Madara stood facing the entrance to his house, the engawa gave a beautiful view of a garden and a small pond nearby.

The Uchiha sighed, closing his eyes, fastening his katana near his waist. Today was a day he intended to relax and enjoy with his family - they had been invited for a lunch he would host in his new house. He felt slightly overwhelmed though, unsure of what options to make that would comfort them.

-

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Ayumi saw the Uchiha from a distance, Madara was eyeing some of the tomatoes. Butterflies soon grew in the pit of her stomach, her eyes lit up, and she bit her tongue and told herself to approach the man. But no! He looks busy. She eyed the Uchiha crest on his back. She shook her head, trying to snap herself out of that line of thinking.

Now's my time to ask him! What was that important question?

"Yo, Madara." Ayumi approached him with a childish grin. He looked different, adorned in a dark yukata that conveniently complimented his features. Madara's dark eyes met hers, unfazed, he had almost seemed bored. She wondered what someone like him was doing in a market.

"What brings you here?" Madara asked.

"I could ask you the same thing, tough guy." Ayumi looked up at him.

The leader kept his arms crossed, and almost entertained the idea of inviting her to that lunch. It would be interesting, he thought. He would imagine she would get flustered.

"I built a new house and I'm hosting a lunch for my family." Madara shifted his feet, uncomfortably, not used to being questioned of his whereabouts. She didn't miss this, as her gentle eyes laid back on his. "Would you..." Madara averted his gaze, and mentally scolded himself for hesitating. Maybe he was crossing a line but he did not care. "Come?"

"Madara." She grinned even wider and was about to punch his arm playfully, but before it could land, he gripped her wrist.

"I anticipated you would do that." Madara flickered her hand away.

"Hahah! I'm sorry. I got so excited over your invite." A dusty pink blush covered her cheeks now, but she met his eyes eagerly. "I would love to come."

Madara's eyebrows raised, he was oddly content. This way she would become more familiar with his family, he thought, and it would make things easier down the road. But soon he was mentally clouded with another onslaught of questions - what was her favourite food? He had not known, but Ayumi knew his. Inarizushi.

"What do you like?" Madara asked.

"W-what do-do I like?" Ayumi blushed, twiddling with her fingers.

He chuckled. "I meant food, silly."

"Oh..." She rubbed the nape of her neck, "I love ramen!"

Madara sighed, smirking. "I thought your taste would be more sophisticated."

"Oi!" She pouted, crossing her arms.

Madara looked down at her, her expression was actually sort of cute, he thought.

"I'll see you later, Hyuga."

"Matte! Madara."

"What is it?" Madara turned around.

"That important question you had..." She twiddled with her fingers innocently.

His eyes slightly raised, then returned to normal. That's right, I still had to ask her. "Not now." Madara softened his face, hoping to reassure her.

-

Ayumi took a deep breath.

Don't be nervous. Don't be nervous.

Not like you're going to be eating lunch with the Uchiha leader's family.

I swear to God if my stomach rumbles... She looked down at her torso nervously. Ayumi was hungry, and she hadn't eaten in a while. She could already smell the fruitful aromas Madara had crafted.

Ayumi held a pack of inarizushi for Madara, and stood in her spot uncomfortably, just eying the Uchiha crest proudly hung at the entrance way. She snapped out of her daze and grabbed the chimes.

A few moments passed by until she heard a familiar muffled voice from the other side.

"Come in."

She sighed, how typical of Madara to not even greet a guest! Nonetheless hold the door for them. Ayumi muttered utterances of annoyances as she slid the tatami matt and held the dish with her other hand, immediately going to take her geta off.

"Madara, you could at least say hi y'know, nothing wrong with being a little friendly with me! And besides -" Ayumi was insistent on continuing her tangent, but her jaw dropped at the sight before her as she lifted her eyes up. "Ehhhhhh?!" She flailed, jumbling the inarizushi from falling apart.

Madara could not be bothered, sparing her a bored glance, setting the tea cup on the table. She didn't miss the way his torso would clench and flex at the slightest of his movements. Madara was a perfectly crafted Uchiha, and it flustered the Princess. It made her turn beet red. She couldn't help but take note of the scar on his torso, it had lightened over the course of time.

"Welcome." Madara said.

"B-b-b baka!" She raised a fist, and threw a pillow at him. "Cover yourself!"

Madara narrowed his eyes, getting up and approaching her, setting the pillow aside. She couldn't help but avert her gaze from him. She heard the wooden floorboard creak as he got closer.

"I am in the comfort of my own home." He spoke huskily, now hovering over her, "And I did not want the stench of food to linger on my clothing." It was enough to give rise to the goosebumps on her skin.

She sighed. "I guess it can't be helped."

"Inarizushi?" Madara said, as his eyes fell to her hand.

"Yeah. For you." Ayumi met his eyes again, though hesitantly due to her fluster. They were dark, and it felt like his gaze alone was wrapping chains around her body. Utterly daunting and he was handsome.

Madara smiled smally, taking the package from her hands. "How thoughtful."

Ayumi turned a beet red again. She could not help it! She took a deep breath, and couldn't help but feel at home. The smells reminded her of her own mother's cooking. He could cook too - what else was he good at? Madara made his way to the kitchen.

"You live here all by yourself?" Ayumi asked, following him slowly, taking in her surroundings.

"Hmm." Madara hummed in agreement.

"Big house." Ayumi said, sitting on a tall chair that was placed at the kitchen island. "For a bachelor."

Madara was at the sink now, washing the plates he had used to prepare his food with, his eyebrow twitched at the mention of the word bachelor. It just reminded him that he was unmarried. She was eyeing his broad back.

"That's expected to change soon." Madara turned around, wiping his hands with a rag, quickly throwing on his dark yukata.

Change?! Madara was getting married?! But...

"N-no way..." Ayumi itched her cheek, "Is that what the councillors have been pestering you about?"'

And a few seconds later, before Madara could answer, they both heard chimes from outside.

"I'll get it, Madara." Ayumi shuffled to the front entrance, only to be met at face value with...

Uchiha Tajima, with his wife bound to his side, Izuna behind them.

Ayumi couldn't lie, but she was slightly awe-struck. Something felt different this time. They weren't meeting on the basis of treaties and war, but because of familiarity.

"Ehhhh? Ayumi." Izuna mumbled. Ayumi couldn't help but grow slightly nervous, gulping.

Tajima blinked, a lopsided frown on his face.

"Hyuga Ayumi." He recalled my name, "At my son's house. What are you here for?"

The princess further slid the door so that they could all make their way inside. "My apologies. Madara invited me not too long ago. I got here just now, actually."

Tajima sighed, eyeing both Madara and her suspiciously. "As long as you two are causing no trouble."

Ayumi grinned shyly, "Of course not."

"Not giving my brother a hard time, are ya?" Izuna playfully punched Ayumi's arm.

"Oi, I'm not!" She wrapped an arm over his shoulder and ruffled his hair.

Madara caught a glimpse of them and couldn't help but hide his smile. It reminded him of the times Izuna and him used to joke and banter when they were younger.

"The food is ready and set up." Madara pointed to the table across the living room, interrupting their play-fighting.

Both Izuna and Ayumi's childish faces lit up as their stomachs growled.

"How come you never told me your brother was such a good cook?" Ayumi rubbed her chin as they shuffled towards the living area.

"I thought that would be a given, since he's good at everything." Izuna sat down on the floor, eyeing the food.

"We should wait." Tajima's wife spoke, "For Madara."

"Mm." Ayumi politely bowed.

"There he is." Izuna looked up at his brother, who decided to sit beside Ayumi now. She moved a bit so he could have enough space to sit. Ayumi offered him a small smile, indicative of her gratitude thus far for inviting her to his home, to which he returned with a soft glance.

"Let's feast!" Izuna clasped his hands.

"Itadakimasu!" Ayumi also clasped her hands, and went straight for the ramen that Madara had graciously prepared.

-

"Beautiful house, son." Tajima placed a hearty hand on Madara's shoulder. "If you need us, you know where to find us."

Madara was relaxed now, and he closed his eyes. "Likewise."

The Uchiha family were at the entrance of the traditional house, putting on their shoes and saying their good byes.

"Hoo? What's this?" Ayumi eyed a framed family portrait that was hanging on the wall.

Tajima looked up at it fondly. "I'll be damned. You still have it."

"Aniki! Back when we were kids." Izuna eyed it.

Madara crossed his arms. "We were touchy fools."

"Adds a really nice commemorative touch." Ayumi smiled. Even when Madara was young, he looked so... beyond his years. Mature.

"Well, it's time we take our leave, son." Tajima's wife spoke, hooking an arm around her husband's.

Tajima seemed apprehensive though, and he eyed the Hyuga princess. "Are you on your way back too...?"

Tajima was suspicious, and it could not be helped.

Ayumi shook her head. "I'll help Madara clean up and then I'll head back home."

Tajima sighed. "I see you've been smitten, my son."

Ayumi couldn't help but bring a hand to cover her mouth.

Izuna burst into a laughter from a distance. He was outside waiting for his parents now. Madara closed his eyes and looked away. Ayumi peeked at the Uchiha from one eye, and she couldn't help but notice how his cold and harsh aura would melt away when he was with his family.

"Let's not embarrass him." Tajima's wife said, tugging her husband's arm. "Next time we come over, I expect there to be grandchildren." She stuck her tongue out.

Each time the parents would speak an arrow would shoot Ayumi right through the heart, now sulking and dangling her head and arms in embarrassment, her cheeks were red.

"G-grandchildren... but that means..." Ayumi sulked, utterly overwhelmed by the idea. Madara looked down at the princess's defeated state.

"That's enough." Madara interjected, though his voice was soft, his eyebrow twitched.

-

Ayumi quickly stacked the dishes from the table and handed them off to Madara, now both of them were washing the dishes.

She pouted, while looking up at Madara every now and then, unsure of how to approach him with the question.

The Uchiha sighed.

"If you have something to say, say it." Madara broke the ice.

Her lips parted slightly.

"Well, earlier... Before your parents came in..." She washed the last dish, and handed it to Madara to place in the drying rack.

"You sure are curious, aren't you?" Madara leaned back on the table, his dark eyes were set on the Princess.

Madara hesitated, and until now he had been avoiding the subject around her. But it would be good timing. She was in his house, and they were both alone.

It stayed silent for a moment between them, as they looked into each others' eyes curiously.

"Follow me." Madara spoke.

-

"A pond in your backyard." Ayumi observed the rippling water while sitting on the edge of the veranda. "How peaceful."

Madara sat beside her, and for some reason the presence of the water was enough to tame his... nerves, he oddly felt.

"So, I think you need to tell me something." She rubbed her chin, peeking an eye up at him. Madara appreciated her cheeriness at this time.

"... The councillors are insisting I get wed." He admitted, tight lipped, adamantly looking away from her.

"M-marriage, that's right..." Ayumi half-smiled, hopping off the porch. She felt defeated. She wouldn't mind being with Madara, but that's just not how it would play out. "Well, her strength needs to be on par with Kami-sama in order to keep up with you, and one with strong morals and is family based. That's the type that suits you."

"I already met a couple of women, and frankly, I hate them all. I do, however, have someone else in mind."

Ayumi couldn't keep up the cheeriness any more, the facade wiping away as she sulked, her arms dangling, just completely defeated. She had lost her chance with the Uchiha.

"I shouldn't be here! That might even look wrong." She flailed her arms.

Madara was growing irritated. How could someone be so dense and not notice.

Madara got up to stand in front of her, his big frame hovering over her, arms crossed.

"W-Why so close for, Madara..." Ayumi stuttered, holding her hands up to her chest.

"The person I have in mind, she's... Well," Madara placed a hand on his hip, while his dark eyes fixated on her with a strong intent. "Extremely oblivious. I'd say, even borderline stupid. But she is indeed strong. She cares for her brethren deeply, and is not moved so easily by the matters of this world. It also helps that she's a beauty to boot. But also..."

Madara's voice grew quiet.

"She may even perhaps be standing in front of me right now."