Red String of Fate

Chapter 21 - Words of affection

Madara felt someone gently caress his hair and slowly awoke, he sat up and was speechless as he faced Hashirama.

Hashirama had tears running down his face as he stared back into Madara's eyes.

"Hashirama, you're awake." Madara stated, a smile slowly creeping to his face.

"Madara?" Hashirama asked, his voice quiet. "Is it really you?"

"Mhm, it is." Madara confirmed Hashirama's suspicions and more tears fell down his face.

"Shh, why're you crying?" Madara stood up and wiped away Hashirama's tears with worry.

"I'm happy. I was scared that it wasn't you." Hashirama complained with a genuinely upset expression, Madara felt his heart skip a beat and awkwardly stood back up.

"I'm sorry for not telling you it was me from the beginning." Madara apologized quietly, watching as Hashirama shook his head and smiled the same benignant smile as he always did.

"It's alright, don't worry about it." Hashirama reassured him, Madara heard the soft forgiving words and felt tears creep to his eyes.

It was always like this. No matter what he did he was always forgiven by Hashirama. No matter what happens, the Senju would always reassure him instead and cheer him up.

"Thank you..." Madara whispered, not noticing how Hashirama's eyes widened in surprise at Madara's thank, Hashirama quickly opened his mouth to reply before the door slammed open rushedly.

"Anija! I detected your chakra and rushed here!" Tobirama ran into the room and stopped by the side of Hashirama's bed, completely ignoring Madara who stood behind him.

"Ahaha, Tobi! I've missed you." Hashirama said, gesturing him over to ruffle his brother's soft, white hair.

Tobirama blushed as he obediently let his older brother ruffle his hair, Hashirama smiled and glanced over at Madara, noticing that his friend faced his back towards him.

He wondered if he was crying.

"Mada-" Just as Hashirama started to call out the other's name, the door slammed open once again.

"Hashirama-sama." Gento and Tadashi politely addressed him and entered the room, Gento saw the blushing Tobirama and smiled in what seemed like adoration.

"Madara-sama?" Tadashi slowly walked over to the Uchiha's side and placed a warm hand on his back.

"I'm okay, don't worry about it." Madara told Tadashi quietly, raising his head to show him a sorrowful yet joyful smile. This time, and perhaps for the first, these were happy tears.

As Tobirama explained what happened in the fight to Hashirama, Hashirama's gaze never once left Madara and frowned upon seeing how close those two were.

"Mn, mn." Hashirama replied to Tobirama's rambling and opened his mouth to call for Madara's name another time. I want to talk to him.

"Hashirama-sama!" The door flew open again and the doctor ran inside, a big smile on his face.

Hashirama sighed helplessly and lended the doctor his wrist, allowing him to check if he was all healed already.

Hashirama anxiously glanced around at everyone in his room and couldn't take it anymore.

"Can everyone please exit?" Hashirama asked with a helpless smile, everyone was rather confused but eventually left the room to leave him to rest.

"Stay, please." Hashirama whispered, grabbing onto Madara's wrist before he could leave.