The absolute dark chasm of sleep seemed endless, flashes of images would come and go, snippets of memories of little recollections which seemed so lucid before turning watery and hazy and fading completely. This was the turmoil of sleep of which Saruyama had found herself within, nothing made any sense, and all around was this quiet buzzing noise which was just that: noise, she couldn't make out any words, syllables were also indistinguishable; she could feel things though, gentle hands soothing over her hair, something cool placed against her forehead, her rather limp body rearranged for her to be more comfortable within her bedding.

She didn't want to wake up, she really didn't want to, waking up meant facing up to realities and the realities which she would need to accept were much easier ignored, than accepting. Why would she want to wake up to a world where another one of her brothers was gone? Not that the pain felt over Kawarama's death didn't tear a hole inside her, but the absolute loss of Itama was something that was irreparable.

It could be easily felt, already as she tried desperately to stay sleep, there was a gaping void, this rough around the edge's abyss within her, deep down, that was just absolute agony to sense and feel, knowing it was there at all was something which caused more darkness to seep into the negative space. Nothing was going to repair this wound, it was etched now forever into her very being, her mind, body and soul had been ruptured and harmed by this, and it would take time to see if there was a semblance or chance to heal.

To heal from the loss of her other half seemed ridiculous, impossible even, how could anyone do that? How? Where does one start? What does one do? It was of no surprise to her that when she slowly opened her eyes, she was aware to the fact that tears had leaked from them, little tracks going down her cheeks and landing silently against the pillow below her head.

Turning her head slowly, her eyes looked over the figure sitting silently reading. "Tobirama?" Her brother had seemingly cleaned up from the fight, he had also changed out of his armour, a fresh dark grey vest was tucked into light coloured trousers. He was sitting with one knee bent, his elbow resting against it, and his cheek against his fist, his other hand trailed over the words on the scroll before him slowly. Looked like he had been put on watch duty, though she wasn't sure how long she'd been asleep for.

Hearing her voice had his red eyes snapping instantly upwards, the scroll got bypassed as he tucked his knees under himself and scooted forwards. As neutral as his expression was, even within the soft light of the room, she could see the deep set worry in his eyes. He removed the cloth from her forehead, there was a bowl close to her head which she hadn't registered being there, the cloth got placed inside, the quiet sounds of water splashing reached her ears.

"I'm sorry, Saruyama." Tobirama said quietly, watching as she looked pained but put her hands underneath herself and pushed herself up. He reached up and aided her, though she smiled awkwardly and waved his hands away. Tobirama frowned though when her hand was placed against his forehead, the hum which came from her had him sighing.

"Why are you apologising?" Saruyama got her hand removed and then placed back on the bed. She just watched as Tobirama distracted himself with making sure she was comfortable before he looked up at her simply. She had rarely heard her brother apologise, it wasn't something which he did often, but to do it here...she didn't understand. It wasn't like her pain was singular, it might be felt more deeply, but they were all pained by their brother dying.

"We couldn't get to you two sooner." Tobirama crossed his legs then and crossed his arms over his chest loosely, from the nervous energy that was making his leg twitch and a finger tap against his arm, Saruyama was more surprised he wasn't pacing around.

She opened her mouth to reply, only to shut it and shake her head. She turned her hands over and looked at them long and hard, there were little grazes here and there from the scuffles she had, and the tumbles. Nothing was bandaged really, she hadn't sustained extreme damage, or at least life threatening damage. Scrunching her nose up, she just looked at her brother and shook her head slowly. He shouldn't have to apologise for something he had no control over, nobody could've deterred this moment, it was evidently destined to happen, no matter how many times they could replay the event over in their heads, what-if scenarios weren't going to do them any good.

Tobirama placed a hand gently on her shoulder, he didn't do comforting, but this was good enough as she just hung her head and eventually put her hands over her eyes. The cold hard reality was that she became very much aware to the fact that she couldn't feel Itama anymore. Even if they weren't in the same room, she could sense him, not even by his chakra, it was just a feeling, a knowing. She didn't have that anymore, she had tried, and all she received was this blank nothingness in return, a tie that was very much severed, loose threads of something which used to be but wasn't any longer, and those threads would get weaker over time, even if she grasped onto every last fragment of her twin, those little threads would break and dissipate and Itama, much like Kawarama, would become a distant remembrance dream.

Tobirama held his hands up and just looked a little wide eyed over his sister's shoulder when she turned and threw her arms around his neck. He could feel her wet cheeks against his neck as she nestled against him, he put a hand to the back of her head and the other rested on her shoulder. Hearing the door slide open, Tobirama awkwardly tried to turn his head to see who was there and received a gentle smile from Hashirama as he placed a hand gently against Saruyama.

Tobirama didn't want to palm his sister off, but Hashirama was the more passionate out of them, the one that was definitely more able to comfort; even though through his awkwardness, Tobirama was doing a fine enough job in her eyes. Considering she was more out of her bedroll than in it, it didn't take Hashirama much to pick her up, he even came to settle in her bedding with her more or less wrapped around him crying. He didn't say anything, or do anything in particular, he just held her, leaned his head atop hers and shut his eyes.

Saruyama had been asleep for a day, maybe a day and a half, admittedly she had missed the burial of Itama, but the trauma of everything clearly just took its toll on her body, and mind. Hashirama knew his sister would wake up, he just didn't know how she'd be once she was. A heartbroken crying girl is just about what he imagined, he so far, he wasn't wrong. Tobirama still sat close and Hashirama looked sadly his way, the second oldest just shook his head, indicating she hadn't been awake too long. But Hashirama was still looking at him with that same expression, Tobirama was hurting too, they all were.

Lifting up an arm, Hashirama beckoned to his brother and Tobirama sidled to sit beside him, even scooping up his sister's legs and putting them in his lap to accept the arm being placed around him. They could sit here silently grieving together for the moment, Hashirama had point blanked refused to go on any mission until his remaining two siblings had recovered. Needless to say, Butsama did not really agree with this. But Hashirama had been determined, resolute even, he wasn't going anywhere on any mission, without knowing if his younger siblings were okay, or as okay as they could be; which in this point in time, was a long way off.

It seemed like forever until Saruyama stopped crying, ragged breathing still came from her though. But she did eventually stop, sitting in her brother's lap and staring at nothing on the wall opposite. Saruyama only blinked and looked away when Hashirama leaned away from her hair and looked down at her. He combed her hair out from her face, once he had extracted his arm from around his brother.

He didn't know what to say, Hashirama for once was at a loss as he just looked down at her. Saruyama seemed to sense this, and though her eyes did fill with tears again, she just patted his chest softly and leaned away. Her moving had Tobirama fixing his gaze on her, his guard still very much up in case he needed spring into action over anything and everything. Squinting her eyes, Saruyama glanced between them, "How long have I been asleep for?" She was worried, in a way. But she also felt this heaviness which wasn't from the usual amount of sleep, it could be the pain of loss making her feel like she weighed more than she did, but then again...she just didn't know anymore.

"A day," Hashirama responded, seeing her bedding disorganised in a way aided in him picking up her top blanket and placing it around her shoulders. During all the chaos of returning home and that had been truly chaotic, someone had checked over Saruyama, had cleaned her wounds and changed her into the simple kimono she was now in; the ochre colour suited her, if only it didn't make her appear paler than she was. It was bad, but seeing his sister actually within feminine appearing clothes was refreshing, they suited her, Saruyama would always be beautiful to Hashirama, but it seemed wrong to appreciate this slowly appearing beauty now, of all times.

She winced hearing that, yet the answer didn't seem to surprise her too much. "And the others?"

Tobirama shook his head here, "Those that were injured, have been healed." He responded, having both his siblings look his way. Tobirama sighed slowly and stared back, looking from one to the other. He didn't need to continue talking or state the obvious: the dead had been buried. It was a realisation Saruyama clocked onto and nodded slowly over.

"I see." Was all she said while looking over her hands again, bending and straightening her fingers she grew distantly silent then, though she came to when Hashirama placed a hand over hers and held on gently. Saruyama straightened a little, though she still looked exhausted and hollowed out, she smiled as softly as she could, though she did not feel like smiling in the slightest. She wouldn't ever need to pretend around these two, and they knew that, but she also felt she needed to reassure them both that she was alright. Physically she wasn't harmed too much, they didn't need to worry about her there. Emotionally she'd recover, it'd take time, but it would happen. Mentally, there was quite a bit to process.

"Would you like something to eat?" Hashirama didn't know what else to do, they'd all just sort of...carried on when Kawarama died; they'd all been sad, but Itama's death seemed a lot more damaging, as awful as that was to admit. It was due in part that when Kawarama had died, Hashirama and Tobirama had each other to grieve, while also checking on the twins that could console each other; now there was none of that, Saruyama would always have her older brothers to rely on, it was something Hashirama had drummed into her, but they couldn't compete with someone she'd been with since birth. He and Tobirama would be a fool if they thought they could.

"I'd like air, more than anything." Saruyama said honestly, she didn't feel hungry, or thirsty. But she did feel a bit stifled in here.

Tobirama was the first to move, picking up his reading material as he went. Opening the door and looking back at his siblings, Tobirama watched as Hashirama steadied Saruyama and the pair walked slowly towards him. Fresh air would probably do her some good, moving around for that matter would do good too, he couldn't disagree there even though he really would rather see her eat something.

Turning into the kitchen, Tobirama did pause and seem uncomfortable before having the pair stop beside him. They all in part had a disjointed relationship with their father, but even Tobirama felt it was wrong of him not to particularly visit Saruyama when she was laid up. He hadn't checked on her before, when she was hurt. Tobirama hadn't left her side, at all. Even when sleeping he was close, Hashirama had spent the time where she was asleep trying to stave off his father's wanting to fight, somewhere, or something...neither of the pair took much notice, concentration was on their sister, and their sister alone.

That wasn't to say Hashirama didn't make sure he also laid close, when resting. Neither of them could do anything all the while she slept, and both had never felt so powerless before, it was horrible. But Tobirama was aware that Hashirama and their father had had a set to about Saruyama already, he had heard the shouting, even from her bedside reading. It got heated, very fast, and Tobirama had listened as a door slammed shut and Hashirama promptly appeared in their room, sporting a red cheek. It wasn't exactly their father's usual way to handle things, he was cool and collected most of the time, but he was also deeply stubborn and passionate and sometimes, just sometimes, he didn't like the blatantly obvious shoved in his face and he didn't know how to react other than to apparently lash out. It was dreadful, awful even, but that was it.

"You've recovered quickly," were not exactly the words the trio wanted to hear. Butsama placed his cup down and watched them walk in, Hashirama still very much holding onto his sister's arm.

"A day, I was out for a day...is that truly quick, considering what I have no doubt missed out on?" Saruyama felt like it should've been longer, so much would've transpired while she was asleep, and they all knew that.

Butsama sighed and stood slowly, "If you are envious over attending a burial, then yes, you have missed out on a lot."

"You buried my brother, without me!" Saruyama shook Hashirama's hand away as she gritted her teeth and glared at how distantly unaware her father seemed to be. Though hearing her shout had him turning and looking at her with a hard look. Hashirama did place a hand on her shoulder, only for Saruyama to awkwardly shuffle forward, she was still unsteady on her feet, but being asleep for a whole day would do that.

"Would you rather us have kept him from a decent burial, until you awoke; or rather have your unconscious body present, for the whole thing? Even though either way, you would not be aware. Do not take your anger out on me, Saruyama. Not when it isn't me you are actually angry with." Butsama kept his tone level, for the most part even as his daughter wiped a hand across her eyes quickly and glared up at him. "You left him behind. You could've prevented this outcome."

"Or I could've joined him! I mean...I am aware that I am unimportant, to you. But do you honestly wish for me to die so soon? Itama told me to run, multiple times, and I didn't...I stayed with him, up until he knew he was going...that he was going to die. Then I ran, I ran because he told me to get help, to get away, but I also ran because I was scared! I am asleep for a whole day, I can't even say farewell to Itama properly, and instead of asking how I am, you act utterly surprised to see I am alive, and standing! Do you honestly want me to die? Would you rather it had been me and not him?!" Saruyama spoke heated and angrily, even yelling at some points to make it clear just how disappointed she was in all of this, she was speaking with hurt, and agony and her father retaliated with his own anger, instead of trying to quell this situation, and to calm her down, he did the exact opposite.

"I'd rather you have not ran."

"I would've died! Do you not understand that-?" Saruyama basically screamed while throwing her arms in the air, she got cut off by the almost sickening crack that echoed in the air. Her head whipped to the side, and she stood there tense while her brothers took action and went to pull her back and away from their father.

"Self-preservation isn't something we are allowed to feel."

Saruyama opened and shut her mouth, working her jaw and where she'd been hit. Slitting her eyes, she shrugged away from her brother's and walked around her father towards the door. She slid it open and stared outwards at the sun, typical the weather did not reflect how she felt inside. "It isn't self-preservation, it was choosing to live because my brother wanted me to. I did what I thought was right, I ran to find help to rescue him, but Itama knew he was already dead and that's why he urged me to leave." Saruyama said deadly low and serious before leaving and shutting the door behind herself and took in a lungful of air before running off.

She cursed the stupid kimono, whoever stuck her in this was an idiot; she was used to boy clothes, the movements not being restricted, the long skirt of this dress was doing her head in. She managed to hitch it up a little as she stormed off, when she was a good distance away from her home, she trudged along the woodland path. She stumbled now and then, feeling suddenly a little woozy headed, the sound of water felt distant to her ears, yet she turned and walked that way.

The lazy moving river was welcoming to her, the sounds comforting some part of her mind as she stepped over pebbles and stones and dropped the skirt from her tight grip. Her eyes were blurry and Saruyama wasn't sure when she had started crying, but crying she was. Standing on the bank her shoulders hunched a few times before she squeezed her eyes shut and screamed at the top of her lungs, with all of her might. The noise which came from her came from deep inside, an utterly heart-wrenching sound, something that sounded so isolated, alone and in pain; but also inhuman, the almost animalistic anguish echoed up and seemed to use up what little energy she had left, Saruyama fell to her knees on the pebbles before falling to the side and remained there, dark and white hair falling into her eyes, her arms outstretched a little towards the river but not able to fully touch it.

She couldn't move, she just had no want to move. She'd quite happily lay here forever, untouched and unmoved from the world around her; yet it didn't go that way, her eyebrows pulled together slowly when she heard someone hurriedly say her name. Limply she was pushed onto her back, still unmoving she felt a hand against her forehead before her name was uttered quickly again.

Whoever it was sounded rather worried, slowly she opened her eyes and looked up. "Madara?"

The dark eyed boy frowned deeply and looked her over, he was venturing to the waterfall to train, but then heard the most awful screaming he thought he had ever heard; the only thing he had heard which could rival it, was the sounds mothers made when realising their children had been killed in battle. It was a deep set pain that came from somewhere buried inside, never did he think the cause of the noise was Saruyama.

Yet here she was, by the time he broke from the cover of the trees, he had spotted her laying there motionless, for a brief moment he thought it was someone else, but no one else he knew had white and black hair like hers; the dark burnt orange kimono is what threw him for a moment, no offence to Saruyama, but he was definitely more used to seeing her look boyish in appearance.

She didn't seem hurt, his eyes did quickly scan over her, he saw no blood, but her hands did seem grazed, her cheek a shocking red, and also her feet, she didn't have shoes on so running through woodland and against the stony ground here had made little wounds appear. Not that she seemed remotely aware to them, she just seemed utterly baffled by him, Madara didn't like how distantly she looked at him, it was like she was looking through him.

"Can you sit up?" He asked and watched her shake her head slowly, "Why?"

"I don't want to." Saruyama had intended to lay, and lay she was.

Sighing shortly, Madara crossed his arms over his dark top and sat cross legged beside her. "Why?" She looked sidelong at him, and Madara's eyes widened when he noticed tears building. He swallowed slowly and before he even uncrossed his arms to try and cease the tears, they came, and she threw her arms over her face to sob into the long sleeves of her dress. "Hey, hey...stop, it's okay, right? You're okay..." Madara honestly was out of his depth here, he didn't know what to say or do so he just sort of rambled what first came to mind. He blanched when his words seemingly made her cry louder, that wasn't what he intended...

"My twin died, and I can't feel him anymore; he's gone somewhere I can't follow, and that makes me feel so empty, and lost. I don't know what to do, I feel it...this gnawing hole in my heart, and my heart feels so broken, and twisted...I want to lay here, and I just don't want to move. I want the ground to swallow me up, or the river to take me somewhere, far away. Because anything has got to be better than feeling this despair."

Madara sat and listened to her, she sounded in pain, in a lot of pain, actually. Her voice may have come out muffled from her sleeves, but he didn't need to fully hear her voice, he understood, he fully understood that pain. He'd lost brothers, but a twin? Madara could only imagine that was a hurt which cut deep, they'd done everything together; came into the world at the same time, learned to walk and talk together, even fight together; and now there was none of that, she'd continue to grow and in her mind, her twin would remain the eleven year old she remembered him as.

"So, let's go."

"Sorry?" Saruyama's face appeared from her sleeves when hearing him speak. Her bloodshot eyes stared at him with confusion, Madara just scratched his neck in thought and shrugged loosely. Brushing under her eyes, she slowly sat up, which had him looking a little relieved.

"You want to go, so let's go." Madara cleared his throat and gestured to the side, at nothing in particular.

Saruyama looked to the side, the river still rushing past, the trees and leaves swaying in the breeze, the odd call of a bird here and there. "Just us?"

Madara nodded his head and patted his knees before standing up. There was a method to what he was doing, Saruyama thought she wanted to be away from her home, away from her family, away from Hashirama who Madara knew would be freaking out about his sister; so let her, just let her go and see actually that being around those that cared about her, was the better alternative than loneliness.

She stood a little wobbly, and Madara kept his hands on his hips and watched as she straightened out the kimono she was in, shaking his head, Madara just stared up at the sky. He was used to her boyish clothes and the way in which she acted and gave as good as she got, but this, right here it hit home that she was a young girl, heartbroken over the death of her brother, and was fragile, really very fragile; but it was speaking more to something ingrained in him, the want and need to protect that fragility from further damage, if she took another hurt, Madara knew full well it would shatter her.

He nodded his head to the side and took to walking away. "Were you in a fight? Is that how that happened?" He didn't want the gory details, but he looked over his shoulder at her and gestured loosely to her cheek.

Saruyama tentatively put her hand against it and shook her head, "I said some home truths that my father didn't like."

"And he hit you?" Madara stopped then and turned to look at her with a look which was disgruntled and disgusted. He was trying to work something out here...this man had lost a son, could've lost a daughter, and instead of wishing to comfort his children, he wound up hitting one over words spoken from hurt and loss? Madara could only shake his head, that was disgusting behaviour.

Saruyama just walked past him with a defeated face, "Just...leave it, Madara."

He turned on his heels and jogged to catch up to her, he looked at her with a frown. She distantly looked in front of them, neither of them truly knew where they were going. She was a mixed bag of emotions, and Madara knew better than to push too hard when someone was like this. "It's wrong."

"I know." Saruyama scoffed, sounding cynical as she sidelong glanced his way before looking away with a sigh.

Sticking his hands behind his head, Madara looked up at the boughs above. "I don't think anyone has done something similar in my clan."

"I said to leave it."

"I'm just saying." Madara said with a frown, he didn't mean to have a dig, but he couldn't recollect anyone doing what her father had done in his clan. They were all so tight-knit and cared for those around them.

"Well, I'm not part of your clan, Madara. So, unless at any point in time I am, then sure, I'll see what you mean. But the likelihood of that ever happening is slim to none. So just...stop." Saruyama wasn't exactly feeling better for this, why did she move and why did he have to appear?

Madara looked slowly at her, she seemingly sensed his eyes and looked over with confusion. His eyes widened and he looked slowly away again, Saruyama just raised an eyebrow. He seemed to be musing over something, and she was waiting to see if he'd just come out with his thoughts. "Slim to none isn't ruling out a chance." Saruyama just frowned then, Madara looked at her and shrugged. "Leaving it," he thought her look was because he was still hashing this up.

"You'd want me in your clan?" Saruyama's previous words were literally spoken through annoyance at him, because it was easier to lash out on people nearby. She didn't mean anything by it, but here Madara was, apparently taking it literally. She watched as he tensed and looked a little wide eyed, his dark eyes flicked to her a few times before looking at anything but her because that seemed preferable than being caught out.

Madara lowered his hands from behind his head and walked beside her quietly thinking. Saruyama walked looking at him patiently, Madara felt very on the spot, and awkward. Much like with the want to protect her from breaking anymore, which was relatively impossible in this day and age, a part of him also wished to give her safety; that wasn't to say her clan didn't, but...was it naive to think that he could give her safety and protection, where others may fail? Not that he was saying Hashirama failed, but then...she was out here, alone, in turmoil and misery.

He understood it could be that he was wanting to give his sister some space. But at the same time, here she was in a moment of utter despair and needing someone. Was Madara that someone? He wasn't sure, but he seemed to be the only one around. "One day."

"Why?" Saruyama was interested, even if put the boy beside her on the spot and made him look awkward. It was a good distraction from her heart hurting, even if it twisted in a different way; the pain of Itama being eased by the care of Madara.

He shot her a look from the corner of his eyes before looking forwards, he could hear the almost deafening sounds of water crashing, despite not having a destination, here they were, here of all places. Madara's eyes looked over the crystalline water before turning on his heels and looking at her, he looked awkwardly downwards, he remembered she wasn't wearing shoes and looked the way they had come. Saruyama didn't seem to care, she just shifted her weight and tilted her head, waiting for him to answer her.

"Because I have this feeling, that all I want is to protect you. I can't do that, when you aren't near." Madara said slowly, he put a hand to his chest and looking down with a small frown. He had felt it when protecting her from Osamu, it was a feeling that had merely grown without him asking for it to. He didn't want it to, but it did, and this is what it rendered him to.

"So...you'd just want to shut me away from the world?"

"What? No!" Madara looked up and exclaimed, only to frown when he noticed her smirking his way, she was joking, she understood exactly what he meant and where he was coming from. "Shut up," he huffed and crossed his arms, looking firmly away and to the side, there may have been a slight pout on his lips. Though he blinked rapidly when he felt an arm around him, Saruyama's weight balanced against him as she tiptoed slightly up and kissed him on the cheek. He slowly turned with wide eyes staring her way, and she just nodded gently, propping her chin against his shoulder as her eyes looked towards the waterfall.

"Think we can get to the top?" She asked thoughtfully, the view would be amazing, but the water was what was drawing her near, just the white noise of it was quietening her mind. "Madara!" Saruyama suddenly shouted and clung on when he had taken the initiative; in a kimono her climbing ability would be bad, as much as the colour and dress suited her, he had to admit it'd slow her down. So, he had swept her quite literally off her feet and took off running across the still water the waterfall tumbled into.

Madara just sent her a rather cheeky grin, she had let out a disbelieving chuckle and tightened her hold on him when the spray of the fall was easily felt before he took to hopping and jumping from jutting out rocks and outcrops. He felt her face bury close against his neck and several moments later, he was back on solid ground and stood there holding her. She wasn't heavy, if anything she was incredibly light and Madara got the sense she hadn't eaten well lately, she did look pale, dark circles were under her eyes, but how else would anyone be after such a loss?

Saruyama looked outwards, her red eyes widening as she scanned the area before them. "It's beautiful..." Madara merely hummed as a response, Saruyama cast a quick glance at him and looked away quickly when her eyes instantly connected with his dark ones. "You can put me down, Madara." She said awkwardly, Madara leaned down to let her walk about, though he wasn't too sure he was comfortable with that considering all she'd ran and walked through without shoes on. But at least up here the stone was smooth, well as smooth as stone could be.

Saruyama inhaled deeply and sat down, she stuck her legs out over the outcrop and laughed a little at the ticklish feeling of water spray against her soles. Madara watched her, she seemed...a little lighter, there was still a distance, and that wouldn't go anytime soon. But it seemed being outside, surrounded by a landscape she adored had made her feel a little better. Walking over he sat beside her and leaned back on his hands, it was a stunning area, she was right, rolling stretching trees as far as the eye could see, the winding river disappeared amongst the foliage, but they knew where it led to.

"I'm sorry," Madara watched her look away from the water to him, she lowered her eyes and nodded slowly. Of course, Madara had no clue really that her brother had been killed by those within his own clan, the same one he was putting across to her becoming a part of one day.

"I was to slow," Saruyama said honestly, Madara looked at her as she spoke so softly. "I tried everything I could, but it wasn't enough. He pushed me away, to escape but to find Hashirama. My father dislikes my decision, I did say to him earlier that if I stayed, I would've died. He never seemed inclined to care if that was the case." Saruyama let out a shudder and looked at Madara with a sad smile. "I think he'd have preferred I died alongside my brother. I honestly do."

"I know Hashirama, your other brother and twin wouldn't feel the same way."

"And nor you, hm?" Saruyama nudged an arm against his ribs gently, Madara's expression fell rather flat as his eyes slowly slid over to hers. "I like you too, Madara." Saruyama had no qualms with just coming out with it to him, he was roundabout with it, but she was just so easily direct as she sighed softly and shuffled along a bit.

"I'd much rather you survive another day, yes." He said curtly, maybe even a little huffily as he looked to the trees, they seemed particularly interesting, he must say. Though his eyes and head snapped back to her when she had shuffled along sufficiently to lean her head against his shoulder. She just took advantage of him leaning back on his hands, he was wide open to being used to lean against.

"You said I could call your name, and you'd help me. So..."

Madara resisted sighing heavily, instead his dark eyes just looked down at the top of her head. She seemed content and comfortable enough, her contrasting hair blowing in the gentle breeze. "I think there's only so much help I could provide, depending on the situation."

"I know, Madara. I'm just joking with you a little." Saruyama said quietly, he couldn't see it, but she was sitting with her eyes contently shut. "The pain hasn't subsided, but you have made me feel a little better. So, thank you, Madara." She nodded against his shoulder and even tilted her head and looked upwards at him.

"You don't need me telling you that the pain will get better over time. I haven't done anything, not really." He shrugged his other shoulder loosely.

Saruyama chuckled and leaned away, "Madara, you are rubbish at being modest."

"I'm not being modest." Madara replied simply, Saruyama looked at him sceptically before leaning back against him, he was more prepared this time and didn't tense upon the feeling.

"Can we stay here for a while?" Saruyama asked, her eyes shutting again and just enjoying the feel of the water occasionally splashing against her feet, but also the clarity of which the rushing water bought to her mind, it made her feel the most at peace since waking, the company probably aided in that too. She couldn't deny it, even with the heartbreak, a warmth did spread realising the meaning behind most of Madara's earlier words.

"Just us two," Madara leaned his head on top of hers and looked down when a hand peeked out from an ochre sleeve and was held up to him.

"Just us two," Saruyama whispered, agreeing with him and felt him lean away from his hand and shake it free of his long sleeve, his hand slid and enveloped hers with ease, it was almost natural, like it was meant to be as their hands rested between them on the stone ground that had been slightly warmed by the sun.