Masada:

I woke up early the next day, which was a Sunday, making oatmeal with raisins and loads of salt in the microwave which I then covered in banana and peanut butter.

"You're up early", Sonia said happily.

"So are you. Sunday is your day off."

"Oh, well..." she said, blushing. "It's a special day today... Your parents have invited a guest over."

"They haven't told me about it", I said, mouth full as I chewed my oatmeal standing at the kitchen counter, too hungry to go all the way to the kitchen table.

"It's Hashirama Senju. They invited him for dinner, and he accepted."

I stopped dead, spoon halfway to my mouth. Izuna came running into the room then, opened his mouth and took the bite off the spoon.

"Oyy!" I complained.

"What's up with you?" he asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Nothing..."

I was meeting Lucas for skiing at lunch. We hugged when we met, for a long time.

"How are you today?" he asked, holding me at arm's length.

"Good, thank you. And thank you for taking care of me. I'm really ashamed."

He just smiled. "Don't even think about it. I'm a nurse, I'll do anything." Wow, a nurse...

The rest of the day passed amicably. We went up in the lifts together, chatting about this and that, and went downhill together in red and black hills, me on my skis, him on his snowboard. He was exceptionally good. Not better than Izuna (few people were), but not far from, either. At lunch, we sat in the cabinet restaurant on the top of the highest hill with a splendid view, eating fried fish with chips, vinegar and tomato salad, sipping beers. It was fantastic. We sometimes chased each other downhill, both of us skilled enough to do so safely. We even went off-piste, taking great care.

At the end of the day, at five, I was more exhausted than I had ever been after skiing.

"God, that was a good workout!" Lucas said happily. "Better than the gym."

"I wish we could do this again tomorrow", I said, and realised how true that was. Things hadn't heated between us today, but I'd had a great time.

Lucas hugged me then. "Add me on Facebook."

I felt my nerve endings tingle for some reason.

"Why are you so nervous?" Izuna asked from where he was sitting at my bed, reading something.

"Who says I'm nervous?" I asked defiantly.

"You've undone and remade your ponytail like, six times now." True... Izuna clambered out of my bed. "Let me help."

He took my comb from me and put it down on my dressing table, and used his fingers instead. He worked my scalp skillfully to collect it all, not too neatly but rather with some strands bulging, and let some strands loose so they fell and framed my face. He put the tie up high on my head.

"I look amazing", I said in awe.

Izuna kissed my cheek. "You always do. You're welcome."

"Thank you."

I had a dark grey T-shirt with a subtle upper body harness and black cargo trousers, trying to look as casual as I could. I put on some lipgloss but nothing else on my face.

"Madara?"

"Mmm?"

"You like Hashirama?"

I looked over at him.

"You know I have already figured out you like men?"

I kept looking at him, unsure what to say, then went and sat down on the bed. "I think I actually hate Hashirama a little", I confessed.

"Why?" he asked, his huge, curious eyes adorable.

"That's the thing. I don't know. And it scares the living daylights out of me."

Izuna grabbed a strap of my harness, pulled a little. "Maybe, you really like him?"

"I've liked men before, and I've been very aware of it."

"But perhaps, this time you like-like him?"

I smiled a crooked smile. "For now, is it okay if I just hate him? Just a little?"

Izuna snorted. Then, he became serious. "But please, Madara. Don't hide these things from me." My heart melted. "I've watched enough Family Guy to know how homosexuality works."

"How about you?" I asked, suddenly curious. "Is there a gay gene in our family?"

Izuna looked away, suddenly uncomfortable. "I don't know. I don't seem interested in people the same way my friends are. I just... Prefer snowboarding."

I hugged Izuna close to me. "Some day, you might meet someone who changes all of that, who makes you realise you were different because you were waiting for that particular someone. Or, maybe, you won't. And that's okay too. Either way, I will always be here for you." I felt Izuna's arms tighten around me, and he drilled his face deep into my chest. "I will always love you."

I could feel Izuna was crying as my T-shirt got wet.

"Welcome to our home, Mr Senju", my mum said, blushing wildly.

"My pleasure. Thank you for having me!"

Oh, he was charming. He was so polite, down to Earth, and immaculately dressed in a dark green shirt that he hadn't tucked in, along with dark brown Manchester trousers, his hair in a shiny bun. I despised him for being so perfect. He even handed my mother a beautiful bouquet of tulips, and there wasn't even a flower shop in town, not to even mention one that sold a bouquet that expensive. Who did he think he was?

"My wife is a great fan", my dad said, putting an arm around mum's shoulder and shaking Hashirama's hand with his free hand.

"You must be Izuna", he said, giving Izuna his hand to shake.

"Nice to meet you", Izuna said sweetly. My heart melted at how easy to like my little brother was. Hashirama smiled as he shook his little hand.

Then, he turned to me. "Madara", he said, reaching his hand out.

I refused to take it. I hadn't planned it, I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

"Madara!" my mother said, horrified, but my arms were firmly crossed over my chest.

"Madara, dearest..." It was Sonia, and for some reason, her soft plea brought me back to my senses and I extended my hand.

"Hello, Mr Senju", I said.

To my great surprise, he took my hand and kissed it, looking at me with eyes that said "I dare you to refuse" and "we'll talk about this later" at the same time. I felt myself flush.

At the dinner table, Hashirama was pure gentleman. He didn't talk much, but answered all of my family's questions while politely eating. I didn't say a thing.

"Have you tried skiing yet?" my father asked.

"Nope! But Madara will teach me."

"Oh, how lovely!" mum exclaimed.

"No, I'm not!" I said before I had time to think about how stubborn and juvenile that made me sound.

"But you told me you would!" Hashirama seemed he genuinely surprised and disappointed. It was quite endearing, honestly.

"I didn't!"

"You did! When we were talking in the bath."

Izuna spit out his pear soda all over the table and started to cough horrendously. "Jeez Louise! Madara, you slut!" he screeched at me.

"Language!" mum said, horrified which was plausible as Izuna rarely swore or used bad words.

"Sorry, sorry!"

I hid my face in my hands. "Fine! Tomorrow, nine am." I stood up to leave. "Don't be late."