Madara chuckled softly and shrugged his shoulders with a roguish grin. “I like to be comfortable.” His eyes lit up at the name and gently took the cup. “Jasmine is on of my favorites, especially at the end of the day. I love tea in general though.” He hummed softly in thought and gazed at Sakura with deep eyes. “I understand. I am happy that you are comfortable around me, I feel the same around you.” Taking a small sip from the steaming liquid he quirked an ebony eyebrow. “By all means, it is your house. I am happy you are kind enough to let me stay the night. And I am not one for gossip, what you do is your business.” Madara watched Sakura get up and leave with a thoughtful gaze and continued sipping on the warm tea. It wasn’t until a few moments later when he heard her footsteps that he looked back up and nearly choked. Blinking rapidly he kept drinking his tea trying to gain a hold of himself. ‘For kami’s sake man, it’s not like you’ve never seen a women in her underwear before.’ Glancing surreptitiously at the women over the rim of his cup he couldn’t help continue to think, ‘But never a women like Sakura.’ Shaking his head to clear his thoughts he took a silent breathe and composed himself. ‘She is letting me stay here out of the goodness of her heart, I will respect her.’ Madara grinned at her. “I do not mind, after all, I hate sleeping with a shirt so I completely understand.” Nodding his head in acceptance he hummed in thought. “I do not mind really. How about a game of twenty questions?”
“Good, good. I’m glad to hear that.” Sakura layed the warm cup of tea on her lap. The warmth of the tea gave Sakura somewhat of a relaxation effect. “Twenty questions? Well, I guess. Nothing better to do anyways. I’ll go first. How old are you? I’ve been wondering that since the time we’ve met—which hasn’t been too long ago. And in case you’re wondering about myself, I’m only sixteen.” Sakura continued to drink her tea.
(Source: haruno-sakura-hime)
“Please.” He called after her. Madara let his body sink into her couch and slowly relaxed. It had been awhile since he could take time just to sit and enjoy someone’s company. Looking around once more, Madara found himself increasingly interested in the pink haired nin. She was like no other women, shinobi or not, that he had ever encountered before. ‘She is strong, but can only get stronger.’ He mused to himself. Slowly standing he called out, “I am going to borrow the bathroom.” Walking to the door he saw earlier, he opened it to reveal it was indeed the bathroom. Shutting the door behind him, he pulled a storage scroll from his kunai pouch and unrolled it. Biting down on his thumb hard enough to draw blood, he swiped it on the paper and made a few hand signs. With a puff of white smoke, a pair of sweats appeared on the counter. Methodically taking off his worn clothing and replacing it with the silky black sweats, Madara ran a hand through his messy hair before shrugging and calling it good. Rolling the scroll back up he placed it back in his kunai pouch and strolled back into the living room.
Sakura came back with a tea tray, and saw Madara’s change of clothing. “Well, I was wondering what you were going to wear, but I guess that’s been resolved already.” Sakura shrugged as she set the tea tray on top of her coffee table. She sat down, a few inches away from Madara, and poured some tea in the two cups. “I hope you’re fine with Jasmine tea.” Sakura picked up the tea-filled cup and handed it to Madara. Sakura sipped her tea as she looked at the clock. It was 11:30 PM. She usually stayed up late, reading medical books or just laying in her bed, thinking. An unusual silence passed between the two. She sighed and set her tea back into the tray. “I forgot to tell you one thing. I don’t know why but I’m comfortable around you for some reason. And I also like being comfortable in my own apartment. So I’m just telling you that what I wear around the house is my business only. It’s not unusual, just don’t go telling other people things they don’t really need to know. Now if you’ll excuse me for a minute. I’m going to take a quick shower.” Sakura got up and went into the bathroom, and did what she was supposed to do. She got out, dried herself thoroughly and put on a red tank top and white underwear. Sakura was a bit lazy to dry her hair, so she rubbed her hair roughly with a towel a bit, and decided to let the rest air dry. Once she exited her bathroom and let the steam pour out, she sighed. Sakura jumbled up her clothes and put it in the black basket that was on the side of her bathroom door. She came back to the living room and sat down. “I sleep with no pants on. I hope this doesn’t bother you—you know, me being dressed like this. But it’s my living space so you need to respect my lifestyle anyways.” Sakura poured herself another cup of tea. “Besides, you’re sleeping here on the couch. I’ll give you a blanket later. I don’t feel like going to sleep yet, so what do you want to talk about?” Sakura asked, as she sipped her tea.
(Source: haruno-sakura-hime)
Madara shrugged but didn’t say any more on the matter. Clasping his hands behind his back he tilted his head to the side and glanced at Sakura from the corner of his eye. “Why wouldn’t I?” He queried, interested. “You’re smart, you’re funny, you’re gorgeous, you make good company, need I go on?”
Sakura didn’t know what to feel. Over the years she had always been praised for her skills and beauty from the higher ups, but coming from an ordinary man…was shocking. She had forgotten how it felt like to be complimented, instead of praised. “O-oh. Thank you, I guess…?” Sakura didn’t mean for it to come out like that, but it came out awkwardly. Sakura also forgot that she could never take a compliment, even if she had to save her life. She mentally sighed. “And no, no. Absolutely not. You don’t need to go on. That’s enough. And I guess, I guess I’ll go with you.” Sakura looked to her side. “I can’t believe I just said that, but whatever. I’ll go.”
Madara’s forehead creased slightly and he hummed slightly. “You act like you people do not give you compliments.” He mused. Glancing at the girl his forehead smoothed out and a crooked grin crossed his face. “If that is true, then they are missing out.” His eyes lit up when he heard her agreement and his step took an energetic bounce. Spinning in front of her, Madara grabbed her hands in his larger ones and grinned. “You will not regret it, I promise.” Letting Sakura’s hands drop he continued walking, humming in contentment.
“They do, I just don’t really take them.” Sakura continued walking. Her apartment was getting nearer and nearer. Sakura felt Madara’s hands on hers—she wasn’t surprised anymore, she knew Madara was sort of a touchy person. “Well, okay.” The two finally reached Sakura’s apartment. She unlocked her door and entered. “Look. Only for tonight, you can stay here. Find somewhere else to stay tomorrow or something. This is only a one time thing. Now hurry up, it’s getting cold.” Sakura went deeper inside her apartment, leaving the door open so Madara can enter.
Madara blinked his eyes in surprise before his features softened. “Thank you.” He said gently, moved by her generosity. ‘She barely knows me, yet she offers me a place to stay the night. Few have shown me such kindness, and I will not overlook that.’ Stepping in, Madara closed the door behind him quietly before slipping out of his shoes and leaving them behind. With quiet steps he followed his host for the night and took in her house. Surprisingly, it was quite modern, and Madara decided he liked it. Finally catching up to the pinkette he grabbed her arm and gently spun her around. Releasing it once she faced him he bowed and gave her a gentle smile. Standing back up he headed to the couch with lithe movements and sat down.
“You’re welcome.” Sakura didn’t mind his gratitude towards her. She was surprised as she felt herself be spun around. As Sakura watched him bow and smile she couldn’t help but laugh a little. “You already said thank you, you didn’t have to do all that.” she smiled. As Madara sat down, she asked, “Do you want something to drink? Or eat? Or unless you’re still full from dinner.” she looked towards her small but roomy kitchen. “I think I’m going to have some tea. Would you like some?” she asked, as she prepared a tea kettle with water and put it on the stove.
Madara shrugged but didn’t say any more on the matter. Clasping his hands behind his back he tilted his head to the side and glanced at Sakura from the corner of his eye. “Why wouldn’t I?” He queried, interested. “You’re smart, you’re funny, you’re gorgeous, you make good company, need I go on?”
Sakura didn’t know what to feel. Over the years she had always been praised for her skills and beauty from the higher ups, but coming from an ordinary man…was shocking. She had forgotten how it felt like to be complimented, instead of praised. “O-oh. Thank you, I guess…?” Sakura didn’t mean for it to come out like that, but it came out awkwardly. Sakura also forgot that she could never take a compliment, even if she had to save her life. She mentally sighed. “And no, no. Absolutely not. You don’t need to go on. That’s enough. And I guess, I guess I’ll go with you.” Sakura looked to her side. “I can’t believe I just said that, but whatever. I’ll go.”
Madara’s forehead creased slightly and he hummed slightly. “You act like you people do not give you compliments.” He mused. Glancing at the girl his forehead smoothed out and a crooked grin crossed his face. “If that is true, then they are missing out.” His eyes lit up when he heard her agreement and his step took an energetic bounce. Spinning in front of her, Madara grabbed her hands in his larger ones and grinned. “You will not regret it, I promise.” Letting Sakura’s hands drop he continued walking, humming in contentment.
“They do, I just don’t really take them.” Sakura continued walking. Her apartment was getting nearer and nearer. Sakura felt Madara’s hands on hers—she wasn’t surprised anymore, she knew Madara was sort of a touchy person. “Well, okay.” The two finally reached Sakura’s apartment. She unlocked her door and entered. “Look. Only for tonight, you can stay here. Find somewhere else to stay tomorrow or something. This is only a one time thing. Now hurry up, it’s getting cold.” Sakura went deeper inside her apartment, leaving the door open so Madara can enter.
Madara shrugged but didn’t say any more on the matter. Clasping his hands behind his back he tilted his head to the side and glanced at Sakura from the corner of his eye. “Why wouldn’t I?” He queried, interested. “You’re smart, you’re funny, you’re gorgeous, you make good company, need I go on?”
Sakura didn’t know what to feel. Over the years she had always been praised for her skills and beauty from the higher ups, but coming from an ordinary man…was shocking. She had forgotten how it felt like to be complimented, instead of praised. “O-oh. Thank you, I guess…?” Sakura didn’t mean for it to come out like that, but it came out awkwardly. Sakura also forgot that she could never take a compliment, even if she had to save her life. She mentally sighed. “And no, no. Absolutely not. You don’t need to go on. That’s enough. And I guess, I guess I’ll go with you.” Sakura looked to her side. “I can’t believe I just said that, but whatever. I’ll go.”
(Source: haruno-sakura-hime)
Madara looked out the window as well and grimaced when he realized how late it had gotten. Running a pale hand through his spiky locks, he gave a low growl in frustration. “I do not, I completely forgot to look for an apartment.” He answered with a huff. “I will probably have to stay in a hotel for tonight.” He mused in a low tone. Placing money on the table to pay for the food and drinks ahe languidly stood up and stretched his lean body. “I shall let you return for the night, as you said it is getting late. I will walk with you, just in case.” Madara’s red eyes twinkled in amusement. “After all, someone has protect the poor fool who would try to harm you.” With a last glance around the establishment he held a hand out to the kunoichi and said softly, “Shall we?”
“How smart of you to forget to look for one…” Sakura said sarcastically. Sakura observed the money he put on the table. “I was going to pay for it, but I guess not. Thank you, anyways. It’s the least I could say to you. It’d be rude if I didn’t…” Sakura frowned. “Walk with me? I don’t need protection. I can take care of myself. And usually when I walk home by myself nothing really happens. Go find a hotel or something, like I said I’m fine on my own.” Sakura ignored Madara’s hand walked right past him, and going outside.
Madara’s face fell into a pout at her words, but his eyes widened slightly when she walked past him. “Hey, hey!” He called, jogging after her. “I didn’t mean to offend you or anything, so if you took it like that I apologize.” Frowning, he laced his hands behind his head he looked up to the darkening sky, shadows casting upon his body. His face smoothed over and he turned to the girl he was walking next to. “I heard there was a festival tomorrow, and I was wondering if you would accompany me?”
Sakura looked back to see Madara running to her. “I didn’t take it as an offense at all. I was just saying that I can take care of myself and I can walk home without any trouble. But if you insist, I guess I’ll let you stay.” Sakura looked around the village. She knew it was late, but not that late. ‘Hm, time went by faster than I thought.’ Sakura started walking beside Madara, and once Sakura heard Madara’s question, she turned to look at him with surprise. “Why would you want to bring me in the first place?” Sakura asked, with deep curiosity embedded in her voice.
Madara looked out the window as well and grimaced when he realized how late it had gotten. Running a pale hand through his spiky locks, he gave a low growl in frustration. “I do not, I completely forgot to look for an apartment.” He answered with a huff. “I will probably have to stay in a hotel for tonight.” He mused in a low tone. Placing money on the table to pay for the food and drinks ahe languidly stood up and stretched his lean body. “I shall let you return for the night, as you said it is getting late. I will walk with you, just in case.” Madara’s red eyes twinkled in amusement. “After all, someone has protect the poor fool who would try to harm you.” With a last glance around the establishment he held a hand out to the kunoichi and said softly, “Shall we?”
“How smart of you to forget to look for one…” Sakura said sarcastically. Sakura observed the money he put on the table. “I was going to pay for it, but I guess not. Thank you, anyways. It’s the least I could say to you. It’d be rude if I didn’t…” Sakura frowned. “Walk with me? I don’t need protection. I can take care of myself. And usually when I walk home by myself nothing really happens. Go find a hotel or something, like I said I’m fine on my own.” Sakura ignored Madara’s hand walked right past him, and going outside.
(Source: haruno-sakura-hime)
Madara chuckled softly at the girls fire, but didn’t respond right away. Slowly taking a sip of his tea he contemplated on how he was going to word his thoughts. Sighing softly he leaned back and looked down into his cup as he swirled the liquid with a twist of his wrist. “I was going to say that I am jealous of Sasuke.” He said softy. “He might not acknowledge it but he has people who love him and are waiting for him to come back. ….He has you waiting for him.” A bitter smile crossed his face and his eyes glazed over as he lost himself in his thoughts. “It must be nice knowing that.” He mumbled.
Sakura was surprised at Madara’s comment. “Well…I wasn’t expecting that. Not at all…” Sakura muttered to herself. “You shouldn’t be jealous of him. That’s all I can say, because I don’t really know your past. I don’t know about the life you had before you met me just now, so that’s all I can say. I can say a lot more about Sasuke because obviously, we grew up together. But seriously, you shouldn’t be jealous of him. I’m sure there have been people in the past who have cared about you, it’s just that you never really realized it, until now.” Sakura sipped more of her tea. She was even more surprised when he had singled her out, of all people. ‘…He has you waiting for him.’ “Yes, I’ll always wait for him, even if he comes to love another girl. But why are you pointing me out, is there something you want?” she asked.
Folding his hands, Madara rested his chin on them and studied Sakura. After a few moments a small smile appeared on his lips. “You are very wise. Thank you.” He said softly. Taking the now empty stick from his dango he weaved it through his fingers absent mindlessly. He shook his head gently, his hair flowing around him, in the negative. “I don’t want anything, just merely making an observation.” Sighing he looked around the restaurant in slight boredom.
“You’re welcome. I get that a lot, so I’m used to hearing it.” Sakura received her compliment. She had looked at her tea cup—it was empty. She poured a little bit more. “Well then, you’re very observant. I guess. What do you want to do after this?” Sakura asked. She looked towards the window. The sun was setting. “It’s getting late. Do you have any place to stay? I might just go home after this, unless you want to do something else.” she looked at him, waiting for an answer.
The earth undulated beneath his feet, rolling and bucking like a rogue sea. He surged across the changing terrain, racing his imagination, throwing out variables at moment’s thought and scrambling to compensate. He rose to meet each obstacle, each time thinking maybe, just maybe, this time he might outdo himself. Maybe this time he’ll stumble and fall. But not even a missing-nin can fell himself, it seems. Not even a mind like his can beat out natural affinity, his talent and ease of construction built over years of practice. He knows it wasn’t always this easy, manipulating the fabric of earth, but it is as much a part of him as breathing now. He knows she’s coming, chasing, like a pestering little fool. Annoying. The wind howled and shrieked through the trees, spun into a savage tunnel of noise in the dips between canopies. It seemed that the trees and mountains were the only things in the world that could shadow him. Not like it mattered. He lived in eternal shadow now, the sun’s sharp glare just another cold spotlight. Nothing could warm him anymore. Before there had been the fury, the roar of it building in his chest and throat like a great furnace, threatening to break out. No such fiery explosion had taken place. He had tamped it down, crushing the hurt and cold as he worked it into a finer machinery, pounded with hatred and loathing. It was a tool of precision – no loss of control as before.
Hatred burned bright in his chest, the only salve to keep at bay whatever despair tried to crush him in its cold claws. He hated the world, hated the Leaf, hated the trees and the brush and Sakura. To hell with all of it. All he cared about right now was getting from one end of this damned country to the other. It was all he had room for.
He hasn’t seen Sakura in some time. He held no illusions as to whether or not this was deliberate. Does she think she can wear me down by chasing after me like some ignorant fool? A grimace worked it’s way across his face as he slowed his pace to an almost lackadaisical strut before finding a suitable area to cease. Gleaming water-like blackness characterized the sky all around the clearing, rising above him in looming great walls. With almost calculated precision, Sasuke gleamed the surroundings for movement. It wasn’t long before her chakra signature appeared, hurtling towards him. He watched her form with crimson irises as she slowed to a halt and came within feet of him. Sharingan stared her down before acknowledging her irritating presence.
“Sakura.” How strange her name sounded on his tongue. He almost wanted to say it again, to play around with the different syllables, but reality encased upon his thoughts and it was forgotten.
He opened his mouth to say something, but her voice interceded – and unforgivably. He listened, eyes narrowed and mouth set in a hard line as she railed at him like some child. As she came to the conclusion of her little tirade, so too came the end of his patience. With form wrought with precision, he shifted to his left so that with a single manever she could never catch, he was once more standing behind her. The moment hung in the air, heavy with memory. He, as ever, chose to ignore it.
“I can dare as much as I want to when my opponent is you,” he deadpanned. “I don’t have time to stay and chat.” Sakura stood before him, hapless and weak to his knowledge. Dark thrill stirred in his gut as he thought of the damage he could wreck with a single surge of chakra. The controlled torment he could inflict with a flick of his wrist. He nearly shook for want of it. This was not possession. Sasuke was yet and always had been one creature, and he bore no mental illness but a vehement need to see the world suffer as he had suffered. His was a wickedness gained by degrees, one that grew over the years. He was empty and full of hate and the world needed to pay.
// OOC - started a new thread as the other was getting too clogged! (:
Hearing her name come out of his mouth was almost bittersweet. She hadn’t heard his voice in his a long time, which made it almost unrecognizable. Sakura growled at his next comment. She attempted to hold herself back from losing her temper to one of the people she loves deeply, but it was no use. “SASUKE!” Sakura growled as she slapped him with her superhuman strength in the cheek. “Dammit, stop being so stubborn for once. I tried being nice, but damn it, you’re just being so damn difficult! I hate how you’re so clouded by hate and revenge, you can’t see how much there is still people out there for you that care and love you! And it’s just not me, there’s Naruto…” Sakura cracked. Streams of tears started pouring down from her eyes. She balled her fist and hit his chest.
“Come back. Just please, come back. I won’t stop until I bring you back. I swear on my life, I will not stop!” she explained. “Open your eyes, Sasuke-kun. There are more things to life than just revenge! I know I’m annoying you, but I don’t care! I will do whatever it takes to bring you back home!” she looked up into his red eyes. She already knew this wasn’t enough to convince him to come back, but like she said, she would never stop. She can’t miss this chance—it might be the only chance she’d ever get at attempting him to come home. Sakura was determined to bring her beloved back, and will even go to extreme measures if she had to. “I’ll do whatever you want me to do, just please. Please, come home!” she begged.
“Too bad. I’ll stop talking when I want to stop talking.” Sakura smiled sweetly. ‘Stop your fucking laughter.’ Sakura smirked and started to laugh like a maniac. “I’ll just annoy you even more, then! And I never asked you to fuck me anyways, so stop running on and on about it.” Sakura said in between laughs. “I’ma heathen? That’s perfectly fine with me. I’d rather be a heathen than believe in some god that doesn’t fucking EXIST!” Tears were forming Sakura’s eyes. “My god I can laugh at you all day long.”
Hidan snarled audibly at the girl in front of him, violet eyes narrowing into a deep glare. “I really fucking don’t like you.” He growls. “You are a fucking heathen. Enjoy being a fucking heathen. Someday I swear I’ll sacrifice your pink-haired ass to Jashin.” He his hand wrapped around his scythe before releasing it immediately, a frustrated grumble rumbling through his lips. “Fuuuuuck.” he turned around and began walking away from Sakura, waving a hand over the back of his shoulder. “I can’t fucking deal with your shit. You make me want to cut you.” He calls to her.
Sakura smiled sweetly. “I really don’t fucking like you either. I’ve never been called a heathen before, but if it’s coming from you, I’ll gladly take it as a delightful compliment.” Sakura smirked. “FUUUUUCK.” she mocked Hidan in a playful voice. As she saw Hidan walking away from her she laughed. “If you can’t deal with me then that means you’re weak. You can’t deal with one girl?” Sakura asked. “Pathetic, pseudo-religious man…” her voice wandered.
