moor

yomi_gaeru

The sun set earlier and earlier each evening and Sakura covered her mouth as she yawned in the Uchiha’s grand front entranceway. It had been such a long day. 

The boys were rambunctious that afternoon, Sakura thought with a smile as she entered the coat room. The autumn festival was coming and they were excited to go out at night together to see the lanterns and night market. She had hoped to attend with Madara, but she doubted she would even be allowed to speak to him that night.

Sakura set her designated slippers away in the cupboard beside the rest of the family’s indoor sandals. She had tied up her boots and was searching her coat when she heard someone enter the front coat room with her. With it being in-between seasons, the summer coats and fall coats were both hung up on extra racks around her. Not wanting to bother the maids, Sakura had nipped into the coat room herself to find her own. It had to be in there somewhere. 

“Hello?” she called, expecting one of the maids. “Keiko-san?”

“Haruno-dono, you haven’t left yet?”

It was Izuna. His voice had begun to deepen similarly to Madara’s. Where Madara had been frustrated by the change, Izuna took it far more casually, appearing happy at the transition to his young adulthood. He spent more time speaking than Madara had, at his age. That afternoon he had hardly given his brothers an inch to interject, now that Sakura thought about it. 

“I was just about to,” said Sakura, looking around for Izuna. “Did you have a question? I can explain it next time, if it isn’t a rush.”

The coats rustled as Izuna moved through them towards Sakura.

“Would you like company walking home this evening?” he asked. He was somewhere off to her left, if she had to guess.

Sakura smiled, looking for both Izuna and her jacket now.

“That is very courteous of you, Uchiha-san, but the guard sees me to my family’s place now. And I’m sure your father would prefer that you stay safe at home.”

“He’ll still be there. The guard. Would you like company?”

“I appreciate the offer,” said Sakura, looking up at the hooks that were higher up on the wall. Where was it? “But I’m sure it will be fine. Thank you, Uchiha-san.”

She pushed through another rack of coats to check the other side of the coat room.

“You liked it when big brother walked you home.”

Sakura’s steps slowed.

“Your father has been very clear that it is best for me to be escorted by a guard rather than one of his sons,” said Sakura. “We must obey our parents, hm?”

“Do you always obey your parents?”

Sakura smiled ruefully in the darker corner of the storage room. Izuna had toyed with her words and she had walked right into the trap she set herself.

“I would rather this arrangement than to not see you and your brothers at all,” said Sakura honestly. “You mean a great deal to me.”

“But do you obey your parents, always?”

Sakura looked down at her feet for a moment and considered his question.

“Uchiha-san, that question is more personal and as your tutor, I don’t think it is appropriate for me to answer.”

“What if you weren’t our tutor?”

Sakura swallowed. That was an even more loaded question.

Tajima knew the boys were practically fluent in English by now. To them, she was more playmate and nanny than anything. The only reason she hadn’t been banished after the incident in the drawing room was likely the connection between her father and Tajima, and the fact that his sons were so fond of her. Sakura knew Tajima’s good graces would only extend so far, however.

But then another thought hit her 

What if perhaps she had misunderstood?

Were the boys no longer interested in her visits? Had she overstayed her welcome in their family and home?

“Would you like me to go?” asked Sakura, confused. Hurt coloured her tone more than it should have. She wore her heart on her sleeve more often than was appropriate, at her age. Her mother reminded her of it every so often and warned her that it would be used against her someday. Fortunately Sakura kept good company. 

“I don’t think your services are required as my English tutor anymore,” said Izuna.

Ah, she thought. There was truth to that. He didn’t mean it injuriously. 

“I agree, Uchiha-san. You’ve come a very long way,” praised Sakura. “Would you like me to speak to your father? So that you don’t need to sit in on the lessons any longer? You could probably learn just as well on your own now.”

Where was her coat?

Her shoulders sagged. She may need to track down Keiko-san anyway. Sakura looked around the crowded room, seeking the door. She had left it open to let the light in earlier, but it seemed to have closed behind her.

“What if you teach me something else?”

“Hm? Uchiha-san, are you near the door? Could you open it, please?”

The coats rustled again. He was closer, but she couldn’t get her bearings in the room. She could have sworn that the jacket she just passed hanging on the rack had been hung on the wall a few minutes before.

“I want you to teach me something only you know, Haruno-dono.”

“Like kimono?” asked Sakura, distracted. The light from the few windows in the room was fading. “Are there more lights in this room, Uchiha-san? I think I’m lost,” said Sakura, laughing good naturedly at herself. It had been a much longer day than she realized if she could get lost in the Uchiha’s home after visiting them for four years. She couldn’t believe she needed a map to navigate the coat room of all places. It was ridiculous. 

Sakura sighed. “I think you need to call in a maid to save me. I’m lost.”

"You don’t need a map, Haruno-dono," said Izuna from much closer. "I'll save you."

Still searching, Sakura sighed. "If you see my coat on your way, could you collect it for me, please? It's taken me so long to track it down I feel like I should offer a reward."

Izuna chuckled softly and Sakura gasped as his warm breath feathered over her nape. Startled, her hand flew to the back of her neck and she twisted, searching for him in the semi-darkness

"Found you," said Izuna in a sing-song. "Do I still get my reward?"

He stood far too close to her. Only Madara had ever intruded so far in her space before, and they… they had a different relationship. 

The closet was crowded but Izuna’s clothes brushed against her back as he stepped closer.

Her stomach tightening, Sakura straightened her posture.

"Uchiha-san," said Sakura firmly. "Please lead me out of here now."

"I will, once you answer my question," said Izuna. 

"You didn’t ask one."

"Ah, I should have been more specific."

He was nearly as tall as Madara, but was still shorter than Sakura as he leaned over her shoulder. 

"I want you to teach me everything you taught my brother," he whispered against the shell of her ear. 

Sakura’s eyes narrowed as she looked down and collected her composure. Her heart tripped in her chest. Izuna couldn’t mean what she thought. He was too young, too innocent. She hadn’t taught Madara anything special away from his brothers, though, really. 

A particularly awkward memory sprang to mind. Outside of that one time….

There was that one particular thing she had taught Madara, under duress.

She bit back the groan that settled in the back of her throat.

"You must speak to your father if you would like other lessons," said Sakura. "He made me… teach your brother that."

She couldn’t help swallowing at the memory of that afternoon, years ago in the drawing room, where Tajima had forced her to teach Madara all the naughty words she knew. It still made her cheeks burn. What made it worse was when she’d heard the way Madara had used them when he was inside her. Even thinking of his deep voice against her skin as he’d moved inside her made her legs weak and her cheeks burn, and the feminine muscles inside her contract with phantom want. 

Her eyes flew open wide as Izuna suddenly grabbed and pinned her to the wall. The coats padded her back but Sakura grunted at the impact. 

"What!" shouted Izuna angrily.

Sakura’s eyes narrowed and she grabbed at Izuna’s hand instinctively. She ducked her head to the side, unable to meet his eyes while the memories mixed and burned in her.

"In the drawing room one day. Your father… I didn't want to," muttered Sakura. "Let go of me, Uchiha-san."

Izuna’s eyes were wide, even in the darkened coat room.

"He forced you," growled Izuna softly.

The cold fury in his tone sent shivers down Sakura’s spine. All this about a single afternoon of cursing? Ugh. Ridiculous boys.

"He had to learn," said Sakura. She squirmed in Izuna’s fierce grip, where his fingers dug into her shoulders. "He had to know if someone tried to--"

"He forced you," repeated Izuna. 

Sakura sighed. 

"It was a long time ago," she said tiredly. "And I would rather not revisit it for the time being. I would not appreciate having your father upset with me again."

"He forced you and after he treated you like…"

The disgust in Izuna’s voice had Sakura shaking her head. Her brows drew together. Izuna’s reaction didn’t make sense.

"I think there's a misunderstanding, Uchiha-san," said Sakura. She straightened her arms to push him away but he was sturdier than he looked. Her fingers fell to his chest. 

"I am fine, no one has mistreated me, and if you want me to teach you anything separately from your brothers, you must address it with your father first, though I doubt he would humour us. Now, it's stuffy and I'm tired, and I want to go ho--mmph!"

Izuna’s lips crashed into hers and Sakura shoved him but he pressed the full length of his body into hers. His hands grabbed the sides of her face and he kissed her breathless before he released her with a gasp, his chest heaving and eyes glazed.

"I will save you, Haruno-dono," vowed Izuna as Sakura panicked, panting and shaking her head.

He tugged her to him and wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace. 

"Wha—no, Uchiha-san, you don't need—get off—let go!" exclaimed Sakura, her voice pitched higher with her fear and frustration.

"Haruno-dono?"

The muffled voice called from outside the coat room.

"Keiko-san!" shouted Sakura while Izuna’s face contorted.

“Haruno-dono—” began Izuna earnestly.

The lock on the door clicked and light flooded the room.

"Haruno-dono? I was looking for you, your jacket was just outside the door—," interrupted Keiko, poking her head in the room. Her cheery eyes widened and she paled when she saw Izuna with his arms around her. "Why are you in the coat room with Uchiha-san?" asked Keiko-san quietly.

Taking advantage of the interruption, Sakura shoved Izuna away and bolted for the light.

"Haruno-dono—Sak—," cried Izuna, reaching for her. 

Darting from Izuna’s grasp, Sakura hiked up her kimono and leapt out of the room. 

"Goodbye Uchiha-san!" she called over her shoulder. 

Sakura gratefully accepted her coat from a very concerned Keiko-san then raced out the door. 

Sakura didn't wait for the guard that day. She ran nearly the entire way home, her chest pounding and her kimono hitched nearly up to her knees.

#####

As the week progressed, Sakura debated for the enth time if it was time for her to cancel her visits to the Uchihas. If there was any way of seeing Madara otherwise, she would have resigned immediately. As it was, the thought of returning filled her with queasy dread, as if she was a doe wandering into a peaceful glade knowing full well that a predator lurked nearby but unsure what angle it would attack from. 

While she knew Izuna well enough to know he didn’t intend her physical harm, his unwanted, aggressive behaviour had unsettled her. He’d made plays for her attention before, of course; she had assumed out of jealousy and competition with his brothers. He had always been the most competitive with Madara, she remembered. What were at one time fond memories had been exposed under a new light, however. Perhaps Izuna was at the age where he was noticing girls and his focus had defaulted to her and he had a small crush? The manner in which he had approached her, isolated her… intruded on her person and personal space… The force and strength with which he’d grabbed her, though… 

Izuna’s sudden behaviour had reminded Sakura of that day in the garden, years ago. Where Madara had lost control and become so forceful that they had both made mistakes and been physically and emotionally hurt.

Sakura bit her lip at the memory, her hands stilling on her design work at the drafting table. The warm sun shone through the windows but Sakura felt a chill over the skin on the back of her neck. 

She didn’t know what Izuna had been playing at, that day in the coat room. The more she pored over the interaction in her mind, the more it felt like there had been something deliberate in the way her coat had been missing, the way the door had closed after she entered… the way she and Izuna had conveniently found themselves alone, unsupervised, and if not for Keiko-san’s curiosity, uninterrupted. It was dangerous. Even the ever-present guard had been absent.

Which was so uniquely strange that it gave Sakura pause, and slowly her brow furrowed. She straightened, her gaze going distant.

The guard had been absent… 

Why had the guard been absent, she wondered then. He’d always hovered over her or Madara before. It struck her then just how odd it was that she had been completely alone in part of the Uchihas’ home when it was time for her to leave. But perhaps she was overthinking it. 

At the drafting table, Sakura picked up her ink brush again, but her hand hovered over the paper with her indecision.

Was it time to move on? Her heart hammered in her chest at the thought.

She should. And yet, she had to visit her boys. It was simultaneously the only place, outside her own home, where she also felt safe and loved beyond measure. It sustained her in spite of its risks. Wherever he was, Madara’s sheer presence filled a room, his confidence and suredness and ego amusing and delighting her. All they had to do was catch each other’s eye, even for a moment, and it was enough to keep her going, to tighten her stomach, to warm her heart and mood.

But Izuna…

She frowned as ink dripped from her brush, staining the kimono design on the fine paper pinned to the drafting table.

Izuna was trying to wedge himself into the place in her life already occupied by another. A place he didn’t understand. A place he didn’t belong. Was it competition with his brother, Madara, or something more? Had she unconsciously encouraged him, somehow?

Blaming herself, Sakura realized that she had been too trusting while visiting a house full of men—powerful, important, entitled men at that. Also, she wasn’t… she wasn’t entirely an innocent girl any longer. She was a young woman. Things were different now. 

She didn’t know what to do or think about Izuna, but going forward, she would have to be on her guard at the Uchiha residence.

When Izuna delivered another shipment of books from Madara later that afternoon, Sakura was mindful to keep a piece of furniture between them. 

###

It was a frightfully overcast Friday afternoon in September when Sakura stood looking out the windows of the kimono shop at the heavy, low thunderheads overhead. The air had been cold but the wind from the south gusted hotly, shaking the trees and whipping loose paper and debris into the air with increasing pressure since that morning. A terrible storm was brewing and business had been quiet all day as the local residents remained at home, hunkering down and shuttering their windows against the wind.

“I’m sure they would understand if you wanted to reschedule your visit,” said Mebuki. She frowned as she leaned over the counter to look outside and shook her head. “I don’t want you to get caught in a downpour.”

“It’s been building for weeks,” agreed Kizashi, his voice full of reckoning. “The late summer was too hot. The gods themselves will open the sea upon our heads if we go out.” He sighed. “Well, it was nice while it lasted.”

Her fingers lightly pressed against the windowpane, Sakura’s shoulders sagged. She had missed the last visit to the Uchiha because of a rush of work. It had been nearly three weeks since she had last seen Madara. Her heart lay heavy in her chest at another week’s delay.

From the counter, Mebuki watched her daughter in a way a mother does when she knows her daughter very well.

“Unless… Do you have some books you need to return to Masters Madara and Izuna, Sakura?” asked Mebuki thoughtfully.

Sakura startled and lifted her chin as she looked over her shoulder at her mother, meeting Mebuki’s knowing, warm eyes.

“A short visit shouldn’t land you in any trouble. That storm’s still a little ways off,” mused Mebuki aloud. “But you’ll need to be very quick. Wear your shoes, not your geta… but bring your geta with you for the run home. When those clouds open, they won’t close again until morning.”

“Oh, you still want to go, Sakura?” asked Kizashi.

Sakura bit the inside of her cheek, looking at her mother before she nodded at her father. “Yes.”

“Better hurry. I’ll call Tajima and let him know on your way, but not to keep you too long,” said Kizashi, smiling at his daughter. “He’ll arrange a carriage home for you, if the weather turns.”

“Thank you,” gushed Sakura, already racing up the stairs to collect her bag. She threw several books in—just in case—before she leapt down to the main floor and out the door, her coat flying behind her.

“Those books must be quite important,” mumbled Kizashi from the kimono shop’s door, his brow furrowed as he watched his daughter tear off at full speed.

Mebuki looked at her husband balefully. Then she shook her head and turned back to her work.

###

Keiko-san met Sakura at the door and hurried her in, struggling to close the door against the wind outside after. Sakura helped her push the door shut before leaning against it and catching her breath.

“I don’t know how you made it in one piece,” panted Keiko, smiling down at Sakura. “Lord Uchiha has ordered that all the remaining servants are to stay the night this evening so that we don’t get caught up in it.”

“All of you?” asked Sakura, surprised.

“Well, the ones who have families of their own to look after were dismissed earlier, to give them a chance to get home safely. But yes, we’re on a skeleton staff today. If you need anything, please come find me. Most of our usual maids left before lunch. Lord Uchiha is concerned a typhoon is coming.”

Sakura’s cheeks, red from the windburn, paled at the news. 

“I thought it was just rain?”

Keiko shook her head. “Lord Uchiha has never been wrong about weather this severe. He hasn’t let the young masters outside all day.” She bit her lip and glanced around. “They’re a bit wound up,” she added in a whisper.

Sakura’s shoulders sagged. 

Keiko’s eyes softened sympathetically as Sakura groaned under her breath.

“Thank you for the warning, Keiko-san,” sighed Sakura. 

“Good luck,” said Keiko, patting Sakura’s shoulder in solidarity. With that, she went to hang Sakura’s coat. 

Sakura watched Keiko set her coat just inside the coat room, memorizing where it was hung. Then she looked around, waiting for the guard. He hadn't been at her home to meet her, but she assumed he would be waiting for her at the Uchiha's residence. After a minute or so, however, she realized he wasn't there, either.

"Keiko-san," said Sakura as Keiko headed toward the kitchens. "May I ask where our, hm, chaperone is?"

"Oh, he's been sent to the guard house," said Keiko. "Lord Uchiha has them helping the groundskeepers secure the exterior of the house and escorting the other staff home."

Keiko tilted her head to the side and bit her lip, looking around them.

"If..." Keiko glanced around again and stepped closer to Sakura once more. She lowered her voice. "I don't know when he'll be back, though, Haruno-dono. Please... mind yourself, today," said Keiko carefully, holding Sakura's gaze.

"Thank you, Keiko-san," said Sakura gratefully.

Keiko nodded one last time before gesturing towards the living room. "They're gathered there, but they've been feisty since this morning. Even young Master Madara is struggling with his patience today."

Sakura's smile softened.

"I'll try not to stir things up too much," said Sakura, waving to Keiko. "Thank you."

Keiko bowed slightly to Sakura before hurrying back to the kitchens.

As Sakura approached the living room, though, she could already hear the ruckus. Sure enough, once she arrived at the doorway, the scene was no less than what Keiko had described. The boys had shoved all the furniture back against the walls to clear a large, open space... wherein Koji and Shichi were grappling while Tomo kept begging to be allowed a turn from the side. Laid out on a long sofa with his feet crossed, Izuna ignored them from behind a book.

But the one who occasionally barked at Shichi or Koji to stop or be careful of the fireplace was Madara, seated on a cushion a short distance away, half his attention on some kind of report that spilled across his lap, the other half on his brothers as they roughoused around on the floor like puppies. His brows were drawn together and the lines under his eyes were deeper, but his irritation was only skin deep, from what Sakura saw. He wasn't truly angry with them, more observing them to ensure that they didn't get carried away.

"Shichi, let Koji go and give Tomo a turn," said Madara, flipping a page in his report. With his chin resting on his palm, his elbow propped up on his knee, Madara made a note in his report with a western pen in red ink.

"But I wanna fight Koji," whined Shichi.

"Koji needs to go get snacks," said Madara.

"Make Izu-nii get the snacks!" whined Koji.

"Izuna is busy," said Izuna boredly from behind his book.

"No you aren't!" called Tomo. "You just want to look smart in case Haruno-dono comes to visit!"

"She's not coming today," sighed Izuna. "The weather is terrible."

"Don't say that! She'll come!" shouted Tomo, stomping his little feet.

"Izuna, don't upset your brother," chastised Madara. Looking at his youngest brother, Madara narrowed his eyes, though he gentled his voice. "We need to respect Haruno-dono's time. The weather is not very good today, but Father said she would come for a short visit if she could. What's most important is that she is safe, hn?"

"Hn," sulked Tomo, his young shoulders sagging under his light kimono. "Do you think she'll really—Haruno-dono! You made it!"

The atmosphere in the room flipped like a switch. Koji, Shichi and Tomo rushed to Sakura in the doorway, all talking at once, while Izuna sprang to his feet, stuffing his book under the armrest of the sofa where he'd been reading.

"You were gone so long!" said Koji, jostling for position in front of Sakura with Shichi and Tomo.

"Come sit down! 'dara-nii, can we have a fire? Haruno-dono's cold!" called Tomo, dragging Sakura further into the room.

"I'll get the cushions!" said Shichi, zooming away to pull out their usual pillows so they could sit around the fireplace.

"I'll handle the fire—" began Izuna, but Madara narrowed his eyes at Izuna, stilling the younger brother.

"Go with Koji to collect snacks and drinks. Tomo and Shichi will help me with the fire," said Madara. "The staff are busy enough as it is."

"But—"

"I only have a few minutes, actually," said Sakura apologetically as the boys pulled her into the room to settle in front of the wide hearth. From different bins the younger boys collected paper, kindling and matches while Madara folded up his report and came to join them. He knelt down beside Sakura, dangerously close but not touching her, and looked up at her with longing.

"Then we'll make the most of it," said Madara, holding Sakura's gaze.

The pressure in Sakura's chest squeezed her heart at the gentleness in Madara's eyes.

"That would be nice," said Sakura quietly, her lips smiling at Madara as she relaxed.

They were so absorbed in each other that they missed the tightening of Izuna's expression as he watched them jealously from under his shaggy bangs, which he'd been growing out like his older brother.

Madara tore his eyes away from Sakura's to coach Tomo and Shichi on how to properly place the paper and kindling, letting them light it with the matches and catch before he arranged several larger, seasoned logs on top to burn.

"'dara-nii is the best at starting fires," bragged Tomo to Sakura.

"They're super hot and last forever!" added Shichi.

"She already knows that," said Madara, catching Sakura's eye.

His smirk lit a curl of heat inside Sakura that warmed her all the way up to her cheeks.

"You healed," remarked Sakura a few minutes later.

She and Madara shifted back and a little to the side, the sides of their legs pressed warmly against each other as they knelt side-by-side on their cushions. Sakura studied Madara's smooth, stubborn jaw, no longer swollen, while he supervised Tomo and Shichi by the fire. Sakura set the books she was 'returning' to Madara beside him, accomplishing the pretense of her visit. It was only then that Sakura noticed exactly which books she'd grabbed in her haste. The back of her neck burned and she swallowed.

Madara glanced down at the books then back up at Sakura, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Ah," murmured Madara. He casually flipped the books over so their covers wouldn't be on display for his impressionable younger siblings, and tucked them under his knee. With subtle movements, his eyes focused on his brothers, Madara's retreating hand then closed around Sakura's, hidden between their sides.

"Were there any other consequences," asked Sakura softly as Tomo and Shichi poked at the fire.

"Hn," murmured Madara confidently to the negative. "None that matter."

Sakura's eyes pinched, her brow knitting as she looked at him fully.

He squeezed her hand again, running his thumb over her knuckles reassuringly.

"Everything is well," promised Madara.

From the corner of his eye, he caught Sakura's gaze and held it before turning back to his brothers.

"Put the screen up," said Madara to Shichi. "Tomo, help your brother lift the other side."

With the fire screen in place, the two younger boys came to sit with Sakura and Madara and immediately struck up a barrage of questions about where Sakura had been, how she was doing, what they were doing, how much they missed her, did she want to see their latest toys—

Deciding she could stay just a few more minutes, Sakura smiled at the boys and answered everything she could. When Koji and Izuna returned with snacks and drinks, respectively, the fire burned warmly, fending off the increasing chill wrought by the blustry weather outside.

"No time for lessons today?" asked Koji, his shoulders slumping.

"I'm sorry, not today. I only wanted to come visit for a few minutes since I missed you all. And to return a few books and things," apologized Sakura. "We're due a small break soon at work. Maybe we can all go for a walk that day and have a break from lessons?"

"We could visit you and go to the restaurant you mentioned," said Izuna.

Sakura smiled at him. "Yes, everyone together. Though it may be a bit late in the season for sunomono sal—"

A tremendous crash followed by a heavy boom shook the room. Instinctively Sakura had grabbed Tomo and Shichi while Madara grabbed Koji and Izuna, all of them flattening themselves to the ground.

"What was—"

From somewhere else in the house, suddenly glass exploded and shattered, and Tomo and Shichi's arms grabbed Sakura tightly as they hid their heads in her blouse. Sakura and Madara's eyes whipped around to find each other.

"Stay here," ordered Madara, rolling to his feet in a flash, his dark eyes narrow and concerned.

"Everyone away from the windows," coaxed Sakura, pulling the boys over to the nearest desks and tables. "Take everything off the top, that's it. We're going to move this up against that sofa, and then I want you three to bring your pillows and stay underneath it. Uchiha-san," said Sakura, addressing Izuna. "Please bring the food and snacks over here."

With a nod, Izuna and Sakura got the younger boys tucked into a makeshift shelter in the living room while Madara ran to investigate what had happened elsewhere in their expansive home.

It was only when Sakura glanced outside and saw the rolling, churning clouds that she noticed how dark the afternoon had gotten, how wildly the wind had picked up. First she saw an outdoor chair fly by the window, then a parasol ripped past, and she realized that the storm had arrived much sooner than expected.

“Uchiha-san,” said Sakura, turning to Izuna. “I need to go home before it gets worse. Please tell your brother goodbye for me.”

“You aren’t going out in that,” snapped Izuna. “That’s a typhoon. Father was right!”

“If I don’t go now I won’t be able to leave until morning,” argued Sakura, getting to her feet. 

She glanced at the fireplace and her eyes widened. The books she had returned to Madara were gone. Had he taken them with him when he left? She hoped so. She didn’t have time to look for them now. Outside another boom resonated, shaking the ground and Sakura startled again, her hand coming up to her throat—outside, a tree in the yard had fallen, torn up from its roots which lay dangling and exposed like entrails as the rain began, first a light tapping, then more and more steadily. Fear trickled into her bloodstream.

“I need to go,” Sakura repeated. She looked down at the three youngest boys. “Listen to your big brothers.”

“Yes, Haruno-dono,” Shichi, Koji and Tomo mirrored back at her.

Sakura smiled at them and waved. “I’ll be back another time, okay?”
“You aren’t going out in that,” repeated Izuna, grabbing Sakura’s arm with his strong fingers when she tried to pull away.

“Let go of me, I don’t have much time,” said Sakura, glaring at Izuna.

“I won’t let you,” countered Izuna, glaring right back at Sakura.

“You don’t get a say,” said Sakura, yanking her arm free. “Take care of your brothers.”

“Saku-Haruno-dono!” called Izuna angrily, taking a step after her before looking down at his younger brothers helplessly.

“Stay away from the windows!” called Sakura over her shoulder.

Thankfully Sakura’s coat was exactly where Keiko had left it when she arrived less than an hour earlier. Sighing with relief, Sakura donned it and double-knotted the belt. She put away her slippers and double-knotted the laces on her boots before facing the door with trepidation. It had taken both her and Keiko to close it earlier…

Another resounding crash outside shook the floor beneath her boots, and Sakura eeped, reaching out to steady herself against—

“What do you think you’re doing!” demanded Madara, grabbing Sakura’s waist and yanking her against his chest. He dragged her away from the door.

“I have to go home before it gets any more dangerous,” snapped Sakura, her fear feeding her anger. 

"It's too late for that," said Madara. "Father called your parents. You're staying here tonight."

Sakura's face flooded with heat.

"I can't stay in a house of men—"

"Yes you will and I will tie you to my bed if I have to, but you are not going out in a typhoon!"

"Do you have any idea what will happen to my reputation if I—"

"To hell with your reputation, you're marrying me anyway, I said you're staying here and that's final!"

"You don't get to tell me what to do!"

"I do when you're making ridiculous decisions, and going out in that storm is—"

"What is all the yelling about!" thundered Tajima, storming into the foyer where Sakura and Madara faced off, toe to toe, in spite of Madara’s arms locked around her middle and Sakura shoving him back, her hands planted on his shoulders. Beneath his graying hair, his eyes settled on Sakura and sharpened at the sight of her jacket and boots. 

Sakura swallowed.

“I’m going home,” said Sakura calmly, doing her best not to cower in front of one of the most powerful men in Japan.

Madara bristled against Sakura, but it was Tajima who glared Sakura into submission.

“Until this typhoon passes, this is your home,” said Tajima evenly. “Put away your coat and boots. You’ll be staying in a guest room until I can escort you safely back to your parents’ custody. Is that clear?” he added, rising to his full height when Sakura opened her mouth to object.

“Yes, Lord Uchiha,” said Sakura. Her hands curled loosely into fists at her side.

Tajima nodded. Then he turned his sharp, intelligent eyes on his son. Some message passed between them that Sakura couldn’t understand, but Madara released her and held himself more respectably so Sakura decided to keep mum for the time being.

“The drawing room and its wing are off-limits until further notice,” added Tajima. 

Sakura’s cheeks burned as she struggled to swallow over the lump in her throat.

“The windows were smashed by a falling branch,” explained Madara beside her. “The trees are older on that side of the house. The living room is safer for everyone.”
Tajima nodded.

“We’ll have supper in the living room,” advised Tajima. The dining room and kitchen were also located in the older wing of the house. 

Sakura and Madara nodded.

“Keep your brothers out of trouble. No exploring,” instructed Tajima to Madara. 

Madara nodded again and Sakura followed suit.

Tajima gave his eldest son a last long look of warning before walking away again, back to the damaged wing. Sakura’s shoulders sagged when he disappeared down another corridor. She looked to her side to find Madara watching her carefully.

“I won’t run,” sighed Sakura. She bent down and began untying the knots in her bootlaces.

“Not from me,” ordered Madara.

From her kneeling position in the foyer, Sakura scowled up at Madara only to find him staring at her with strong emotions she couldn’t name passing through his haggard eyes.

“Never run from me,” repeated Madara sternly, his voice thick. 

Sakura ducked her head down and focused on her laces again, removing her boots.

“I didn’t like it… when you ran before,” said Madara, his voice catching in his throat.

Sakura pressed her lips together.

The day she had run. The day in the gardens. The day her clothes had been torn and they’d made so many mistakes...

“I wasn’t running away from you tonight. I was running home to be with my family so I would know they were safe,” said Sakura quietly. 

She stood and set her boots on the tray by the coat room. She fumbled with the knot she’d tied in her coat belt, huffing when she understood how unfortunately well she’d tied it. Madara’s hands settled over hers, his fingers patiently setting to work untangling the ends, holding her hands in his as he did so. 

It was only then that she realized how much larger Madara’s hands had grown. He may still stand an inch or two shorter than her, but the rest of him was growing fast.

The knot slipped free and, after only a heartbeat of hesitation, Madara’s hands released Sakura’s so he could undo the buttons of her coat, one at a time, from her throat down to her hips. His hands didn’t shake, and neither did his gaze, as he undressed her.

With her coat undone, Sakura and Madara gazed at each other.

“I will never run away from you,” promised Sakura, knowing he was still waiting for her response.

Madara nodded, his grasp loose on the lapels of Sakura’s coat.

“I missed hearing your voice,” she confessed.

Madara gestured for her to turn around. As he helped her out of her coat like a gentleman, he leaned over her shoulder.

“I miss hearing you come,” he whispered against her ear.

Sakura’s voice caught at his naughty word, and a shiver ran down her spine and the way his lips caressed her hair when he pulled away. Turning to look over her shoulder at him, her eyes widened and her mouth fell open as she caught the smug, masculine pride that his smirk didn’t even attempt to hide.

“You’re mine tonight,” said Madara quietly, his eyes shining. He pulled Sakura backwards with him, a step at a time, towards the—

Sakura balked.

“Not the coat room,” she said quickly. 

Madara’s eyes scanned the room and corridors around them.

“Not the coat room,” she repeated, also searching the vicinity but probably not for the same reason Madara did. Her voice was high. “Please.”

Something flickered in Madara’s gaze and he nodded.

“Hn,” he said, releasing Sakura and hanging her coat inside before closing the door again.

Sakura’s swallow of relief was audible and Madara’s ears pricked up.

“Something happened,” he said in sudden understanding, lowering his voice. 

Sakura’s shoulders sagged. This wasn’t the place to go into it; the foyer connected nearly every wing of the house. She decided to share only what was necessary. 

She stepped closer and Madara leaned forward to hear her better, instinctively lifting his arm to comfort her.

“A few weeks ago,” began Sakura, “I was caught off-guard by—”

“You’re still here!”

“Haruno-dono!”

Sakura and Madara turned at Izuna’s and Koji’s exclamations. Shichi and Tomo hurried to catch up behind them.

“Thank goodness we weren’t too late,” said Koji, his eyes wide. “Shichi just saw another tree branch fall and—”

“Are you okay?!”

The circus the boys brought caused another ruckus in the foyer and Sakura and Madara looked at each other. Sakura’s shoulders sagged and Madara nodded at her subtly with his chin. They would continue their discussion later, away from the others. As the boys all tried to get Sakura’s attention at once, Madara collected Sakura’s slippers from the shelf and set them by her feet again. She smiled at him gratefully and stepped into them once more.

“Is father getting you a carriage?” asked Izuna, speaking over his brothers and distracting Sakura.

Sakura shook her head.

“No. I’m staying here this evening, just until the storm blows over,” admitted Sakura. “I guess we have time for a lesson after all.”

“You’re staying overnight?” exclaimed Tomo excitedly.

“In a guest room,” explained Madara, herding everyone back towards the living room. “We’re not all bunking in the same place,” he sighed.

“Which guest room?” asked Izuna.

“I don’t know yet,” said Sakura. “Your father or Keiko-san will let me know when it’s time for us to tuck in. In the meantime, are there any games you’d like to play?”

“Snap!”
“Checkers!”
“Chutes and ladders!”
“Tiddly Winks!”

Madara’s warm hand smoothed up and down Sakura’s back when she stumbled at the last suggestion, and he caught her elbow, righting her before the other boys noticed.

Well, most of the other boys.

 While Sakura chatted warmly with Madara’s younger siblings, Madara noted the way Izuna’s eyes had sharpened upon hearing that Sakura would be staying the night. Suspicions forming, Madara also bookmarked the way Izuna’s focus remained on Sakura through the rest of the afternoon and into the evening.