I'm so garbage at art, so I commissioned the lovely Lesya7 to create a cover for A Waltz In Flames. Pretty snazzy, huh? I certainly think so. Isn't our Kasume just beautiful? (I was very picky, poor Lesya had to deal with my nonsense..)
Here's a link to her artwork:

On a side note, I'm finally ahead of the game with chapters now that my exams are over. College is such a pest. I'll have the next chapter up in a couple weeks, but for now enjoy some fluff.

Chapter 13: Holy Wars II

A brilliant hue of orange poured across the horizon as the sun began to rise - the fluted clouds every shade from the palest pink to deep scarlet covered the pearl morning haze in pure light.

The lethargic group of shinobi had trudged throughout the night with seldom rest; debilitated from battle. The men who were incapable of walking on their own were assisted by their comrades at the rear. Of the sixty-four men who had left for war, twenty-three had perished. The Uchiha had collected what little pieces remained of their kin who were disfigured far beyond recognition, thus giving proper means for their families to mourn in their memory. The corpses that remained intact, however, were carried at the very hind of the company to later be buried on stronghold grounds.

They ascended the mountain path at a lumbering but steady pace, and with each dragging step they drew closer to home. The gates to the Uchiha stronghold were within sight just around the bend of trees.

A sentinel stationed at the citadel tower had a vigilant eye on the path and forest area, and spotted the mass of battered men approaching the compound. He swiftly turned and called down to a group of shinobi idly chatting by the wall, "Open the gates!"

The men ceased their conversation and immediately ran to the secured ropes used to pry open the solid wood gate. As the war-torn shinobi neared the walls, a great deal of loud commands could be heard from inside the stronghold; voices requesting the immediate assistance of medics at the ready and alerting family members.

Ravaged men began to pour into the courtyard as physicians rushed to the area bearing supplies and medicine. Those who carried the impaired set their comrades down onto the straw mats placed by the medics as they hurried to administer bandaging and salves to their wounds, and even begin surgery.

Family members had quickly entered the district to find their loved ones, praying that they had survived the battle, however it was only a matter of time before heart-wrenching sobs filled the air.

Kasume dropped the cloth she had been holding when she heard a cry of their return from the hall and ran out of the main building. The bottom of her dress clenched in her tight fist, she raced down the dirt street with speed that seemed unfamiliar to her.

The courtyard was bustling as she arrived, the very last of the soldiers entering the grounds. Her hazel eyes scanned and searched for him; she had never felt claustrophobic before, but in that swollen mix of tormented and alleviated souls, Kasume felt the panic rise in her chest. He wasn't here.

Amidst the crowd of clan members, he saw her. A mild breeze picked up that caressed her face and softly blew strands of her hair. She was still looking for him. Amused, the corner of his lip twitched as he kept his gaze on her. When he entered, the physicians had asked to treat his wounds but he denied the treatment. Madara wanted to see her first.

Making his way through the mass of clan members, he approached from the side and caught her off guard. She looked up at him, mouth agape as her eyes traveled across his burnt, cut and bruised face; his lip had been sliced and a patch of purple was swelling beneath his left eye. He smirked but said nothing.

That smirk quickly faded as he saw her softened eyes brim with tears, and he scowled, "What?"

Kasume threw herself into him, gripping onto the soiled fabric of his plum long-sleeved shirt. Perplexed, he stared down at her but welcomed the embrace. Her body began to tremble with sobs as she clutched onto him, dearly wishing to not embarrass herself with a public display, but couldn't stop. She was so happy he was alive and here with her.

Once she had pulled away from him and dried her face, Madara cleared his throat, "I am.. uhh," He began, his arm still holding her, "not entirely sure why you are crying."

She smiled brightly up at him before shaking her head, casting off her sudden influx of emotion. Looking him over, she asked, "Are you ok?"

"I could be worse." He snorted then clasped her hand in his and began pulling her along behind him toward the main building; albeit he moved a bit slower than usual. Kasume glanced down at his left leg, but chose not to say anything.

As they returned to his stately chamber, Madara lifted his encumbering armor up and off his shoulders and set it onto a wood stand. He flopped down into the chair in the corner of the room and exhaled slowly, removing the gloves from his hands and tossing them onto a bureau. Within moments, two men entered the room carrying a large brass tub and set it on the stone floor. Three women then followed with several buckets, pouring the tub full with steaming water. The group nodded to the clan head before leaving, shutting the door soundly behind them.

Madara then began peeling the sullied clothing from his body; the first to go was his long-sleeved mantle that was tossed into the woven basket by the door. She nearly squeaked at his sudden nudity, almost turning away but then realized he had brought her here to bandage his wounds. In exchange for hiding, she kept her gaze anywhere than on him as he rid himself of his clothing.

Then she had another thought.. Why was he getting nude to bathe if she was going to mend him? Eyes still averted, her rosette lips parted and brows raised as she finally chirped uncomfortably, "Ah.. I will return once you are done, Madara-sama.."

"No, stay." He said as he stepped into the tub and hissed as the boiling-hot water met the open lesions on his body while gradually submerging himself. He sat with his back leaned against the cool brass and his arms resting on the lip of the tub, still grimacing, "Find me a change of clothing."

Seeing that the majority of his bare form was now hidden by the water and the walls of the tub, she looked up from the floor and nodded, although still feeling rather uncomfortable.

Kasume put the rest of his clothing into the wicker basket to be washed and repaired later, then opened the nearby chest of drawers and produced fresh, folded garments for him and set them on his bed. With her back to him, she heard grunts of pain and turned to see that he had been rubbing a soapy wet cloth over the wide gash on his right forearm. She quickly knelt at his side and grasped onto his wrist, fretting, "Your wound will only get worse if you wash it like that!"

Madara raised a brow at her, then held out the cloth expectantly. With a breath of a sigh, simply glad he was no longer scraping at the gash, she accepted the rag and began delicately cleaning the injury as well as outer edges of the abrasion, removing any debris. She winced upon examining the deep, bloody crevice carved into his skin.

His eyes moved from the cut to watch her. She would blink her doe eyes from time to time, allowing her eyelashes to flutter. Her long and fluid dark hair lied softly over her shoulders, and her charmingly cute button nose was neither too long nor too short. The tempting curve of her soft pink lips clashed with her skin, pure like untouched winter snow.

His onyx gaze moved languidly across her face. She was classically beautiful.

He loved her, of that he was sure. Madara knew had been in love with her for quite some time once he saw her searching for him in the courtyard and how her face brightened with relief upon his return from the war against the Senju.

In her presence, he felt showered with affection and in her eyes shone a gentleness that told him that, at last, he was home.

"..adara-sama?"

He blinked, stirring from his reverie, "Hm?"

"Are you alright?"

"...Hm."

Kasume looked at him curiously before she smiled and continued her work. Her smile was contagious; he too felt the corners of his lips twitching.

"Were the Uchiha victorious?" She asked as she gently wiped away the few small streaks of blood dribbling down his forearm. She frowned, the wound would need to be sewn; it was too wide and deep, and she could only imagine how much it hurt.

"The enemy retreated. It was a monumental victory." He replied casually with a hint of smugness.

Peering up at him with concern, she held the folded wet cloth flat against his injury, "...Can you move this arm?"

She could see his reluctance as those dark eyes met her hazel ones. He does not want to admit any fault, she realized thoughtfully. Madara always held an impeccably strong mien; a paragon of fortitude. It pained her to know he believed he had to remain that way, even in the privacy of his own room. Even when it was simply the two of them.

He stayed silent for a moment; she could practically hear him debating with himself. He eyed her a moment longer before turning his gaze to the wall opposite him when he finally said in defeat, "No."

Deciding to change the subject, she moved her attentions to a slash near his clavicle and inquired curiously, "How does war…operate?"

"Often through attrition warfare and pitched battle." Madara responded, "Wearing down the enemy to the point of collapse through losses in personnel and materiel." He explained and watched her, "You must be prepared to defeat any opponent in any situation. Waiting until the right moment to strike; until you can see the path to victory, you must have patience."

Madara observed her as she looked on in distress at his many injuries; the pads of her fingers lightly touched the tender skin beneath a cut on his face. He sighed, "Our debts are laid upon us at birth. We are all prisoners of war." He spoke gravely, his smoldering stare fixated on the rippling surface of the steaming water.

Kasume stared at his face, his poignant words burdening her heart. She took the soap from his hand and moved to sit behind him as he leaned forward, the water around him sloshing. She diligently washed his stout back and shoulders, mindful of any injuries, then gently gathered the pieces of long hair resting over his chest to have it pooled at his back.

He glimpsed over his shoulder as she worked her sudsy lithe fingers over his wealth of raven hair, "Did that sandy haired cretin approach you?"

She smiled a bit, "Juiro?"

Madara felt his brow twitch and closed his eyes while her fingers glided across his scalp, "Yes, him."

She hummed pensively before she said, "I have not seen him since that time." She waited for him to come back up after rinsing his hair, "Perhaps you frightened him for good..."

"Hm." His eyes flickered to her as she came around to his front and shuffled through a chest of linens, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she searched. Madara glowered. No, he didn't think Juiro was through just yet.

Kasume chirped a noise of satisfaction after finding what she sought. She came to his side and rested a folded cloth on the rim of the basin before inquiring with uneasy eyes, "...You can handle the rest, yes?"

He wanted to make a suggestive comment but quickly decided against it, "I can."

"Is there anything you would like to eat?"

Madara rested the elbow of his functional arm on the edge and leaned his cheek on his enclosed fist, smiling at her.

Refusing to bow to his charm, she sighed, "You shouldn't eat so much inarizushi, Madara-sama.. A lot of sugarcane is used in preparation and it's rather unhealthy and high in calories.."

"I need calories." He retorted with a shrug.

"Yes, but you also need other foods."

"Then what would you suggest?" He asked with a smirk, interested to see what she would make for him.

"I will think of something.." Kasume said absently, and with that she left the room.

He grinned as he watched the door close. Madara then slid further into the water and made himself more comfortable; his eyes slipping shut with a relaxed sigh, enjoying the warmth against his bare skin. A moment later, his eyes reopened and flickered about the room. He sighed again.

"Too quiet..." Madara pouted. Using his operant arm, he heaved himself up with a grunt and grabbed the bar of soap to finish bathing then dress himself before she returned, as well has have the tub removed.

He had just finished pulling on the pants Kasume had laid out for him when she entered the room holding several things. He looked at what she was holding with a questioning gaze, "You certainly came prepared."

She placed a small clay grill on the floor and smiled brightly up at him, "I figured that the meal may as well cook while I wrap your wounds."

Madara stared at her face before crossing his arms and looking away with a scoff, "Suits me.."

He sat on the edge of the bed and rested his hands on his knees; waiting for her to set down the other items she had brought, then to light the coals and set a few pieces of beef over the grill. She stood from her crouch and retrieved the wooden box of medical supplies then turned to face him.

She only then realized that he had left his shirt off. Kasume's eyes just couldn't draw away from that chiselled chest covered in scars and open abrasions. Looking the rest of him over, she saw his pant legs were pulled up to expose his calves and a part of his thighs. His body was rife with cuts and bruising of various size.

He must be in so much pain... Her heart made a frantic lurch against her ribs. She approached him and set the box on the bed, their eyes never leaving each other. Madara read her face like an open book, and suddenly experienced a rush of disappointment in himself for being so careless in battle. He watched as she knelt beside him and gently trailed her finger along a patch of a dark purple bruise that extended over the entirety of his left shin.

Kasume looked up at him in worry, "This is why you were limping.."

"I was not limping." He corrected and folded his arms, "I was.. walking slower than normal. That is all."

They gazed at each other, seeing who would be the first to break the line of sight. The open concern in her hazel hues was
overwhelming and he caved, glowering at the stone floor as he felt an influx of more disappointment.

She decided not to waste any more time and opened the wood box, taking out a roll of bandages and carefully began to wrap the cloth heavily around the bruise. She retrieved a pair of sheers from the box to cut the bandage then made a secure knot. Retrieving a needle and a spool of thread, she peered up at him and he simply nodded. She began to suture the wide gash in his right arm; focused solely on her task while trying to make the procedure as painless as she could. Madara seemed to be handling it rather well, though his jaw was visibly clenched. Once she was finished stitching the wound, she carefully slathered soothing ointment over the area and bandaged his arm.

Madara's eyes slowly trailed after her as she began to apply ointment onto a thin, long cut along his abdomen; then to scrapes and burns on his cheeks and forehead, as well as cuts on parts of his biceps, calves, and back. She quickly moved to turn the meat, then returned to finish bandaging him.

She swallowed tersely as she worked on his chest, trying earnestly to remain professional and suppress the tinge of pink that threatened to grow more so over her cheeks. Witnessing her struggle, Madara smirked in amusement.

Once she was finished, he cradled his hand and extended it to her, "This is a little swollen.."

She peered into his eyes with worry and brought her attention to his hand; applying ointment to the bridge between his forefinger and thumb all the while he stared at her with heavy eyes.

"This side hurts as well." Madara nodded his head to the blunt side of his palm.

"Here?" Their eyes met briefly. He hummed, entranced as she worked gently. Gods, she was beautiful.

Without a second thought, Madara swooped down and captured her lips with his own; his unoccupied hand lifting to cup her soft cheek. He tilted his head for greater access as she recovered from the initial shock and shyly returned his fervent kiss; the blush she had tried to withhold from before had rushed to the surface of her skin. Her palms gradually lifted to rest on his bicep and on the hand that caressed her cheek as she inched ever closer to him.

The intimately slow kiss continued until they gradually broke apart. Madara rested his bandaged forehead against hers; both of them breathing softly as they stared into the others' eyes. His thumb moved gently over her cheek and she cuddled into his palm. She placed a chaste kiss onto the tip of his nose before pulling away from him, fidgeting with the creases in her dress. He grinned crookedly at her discomfort, then extended his hand to her and they both stood. As she went to complete cooking his meal, Madara grabbed the folded shirt left on the bed and awkwardly threw it over his head while trying not to injure himself any further, then came to join her on the floor; his bruised leg extended outward and his left arm resting atop his knee.

"So," He peered around her with slight curiosity, "What exactly are you creating?"

Kasume smiled as she reached for a package of wax paper and unwrapped it, revealing a variety of freshly cut bell peppers and finely chopped garlic, "Something yummy." She said vaguely as she set a few pieces of bell pepper onto the grill then sprinkled the garlic over the beef, continuous sizzles erupting from the heat.

He could taste the excessive salivation in his mouth just from smelling the cooking food, eyeing the grilling meat with a predatory gaze. She laughed a bit before reaching behind her and retrieving a small porcelain bottle and saucer, setting the two on the short wooden table in front of them. He looked at her questioningly, "Sake?"

"To relax and enjoy." She smiled with a slight shrug of her shoulder, then poured a bit into the cup for him which he then lifted to his lips and downed like lightning. She was about to refill the saucer for him before he held her wrist, "I'll do it. Just focus on cooking."

She nodded and reached for another wrapped wax paper package, this time full of large, rinsed lettuce leaves. Madara observed her with heightening amusement and curiosity as he casually nursed his drink.

"All done." She chirped and took the few dishes from the tray she had brought in. She removed the lid from a large wooden bowl on the tray, revealing hot steamed rice. Madara set down his saucer and watched as she scooped several helpings into a bowl and placed it before him, then laid out one of the large lettuce leaves and added several slices of grilled beef and vegetables on top and bundled it up, setting the plate by his rice bowl.

As she continued making more wraps for him, Madara looked quizzically at the small lettuce parcel before he popped it into his mouth and chewed.

His eyes widened and flashed to her, inquiring with a full mouth, "What is this?"

Kasume laughed, setting more beef onto the grill as she explained, "Something my mother used to make. Is it good?"

"It's delicious." His voice was muffled as he chewed. She placed another wrap onto his plate and watched as he wolfed it down too.

She smiled as she created his next wrap, topping the grilled beef with vegetables, "My mother would tell me, 'If you cook while thinking of the person who will eat it, it will taste better.'"

Madara stared at her as she presented another lettuce wrap. He scoffed and looked away, shielding her eyes from slight dust of pink over his cheeks, "Is that right?"

"Mmhm." She replied with a smile and a nod before eating a wrap herself, "Oh, I did well..!"

He turned to his meal again and reached for the utensils by his plate. He struggled to hold them between his fingers and dropped them on the table, hissing from the pain that shot up from his right arm. Kasume crawled to his side and picked them up, then held the bowl of rice in her left hand. She held up a clump with the utensils and brought it towards his face.

The dark haired leader looked at her and then at the cluster of rice. His eyes fell back to her as he leaned forward to eat. She picked up more of the rice and he ate that too, then took a swig of the sake, ate one of the wraps on his plate, then accepted another clump rice from her.

"You should eat slower, Madara-sama." She said worriedly, yet amazed that he could eat so much in so little time, "You might hurt yourself.."

He hummed absently, shoveling as much of her food into his mouth as he could. After he had swallowed it all down with more sake, he wiped his mouth on his sleeve, "The meal you created for Izuna and I was delicious, by the way. He ate his all at once on the second day, so I had to ration mine with him." He said and rolled his shoulder, "I have not had anything to eat in two days."

"What?" She exclaimed with wide eyes, completely ignoring his complement as she set the bowl and utensils on the table, "Madara-sama!"

He leaned forward, his smirking face just inches from hers, "What? Are you worried again?"

She locked eyes with him before murmuring abashedly, "Yes..." The weight of his piercing gaze forcing her to blink, "I always am…"

Madara kissed her temple before straightening his back. He finished off the sake in his saucer before setting it on the wood table with finality and stood, reaching a hand out to her, "Come."

The brunette accepted his hand and stood up, allowing herself to be pulled along by him after dousing out the fire in the small clay grill.

He flopped down onto his bed and immediately laid back with a relaxed sigh, pulling his sandals off with his feet. He glanced at her as she stood awkwardly beside his bed. He grinned and opened his arms to her. She nibbled on the inside of her lip before crawling onto the bed and into his arms. Madara pulled them both up so that they laid their heads against the pillows. He adjusted himself more comfortably so that his right arm rested against his abdomen and his left arm curled around her shoulder, drawing her closer to him.

"I am glad you are home..." She spoke softly, raising her head to rest on his shoulder and placing her hand atop his chest.

His lip quirked up as his thumb drew little circles against her shoulder, "As am I."

Kasume peered up at him and caressed the skin beside the patch of purple beneath his left eye. His eyes slimmed and he gently took her hand in his own, lifting it to his lips to place feather-light kisses against her knuckles and tips of her fingers.

She smiled, her affection for the man shining in her hazel eyes. He kissed the top of her head and removed his arm from beneath her, using his hand to cradle his head as he turned on his side to face her completely.

"What did you do while I was away?" This question was so unlike him. For anyone else, he wouldn't have cared in the slightest what they spent their time doing while he was on the battlefield. If it was important, they would tell him. In her case, he genuinely wanted to know; especially if Juiro had made any appearances.

Curling onto her side as well, she tucked the pillow closer to her head, "I changed your sheets."

He raised his dark brows, looking down and pulling back the heavy blanket seeing crisp sheets covering his bed. His gaze returned to her, an amused smirk against his lips, "That you did."

Madara laid back lazily on the bed, staring down at the cute girl, "And who told you that you had permission to enter my bedroom while I was away?"

She laughed, trying to hide the lower half of her face with her sleeves. He wanted to tear her hands away from her face and kiss her as if he were a starving man, but quickly forced himself to suppress that urge. His interest in the petite chambermaid was unhealthy... and growing ever more dangerous.

The brunette sat up and straightened out her dress, "You must be exhausted, Madara-sama. You should rest now..." She began to stand from the bed, but was abruptly pulled back down and into his arms again.

What he was doing was wrong and he knew it. He would hurt her... but he couldn't stop. He wanted to indulge in her just a little longer.

Kasume stared up at him, her cheeks tinted a faint pink and her mouth slightly agape. He held her eyes in a lethargic gaze before resting his hand on the back of her head, pulling her closer to his chest, "Stay."

Her eyes danced across the fine navy threads embedded into his soft top, then felt a gentle smile cross her face. She snuggled against him and closed her eyes.

The clan leader reached to retrieve the folded blanket at the bottom of his bed and covered them both with it. He placed a light kiss atop her head, then he too shut his eyes, seeking a well needed rest after several days without.