Faith. (Sequel)

Chapter 14 | Patience

Asami would have liked to talk to Kouta before she went, but when she got downstairs, she found him sound asleep on the couch, using Keiji's lap as pillow. It's a shame she didn't have enough time to wait for him to wake up because now, she really needed to go.

''I'll wait outside.'' Keiji said as he left the house.

Asami hummed and took her coat from the peg. 

Madara followed her into the hallway, quite agitated by the fact that they wouldn't tell him anything. ''Just what is going on, Asami?"

Asami pursed her lips. She understood Madara's feelings, but now wasn't the time. ''I'll tell you everything when I'm back,'' Asami said as she put on her jacket hastily. ''Is that alright with you?'' She asked, loosely wrapping a scarf around her neck to protect her voice from disappearing completely. She still needed her voice to speak to Mito after all.

Asami started to button up her jacket but stopped and turned to look at Madara, who still hadn't answered her question.

He was pissed.

Asami pursed her lips in slight frustration again and shot him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Madara." She said softly. "But this is something I have to do and I can't let this matter wait.''

Madara wanted to object, but was interrupted by his son, who just walked into the hallway. "Mommy?" Kouta asked, stopping next to Madara. ''Where are you going?"

Asami smiled gently and crouched down in front of him. ''Hey sweetheart,'' She whispered, taking his face between her hands, caressing his cheeks carefully. ''How are you? Are you feeling better?''

Kouta's lip began to tremble and Asami pressed her lips together. Guilt started to build up. It was her fault, even if others told her otherwise. If only she had paid more attention and hadn't taken him outside for walks so often, Kouta wouldn't have to suffer right now. In order to soothe him, Asami took him into her arms and stroked his back. ''Kou,'' She mumbled, pressing a few kisses to his temple. ''It's alright now. Everything is fine.''

Kouta wrapped his short arms around Asami's neck when she started to lift him up, keeping his face buried in the fabric of his mother's jacket. Asami looked up to Madara, who was simply watching the two of them, and kept glancing at him while she moved her head closer to Kouta's. ''Daddy is back now, so he'll take care of all the bad guys.'' She whispered before smiling at the older Uchiha. ''Isn't that right, Madara?''

Madara didn't reply immediately. He didn't expect Asami to ask him something so obvious. She didn't even have to ask, but he knew she did it to reassure Kouta, and maybe to reassure herself as well. ''...Right.'' He murmured.

Kouta's sobbing started to cease and Asami ran her fingers through his hair. ''Listen to daddy while I'm gone, okay?'' She spoke, looking at Madara once again. ''Can you take him from me? I really have to go now.''

Madara nodded and stepped forward, holding out his hands. Asami stroked his back one more time before handing him over. 

Kouta held onto Madara's shirt as soon as he was placed on the man's chest and he pressed his cheek against Madara's shoulder. Asami felt bad for leaving him while he was feeling like this. She wanted to hold him longer, even though she knew Madara would take good care of him as well.

Leaning forward, Asami pressed another quick kiss against Kouta's cheek. ''I love you, Kou.''

After that, she turned her attention to Madara, who had a neutral expression on his face. With a somewhat forced smile on her face, Asami gathered the courage to place a hand on his cheek, rubbing her thumb across his cheekbone. ''And I love you, too.'' She mumbled in an indistinct voice, a slight smile on her face. ''So please understand that I'd never try to hurt you in any way.''

Madara clenched his jaw, which Asami felt. She felt a strong need to retract her hand, but then it'd seem as if she gave up, so she kept brushing her fingertips against the side of his face. She wanted to convince him that this wasn't something he should fret about. This wasn't a part of some scheme plotted against him. Madara gets suspicious very easily, and Asami knew that, but he needed to get the idea that everybody was against him out of his head.

After all, it's not true. Not at all.

''Hey,'' Asami mumbled, pressing her hand firmer against his cheek. ''I'll tell you everything when I'm back, okay?" She tried it again, asking him the same question as before. How else was she supposed to get through to him?

Madara squinted his eyes in reluctance, but gave in in the end. He still didn't like it, though. ''Fine.'' He grunted curtly.

Asami sighed in relief and smiled widely, now cupping both his cheeks. ''Thank you, Madara!'' She beamed happily. ''I promise I'll tell you everything!'' With his approval, which she actually didn't need, she already felt a lot better.

Madara didn't react and clenched his jaw even harder, which made Asami retract her hands. He already regretting agreeing to it. With a sigh, he let Kouta down, who went back to the living room after saying goodbye to Asami.

Asami's smile faded when she saw the expression on Madara's face when he turned to her again and she pursed her lips. She wanted to convince him completely, but she was running out of time. Letting Keiji and Mito wait any longer would be wrong.

So she let Madara wait instead.