Dramatic|Madara Uchiha|

Act 1, Scene 10

In which Madara tries teaching Eliza how to fight and ends up with conflicting feelings:

     "Hey Madara, do you want to come with me to a park?" Eliza asked suddenly. It was the afternoon of a particularly boring Saturday and Eliza was in the mood for some fresh air. "There's a place I know where not many people go...you can practice some of your ninjutsu." She finished with a cheerful smile.

In truth, part of her merely wanted to see Madara using chakra. One couldn't blame her, even now, chakra was a foreign concept for her to wrap her head around.

     Madara knew she'd probably leave with or without him either way and preferred that she went with him. The answer was clear.

     "Let's go." He said softly, relishing the happy look in her eyes when he agreed.

-

     The two made it to a deeply forested area in the park and Eliza nodded in satisfaction. "Good." She said to herself, "this seems like a safe spot." Madara wouldn't be seen and she could freely enjoy watching him practice.

     Sighing, Madara began practicing some basic katas then slowly approaching more complicated ones. He couldn't help but feel a tad happier when he felt Eliza's awe radiate from behind him prompting him to perform more and more advanced ones.

     This is so cool! Eliza thought to herself as she watched, completely entranced by the Uchiha's skillful and elegant movements.

She waited for him to finish then proceeded to gather the courage to ask him a humbling question.

     "Madara!" Eliza called with a slight nervousness and embarrassment in her voice, "could you...maybe...um," she struggled to find the perfect wording, "t-teach me?"

     Cute...

     Madara blinked the thought away and nodded. A slight smirk making its way to his face at the thought of watching Eliza attempt to replicate his fighting style and failing adorably.

He got into a basic stance and watched as Eliza mimicked him. A slow and curious realization came to mind as he observed her punches.

She's had training before. He noted to himself as he examined her stance, basic taijutsu at least...

"Where did you learn that?" He inquired as she shifted in embarrassment.

"When I was fourteen I learned taekwondo...a martial art in this world." She explained with a huff of pride. "My brother and I used to compete and spar with each other before..." her smile fell.

"Before?" Madara pressed gently. He understood if Eliza didn't want to tell him the full story but still, he knew that it caused her a great deal of pain and wanted to help.

"His injury." She said simply and something told Madara that's all he'd learn at the moment. He dropped it graciously and allowed Eliza to calm down. If she didn't want him to know he understood completely.

"Let me see how good you are myself." He smiled as Eliza's eyes widened in panic.

"W-whaaa?!" She exclaimed rather comically as Madara got into a fighting stance.

"Don't worry. I'm sure you'll do fine." Madara assured her as she shook her head.

"Oh no." She protested weakly, "I'm going to be absolutely destroyed."

"First lesson," Madara grinned, "Be more confident in posture. You're an actress aren't you? Even if you doubt yourself don't let it show."

That's more like my language. Eliza thought to herself as she inhaled. She knew how to act, she could do that at least.

She forced herself to smile.

"Let's dance!" She declared, inwardly saying her prayers. Madara chuckled at her sudden change of tone, then proceeded to launch a carefully controlled punch. He needed to make sure that he didn't accidentally kill the poor girl.

Madara couldn't help but feel mildly impressed at Eliza's skill for someone of her tiny stature. She was a civilian through and through and yet she understood the very basics of fighting. She feinted her attacks every so often and tried to surprise him with sudden kicks or jabs. Against other civilians or even the weaker ninja Madara was sure that she could beat them.

Of course, it was nothing he hadn't seen himself and wasn't even a sliver close to being at his own level. Then again, he was Madara Uchiha.

He noticed her increasing exhaustion and that her attacks had begun to be a tad bit sloppier he promptly slowed his own. No sooner had he done that a quick jab caught him by surprise in the chest.

It didn't hurt but it certainly surprised him. A proud look of achievement made its way onto Eliza's utterly exhausted face.

"Well done," Madara found himself saying. "You caught me by surprise."

Eliza felt her ego increase with every passing second.

"You look like you're about to pass out." Madara observed as Eliza swayed slightly on her feet.

"I—-wheeze——never want to be a ninja." She gasped as she came tumbling towards the Uchiha's chest. "Think fast..."

He caught her with ease. In fact, he enjoyed catching her so much it ending up more like an affectionate embrace than anything. His arms descrety wrapped themselves around her torso. And Madara and Eliza both quietly enjoyed each other's presence as they stood there enjoying the peacefulness of the park.

A terrible twisting in his gut prompted a tragic truth in the Uchiha's mind.

I don't want to let go.

He could feel her heart beat and fragile body resting on his support and enjoyed it.

I have to let her go.

He didn't belong in this world. He needed to return home to his clan and resume his duties as the Clan Head. He tightened his hold around her and subtly pulled her closer into his chest.

Madara Uchiha was never good at letting people go. His attachments were for life and beyond even death...or other worlds. He imagined a life where Eliza returned his feelings and returned with him to his world. A deceptive hopefulness filled him at the thought then proceeded to crash as reality set in. Eliza wouldn't do that. Her place is here, in her own world.

She had her own dreams of being an actress. Who was he to get in the way of that?

"Madara? Are you alright?" Eliza asked softly, "you've been awfully quiet."

No, he wasn't alright.

"Hn." He replied stoically, "it's nothing." He lied.

He could feel her squirm in her arms and tilt her head inwards. "Alright..." she sighed softly, "I'm glad."

And for that brief moment, everything was fine.