*AYUMI'S POV*

I looked up at Madara from the corner of my eye. He was walking nonchalantly, paying heed to those who nodded towards him. I noticed he was well-liked within his clan, but others seemed to be not fond of him so much.

"You're awfully quiet. What's wrong?" Madara glanced over his shoulder to me.

"Hm? Oh, nothing. It's just you weren't nervous at all back there." I looked at him curiously. It was a topic that would usually shake a man, as I had heard from amongst the women in my clan. But I guess Madara would be an exception, as per usual.

"Nervous?" Madara repeated. "There is no reason to be nervous about factual things that I am not ashamed to admit."

"So now I'm just a factual thing." I mumbled, pouting.

The Uchiha sighed. "That's not what I mean. But it is a fact that I would not mind your company for the rest of our lives."

"Hmm?" I hummed, looking at him with a light blush on my face. Madara glanced over to me.

Me too, Madara. Me too. I wouldn't mind it at all. I thought to myself.

-

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"Hooo? This isn't the Uchiha district." Ayumi rubbed her chin, though she wouldn't deny herself seeing the sweeping view of the forest every time she walked by it.

But Madara remained silent, walking.

"Madara? Where are we heading?" She caught up to his speed.

He pointed a finger to three tombstones that laid in the distance.

"Oh? A burial site." The curious Hyuga scurried towards the location.

"Three graves for..." She glanced to the Buddha statue placed in the center of the tombstones, then over to the Uchiha.

"My late brothers." Madara spoke. "I would like to pay my respects."

Ayumi widened her eyes just slightly.

Up until this point Madara had been a stoic, unmoved man. Neither pain nor emotion would bear his face or voice so easily. But those dark eyes betrayed him, especially right now. They revealed a deep sorrow that moved her.

Madara kneeled down on his knees, his armor clanking by his slight movements. He brought his palms together, as if he had been praying, his eyes shut. Ayumi was taken aback, but she quickly crouched down assimilating into the same position.

These are Madara's brothers. What could have been part of my family too.

Please, Buddha. All Madara has known is suffering his whole life. Please be easy on him. Grant Madara a long and healthy life. And please keep his younger brother safe. The Princess thought to herself.

Ayumi brought down her hands to her sides, and she decided to wait quietly until the praying Madara had finished. She hadn't pegged him to be the religious type, but she recalled Hashirama's words. Madara is a fundamentally kind and devout man. Madara was indeed contrary to what he led people to believe him to be.

Ayumi couldn't help but ponder about Uehara. How had her little sister been holding up in the afterlife? Was she looking down at her and looking after her?

Madara quietly released his two palms, opening his eyes slowly. Madara seemed engrossed in deep thought while he stood upright.

"Madara?" Ayumi said, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"What?" He said calmly, facing his torso towards her.

"Did you know," The princess placed a finger under her chin while grinning like a child, "The Buddha forgives all sorrow and hatred?"

He began walking. "All sorrow and hatred eh?" Madara closed eyes, "That is reassuring."

"Mm." Ayumi walked beside him, looking up to him, "So whatever hate you carry in your heart, don't feel like you can't redeem yourself some day down the road." She tugged his arm.

"Hm?" Madara looked down at her grip.

"I will be by your side, Madara." Ayumi grinned even wider now. All he could do was admire her spirit. Ayumi had been the support Madara wasn't ever aware he needed.

Madara's gaze hovered to the view of the trees before him. "What you said back there in front of your cousin." He briefly recalled her slip-up. Love. Madara's dark eyes ironically gleamed, "You meant it?"

Ayumi looked up at him seriously, she was stifling a couple of tears. She couldn't help but feel an intense burst of emotions. She was aware that Madara hadn't had much people in his life that trusted him.

Madara bit his tongue.

"Do I look like I am joking?" Ayumi said firmly.

Madara stayed silent.

But then unexpectedly, she broke out into a fret of laughter, wiping her tears away.

Hmm? The Uchiha thought.

"We're going to be a married couple." Ayumi spoke once she calmed her laughter down, "It's normal for a couple to exchange such deep words Madara. You're actually kind of an innocent kid deep down inside you know?" She rubbed her chin.

Madara's eyebrows raised.

"I'm neither innocent nor a child." Madara huffed.

"T-there we go with the philosophy again..." Ayumi dangled her arms, sweat dropping.

Madara had killed countless numbers of lives. He had manipulated the darkness existing in people's hearts before. He was an articulate man. Yet he could not bring himself to express his feelings accurately to the young woman he betrothed now standing before him. There was no doubt about it, he felt even more intensely about her. He wanted to embrace her with his love and protection.

If I can't speak it, I'll show her. Madara thought to himself.

"Here." Madara stopped in his tracks, taking his gloves off. "I want you to have these."

"Your gloves?" Ayumi pat the dust away from them, they had been significantly bigger than her own hands. "Uhm..." She smiled at how unconventional it was.

Madara looked away bashfully with his hands on his hips. "Not just any gloves. My battle ones."

"Oh?" Ayumi's eyes lit up. "I'm most honoured." She clasped her palms bowing slightly towards the Uchiha. "I'll keep these forever Madara. These really are a treasure from you. It is sort of unusual though. But I kind of like it, quite the testament to your personali-"

Her chatter was cut off briskly by his lips, which had met hers softly, with his hand on the crook of her neck, the other laying on her waist. Madara's kiss was not callous nor rough this time, but gentle, and loving. It slightly overwhelmed her.

"Madara." Ayumi lightly panted, as they slowly parted.

"Ayumi..." Madara said her name tenderly.

They stayed for a moment like that, the gustling of the wind moving locks of their hairs.

"Keep them safe with you." Madara eyed the gloves in her hands.

"Always." She nudged his elbow.

"We should get going." He hesitated to leave her eyes, but he turned on his heels, beginning to walk. She quickly followed his pace, eyeing the gloves.

Madara's gesture had been quite heavy on the scales for Ayumi. She would cherish them forever.

-

AUTHOR'S NOTE

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