It took me longer to update this chapter, but it's twice as long as usual, so I guess that kinda makes up for it.

Madara's POV.

''How's she?'' Keiji asked as we headed to my room.

''She was dazed. She still hasn't accepted Yumi's dead fully.'' I said.

''Well, Yumi's death was announced very recently and the news was pretty unexpecting too.'' Keiji muttered. ''She was also Asami-san's best friend. You should know better than me that she'll be having a difficult time letting go of her.''

I sighed as I wrapped my fingers around the door handle. ''I know.'' And with a swift movement, I opened the door, but didn't go inside yet.

''Don't let your guard down.'' I said, and Keiji nodded, knowing what I meant. ''Then, goodnight, Madara-sama.'' Keiji said before walking away to his own room.

When I closed the door from the inside, I turned around. Asami was lying on the bed, her back turned to me. Her red hair was held together in a messy bun which she had quickly made before trying to go to sleep. I told her to do so after we had dinner. Asami hadn't eaten a thing, saying she wasn't hungry. She had said the same thing when Keiji and I were having lunch. She had just been silent the whole time and stared at something in front of her, lost in her own thoughts.

Even though I couldn't see her face from up here, I knew she was awake. It was hard to imagine she could sleep after what happened to Yumi. Knowing Asami, she would keep thinking about it.

Walking at her, I saw her cringe slightly as I neared her, but she was silent, not crying anymore. Well, she's been in here pretty long; almost the whole day. She must have ran out of tears.

''How are you feeling?'' I asked as I leaned over her, trying to see her face, but it was buried in the pillow. Asami shrugged in response and I sighed. ''I understand that you're depressed, but if you're going to keep acting like this-'' I stopped in the middle of the sentence when Asami sat up. She looked at me, a faint smile visible on her face. Her cheeks were red and so were her eyes, indicating that she had been crying for a long time.

''You're right.'' she murmured softly. ''I made use of your hospitality and have also been ungrateful to you for letting me stay here. I'm sorry.''

I sighed again and ran a hand through my hair. She was still saying such things. Hospitality and gratefulness. I didn't care a bit for those things. Of course she could have showed us at least some gratitude for taking care of her, but I just didn't like that fact that she didn't talk to us short after she came here.

''Tch, Keiji said you could stay here right?'' I grunted. ''Just don't neglect yourself.''

''Are you worried about me?''

''I just don't have the time to take care if you if you make yourself sick.'' I said as I sat down on the bed next to her. From the corners of my eyes, I saw Asami smile faintly. ''What's so funny?'' I asked as I lay down.

Asami smiled brighter. ''Nothing.''

I closed my eyes tighter once a bright light shone on them. I was still tired, and also felt pretty weak for some reason. My eyes stung a bit, but I opened then nevertheless.

''Finally awake?''

I sat up and saw Madara standing in the doorway. He was already wearing his usual attire, and looked like he'd been awake for a long time already.

''What time is it?'' I asked, still feeling drowsy.

''Past noon.'' he muttered. ''You've slept pretty long.''

I hummed in agreement and pulled the blanket off of me and stood up. ''Can I use your shower, Madara?'' I asked. Some refreshment might be good for me.

''Go ahead.'' he sighed. ''If you're hungry, Keiji left some food on the table so you can eat that after you're done here.''

I nodded, and Madara turned around, intending to walk away. It took only a few, quick strides to reach him before he was gone, and I grabbed his wrist. Upon me touching him, he turned around swiftly. I guess he didn't expect me to come to him. He indeed has very good reflexes.

He was about to say something, but I didn't give him the chance. Standing on my toes, I quickly kissed his lips and pulled away before he could respond.

''Thank you Madara.'' I murmured. ''Just for being here.''

Madara simply snorted before he walked away. I was really grateful to him. After our short talk yesterday, I began to think about how Madara reacted on Yumi's death. He didn't seem to care. Well, it's not like Madara was such a big fan of Yumi. The contrary actually.

Madara wasn't happy about either. I didn't expect him to smile or anything, but I knew he felt that way because after all the time I spent with him, it had become easier for me to read him. No, Madara wasn't glad that Yumi died. He acted indifferent because he had already accepted it.

That made me think. Madara was probably already used to people dying around him. That must have been the reason for his indifference. He knew that no use crying and being sad about it. It's not like the deceased one would come back that way. I presume that that's why he said 'Just don't neglect yourself' to me.

Knowing this, I realized something. Would Yumi want me to grief? To cry my eyes out? I think Yumi would want me to move on happily, treasuring her in my memories.

So that was exactly what I was going to do.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

''You're going out?'' Keiji asked. ''Are you feeling better already?''

''I nodded. ''I feel better, but I don't think I'll be able to let go of her until after the funeral though.'' I muttered softly.

''When will you be back?'' he questioned. ''Madara-sama said you'd be staying with us for a while.''

''Yeah, just for a few days.'' I said. ''And I'll be back in an hour or so.''

''Be careful.''

I jumped slightly when I heard the deep voice behind me, and I looked over my shoulder. ''M-Madara..''

His eyes narrowed. ''You're a potential target. You may not be the sibling of a clan leader, but your sister is married to one.''

I smiled and turned around. ''I'll be careful.'' I said. ''I just want to go to my house to get some clothes. Walking around in a kimono every day isn't very comfortable. I also wanted to go to the market. There are very much people there, so I doubt they'll directly attack someone with so many witnesses at broad daylight.''

Madara still didn't seem very convinced, but it wasn't likely for me to be targeted. Tobirama was a much more important person than me, and so are other siblings of other clan leaders. It might be true that I'm a potential target as well, but they wouldn't pay as much attention to me as to the others.

''Then, I'm off.'' I announced, but before I got the chance to turn around and take my leave, Madara took my shoulders firmly in his hands and bent down. I sighed into the kiss as I didn't saw it coming.

Even though I found his unexpected kisses pretty annoying sometimes, I couldn't help but not dislike them.

Madara stood upright again and placed his hand on top of my head. He looked like he wanted to say something, but closed his mouth and walked away instead.

Upon hearing a soft chuckle, my eyes widened once I remembered that Keiji was still here. I wasn't very embarrassed, but I did feel slightly uncomfortable since he saw Madara kiss me.

''Have fun at the market, Asami-san.'' he grinned before following after Madara.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

It really was crowded. I had a hard time trying to get through the mass of people. But even though it was bustling with people, I still had a great time. They sold so many things here, like jewelery, clothing, but there were also fruit stands.

I hadn't bought anything yet, but I was planning on doing so. The problem was that I didn't know what to buy. I came here just because I thought it'd be good for me to go out. Aimlessly, I kept walking around. I didn't saw many familiar faces, which kinda disappointed me, so I figured I'd visit Mito after this. It'd been a while since I last talked to her after all.

Suddenly, a shiver ran down my spine, and I felt uncomfortable.

Like I was being watched.

I carefully looked around me, just to make sure, but only saw fellow citizens walking past me. I felt reassured, but the weird feeling inside my stomach didn't disappear.

I just decided to ignore it and keep on walking. I probably felt like this because of the recent attacks. Due to that, I didn't feel completely safe on the streets. But now, I was surrounded by people. Even if they did target me, would they go as far as to bring so many innocent people into this?

I didn't know if these thoughts were just to reassure myself, but if did help. I already felt more at ease.

Sighing softly, I grabbed the fabric of my kimono and squeezed it softly. Just now I noticed that my hands were slightly sweaty, and I swallowed thickly. And gone was the reassurance.

Suddenly, I heard a loud scream coming from the woman behind me and I cringed at the abrupt sound. Turning around, my eyes widened once I saw a shuriken in her arm. It wasn't deep in her flesh, but there was still a lot of blood streaming out of the cut.

Everybody around me began to panick and they all began to run into every direction. People bumped into me and they were all pushing each other. They just wanted to go to everywhere but here. While the normal people were fleeing, the shinobi were trying to calm them down. Of the attacker was no trace..

The woman was now lying on the ground, pushed over by the mass. Her loud crying wasn't helping me to think straight, and I was still in a shock. I didn't know what to do. My body told me to run away, but my mind told me to help the woman.

Another shuriken hit the dirt, right next to me. He was back.

And now I was sure.

They were aiming for me!

It would have hit me if the people didn't keep pushing me around while trying to escape.

I decided to listen to my body, and I began to ran, pushing my way through the people. That woman would be helped by someone else. It's not like her injury was such a serious one anyway.

As I ran, I suddenly felt a bit light-headed, and some of the numbness from yesterday returned. It was like it was now harder for me to run, but I didn't let that stop me. Even the kimono was hindering me.

I still couldn't think straight. My mind was now only telling me to run, and what would happen if I gor caught. Then there was the undeniable fact that I was afraid. I didn't have the guts to face the enemy, and I hated that. What if I got killed? What if he caught up with me? What would happen to me?

I didn't want to die. I didn't want to die yet.

My breath was labored, and I could feel myself trembling. I was so afraid, and I didn't know what to do. How could I escape? Was there I way to shake them off? With how many where they anyway? Why did they target me anyway? I knew I was a potential target, but are they after me just because Mito's Hashirama's wife, or did they target me for other reasons?

I didn't want this. Why did this had to happen to me? If I only took Madara's warning more seriously.. I just didn't think this wold happen. I shouldn't have left the Uchiha residence. I just should have stayed there!

I looked over my shoulder -almost tripping over the kimono in the process- and saw only one man behind me. He wore normal clothes, probably not to attract attention, and he held a kunai in his right hand.

He was faster, and I knew he was going to catch up. What should I do? Fight him? I wasn't really confident in my combat skills, and I didn't think my techniques would be enough to stop him. Try to shake him off? But he was faster, so I wouldn't be able to do so. Even if most people were already gone and it was easier for me to move around, it still wouldn't work. Maybe wait until help would come? That is, if help would indeed come. I didn't know anymore.

What was I supposed to do?!