it was destroyed.

Madara was continuously apologizing for this to her, at first she didn't say anything, but finally he could see her tears from her turned face, and it broke his heart.

He stood in front of her and apologized again. She smiled.
Madara was astonished. He asked her the reason of smiling and crying both. She said she was crying because of the slap, she smiled because Madara saved her, otherwise that guy would've been made them homeless tonight. This hut was his to begin with. So in any way they were going to be homeless tonight. Madara stood there guarding the fire. Then she did some hand signs and wave of water came from her hands to flood the burning hut.

So if she had this water jutsu why didn't she use this at first, if she could save the hut?
Maybe inside her heart, she also wanted to see the final of this regular battle. She waited until every last strand of that property was burnt and then she held the hand of his little brother who was standing beside her till this time.

Madara was standing there. He asked, "Where will you go?"
The little guy replied, "Wherever my sister goes, that becomes a home. "
He smiled widely. That smile spread like a virus to everyone's face.

Madara cleared his throat and said, "You can come to my home if you want, all of you. All of you can come to our village, we have plenty people, and I can promise all of you that you'll never be scared or hurt. It's just a token of apology."
Akiko replied while rubbing her fingers on her brother's head, "But we already forgave you. You go back to your village."
"Then think this as your repay of my help."
Akiko was silent. Madara continued, "You don't have to help the feudal lord. I'll tell him that I couldn't find you. "

"Why are you helping me?"
Silence fell. Then Madara managed to say few words, "I ... Am ... shinobi... So ..so... I .. um.."
Then surprisingly, she hugged him.
Her soft body was covering him like a basket of flowers. She was so soft yet so strong. Madara was feeling blood getting rushed towards his cheeks. He managed to seperate her out and stood there blushing. She was blushing too. She was embarrassed. Maybe she said sorry too.
Madara walked in front of them to guide them to Konoha.

After one week

Madara is so busy that he doesn't get time to visit Akiko. And, why would he. He has lot of things to do. Akiko was sewing a robe for her brother Junpa.
The people of Konoha is suspicious about them, but the rival of Hokage has brought them to the village so they couldn't say anything. However, they'd pinch her whenever they got a chance. They'd say things like she's his kept etc.

No doubt Hokage Hashirama Senju is a kind hearted guy, but he doesn't have time to save a woman's honor. She thought about getting a job as doctor, but it'd be very obvious and the feudal lords will know everything, it matters not only because of her vow of not helping the feudalism, but also that'd make Madara a liar and that's worse.

She was thinking these things when she heard a soft knock on her door.
It was him.
She suddenly felt something coiling near her stomach, what is this feeling?

He was a man, a handsome, tall, mascular man. With eyes big like moon, and a smile like a kid. He didn't require to have short hair or beard, his spiky waist length hair was always a brand.

He was looking at her, holding a packet in his hands. He came closer and sat in front of her. He kept the paper packet near her feet and looked at her, smiling, "How are you?"
Akiko couldn't say anything. She gazed down and said, "You didn't let me bring any gift for you. That's... Bad."

"It doesn't matter. I came here to say something to you. It's... I heard the villagers saying bad things about you, you know what I'm saying..."

Akiko took a sigh of relief. Finally, he heard, maybe he'll say her to leave the village so that she can make herself free from these accusations. It's not like she couldn't flee, but she started caring about Madara's honor more after coming into this place and seeing everyone respecting him like God. Specially the Uchiha clan. Madara had a brother too, Izuna. He became friends with Junpa too. She smiled.

Madara completed his sentence, "I want you to marry me."

Akiko felt her heart trying to escape from her body. What! Marry? Has anyone in the world ever tried to marry a war widow? And also, why would he spoil his life marrying a widow like her?
O yeah. It's just for the sake of saving his and her honor, but seperately. She got a hold of herself and said, "This is too much pay for whatever you've done. If you couldn't think of anything else then you could've told me to leave, or better, you can kill me just with your pinky finger. Then why are you doing this to me? What do you think I am? A doll? You take me to your place and you tell me to marry you to save your honor and what not. I didn't tell you to help me."
Madara was absorbing all of these, he didn't say anything. Then when Akiko started crying he tried to hold her hands.

He left the room quietly. Akiko was still crying. Madara was looking at her from behind a curtain. Suddenly a thought came to his mind. What if she leaves? He heard footsteps and looked back to find another long haired guy standing near the stairs of hallway.
What is he doing here?

"You blithering idiot, what did you think of yourself?", The guy snapped.

Akiko heard this and looked towards the door to find Madara and Hashirama standing face to face.

"Hokage sama!"
She wiped off her tears and made a place so that he can sit.
Madara was frowning at all of these. Was her respect towards Hashirama making him jealous? Was it? He turned his face away just to hear giggles from her and Hashirama said, "I told him that you're rushing, but he's a stupid guy, doesn't think of far future. He acts on whatever he likes. "
Madara snapped, "How dare you call me stupid? You womanly idiot."
Akiko thought, only he could say things like this on his face.
Hashirama said again,"I heard all of it. Is that even a solution?"
Then he looked at Akiko and said, "He's not half bad. Yeah he needs to get matured but he's practical, not idealized like me. He has a big heart that can fit the whole world."

"I have loved only one person in my life and I cannot think of anyone else. In that case if my staying here is making you so uncomfortable then please give me permission to leave.", Akiko smiled and said.

Her calm and composed nature reminded of a pond that rests under the shadows of trees. She was more than beautiful but there was something so clean and tidy about her that made Hashirama admire. He told, "You are like my sister. I cannot leave you alone. You will be staying here as my sister. I'll tell everyone that we are related. But yes, please forgive this immature brat."
Madara was listening to all of these and he thought, 'yeah now I understand why he's suitable for hokage.'

Okay then this is settled, said Hashirama. He stood up and walked towards the door. After he left, Madara said a soft sorry and was also leaving. Akiko halted him and said, "Tomorrow is my birthday. The children plan something every year. Are you going to come?"

He thought something and said, "I will come."
He wasn't leaving. Something was bothering him so Akiko came closer and held his hand.

"I didn't think of it, that how much trouble you had to face if you married me. I was thinking it's a selfish idea of yours but now as calm as I am, I think that you didn't have anything else to say."

Madara's pupils expanded. He had never seen her like this, opening up so much to him. He could barely say anything, so he pressed her fingers inside his own hands and said, "What if I told them that you're my sister, just like Hashi did."
"You can't think me as your sister, can you? If you could you'd have told me. But I suppose there's something building inside you for me. I can read eyes."
He took his hands off and turned his gaze away. "Its...its.. not true... I don't have anything...um.."

Akiko giggled. Madara looked at her to find his heaven on earth. He decided that he'd dedicate his life to protect this smile even if she never acknowledge him, or his feelings towards her. It's yet to be called love, but yeah, there's something.
He heard her speaking again, "I am older than you. Five years. I am 31 now."

Madara said "Yeah yeah I know. That doesn't matter."
"For what?"
"Don't tease me okay you old woman!"

They both started laughing. Suddenly they heard some bang on the door and both izuna and junpa fell inside breaking it.

They were sparring. Both of them were injured with Tobirama standing in front of them with a kunai in his hand.