Is... this what I think it is?

Darkness overcame me, just like before. I felt a surge of fear take over; emptiness still crept inside me. I couldn't think passed through as I was standing in front of Aiko's seal...

I tried to pinch myself to let me be free from all of this, but this felt real. The gate was still sealed, but how?

"Aquila!"

I heard my name but couldn't see a face. I wanted to shout who is there, but my voice was frail and seemed almost vanished.

"Wake up! Please!"

That voice... who was it? I couldn't think right at this exact moment. Who is calling for me? Why am I back here?

This is not right, I need to get out of here.

I sent most of my chakra to my head, feeling virtuous to the feeling. Everything around me started to blur out of my mind.

I groaned softly as my eyes were blinded by the lights, all I was seeing was the colour white until my vision started to clear around the image I was seeing.

A hospital?

"Aqui-chan!" I was enveloped in a tight bearing hug by Ramiko knocking the last bit of air out of my lungs. I began to cough indicating that I couldn't breathe.

"Aqui-chan?" I breathily asked first thing. Not something I am certainly used to nor like the nickname.

"Well as you were passed out for a few hours, I thought of it. Well, it is nothing. Someone wants to see you!" she beamed as her voice pierced my ears as I grimaced at her.

She is so... happy all the time. As she smiled the shoji door opened and my mouth gaped as Madara walked inside the room.

"Well I will leave you two be," Ramiko cooed as she walked out, ugh she is so-

"Sorry that this happened," Madara whispered and moved closer as he sat himself on the end of the nursery bed I laid on. I propped myself up so my back was leaning on the bed frame behind me.

I looked at my outfit and noticed that I was in something different than what I wore earlier. "Who changed me?" I utterly asked blandly. Madara barely shrugged at me.

"Probably one of the nurses," he responded not making eye contact as I nodded promptly.

I then looked down at my hands that were covered in bandages and felt my throat go genuinely dry.

"Don't blame yourself, you have done what you can. You can't protect everyone, Madara-kun. Even I can't protect the people I deeply cared about..." I looked up at him to see his reaction which showed nothing but his usual stoic expression.

He turned his head towards me and all I found was hurt and grief in his eyes, he felt sorrow from this. "I... I still haven't told you about Izuna. He couldn't tell you how he felt before you left. To him, you were someone he would protect and cherish. But there was someone else he couldn't tell anyone about this woman he strongly liked and what he felt for her before he..." Madara paused. "Died,"

I moved closer to him and held his hand into my soft ones. He looked down at me and was tensed for a moment before he softened his expression.

"Who was it?" I questioned looking back at him. "He couldn't tell Ramiko his feelings even they couldn't ever be together in the end. Their destinies were different and fate changed after his death,"

I couldn't believe that he was opening up all of a sudden... "But how... how did he die?" I swallowed thickly as his grip around my hand tighten tenaciously. My heart sunk deeper in my chest.

"Senju Tobirama," Madara could barely hold in his anger he felt, blood boiling, teeth gritting, how could he ever hold it in this long?

"Hashirama's brother..." I muttered leaning my head on Madara's shoulder feeling myself weary and tired still. Madara even took noticed but before he could say anything, Hashirama and Mito waltzed into the room making me and Madara break apart immediately.

The tension in the air seemed to seethed down just a tad bit. "I am more than glad you're alright," Mito hugged me calmly; smiling so sensitive and generous towards me.

"May I ask Aquila-san, who was he? The one who tried to bring you down in particular," Hashirama has spoken in a serious tone. As even Madara hasn't said a word but kept his black orbs on me the entire time.

"I... Don't really know, as you may know, he is Taiyō Kenta. I guess he did not die that day..." I couldn't speak any further as I held my head in between my palms melancholy upset.

"But why would he want to kill you?" Hashirama then asked as I shook my head in despair. Only if I really knew the correct answer.

"Right as of now, I don't care who he is, or what his intentions are. Something indefinitely wrong and I don't know what it is," I shivered just at the thought but managed to push past it.

"There is a possibility that he and Takuto-"

"Ugh! Don't bring that one up!" I flailed my arms up and covering my mouth.

"Why can't they all die?" I growled at myself and laid back down onto the bed. Madara let out a lowly chuckle and placed his lips on top of my forehead.

"We'll be back later Aqui-chan!" Mito teased as I sent a glare towards her direction.

Not her too! Then they all walked out letting me rest in peace thankfully.

"Say... Madara?" I asked getting his attention and smirking jubilantly at my thought.

"Hn?" was his lowly response.

"Is there anything going on between... You know, you and Aquila?" I cooed as Madara sent a glare towards me.

"Hmph, that's none of your business Mito-san." Madara sneered still holding his sharp eyes pursing his lips lightly. He looked down still pondering in trails of thoughts,

"Whatever you say," I chortled before leaving back to my place where Hashirama and I lived.

I walked through the front door and intellectually gasped. Some woman and Tobirama were sat comfortably on the couch in my living room. I waved awkwardly not knowing what to really say.. But the strange woman greeted me but I couldn't help but study her features. She had long straight pure white hair as winter snow, her orbs encircled a tint of blue and mostly black. Her kimono was plain grey with blackout linings and a white obi slash that went around her waist.

I didn't realize I was staring for quite some time to be snapped out of my thoughts.

"Uh... Who are you?" I sternly said, the real question is why is she in my home?

"Oh, M-Mito-" before she said anything, Tobirama interjected quickly as I eyed every movement from him.

"You're back?" he asked letting out a sigh. Standing up from the mysterious female sat next to him.

"Who is she? And what are you both doing in my house? Thirdly where is my husband?" I glared at Tobirama puffing my cheeks and folding my arms over my chest.

"Hashirama had a business meeting with the Fire Daimyo. He left me in charge with some documents, and this is Nikkō Ayanae; she is helping me with some importance." Tobirama furrowed his brows towards me as I rolled my eyes.

"Nikkō? Like you're from Gaia's clan?" I asked curiously moving a step towards them.

"Well, so you know something of us then. Gaia is well... The princess of our clan, yes, but she is my younger cousin. Her father's sister was my mother." Ayanae said with a slight frown forming on her lips.

"Was?" I was taken back for a split second.

"Yes, but she died a long time ago..." Her voice faded into sadness and I felt like grieving and guilt formed in me.

"I'm sorry," I softly say grimacing and walked back to my room.

So Hashirama is at a meeting... While Tobirama and some-

Wait Tobirama being acquaintances with another female, that is very odd. I will have to see where that will take off to.

As the day grew tiring, the village was sound asleep as usual.

But something still is lingering in the shadows that still remains a mystery. Aquila still couldn't sleep; stirring in bed constantly.

'What to do?' she pondered out loud clenching her teeth together.

She got up and threw her clothes on removing the sweat and bedraggled clothes she wore.

She left her dishevelled hair loosely and inhaled the air and aroma around her before leaving the infirmary soundlessly.

She began to wonder the gardens as the moon was in its delicate crescent shape.

"Can't sleep?" Aquila froze, not saying a word. She used to miss the sound of his voice, the feel of his touch that she longed for.

"Mad-"

"You will freeze to death if you stay out here," he implied passively as she hesitated but nodded contently.

She, however, turned away from him to look up at the moon that seemed to appeal an eerie night glow.

"I wanted to say thanks for.... Earlier," she paused. "But also appreciate the way you cared back there."

Aquila couldn't help but feel her inner cheeks burn up slightly. This confused her as to why.

Madara gave a slight nod. He still wasn't so talkative but walked towards her briskly. "Hn," he huffed and frowned as he noticed Aquila's gaze wonder elsewhere.

"I can't sleep alone in there, Hashirama wants me to go out and find a job now. I... I feel lonely now. Even Mito is worried to death that something may happen. Kenta could come back," Aquila sucked in a large abundant of air and calmed down slowly; releasing the tension that was building up inside her.

"I won't let that rat near the village. Here," Madara then took a hold of her wrist leading her elsewhere.

"Where are we going?" she stammered agitatedly at him. As he released and opened a door that seemed familiar to Aquila.

His luxury home?....

"W-why did you bring me here?" she asked confusedly not knowing what else to imply nor say.

"You did say you were lonely anyways. If you want you can sleep on this futon, I will be in my room," Madara dejectedly say about to walk away.

"Wait!"

Madara stopped turning his head over his shoulder looking at the flummox girl.

"What?"

"Uh... I-I want to stay with you," Aquila nearly covered her mouth as she said this and felt her cheeks turn a bright scarlet red. She turned away in embarrassment.

She could still feel the great Uchiha smirking behind her. Like he knew this would happen. "Fine," his tone felt smooth and rich as he said that but held a smirk on his pale lips.

"W-what-!" she was befuddled at his response but soon felt herself embracing him in a tight hug, her arms came around his neck. Madara was tense as a brick at first but relaxed and returned the gesture soon after.

"Thank you.... For everything," she held a soft smile as she relaxed herself onto the futon that laid out in his room.

Madara sighed as he settled himself next to her on his futon comfortably. Aquila couldn't help but feel safe and feel like she wasn't impervious at any means.

The room was silent, Aquila turned her back towards him on the futon and started to let the darkness enclose on her.

She almost mentally gasped when she felt an arm wrapped around her stomach and being pulled back closer to him. Her endearing moment was so calm.

Aquila couldn't help but feel an insubstantial grin plaster on her lips. For the first time in 6 years, she finally felt cared for.

But now she is terrified that her happiness may be ripped away from her like last time...

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