(Hashimada) The Adventures of a Hedgehog and Some Idiots

35: Lotus

A/N: I'm finally back!! sorry it took so long, exams & working full time over the summer killed me :'(

Like I mentioned in the description of this fic, I don't update often - when I update, though, it's basically a spam of a ton of chapters!

Would you rather have slightly more frequent, baby updates? Or do you like big updates all at once? Let me know if you have a preference!

Here's a recap from the last chapter:

"Hashi. . . You truly deserve better than me. I am sorry to always make you wait on me. . ."

"Mada." Hashirama lifted Madara's chin so that he was looking him in the eyes. "There's no need for you to apologize - there is absolutely nothing wrong with needing time. Besides, you are beyond worth the wait."

Madara blushed and smiled a little. "Pfft, whatever, Senju. . ."

They kissed, and Hashirama held Madara's hand, looking out over the river. "I'm so grateful to have you, Mada. . . I'm glad you're here with me. Finally."

"Whatever. . . I suppose I am glad to have you, too. . ." He said quietly, "I have nothing else left. I need. . ."

Madara trailed off, and he looked at his reflection in the river illuminated by the moon. It reminded him of all the time he spent with Izuna, constantly protecting him in battle and trying to give him a childhood. All of the time he spent talking with his brother to make sure he was doing okay, all of the times they would spar in the woods, helping him master his Sharingan, the time he taught him how to skip stones (after Hashirama taught him), even the times when Izuna irritated the hell out of him. . .

Madara looked away and held Hashirama's hand tighter and mumbled, "I. . . Need you."

Hashirama pulled him close; Madara leaned against the Senju and closed his eyes. They sat in silence, reflecting on everything they had been through. They both had so much pain - the loss of their brothers, their childhood, their happiness. . . It was a heavy burden for them to bear.

"I need you, too."

The two of them leaned closer into each other, letting the pain escape them. They knew each other's pain all too well, the pain they had expressed to each other every time they met at the river as kids. Even back then, the world seemed like too much for them to bear. Even now.

Yeah, but things are different now. . . We're closer. We have each other, Hashirama thought to himself. This sentiment reassured him - knowing that Madara understood him and would stand by him made him feel at ease. And of course, he would do the same for the Uchiha - he would stand by him even in death, if he could.

"I'll never leave you, Mada. I love you."

"Me too."

. . . and now let's get back into it!

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Some vines gently wrapped around them both, and a single white lotus grew from the center of Hashirama's hand. The Senju offered the flower to the Uchiha, and he took it in the palms of his hands. Hashirama said, "That lotus is special - I've only grown it once before. It was here. . . You probably don't remember-"