*/*/*

They repeat what happened by the lake not just once, but a lot more time afterwards and indeed, Kakuzu gets more experienced with each occasion. The strange thing is that although he's the one who fucks Madara every night when they set a camp, it doesn't change the dynamics between them at all. Even when he's under him, gasping and moaning, when Kakuzu holds him down and all but forces himself into his body, Madara remains in control. He just simply likes it rough, or he enjoys how this makes the younger man lose his composure. He obviously loves to push his buttons and watch what reactions he can provoke, to create the illusion that Kakuzu can be dominating him, than shatter it with a careless flick of the wrist. Still, with this new development the ex-Takigakure ninja is happy to do as he's told - especially if it's along the lines of harder or more. His dreams has definitely improved lately and got way more pleasant.

He smirks, glad that his mask is covering his face as he glances at his companion. Madara is deep into one of his usual monologue, raging against Konoha and its leader. He's ever so passionate about his rival, the way he never really is during sex. Kakuzu doesn't mind - he might not survive the passion of this man, would it be directed at him, the way he gets so agitated, furious in an almost insane degree when he mentions Senju Hashirama.

He prefers cool, collected, wicked Madara, with his dry wit and contempt for almost everything. So when he's like this he just listens, nodding an hmm-ing at the appropriate places. He understands duty, betrayal, bitterness, revenge - but what the Uchiha feels for the Hokage is something that's beyond his comprehension.

He asks about it one night, though he suspects that it's a mistake before he finishes the sentence. He's right - Madara gets furious and offended, denying that he feels anything but contempt for his enemy. Kakuzu just shrugs - if he's happier with self-denial, that's all the same for him. It probably shows what he thinks, because he's attacked for it - not with a serious blow, which would leave him dead, but a kick that he actually manages to block. It somehow leads to rough and dirty sex, with Madara on all fours, and Kakuzu pounding him from behind, pulling on his hair and leaving bruises on his slender hips as he grips them, so it's all for the best.

Still, this side of his companion's personality makes him wonder. It's his only weakness as far as he can see and that's something worth dwelling on. He recalls the Hokage's face from three years ago. Their fight - if it can be called that at all - was so short, he can barely remember anything else than astonishment over his power that enabled him to brush aside Kakuzu's attacks like they were nothing. He's the only one whose power equals, or possibly even surpasses Madara's. That's why he's so infuriated – downright maniac when it comes to him.

If there's more to it, he can't and doesn't want to tell. He doesn't care to know what else the Uchiha might feel, he's not with him for that. Bolder as he has become since they started having sex, he's still not suicidal to ask whether he's in love with the Senju... Anyway, even if he is - it's certainly not Kakuzu's business.

*/*/*

For Kakuzu sex used to be a necessity, an urge more easy to satisfy than to ignore. Now he likes to think it's business - something that both he and his companion want, so they fulfil it together. He suspects there might be more to it from his own part, but refuses to ponder over it. It would do nothing good to allow himself to have feelings for the other man. He's dangerous as he is, and way too intimate with Kakuzu, turning his organised life, his structured mind upside down. It's a short term thing, that was never a question, so he doesn't allow himself to crave for more, for something he can never get. So very firmly he tells himself that he won't dream of anything else than a few week's company and a handful of - increasingly satisfying - fucks. Even that's more than he has originally aimed for, so he can't complain.

For Madara sex is amusement. He uses it to get rid of his lust or frustration but also to manipulate Kakuzu, to watch his reactions when he can't resist temptation - and he never can when it's about this fiend with his dark eyes that can turn red with the Sharingan in an instant, who always have a mocking smirk lurking in the corner of his thin lips, with his ridiculous mass of hair, behind what he likes to hide, obscuring his expression from the other man, leaving him in doubt all the time what goes on in his mind.

He also uses their intimacy to pry information Kakuzu doesn't care to share out of him. Like the time he actually lays his head on his chest when both of them are sated, and the younger man even hugs him close, unthinking, just doing what feels comfortable. Though he feels peaceful and satisfied with their position, it only takes the Uchiha a few minutes and his caressing hand becomes deadly with the chakra concentrated into his palm, resting above a gash, ready to cut the stitches holding it closed.

"So are you finally going to tell me about all these hearts I can hear beating in your chest, or do I need to cut you open and see for myself?" That cruel little smile is on his lips again, the type that fuels both Kakuzu's fury and lust.

"There's nothing to tell now, is there – you found it out yourself," he manages to reply evenly, not even blinking. Showing weakness equals death, he knows that now about the other man.

"So what happens if you lose one?"

"I get it replaced," he narrows his eyes, ready to defend himself at the first sign of attack. He wishes Madara would get up - it's harder to be on his guard when he's lying on his back with his companion resting his weight on him, the ends of his messy hair tickling his neck.

"Hmm..." Madara looks undecided whether to rip him open or leave him alone, so he sits up, trying to brush the other off. But of course it's not as easy like that. He remains sitting in his lap, legs pressing against the outer sides of his thighs, fingertips still buzzing with the concentrated chakra as he runs them over his stitches. The younger shinobi finds it annoying, but as always, the feel, the taste of the other's powers excites him. Just a few minutes ago he's been fucking Madara and he took it, moaning and demanding more and now he's in control, having Kakuzu at his non-existent mercy as if that never happened. He wishes he could grab his slender neck and wriggle it until he chokes, than take hold of his chakra somehow and pull it out of him, to claim it as his own. As that's impossible, he just grasps his wrist and pulls it away so he can't mess with his hearts so easily.

"So secretive always," the Uchiha smirks, "but you know I'll get what I want in the end, so it's stupid to resist."

"There's a difference between getting me undressed and opening my chest," he grumbles.

"Is there, when you can do it easily?" he pulls his hand from Kakuzu's hold and slides his palm down on the long gash below his left collarbone. The stitches snap under his touch and the younger ninja resigns himself to his fate. Indeed, it's just not worth saying no to him...

He endures how Madara weaves his fingers through the threads that wriggle out from under the seam, though he finds it too intimate - more than mock caresses, more than sex even - but when he tries to reach inside, he instinctively shoves him away. He can see from the mean glint that appears in those dark eyes that it was a mistake.

Next instant he's on his back again, Madara's arm pinning him down by the neck, his free hand going to the steam again, forcing prying fingers through. His hearts are beating like mad, so Kakuzu calms himself down, slowing his pulse. He doesn't want to give the bastard the satisfaction to know he's afraid, even when he actually touches his topmost spare heart.

"Fascinating," the black haired man mutters as if he's witnessing a new ninjutsu - one of the showy types, which are not really powerful, but interesting to watch.

"As always, I'm happy to provide you amusement, Madara-sama," Kakuzu says dryly, satisfied that his voice doesn't waver. Madara grins at him as he pulls his hand away and pats his cheek with bloody fingers.

"Don't pout, my friend," he leans down and kisses him lightly "it doesn't suit you at all."

They pretend nothing out of the ordinary happened afterwards - and for the Uchiha it's probably even true. After all, he's obviously used to treating people this way, but it makes Kakuzu realize it's time that they part. Madara is bewitching company and the sex made the time spent together even better, but it's always a gamble. He can't know when it will amuse the other to have him lying bleeding to death at his feet, to actually squeeze his hearts until they burst or to come up with an even worse fate for him.

"How is it that you want to die, Kakuzu?"

The ex-Takigakure shinobi casts a sideway glance at his companion hearing that question, but it doesn't seem to be meant as a threat. Madara is staring into the flames of the campfire, face serious and deep in thought.

"I don't plan to die at all, not anytime soon at least," he replies with a shrug. Black eyes flash at him, annoyed.

"So you've said before. But how can that satisfy you? Live and die so they'll remember you, that's what I say. Make them fear you while alive and speak of with reverence when passed away."

"For me it's enough satisfaction knowing that I'll survive anyone who wronged me."

Madara just snorts, turning back to stare into the flames again. For a few long minutes both of them are silent. Kakuzu doesn't even know what makes him speak again.

"I think you don't need to prove yourself any more... everyone knows you, fears you already, don't they? Or do you think that he will appreciate you more if..." he quickly shuts his mouth when Madara springs to his feet in storming anger. Of all the stupid things to say...

He expects an attack, but it doesn't come. The Uchiha just stares at him with fury turning to contempt.

"With your aim so low, it's no wonder you can't comprehend this," he spits at last. For the first time since they met, he seems...lost. Kakuzu has the ridiculous urge to offer him comfort, but he can imagine what a welcome that would receive. So he just waits until he sits down again and goes back to his brooding.

"This is the border of Land of Fire," Kakuzu points out.

"Indeed it is," Madara doesn't even slow his steps.

The stitched man sighs. Were they heading this way all the time - with detours and stops - or was the decision made on a whim, he can't tell. He's not happy with this turn of event but isn't really surprised.

"So are you going back to Konoha?" the Uchiha stops when hearing his question and looks back over his shoulder.

"I notice it's suddenly I, not we, Kakuzu."

"I told you already - I plan to live long."

"Then go, run like a coward," he hisses. There's hurt in his voice, but probably he's just trying to manipulate him again.

"Madara-sama," he represses a sigh, "unlike you, I've no intention fighting the Hokage ever again. I've no unfinished business with him." Nor do I wish to see him again, like you do, he doesn't say.

"But if I paid you, you'd join my fight." It's not even a question, but Kakuzu nods anyway.

"I'm a mercenary as you know."

"It doesn't matter anyway - it's my own business only."

It is - would Kakuzu offer to accompany him, he'd surely refuse. It makes sense now, his changing mood of the last few days. The younger man keeps glancing at him, burning with questions, things he still longs to know, information he's curious about, but doesn't asks him. He has never understood the Uchiha, so what's the point of trying to understand him now, when they are about to part?

Kakuzu stays with him for a day more. It's hard to say whether Madara prepares himself for winning or dying. Maybe both. Despite what he said before, he's tempted to remain by his side and help. But in the clash of the two strongest shinobi alive, what difference would his presence make? He respects the other's might, likes his dry wit and despite the constant threat he actually enjoyed his companion. He'll miss the conversations and the sex as well of course - but honestly - they don't matter as much that he'd be willing to die for them.

It's all for the best, he tells himself, that they part. It's been an interesting few weeks - a time he'll never forget - but he won't live long if he stays with someone like the Uchiha.

So he goes as he came - silently and without much fuss. Wishing good luck would be unfitting somehow and a goodbye kiss even more, so he simply stands up, bows his head briskly, turns his back and walks away.

He half expects Madara to call after him, or rather that he'll attack him, but neither
happens.

Kakuzu goes back to do what he's a master in - fighting for money, offering his services where the best offer is made. If he thinks about Uchiha Madara - which he sometimes does, even decades later - he just has to remind himself the fate he'd met to be reassured he made the right decision.

He was an exceptional man, and he's proud to have known him, travelled with him and taken him as a lover, even if only for a short time. He never tells about it to anyone - he's not someone to brag to others or to reminiscent of the days that passed away - but he keeps the memory close.

There's so much he never asked the man or told of himself. He does wonder, on lonely nights, what he meant for the other. A short time amusement probably, before his grand finale. He's curious what could have happened if he stayed or helped, but doesn't make the mistake to dwell on what if-s.

He is, after all and above all, a practical man. To nourish a crush that doesn't make any sense is not like him. If he still dreams about deep, dark eyes turning red, or blood and sex and attraction to all-consuming power - well that's beyond his control, so nothing he should spare a second thought for.

THE END

A/N: Thank you for reading! Don't forget to leave me a note if you enjoyed the story. Constructive criticisms are also welcome.

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