(Hashimada) The Adventures of a Hedgehog and Some Idiots

13: Happiness

(brief recap:

Hashirama whispered, still holding the Uchiha tightly, "I'm always here, Mada. Always."

He pulled himself away to look at Madara in the face. The Uchiha tried to turn away, embarrassed, but Hashirama held his face in his hands. He wiped his tears away with his thumbs and smiled through his own tears.

"I mean it, Mada." He smiled at Madara and rested his forehead against his, closing his eyes. "You can come to me, you know that, right? About anything. . ."

Madara blushed and remained quiet. He willed himself to respond. "Hashirama. . . You should be the one to rely on me. . ." He looked down, ashamed of his own weakness.

. . . and now we resume :D )

"Madara. . . I already do."

Madara pulled himself away from the Senju and looked at him with confusion. "What do you mean?"

Hashirama smiled warmly. "Silly. . . Haven't you noticed? I rely on you for happiness. . ."

The Uchiha was shocked. "How could I possibly bring you happiness. . . All that I have brought you is pain and misfortune. . ."

"Do you really think that?" Hashirama looked sadly at him.

"Why would I not? Our clans have been at war for so long. . ."

"Mada, you've always been my happiness. That's why I love you so much. . . Seriously."

Madara was beyond confused - how could the Senju possibly find something to love in him, his enemy? When he stopped to think about it, though. . . Maybe he could understand what the Senju was saying. There was something about Hashirama that he was drawn to, even though they were supposed to be enemies. After all, before they led a war against each other, they were friends. . . And now, they were to lead a village together.

Everything was suddenly becoming very complicated very fast for Madara. These feelings. . . They were so foreign to him - he didn't know what he was experiencing. When he looked at Hashirama again, something changed in what he saw. He was beginning to see the Senju in a different light. . .

Madara tried his best to ignore his inner turmoil. "How? How could you possibly. . . Love. . . Me?"

Hashirama frowned. "I always have. I can't explain why. . . There are a lot of things that I love about you, some little dumb things, some bigger things. . . I don't know, it's too complicated to explain. But I do know that there's something about you that just. . . Draws me to you." He scratched his head and laughed, "I don't know, it probably sounds ridiculous! But really, I mean it."

"Like what?"

"Hm?" Hashirama questioned.

"What things?" Madara was genuinely curious now.

"I don't know, a lot!" Hashirama listed off, "Like how you get worked up so easily, your deceivingly soft hair, how fast you weave hands signs, your smile - I really love your smile, how much you stand up for what you love. . . Hmm. . . Even dumb things, like how you can't piss with anyone watching,"