Madara Uchiha in Twilight?

Midnight

She waited for the halls to be quiet, then slipped from the bed, quickly changed into the clothes Edward left for her, and snuck out.

Her head still felt uncomfortable, but it was nothing compared to a few hours ago as the address led her to an old house on the edge of town...

Possibly long abandoned and surrounded by nearby forest, as the path was overgrown, she stepped inside carefully, pushing past the creaking door.

Edward was on a chair, sitting in the center, waiting for her.

"You came. Quite brave."

Bella nodded. "Wasn't about to be scared off by the cliché situation."

He smiled slightly. "Well, then you are weird."

She ignored his comment as she closed the distance within two meters. "Then tell me why," she said.

He kept looking at her and finally said,

"I'm not human, Bella."

She froze, but of course, she knew something was fishy about him, so it was not that surprising. Still, hearing it personally—that she's not in front of a human—was nonetheless unsettling.

"I haven't been for a long time," he continued, voice low and steady. "What I did in the parking lot... I wasn't just lucky or fast and strong."

Bella stayed quiet while looking at him like a hawk that was curious but nonetheless weirded out.

"I'm not like your father or... that fishy guy John or anyone else at Forks High."

Bella's mind worked in overdrive. "Then what are you? Alien? Mutant?"

"I'm a vampire."

The moment Bella heard that word, she thought for a few seconds. "Vampire? The ones who like blood?" She slowly distanced herself from Edward by a few centimeters.

"You won't drink my blood, will you?"

But the look in his eyes—dark, tortured, and quite old but not with ill intent—

"I don't hurt people," he said quickly, seeing her fear and fascination at the same time. "Not anymore... my family—we've chosen another way."

Bella's voice was quiet but enough to hear from a distance of a few meters. "You don't drink blood?"

His jaw tightened slightly. "Not human blood."

She stared at him, absorbing the words. "But you wanted to, right?"

His silence said everything—but every vampire wants to drink human blood after all.

"Then why not?"

"Because you were different," he said, stepping a little closer, every movement careful. "You didn't smell like everyone else... you were not predictable... you... pulled at something in me, and I hated it at first."

"And now?"

"And now I'm terrified."

Bella's eyes met his. "Of me?"

"Of losing control, of hurting you, of what you might mean to me."

She didn't move and didn't speak, but then she slowly reached out and touched his hand. It was ice-cold, but it didn't matter, as it was not that cold...

"I'm not afraid," she said.

Edward looked down at their hands. "You should be."

A sound called out to them as someone entered through the door. Bella turned as both looked in the direction and heard clapping sounds.

It was Madara.

"Ah... very romantic, in a way. Sorry to disturb you both, but Edward, I didn't expect you to tell her so soon... about vampires."

"But you know what happens when Volturi find out about a human knowing vampire existence, and even confirmed by a vampire."

Edward was already in a protective position between Bella, as she barely registered the movement. Edward's eyes were locked on the man who entered.

"John?" said Bella in astonishment and realization that they were being spied on, while Edward stayed quiet and then spoke.

"John... you're not welcome here."

Madara gave an exaggerated shrug and continued to move forward slowly. "I'm never welcome, am I?" said Madara calmly. "But I always show up at the right time, don't I?"

Bella stared at Madara as she said "Why have you watched us?

Madara said without a beat, calmly, "Of course... I've been watching... drama is sometimes interesting. For a person of my age... sometimes I observe or guide and interfere..." She raised an eyebrow at the age comment but did not think about it in this situation.

As Madara continued, "Edward... you know what happens clearly when a vampire reveals himself to a human... and you won't kill that human... not that I would allow it either in my presence."

As Edward retorted, "But Volturi are not here, they won't know, they won't find out, and she's not just any human."

Madara kept looking at him from a distance of a few meters. "Edward... Edward... did Carlisle not teach you anything? Or did he keep supporting your naive ideals?"

Bella stepped forward, frustrated. "I belong wherever I want and I'm not some fragile thing to be protected or hidden away."

"Another one..." said Madara dryly as he continued, "Yes, you are brave but reckless and dangerously naive."

"But that's where you are lucky that you have me... or I could just solve it another way..." (Genjutsu way) as Madara continued.

"But I won't do that to you both... after all, I have no need to fear Volturi... rather you both."

"No fear of Volturi?" chuckled Edward lightly in disbelief.

"Every vampire fears Volturi—even us. Everyone abides by the rules of the vampire world except that one special clan."

"Maybe, but I am not a vampire nor a weakling like you," said Madara as he continued.

"But I'm just warning you... that you should know what you did now. She connected to me through her father, and you involved a teenager, his daughter."

"Basically, what I am saying is that she is under my protection because Charlie entrusted her to me, even if he doesn't know the full picture... and I complete my promises," said Madara at the end.

As Bella listened quietly, her head switching from Madara to Edward, left and right.

Edward's jaw tightened, his eyes never leaving Madara. "You say she's under your protection, but what does that even mean? You're human, and I know it. Heartbeat. Blood. How can you protect her from the supernatural dangers she's stepping into?"

Madara shrugged. "Edward, you know yourself that I am not an ordinary human."

As Edward stayed quiet at that, then said, "Yes, not an ordinary human after all... your speed and... presence... but you are just human, you can't fight an army of vampires... alone."

Madara at that smiled enough for it to be taken as a smile for the first time. "Is that so?"

Bella was weirded out by that smile, as she had never seen that statue (John) smile.

"That's all I have to say, Bella. Let's hope you know what you are doing," replied Madara.

She nodded curtly, nonchalantly as Madara's face was already neutral, and he left calmly through the door, leaving it open.

Edward's sharp gaze never left the door. His stance was still prepared but more relaxed.

"You don't trust him," said Bella.

Edward looked at her. "No way," said Edward dryly 

"Then... what happens now?" she asked.

Edward looked at her and said, "Now... you decide. You can walk away from all this... from me... from everything you don't understand."

A flicker of annoyance and defiance as Bella was too stubborn for that.

"I don't want to run," she said firmly, "but I want to know what I'm getting into."

His eyes softened just a little. "You're already in it, in fact, Bella. There's no going back."

Next day...

Bella was already waiting at the hospital, sitting in a chair and waiting for her father as he promised to come for her.

She kept glancing toward the door as Charlie would come for her after his shift, but she kept replaying the events from last night... Edward's confession and then John...

Charlie stepped inside, his face tired but calm. He spotted her immediately and hurried over.

"Hey, Bella," he said, his voice warm and calm. "Sorry I'm late."

Bella stood up quickly, relief washing over her, but she forced a small smile.

"It's okay, Charlie. I'm just glad you're here."

He looked at her, scanning her face carefully. "Your head is working overdrive," said sarcastically Charlie. "What are you thinking about?" said Charlie as they both left the hospital.

Bella nodded while walking. "Just a headache, Dad. I think it's just from stress or something."

Charlie frowned. "Stress? Well... you didn't faint or anything? If yeah, that's weird."

"No," she said, "just dizzy for a bit but it's better now."

Charlie slid into the driver's seat as the car engine rumbled, and Bella settled into the passenger seat beside him.

Charlie glanced over, noticing her overthinking again as he drove.

After a few minutes of quietness and driving, Charlie sighed. "You know, if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here."

Bella looked at him. "I know, don't worry."

He gave a tired smile. "Just... don't shut me out, okay? I'm your dad, and I want to help."

Bella glanced at her father and teased him to lift the mood. "Do you remember what you told me at the hospital? You said sometimes knowing too much is bad."

A Charlie eyebrow twitched. "This is different."

As Bella retorted, "Right, right."

The familiar outline of their house came into view as Charlie parked the car in the driveway, shutting off the vehicle quietly.

Bella stepped out of the car first and walked up to the front door, opening it with the keys Charlie had given her.

She was home.