Cordarone (Hashirama x Madara AND Tobirama x Izuna)

5. First blossoming (Hashirama)

Hashirama was a very patient boy.

He had sat next to the bed of his new squire for hours a day, never complaining or getting bored.

Sometimes, he read a book next to him. Sometimes even aloud. Sometimes, he brought with him his history books or calculation arcs, completing his homework.

Since Hashirama had access to the best teachers of the country home-schooling him and his little brother, he thought it only fair to share with his new squire, so he found himself reading aloud often. Even if Madara, his squire, probably couldn't hear; he was unconscious.

The boy was visited by the royal doctors every day. They would listen to his heart and run all sorts of tests Hashirama hadn't seen before, but he asked about them. They also gave him medicine into his blood stream using a syringe that looked so sharp, it made Hashirama's heart squeeze for Madara.

"What medicine is that?" he asked.

"Cordarone, Your Highness", the doctor of that day explained kindly. "This child's heart medicine. He usually takes it as a pill, but seeing he cannot swallow now, we have to give it to him via a syringe."

"I understand", Hashirama said. "Can I give it to him?"

"Of course", the doctor said. "I will show you tomorrow."

He did, and from that day, Hashirama gave Madara his medicine. He also read up on Cordarone, and found that Madara probably was very, very heartsick in order to need a medicine of such calibre.

"Poor boy", he said, putting a hand to Madara's forehead as if Madara was a young child, and he himself was not. Madara was so small, Hashirama found he had to remind himself time and time again that Madara was actually older than him.

He had looked forward to having a squire. Of course, he was hugely popular at court, and didn't lack other children to play with. And there was always Izuna. But he had longed for having someone dedicated to him, that he could take under his wing. He couldn't wait for Madara to wake up so he could learn more about him.

On the fifth day after Hashirama had started giving Madara his medicine, the black-haired boy finally woke up.

"Good morning", Hashirama said happily, putting on a smile; he wanted the first thing his squire saw when he woke up to provide him comfort.

"Where am I?" Madara asked groggily.

"My chambers", Hashirama said. "In the royal palace. I am the crown prince."

Madara's eyes dimmed over, as if he tried to recapitulate everything that had happened before he fainted.

"Oh..." he said weakly. "Your Highness", he said, remembering his manners.

Hashirama smiled.

"I hope we're going be good friends. But first, you need to rest."

Madara fell back asleep. 

No matter how many days Madara rested, though, he did not seem to be getting any more energy.

While he was unconscious, he had been given nourishment into his blood stream, but now he was awake, he was given food to eat, a little at first, until he reached what was a normal portion for a child his age.

But even if the food was full of nourishment - potatoes, peas, salmon and whatnot, always followed by dessert - Madara was still the same, slow child.

It took Hashirama and the doctors a week to figure out it was actually the natural state of him.