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9

Epilogue: 11:11

"You have terrible taste in men."

'This again?' Karasu mused with a wry smile, as she tugged a purple sweater much too small over Suzume's head. The young girl in pigtails took her seat at the breakfast table next to Sasuke, who had nothing but an untouched biscuit sitting on his plate, a biscuit that he ended up passing to Suzume, who was staring up at him with expectant wide eyes.

"Can we talk about this later?" Karasu said, straining a smile.

He scowled, patting Suzume on the head gently. She blushed.

It was rare for Uchiha Sasuke to pay a visit to Konoha. Ever since the war ended, he'd taken up a post on the outskirts of the village, coming out of the trenches only when Naruto asked for him. His casual visits came unexpectedly and more often than not he stayed merely a day before heading back out. Since Suzume had taken residence in his old bedroom, he often found himself sleeping on the couch.

He didn't mind.

"You're too soft," he said. "Karasu."

This piqued Suzume's interest. "Sasuke-nii-chan?"

"Mm?" He smiled one of his rare smiles.

The young girl blushed furiously, "I think you're the one who's soft."

Karasu chuckled, leaning over the table and planting a kiss on Suzume's forehead. "You know what, Suzume?" She said, smiling at the look of utter mortification written all over the young Uchiha's face. "You're absolutely right."

Suzume simply beamed.

After the young girl left for academy, Sasuke remained in the kitchen, mulling over a cup of tea that had gone cold. Karasu cleared up the dining space quickly, moving towards the sink to wash the remaining dishes.

"You know, you're always concerned with my love life," she said, as the water started running. "You're going to give Suzume the wrong idea."

Sasuke stared indifferently at her back. Over the years, he'd gotten quite good at reading it.

"It doesn't bother you at all," he said. "That Madara's out there doing whatever he wants."

Karasu did not respond immediately, as the water served as a temporary distraction from her fussing thoughts.

"He wants to understand the world," she said carefully. "Is that so wrong?"

"If the roles were reversed, he would never agree to you doing the same."

"See? That's the issue. You don't know what he would or wouldn't do," Karasu snapped, turning around and leaning against the sink. "Listen, I trust him. He comes and goes as he pleases, and that's an arrangement I'm fine with."

Sasuke sneered, "Are we just going to conveniently ignore the fact that he stabbed me?"

Karasu shrugged, "Yeah, and you tried to kill him. So I think you guys are even."

And then:

"Besides, I have plans tonight."

At this, Sasuke's eyes lit up, "Do you now?"

"I do," Karasu answered placidly, turning back to the sink.

He softened, relaxing in his seat, "Well, what are they?"

"You and I are going to go apple picking," she said, grinning.

Dating was difficult, Karasu learned. Never mind the scarcity of options available to the village, she just wanted to find someone who could hold a conversation with her, someone who bothered actually ask her what she thought. She had opinions too! She had independent thoughts too! And yet, they remained at the center of their own universe. She might as well be a blank canvas.

Finding compatibility wasn't easy, especially when it involved happily ever after, whatever that meant. She learned this the hard way after Uchiha Itachi left Konoha. In fact, Karasu was put off by the idea of dating and decided she could live the rest of her life happily consumed with her friendships, which happened to be plentiful. It wasn't like there was anyone in her life to talk her out of this mindset, after all.

She thought about this ruefully as she stepped back into her apartment, flicking on the lights. Suzume had a sleepover tonight with some of her friends from the academy, which meant Karasu was left woefully alone. She wondered when the little pigtailed princess would get to the age where she'd be embarrassed of her. She hoped that day would never come.

"Hot date?"

Karasu felt her heart skip a beat as she caught sight of a faint outline in the shadows.

"Sasuke," she said.

Madara moved into the light. He was wearing black today. His chest was wrapped in bandages.

Karasu reached up into the cabinets to fish out two cups and a new bottle of sake. It was cheap, but she'd make due with it. She really couldn't tell the difference anyway.

"How long are you here this time?" She asked. "Suzume asks about you."

"She does?" Madara seemed miffed.

Karasu smiled, pouring some sake into the cups. He looked rather cute when he was confused. She handed one cup to Madara and took a seat at the table. He'd managed to avoid the question. She decided not to press it.

He downed the sake in one gulp, taking the seat across from her at the dining table. Karasu certainly prettied up for the evening. He wasn't used to seeing her with makeup, though she rarely wore it anyway. She seemed very aware of his wandering eyes as she leaned over to remove her coat.

"Do you have plans tonight?" He asked.

She arched a brow, "It's 2am."

"My question stands."

Karasu smiled.

Flashback

Madara woke up in a warm bed, sunshine filtering through the window. When he shifted, he felt something jab into his side. He reached his hand below the covers and discovered a plastic tube, along with two needles. How he managed to get through sleep without being poked by either was a miracle in itself.

He stretched his limbs, watching his hands as they flexed into a fist. Then, it came to him.

Hadn't he been dead?

"Hey, sleepy."

How he managed to miss the fact that Karasu was in the room was astounding, to say the least. She was sitting by the desk, scribbling some notes on some loose pieces of paper. "You're finally awake," she said, smiling softly. "You've been out for almost two days."

Madara tended to forget that she was the reincarnation of his old flame. But when she smiled, there was no denying the resemblance. "I'm...alive," he said, the word alien and unfamiliar on his lips. Then, meeting her gaze, "Did you do this?"

Karasu walked over to his bed and took a seat at the edge. She didn't reply, but from the look in her eyes, he knew the answer was yes.

"You have my gratitude," he stated.

Then, he tried to get out of bed.

She managed to placate him quickly, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Where are you going?" She asked.

Madara didn't answer as he nudged past her, standing up from the bed and walking towards the exit.

"You'll die that way," she said.

He paused at the doorway.

"You need another dose of blood," she told him, picking at her fingernails. "And I won't give you it unless you promise me you'll stay."

"What's to stop me from killing you and taking your blood?" He spat.

"Do it, then."

Silence ensued. Neither of them lowered their gaze. After more than 20 seconds of staring, Madara relented a sigh. He turned his heel and took a seat on the edge of the bed, his elbows propped against his thighs. He glared at her, folding his hands together in contemplation. "You've certainly become bold," he stated.

Karasu walked over, pulling up a seat in front of him, "You think?"

And then, "I think I get it from Senbi."

He stilled, as if he didn't believe the words that just came out of her mouth, "What... did you just say?"

She smiled, pulling out the ring tied around her neck. It glowed blue under the sunlight. "Izuna gave this to us as a wedding gift," she said, removing it from the chain. "You can sense my chakra signature as long as I'm wearing it, right?"

Still, Madara stared at her incredulously. His left eyebrow twitched.

"Izuna passed away after he came back from that mission," Karasu said softly. "...He died the same day Kazama was born."

It occurred to her at some point that she'd had nightmares all her life.

There was screaming. Crying.

Someone was always calling her name, not her name, but her name.

She had been reliving the day she died.

Madara leaned in close, his hand wrapping around the back of her neck. Karasu felt her heart skip a beat as she felt his breath kiss her skin. He was warm and she felt comforted by his touch. A small smile formed on her lips.

She leaned in and kissed him.

Karasu lay in the crook of his arm, listening to him breathe, watching as his chest rose and fell systematically. Madara stroked her cheek gently, pressing his lips to her forehead every once in a while. She smiled. She was content, full of joy in a way she hadn't been in a long time. He was tan, she was pale and she spent a good minute admiring the way their skin contrasted against each other. It was just like her dream.

Ah, the dream. She'd almost forgotten. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.

"What is it?" Madara asked.

Karasu met his gaze. He'd softened up considerably in the past hour.

The sex felt right. He was more experienced than she was (no surprise there), but they fell into a familiar pattern. Though Karasu couldn't explain it, she'd done this before. She knew him better than she thought.

"I...dreamed about this," she said.

"You did?" He seemed mildly amused.

"Mm..." Realization dawned on her face. "Yeah, thanks to you and your stupid jutsu."

Madara smirked, "All it does is reveal your innermost desires. So who's to blame here?"

Karasu considered it.

A few minutes of silence passed by, as she tried to remember the moment. The way he breathed. The way his chest rose and fell. The way he stroked her cheek so gently.

"Was I a good person?" She asked, suddenly.

"Why do you ask?" He said, mildly perplexed by the suddenness of the question.

She blushed, again. "I don't know," she admitted. "I...was killed, wasn't I? I must've made some pretty terrible enemies for them to do that."

Madara's smirk vanished.

"You were perfect," he said.

Karasu's blush deepened and she shifted her gaze to his chest.

"That's going too far," she said, voice barely above a whisper.

He brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, "You're shier now than you were before," he said. "Modesty looks good on you."

He would never admit aloud that he found this trait of hers endearing, for what it was worth. Senbi rarely blushed, but pink looked good on her cheeks.

"How much do you remember?" He asked.

Karasu put a finger to her lower lip and thought about it. "I don't know if remembering is the right word," she said. "It's almost like...I never really forgot. As if it's always been a part of me. Does that sound crazy?"

Madara smiled cryptically, "No. It doesn't."

It went like that, as he recovered. They'd spend the day under the covers. At night, they'd peruse the nearby night market and eat to their heart's content. Madara's appetite was limited. Though Karasu was gravely concerned about his eating habits, he'd been quick to assuage her fears.

They spent their evenings stargazing, enjoying each other's company. He asked her about her life in Konoha and she told him about Suzume and Sasuke, the latter which generally incited a scowl from Madara.

For reasons unknown, he found the young Uchiha threatening, though he would never admit it aloud.

"I thought you would be more grateful," Karasu said. "Sasuke was alone before you. If anything, he probably admires you."

She was wrong. So, so wrong.

"He's a nuisance," he stated.

She stilled.

"Don't call him that," she said.

A cold breeze swept through the air. A chill ran down her spine as she met Madara's gaze. He seemed curious at the sudden change in pace. "Are you upset?" He asked.

"He's important to me," Karasu said, the anger dissipating almost immediately.

He sneered, "You have an affectation for misfits and outcasts. Taking them in under your roof like they're one of yours."

Before he could continue, she stood up and stormed off into the distance. Tears began to form in her eyes as the bustle of the night market surrounded her. She lost herself in the crowd, Madara completely out of sight. Karasu had no idea where she was going, but the farther she went, the better off she was. What he said had affected her visibly, and she was on the verge of breaking down.

As she reached the end of the market, she found herself near the outskirts of town overlooking the lake.

Alone.

She sat down on the edge of one of the rocks nearby, hugging her knees to her chest.

Karasu had been alone most of her life. That much was true. Her father was killed in the ravages of the kyuubi attack. Her mother gave her body and soul to the village and fell into a coma. She had friends, of course, but that wasn't the same as having family. She couldn't yell at them, fight with them, cry with them, and expect unconditional love. Even with Itachi, there were facets of his life that she couldn't possibly understand, or know, or be a part of.

Perhaps that's why she felt an affection for Sasuke that she felt for no one else. Karasu had adopted him into her family. And after him, Suzume.

"Oi."

Madara stepped forward, taking a seat next to Karasu on the rock. He crossed his arms over his chest.

She didn't respond.

"Are you going to ignore me?" He said.

She wrinkled her brows.

"You can't take about them like that," she said. "Sasuke and Suzume...they're my family."

A pause.

Madara sighed.

"Fine," he said. "I apologize."

Karasu blinked.

He remained stolid and indifferent.

"Really?" She said, incredulously.

"You have your convictions and I have mine," he stated dispassionately.

At last, it came to her. Though he would never admit it aloud, she understood. Perhaps it was part of remembering him, who he was before she met him and who he was now. He'd watched her fade away. This time, he wasn't willing to let something trivial tear them apart. He'd lost her once. From the look in his eye, she knew he wouldn't risk it again.

Even if it meant stepping on his own pride.

Present day

They left the village and strolled through the forest until they found an abandoned shrine on the outskirts. It was the same shrine that Obito had met her at once upon a time, and little of it changed since then.

"You're not going to surprise me with a wedding, are you?" Karasu asked.

Madara was peeved. This was certainly not the kind of reaction he expected. "And if I were?"

She settled down and composed herself, "You should at least propose first."

"I'm not going to ask you to marry me," he said. "So you can rest easy."

Karasu was only mildly miffed at how straightforward he was.

She shrugged it off. "What're we doing here then?"

He cleared the path to the stairs and offered her a hand. She obliged, following him up the stone steps. It was old and musty. Vines covered the walls like a tangle of thorns. Karasu gazed at the sight dispassionately.

"I was thinking we could live here," he said.

A pause.

"Your place is getting crowded. Sasuke and Suzume need their own rooms."

It made her heart flutter, only for a moment.

Though it pained her to admit it, this place needed work.

"I'd have to tear down the entire structure," she said. "Get rid of the vines. Build another foundation. It'd take years. Not to mention, I'd be on my own outside the village."

"You won't be," Madara stated simply.

Karasu felt her breath hitch. As she met his gaze, she felt the blood rush to her face. Did that mean what she thought it meant? Meanwhile, Madara looked nonchalant as ever, betraying no signs of emotion.

"Does that mean you're staying this time?"

He turned to face her, pulling her into his arms. Madara held onto her tightly, his arms coiled around her shoulders. Karasu rested her cheek against his shoulder. He smelled like raindew.

"I won't lose you again," he breathed.

She closed her eyes and smiled.

And she finally knew. All those years of war, the millennia of struggle between Senju and Uchiha, were over. It was a strange realization, of course, that the nightmares had ceased ever since she regained those memories. Perhaps she was missing more of herself than she knew. As she breathed in the moment, she felt Madara shift. He pressed his lips against her forehead.

They could finally begin their lives for good.

Fin