The Choices We Make
MadaSaku
Part Five

The scent of something warm and savory stirred Sakura's senses and roused her from her sleep. She pressed her face further into her pillow as she chased her lingering dream but the delicious smell teased her nose again, effectively pushing the last traces of her fantasy from her mind.

A sleepy smile turned the corners of her mouth up as the muffled clinking of a pan from the kitchen down the hall reached her ears. She already knew who her early-morning intruder was even without having to sense their chakra, and a warmth surged through her starting in her chest and spreading to her fingers and toes at the familiar presence. It wasn't the first time he had broken into her apartment in the last few weeks and she very seriously doubted it would be the last, not that she ever voiced any complaints anymore.

After allowing herself another minute of laziness, Sakura kicked her sheets away and slipped out of bed. She stifled a yawn as she left her bedroom to pad down the hall to where the pleasant scent was originating from. The soft tinkling of utensils being rummaged through echoed from the main living area and Sakura entered the room just as Madara closed a drawer and returned to the stove top.

Fish was frying in a pan, its mouthwatering flavor audible by the crisp sizzle as it cooked. It overlapped with the bitter scent of coffee, causing her stomach to rumble faintly in anticipation but she didn't immediately move forward as she paused in the doorway.

Madara's movements were effortless as he maneuvered about her tiny kitchenette, having become comfortable in the confined space over the course of the last few weeks. With a practiced hand, he retrieved seasonings from the pantry and checked the fish in the skillet before he pulled plates from the cabinet and chopsticks from the drawer. Silently she leaned against the door frame, a tender expression lining her features, as she watched him work flawlessly.

Six weeks ago, she would have never believed she would be standing here with this man in such a domestic setting. He had seen her at her worst and stuck with her through everything, including a fit of rage that had ended with her favorite mug shattered against the wall and ANBU standing on her doorstep. Emotionally, it had been the hardest night after her surgery, but also a turning point as she awoke some hours later to find her cup pieced back together and Madara lounging on her couch with a book in hand. She hadn't been able to voice her apology at the time but Madara had accepted her into his arms all the same. It was then she knew for certain he was there out of desire rather than responsibility.

It was the only explanation why he kept coming back, why he continued to break into her apartment every morning to make her breakfast, why he found her for lunch or dinner whenever he didn't have clan obligations to see to. Somewhere along the way, his presence had become something for her to look forward to and no matter what her day had made her suffer through, he brought a smile to her face. Some nights she wished he wasn't such a gentleman and would stay with her if only just so she could stay in the protective circle of his arms where she felt safe from the cruel realities of the world.

"You slept well," Madara said as he pulled her favorite green mug from the cabinet.

His teasing tone reached her ears as he filled the cup with coffee and added just enough cream and sugar to sweeten it just the way she liked. Sakura was comfortable enough with him to feel no shame in her current sleepwear and unabashedly she ran her fingers through her messy hair before she pushed off the doorway and accepted the mug from him. Her fingers lightly traced over the cracks and grooves she had made those weeks ago.

"I did," she countered playfully, her smile softening as Madara swept a stray hair out of her face before he returned to the stove.

Sakura followed him, eyeing the miso soup and rice he had laid out as well before she cocked her brow. "You know you don't have to keep making me breakfast."

Madara glanced up at her briefly before he flipped the fish. "Then who would ensure you ate properly?"

She laughed lightly and refrained from reminding him that between the two she was the medic before she sipped from her mug.

"Besides," Madara continued, "I enjoy cooking and it is a good excuse to step away from the clan."

"Oh, I see. Using me to flee from your elders, are you?" she teased.

There was some truth in her words but she had spoken without malice and Madara shot her a vaguely amused look before he paused in his plating to push a square, brown box towards her. "Hatake stopped by earlier and left these for you. He departed for a mission this morning but is expected back by tomorrow evening."

Immediately she straightened upon sight of the plain but familiar package and she flipped the lid open to find a handful of chocolate covered pastries. They were her favorite - a fact her old sensei knew well - and without pause Sakura picked up one of the treats and took a large bite.

Silky, buttery dough mixed with milky chocolate and she groaned in appreciation before she held out the treat to Madara. He didn't share Sakura's sweet tooth but he indulged her nonetheless by swiping some of the frosting from the corner with his finger before he continued preparing their meal.

"How did your meeting with your elders go yesterday?" Sakura asked as he finished plating.

A dejected sigh pressed out of Madara's nose and he eyed her briefly before he picked up their dishes and placed them on her small dining table. "As expected. They are adamant on further branching the clan within different aspects of the village; a fact I have told them is difficult while they insist we increase the number of members stationed within the Military Force and ANBU."

"Tell them to send some members with decent chakra control my way. I'll train them," she offered. "We're always short-staffed and could do with more medics."

Madara gazed at her thoughtfully for a moment before he nodded. "That would be beneficial for all of us. I will suggest that to them. Thank you."

Sakura flashed him a smile before she lifted her coffee mug to her lips, happy to have helped - even if only a bit.

In their time together, Madara had opened up to her little by little. He still kept his most private dealings with his clan to himself, but on occasion he would discuss his frustrations and discontent with his elders' desires for their people as they continued to press their traditional ideals upon Madara. It was mostly trivial things and general knowledge most shinobi already knew, but she was always left feeling a little lighter and content that Madara was comfortable enough to share his personal thoughts with her.

"And what about you?" Sakura asked after she had finished her pastry. "Are they still hounding you for an heir?"

"Of course," Madara said as he returned to retrieve some chopsticks. "But they have been doing so for a number of years now and I expect them to continue to do so until I oblige."

Sakura licked the chocolate that had stuck to her fingertips before she shot him a look. "I've told you before that you can tell them about the miscarriage if it will get them off your back."

"And I have told you before that I am not going to do that," Madara countered calmly. There was no exasperation in his voice but his tone was firm, relaying just how unwavering he was on the subject. "What happened to us is personal and no one's business but our own. I will not use it as leverage to gain pity from my elders and I will not allow you to put yourself in that position."

Sakura frowned. They had already had the same conversation before, and again she wanted him to understand she could handle herself. Having been under Tsunade's tutelage for a number of years, she was well-versed in village politics, but she let her argument slide. She wanted to enjoy their morning.

Humming noncommittally, she sipped from her coffee mug again before she reached for another pastry. Her fingers had barely grazed the treat when Madara turned around again and fixed her with a pointed stare. "Stop eating those. You are going to ruin your appetite and you are going to need energy today."

Sakura ducked her head, feeling much like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar. She flashed him placating smile before she grabbed her mug and joined him at her table. "Why? What's today?"

"Today, we are sparring."

"We are?" she asked curiously as she reached for the chopsticks he had laid out for her.

Madara gazed at her briefly before he reached for the soy sauce. "You have not sparred since your surgery. You told me yesterday that you have been out of pain for a few weeks now and Hokage-sama has confirmed that you are fully recovered. It is time you get back into practice."

"Well that's hardly fair," she teased as she reached for her soup. She fought the wide grin that was threatening to break out across her face as she cocked her brow at Madara. It seemed he was still determined to help her get back on her feet. "You spar almost every day."

"I will go easy on you."

The corner of her mouth lifted in a daring smile. "I am going to make you regret saying that so badly."

Madara smirked as a challenging light entered his dark orbs but he didn't answer as he sipped his soup.

They slipped into a comfortable silence but it was short-lived as Sakura finally tasted the fish he had prepared for them. A pleased groan sounded low in her throat as its lightly seasoned flavor and buttery texture melted on her tongue. Sakura used to pride herself on being a decent cook but after tasting Madara's dishes, hers were like cardboard in comparison. He thoroughly spoiled her. She doubted she could ever eat a meal prepared by her hand after this.

"This is so good," she mumbled around her mouthful.

Across the table, Madara's expression relaxed as he smiled faintly. "I am pleased you enjoy it."

"If you ever give up the shinobi life, you should become a chef. Or a stay-at-home husband. You'd be perfect!"

"That is my intention."

Sakura slowly stilled as his meaning gradually sunk in. She flickered her gaze up to meet his and she swallowed the rest of her mouthful thickly as a feeling she couldn't quite name slipped under her ribcage and made it harder to expand her lungs. Madara was watching her closely with a softness in his gaze she had seen before but hadn't fully understood until now. Its meaning was suddenly so clear and her heart pounded against her breastbone as she was faced with this abrupt truth.

Under his unwavering gaze, her words escaped her. He had never looked more devastatingly handsome than in that moment as the normally hard edges of his expression softened from an emotion she didn't dare name just yet.

"W-what?" she finally stuttered.

"Do not panic. I do not mean right now," Madara told her calmly. "Neither of us are quite ready to make vows and until we are both certain of our affections towards each other, we should not take that step. However, I do care a great deal for you and it is my intention to court you, if you would find that agreeable."

Sakura shook her head slowly. "If this is because of the miscarriage, you don't owe me-."

"This is not about the miscarriage," he interrupted not unkindly. He slipped into the chair beside her until the table no longer separated them and he angled himself to face her fully. "We have been through much together in recent weeks. It is not uncommon for emotions to get muddled in the stress and turmoil of it all, but I do not believe that is the case. I care a great deal for you." Genuine affection colored his tone and Sakura melted under his light touch as he cupped her face. His thumb traced the smooth curve of her cheekbone as he held her gaze steadily. "It would bring me great joy if you allowed me the opportunity to court you."

A soft sigh passed her lips and her eyes slipped closed as she leaned into his touch. This wasn't the first time Madara had revealed his gentler side to her, but it was the first time he had done so so openly, and the tenderness he was displaying warmed her down to her very soul. She thought she might burst with joy.

Madara was right in that they had been through a trying ordeal together. They had butted heads, and argued and yelled and hurt together; but they had also found solace in the other and some resemblance of peace. Emotions had been high and it was easy for the lines to get blurred between what was commiseration and what was real, but the riptide that had been their life after her surgery had calmed to a slow, rolling sea some time ago and her feelings were as clear to her as though she were looking at them through still water.

"Yes," Sakura murmured. She opened her eyes again as she reached up to rest her hand over the one still cradling her jaw. "Yes, I would like that."

The corners of Madara's mouth stretched into a tender smile and before Sakura could consider what she was doing, she leaned forward and kissed him. He stilled against her mouth but the initial surprise faded quickly and he kissed her back before she could withdraw from him.

It was their first kiss since their shared night in the Hokage's Tower, but this time there was no cloudy haze of lust dulling their judgment and controlling their actions; only affection as Madara used the hand on her jaw to angle her face while the other slipped to the back of her neck. His fingers tangled into her hair but his grip wasn't dominant or commanding as his mouth moved with hers, touching and tasting as if he had all the time in the world.

Sakura grasped his forearm to steady herself and she moaned quietly at the power and strength under her fingertips. It was thrilling to have such a dangerous shinobi who could make even the best cower in his presence display so much restraint and tenderness, and it wasn't long before the familiar trickle of heat began to pool in the pit of her stomach.

She wanted to feel him, wanted to remember what his skin felt like pressed hotly against hers, but before she could slip into his lap, Madara pulled away. A disappointed whine echoed in her throat and her eyes opened to find him smirking teasingly. But there was desire burning in the depths of his obsidian gaze and she swallowed thickly as she willed the pulsing heat to die from between her legs. It wouldn't do well for them to start the same way they had before.

"We should finish breakfast," Madara said, even as his fingers lingered against her skin. "We will want to spar before it becomes too hot."

Reluctantly Sakura released her grip on his arm before she picked up her chopsticks once more. If they weren't going to slip into bed together, she supposed a sparring match was the next best option. "I'm going to beat you into the ground."

An amused smirk passed his face and he reached for his plate before he settled it on the table where he sat in his new spot beside her - exactly where she wanted him to be.

"I look forward to it."

end

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