It all made sense now. Why she would always come to the Uchiha compound, why she was so insistent on helping me, why she was always there for me. I just thought she wanted attention, but she just wanted to be with me. How couldn't I have noticed earlier that she had these feelings for me?

More importantly, what was I supposed to do now? Did I love Asami? I didn't know, but I did have this desire. Asami was kind, caring, unselfish.. Why would she fall for someone like me in the first place? If she were to get further involved with me, people would look at her the same way they look at me, and Asami didn't deserve that.

But how did Keiji know for sure that Asami loved me? Did she tell him, or did he just think that? If it was the truth or not, now I couldn't look at Asami the way I used to. How was I supposed to act around her now? like nothing happened? I couldn't just ignore what Keiji said.

''Madara-sama?'' Keiji asked hesitantly. ''What are you going to do now?'

''How can you be sure? Did Asami tell you that or do you just think she feels that way?''

Keiji sighed. ''You didn't notice?'' he muttered. My eyes narrowed. ''How was I suppose to notice? Asami acts the same around other people.''

''Madara-sama, I have a request.''

I looked over my shoulder, frowning. ''What is it?''

''May I slap you?''

Madara was strong, smart, and yet he could be so dense sometimes. He just didn't realise other's feelings. His negative thoughts always got in the way. He didn't bother considering other's feelings because he thought they didn't matter. He did care at first, but he's begun to doubt others, because they doubted him. He'd harden himself, but did that mean he didn't care about Asami?

He didn't seem to dispise her presence, and he hardly told her to go away when he's busy. He let her help him, she was always there for him. Even though Asami never really did something too obviously, it wasn't hard to tell she liked the Uchiha. Maybe because Madara always looked at her as a friend, that he didn't notice her feelings, and I bet he wasn't thinking about love now. He's never really been into a women. He didn't care. Madara fought to protect the ones dear to him, his clan. That was enough for him.

''If you slap me, I'd slap back 10 times harder.'' Madara grunted before walking further. I quickly hurried after him. After catching up to him, which didn't take long, I glanced at him from the corners of my eyes. ''So?'' I asked. ''What're you going to do?''

Madara shrugged. ''I don't know what I should do.'' he admitted. ''I don't know how I feel about her.''

He was hesitating about his feelings? ''Do you like her?'' I asked.

''I'm not going to talk to you about this.'' Madara grumbled. ''I can think for myself.''

Sighing, I kept walking beside him.

'Do you like her?'

Keiji's question kept ringing in my head. Yes, I did like her. Her presence was enjoyable and soothing. I could depend on her and she was trustworthy. Asami was also one of the few who understood me, who didn't judge me by some rumors or appearance, like many others did. And yet I once doubted her, thinking she would be the same as the others, but she wasn't. I liked that about her, but did I love her?

Do I want her in my life? Do I want her to stay with me, by my side, as more than a friend? I had never thought about that. Asami lacked some things I thought were important, but she also had some great character traits. She was honest, considerate, helpful, optimistic, talkative and caring; mostly the things I lacked. Together, we would be well-balanced.

But would I be able to return her feelings? Why couldn't I find an answer to that? There was only one way to find out.

I needed to find her.

''So you're staying until after Mito's wedding?'' I asked, and Mitsuru nodded.

''Yes.'' he answered. ''I need to go back home soon. Mito's getting married next week. I just came earlier to see some old friends again.'' he muttered as he chuckled softly.

I smiled. Mitsuru had a family to look after, so I understood he had to go soon, although I wished he could have stayed longer. We hadn't seen each other for such a long time, and I still wanted to tell him so much. A week may be enough, but not if I wouldn't see him for a long time again.

We just came back from the Sarutobi compound. I introduced Mitsuru to Yumi, who was still lying in bed. Most of her wounds had healed, but she still wasn't feeling well.

Suddenly, Mitsuru stopped walking, and I looked over my shoulder after I stopped as well a metre away from him. ''Mitsuru?''

I followed his gaze and frowned when I saw Madara walk at us. He had a puzzled look on his face, his eyes focused on me. I swallowed thickly. I didn't know if I liked the look in his eyes.

''M-Madara-san?'' I asked hesitantly. ''Are you okay?''

Madara grabbed my arm roughly, pulling him with me. Yelping, I held onto his attire to keep my balance. Madara and I left a confused Mitsuru behind as the Uchiha dragged me away. What was wrong with him? Normally, he would be more collected.

I grabbed his wrist, the one of the hand he was holding my arm with, and squeezed, hoping he would let go. It hurt, his fingers tight around my upper arm. ''M-Madara, let go'' I whimpered, and Madara looked over his shoulder, and released me once he saw my face.

I was so engrossed in my thoughts when I pulled Asami with me into an alley, I had no idea I was holding her that tightly. Rubbing her arm, Asami glanced at me, and to my surprise, she looked worried instead of mad.

''Madara-san, is something wrong?''

''Not 'wrong', just making some things clear.'' I muttered. Asami frowned.

''Making things clear?'' she asked, narrowing her eyes. ''What do you mean?''

''Do you love me?''

Asami's eyes widened, and she took a step back. ''What makes you think that?'' she asked, her voice slightly wavering. Too direct?Maybe. I just wanted to get to the point. What else was I supposed to do?

Taking a step forward, into Asami's direction, she took one more back, obviously wanting to keep some distance between us. Sighing, I took another step forward, and of course, Asami too one more back, her back hitting the wall. I clenched my jaw impatiently, getting tired of this. ''Well?''

''Why do you ask?''

''Why are you dodging my questions?'' I asked, ignoring her earlier question. I

only needed to know for sure that she loved me. Keiji could have assumed this, so I needed to know if it was true or not. When she still hadn't answered, I decided to give up. I didn't feel like continuing this. ''Nevermind.'' I mumbled as I stepped away from her. Turning around, I began to walk away.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me, and a warm hand took mine.

''It's true.''

I looked over my shoulder.''Huh?''

Asami fidgeted and squeezed my hand. ''I do..'' she muttered, looking away from me. ''..love you.''

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Was Madara OOC? I'm not really sure, and I tried to keep him in character, so I hope it was good enough :)