Evening all! :) I've been working hard again. (Yay for me!) This chapter is filled with fillery goodness but I implore you there is still plot here! I wonder if anyone actually reads these. Fine, we'll see. I've been watching Raising Hope lately.

"I'm here to tell you there's a sexual predator in this neighbourhood...Yea...It's me," :) I love that show

Chapter Title: Faint of Hearts by Coheed & Cambria. I love them X3

Disclaimer: I'm watching my best friend decorate a cardboard spaceship with flowers. This clearly tells me I don't own Naruto. :) Just my OCs.

Chapter Twenty-One

If The World Stops Turning, Girl, You Better Not Stop When I Say!

It would take Madara and Yukiko four days to reach Yugakure. She was content though, watching Hoshi flying above them as they wandered across the Fire Country.

"Your country is so much nicer than mine," she laughed quietly, enjoying the vast green landscape as they passed a large area of fields for crops.

"Hn? I never spent too much time in yours. I remember it's a treacherous place though, your weather isn't to be taken lightly," he replied, not a single ounce of that condescending tone he usually used. To Yukiko, Madara seemed happy as well but probably because the Council weren't breathing down his neck all the time now.

"Maybe, we knew secret passes to go through to avoid sudden blizzards and heavy downpours though. I hated that place though, I hated its sense of iciness," she stated, glancing at a road sign posted at a crossroads. "We're nearly at an outpost town,"

"We're also nearly at the border of the Fire Country. We'll carry on tonight," he ordered, Hoshi swooping down onto his shoulder.

"Madara-sama, I was hoping we could rest," Yukiko requested nervously, running forward a few steps to catch up with him.

"It's always good to have hopes, Yukiko, but they very rarely come true in your case," Madara joked, the bird snapping his beak at her.

"Owl," Yukiko pointed out.

Madara turned to face her, puzzled. "Did you just call me an owl?"

"No, there's an owl come towards us," she pointed upwards, where there was, indeed, an owl diving down towards them.

"That's Izuna's messenger," he explained, holding his arm out to the bird.

An owl seemed befitting for Izuna, she wasn't sure why but it just seemed to be a good image. The calm hunter of the night, hidden among shadows but just as deadly as the majestic hawk.

The owl landed on Yukiko's shoulder instead, hooting at her. "The letter is for me," she stated, taking the envelope from it before it flew off. "And it won't even wait for a reply," she tore it open, laughing softly to herself as she read it.

"What?" the Uchiha asked testily.

"Hm? Oh nothing. It's just a thing between me and Izuna-san," she replied, smiling and stuffing the messenger bag she'd brought with her to carry some changes of clothes.

"Don't test my patience, Yukiko," Madara warned, the pair continued walking though.

Four days later and they arrived at the dusty village of Yugakure. The ground covered with red dirt, the town was bustling with life as there was an air of excitement all around.

"I really do love it here," Yukiko sighed to herself. She used to come to the village for holidays with her parents. She could almost hear her father's boastful laughs at how much more soothing the water of their settlement was compared to the hot springs of Yugakure. She could see how much her mother used to smile and laugh back then as well and the smell of lavender oils from the Hot Water Daimyo's home.

"Come, we'll report to the Daimyo, I want to get this assignment squared away," Madara ordered, he still seemed in a good mood but now he was down to business.

"Perhaps you should do it alone, I need to pick up some supplies but I'll be at the Daimyo's palace soon," Yukiko promised, remembering the letter in her bag suddenly.

"Hn, give me Kiyoshi then," this, she had learnt, had become his new way of making sure she wasn't going anywhere. It was pointless though, she could bring Kiyoshi back to her anytime she wanted to but it was more a show of faith and she was willing to play along.

"Alright, tell the Daimyo I'll be there to speak with him later, by dusk actually," she laughed before handing her sword over.

"You're on good terms with him?" Madara questioned, curious by her casual nature about the lord.

"Somewhat, it'll make sense later," Yukiko ran off down to the marketplace leaving Madara with a confused look on his face before he headed to sort out his latest assignment.

Yukiko wandered through the stalls, investigating everything. It didn't feel like December at all but then again the Land of Hot Water enjoyed warm weather throughout the year, the summer time bringing tropical storms with it that soaked the land and reinvigorated the soil for crops once more.

She picked up some apples, content to eat them while she wandered and checked how much money she had. She'd taken her purse from her home which was filled with...a considerable amount of money.

It was tough trying to think, eat and take into account everything going around her but she hadn't been surrounded with so many non-ninja people in a long time and the things she was hearing from them made her laugh.

She pulled out the letter from her bag to read through it once more.

Yuki-chan! ^_^

How's it going? I forgot to mention this but it'll be Madara's birthday on the 24th of December. I was just thinking it was something you'd like to know ;)

Buy him a present! He'll be 22, you know how it's like...22...

In all fairness she was 21 so she didn't know what it was like.

I was just thinking, it might make him smile. I'm usually the only person to give him a gift personally. I mean sure our clan do but out of honour and all. It might be nice to get something special.

Have fun finding something he'll like!

Your superior office

Izuna Uchiha

Yukiko wasn't sure why he had made a point of saying he was superior to her. It wasn't like Izuna to pull rank but she had an inkling that he meant it more as an order for her to buy something for Madara.

She was stumped though. What sort of things did he like? She knew his favourite food but doubted he'd want food. She only had today to get it as well so there was nothing she could make in that amount of time.

"Something useful," she muttered to herself. Yes, that was something he'd appreciate. Something of actual value to him, something he could use. She had an idea.

Madara sat in the Daimyo's office, peering at the extensive book collection the man kept. The walls were lined with large bookcases and all of them tightly packed with books on everything conceivable. From ninjutsu to food, weather to science and even history of various clans, including the Uchiha.

Keiji Osaka was a young Daimyo, striking long blonde hair and kind hazel eyes. He had a pair of glasses as well, presumably all of his reading had damaged his eye-sight somewhat. He was quite notorious for being a very calm and reserved peaceful man.

"Ah, Madara-san, I'm glad you came as quickly as you could. I was quite worried," Keiji said as he walked into the room, his voice was quite quiet.

"There was a matter you wanted to discuss in person, I hardly thought it'd be good manners to take my time," Madara pointed out. Keiji looked a little lost and baffled for a moment.

"Hm, that's how ninja work I suppose. There's no need to have quite the serious expression though, Madara-san. I mean, it can wait till New Years at the very least however I'm glad we can get this resolved before then. And there's no need for an army either which saves money and precious supplies and rations on your end," Keiji explained, sitting behind his desk and peering into a book he seemed to have left open. He smiled gently as he tenderly closed it.

"Yukiko Ginhana is with me as well, she's out right now but she said she'd be here by dusk," the Uchiha added. The Daimyo looked at him for a moment then smiled.

"Ah, so she did come with you. That's good, that's very good. You'll work together on this then! That's even better!" he laughed softly, grinning. He seemed genuinely pleased by this news.

"You know Yukiko well then?" Madara asked.

"Hm? Well we've met a few times on family occasions," Keiji stood up again, opening the door to his office. "Hisano, come here,"

A white haired woman walked in, the same red eyes as Yukiko as well. She was taller though, her hair in a tight bun and she, too, was wearing glasses. She was wearing a loose deep purple top and long wavy skirt which seemed to hide away her figure.

"Madara-san, this is my wife, Hisano Osaka,"

A relative, perhaps?

"Ah, you seem puzzled. I'm from the Ginhana clan, in fact, my niece is Yukiko Ginhana. I'm her father's younger sister," Hisano added. She even shared the same kind yet authoritative tone.

"You look very similar to her," was all Madara could manage. Hisano turned to her husband.

"Perhaps we should let Madara-san settle into his room, my dear. We can discuss our situation with him over dinner when Yuki gets here,"

The palace was the same as Yukiko remembered it. It was nowhere near as vast as the Water Daimyo's. It was situated on a hill with stone walls surrounding it.

She walked up the winding path, peeking through the tiny windows intended for arrows to fly through. It was nicer in May, when the cherry blossoms would painted the path pink, swirling gently in the breeze.

Yukiko reached the gates, being let in immediately and making her own way into the dining hall where she was informed to go by a guard at the front doors.

Madara was the only one present though and his good mood seemed to have taken a slight blow.

"Madara-sama, how did it go?" she asked, kneeling beside him.

"Hn, you could've told me you were related to a Daimyo," he hissed.

"I'm not though, I'm related to the wife of a Daimyo. Also, you've never asked me about my life so there was no time in which I needed to say it. I'm very sorry though, perhaps I should've told you..."

"Yuki!" Hisano and Keiji entered the room, both seemed much happier and more relaxed now.

"Aunt Hisano, uncle Keiji, how've you been?" Yukiko asked, an honest smile on her face for a change.

"We'll discuss that later, my dear, didn't you want to talk about the situation now?" Hisano quickly asked her husband. Keiji nodded as the two sat at the table.

"We've got a bit of a...rebel problem. I'm terribly ashamed to admit it but it's true. Unfortunately some of the people of this country aren't happy with me, they seem to think I don't defend our country and spend all my time in my library reading books. I would never endanger my people to fuel my quest for knowledge however there's a small rebel force brewing south of Yugakure. It's not far at all really, a short walking distance yet if I don't deal with it surely they'll just confirm their ideas, quite the puzzle actually," Keiji explained with a weary look on his face.

"You're paying us to eliminate a small rebel force?" Madara inquired, eyebrow raised.

"Yes, don't you think it'll instil good faith if we were to show we have made contact with a ninja of your calibre, Madara-san?" Hisano interjected with a polite smile.

"I can see how that works and it hardly seems taxing," the Uchiha shrugged, glancing to Yukiko who had stayed strangely quiet the whole time.

"We could do it the day after tomorrow?" she suggested suddenly.

"I'd rather get it done tomorrow if we must, it saves wasting time but we'll talk about that later, Yukiko," he snapped. She opened her mouth to counter him but then smiled instead.

"If you say so, Madara-sama,"

The rest of the meal didn't do anything to improve his mood and Madara quickly left the room soon after.

"Yuki, what're you doing with a man like that?" Hisano sighed, shaking her head.

"I'm not doing anything with...Erm," she realised what she was saying and looked away, blushing.

"Ah! I knew it, I'm a lot more like Nii-san than you give me credit for!" her aunt scowled, but then laughed.

"It's not anything like you're imagining, auntie. I'm so happy to see you though..."

"It's been insane, hasn't it, my sweet?" Hisano moved to sit beside her niece hugging her. "But you did all you could. These things happen, have you seen the world we live in these days?"

"All...All I want is peace like father wanted," Yukiko held in her tears.

"Silly dreams, that's all those are,"

"Strange, you're not the only person to say that about peace lately," the young Ginhana pointed out, remembering Izuna's words to her.

"That's because it's true. I suggest you go see that man of yours,"

"It's not like that at all, auntie. He's just a friend..." Yukiko pulled away, looking down at the floor. "You're right, I've got to go," she blurted out, running out of the room.

"Maybe they are just friends," Keiji joked. His wife gave him a sly smile.

"I doubt it, my dear. But if you want to believe it's like that then by all means,"

Yukiko wandered up to the room she'd been told Madara was in taking in a deep breath before knocking on his door.

"Come in, Yukiko!" he shouted from within. The beast was dangerous in this sort of mood, she knew that much. She slowly made her way into his room. He was sat on the window ledge, arms folded, Sharingan trained on her. He'd been waiting for her apparently.

"Madara-sama, I'm very sorry I didn't tell you about my uncle," she began, bowing to him.

"You think that's what I'm annoyed about? Interesting..." he scoffed, causing her to look up at him.

"Then what's wrong?"

"You and my brother are at it again," he growled, moving off the window ledge and making his way over to her.

"I'm very sorry, I can tell you what's going on in..." she looked passed him. "An hour and a half," Yukiko smiled gently.

"I'm keeping a very close eye on you, Yukiko, and you know full well," he took another step, entering her personal space as his chest was gently pressed against hers "Nothing escapes my eyes. Actually your uncle works in my favour," he pointed out.

"You think you can influence him easier because of your connection with me?" she asked, trying hard not to make eye contact with him but she so desperately wanted to look at him, to see that glorified majesty that was Madara Uchiha. He tilted her head up, a finger beneath her chin.

"Actually, I do. As you can tell my reputation now precedes me now," Madara purred.

"Hm? Why is that a good thing? You're hardly the type to worry about fame, Madara-sama," Yukiko asked, his actions seeming strange.

"Because the more we're known, the more missions we'll receive. The Senju aren't as prepared for war as we are, Yukiko, we can eat away at their defences the more battles we're thrown into with them," Madara was a genius, a tactician and a fantastic warlord. All of these qualities made him a terrifying man however she couldn't help but admire him as well. She had nothing he had. She didn't have the drive to go into battles as much as he did and she had never had the resources. Her plans weren't nearly as well thought-out and while she wasn't average in terms of intelligence she was by no means a genius.

However Madara's greatest quality was his own self-assurance. He knew he was all these things and so much more and he was willing to use every last fibre of his being to achieving his goals for his clan. And she absolutely hated to admit that he could. He could lead the world. He could probably, in a terrifying way, achieve peace as well. Madara Uchiha could crush her allies and probably would one day. The same man who stood before her was all these things.

"Madara-sama, if you don't mind me I think I'll go wash and be back in here in..." she checked outside again "An hour and twenty minutes to tell you all about what's going on," she smiled and left.

Madara wasn't sure what to do. He was exhausted and confused, walking back to the bed and picking up Kiyoshi from it.

"This sword...did something," he muttered to himself, unsheathing it.

Suddenly the world started to blur again...

Yukiko lay sprawled on the bed of the room she'd been in before but clearly this had been while she was away as her hair was dyed black, her fingers idly tracing circles on her exposed midriff.

"Madara-sama..." she whispered, closing her eyes and rolling onto her front as she grabbed her pillow to hug. "What're you doing right now? Shouting at Izuna-san? Training with him and the others? Locked up and doing paperwork? And what am I doing? Sitting here and idly muttering to myself about a man who slaughtered my clan...Oh, Kiyoshi, what am I doing?" she shouted suddenly sitting up and throwing the pillow at a nearby wall.

She sat like that for a while, glaring at the sword before sighing.

"He could be with Raimei...According to Izuna-san, Madara-sama is supposed to be engaged to her but he doesn't seem that keen on the idea of being near her at all. Maybe I'm just reading it wrong though. Maybe it was because I was around he seemed to annoyed,"

"Stupid woman. Why must they all have the same foolish thought pattern?" Madara muttered to himself, glancing around the room.

"I can't help it, Kiyoshi...I actually think..."

"Madara-sama!" Yukiko's concerned yell pulled him out of the memory as she ripped Kiyoshi from his hands and threw it across the room. "Madara-sama, are you okay? That's so dangerous," she snapped. Angry...was she honestly angry at him?

"It's not the first time..." he groaned, he felt dizzy, just had he had done before.

"You don't know anything about Kiyoshi, why would you...?" she trailed off, a sad look in her eyes for a moment. He realised he was lying on the floor of the room he was staying in, he'd fallen apparently, his head felt sore. "Kiyoshi is the relic of my clan, the sword which holds the memories of all who wielded it before but he's also a trickster. Without Ginhana blood, he can overwhelm and implant memories into your mind and...in some cases, he can cause you to lose yourself to blood-lust," she hurriedly explained before glaring at the sword on the floor.

"The resin and the blood in the bottle. Is that a collection of the blood from all its previous masters?" Madara asked, slowly sitting up.

"It is. Kiyoshi needs an offering of blood to be able to use its full powers to its master," Yukiko answered, her grip on his high collar loosening slightly. "I'm sorry, Madara-sama, but please stop taking him from me. It's dangerous,"

"Tch, you apologise too much," he snapped. "Now what're you here for?" She looked at him, shocked for a moment.

"Madara-sama, it's been an hour and twenty minutes. I'm here to tell you something..." she smiled all of a sudden.

"Tell me something?"

Yukiko pulled him closer to her for a moment, her lips on his in an instant. She'd thrown him off completely, he wasn't quite sure how to react to the actual fact that she'd initiated this.

His hands found their way to her waist though, pulling her onto his lap. Her lips parted and his tongue delved deep into her mouth to tease out hers, but mostly he let her keep control, curious to see what she'd do with it. She was by no means forceful and yet at the same time she wasn't too gentle. She simply baited him, leaving him wanting more and at the same time keeping him satisfied.

She pulled away from him, laughing gently to herself as she reached on the floor behind her and handed him a katana. As he unsheathed it he realised, it was of amazing quality, unlike any he'd seen in the Fire Country. He ran his hand along the side of the blade. It was perfectly straight at the side and yet the blade's curve was also perfect. Along its side was his name and the Uchiha emblem.

Madara found himself uncharacteristically speechless and baffled. Yukiko laughed again, kissing his cheek.

"Happy birthday, Madara-sama," she whispered in his ear. Ah, now it made sense.

"Hn, it's that time already?" he asked, chuckling at the fact he'd lost track of dates so easily.

"Yes, it is. And it's Christmas Eve," Yukiko wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled into the nape of his neck. He sheathed the katana, finding himself almost glad she was being so warm.

"I suppose I must thank you for the gift," Madara admitted, he hated thank you's though. It implied he owed something.

"So formal, Madara-sama," she muttered, kissing his neck so tenderly he felt his heart beat quicken slightly.

"I'm not used to receiving gifts so...personally other than from Izuna," he said, running his hand through her hair and kissing just behind her ear.

"Not even from Raimei?" Yukiko inquired, trying to sound casual. He picked up on it though.

"Not even from her, although I'd decline anything from her anyway and she knows that," he reassured. For now, his attention was solely on the clan leader in front of him. His free hand running up her thigh.

"Hm," Yukiko didn't seem to care, she had her answer and that was the issue dropped. She lifted her head to look into his eyes again, his Sharingan gone replaced with the dark grey she vastly preferred. She kissed him again, this time with a bit more fire as her hands opened his shirt and slowly took it off while he did the same to her.

He placed his hands on her waist as his eyes fell onto her exposed chest, tentatively flushed against his own. Madara took control now, pushing her onto her back as his lips found her stomach. "I swear if another man so much as looks at you like I do..." his kisses slowly moving up to his chest as he growled to her. "I'll tear their eyes out and burn them..." his hands made light work of removing her shorts. "You're mine," he purred into her ear as his kisses finally reached her ear lobe, nipping it sharply causing her to yelp and flinch. "Come here," he dragged her up and without warning Yukiko's back was slammed against the wall.

She was confused by the possessive words he'd spoken though, moaning through heated kisses that only broke due to their desperate need to breathe. Madara quickly pulled her up against the wall and then grabbed the back of her thighs and roughly pulled her up to his height. He used his own weight to keep her there as he tore off the rest of his clothes.

Oh! What was it about Madara Uchiha? As his powerful body had her caged she felt her own go up in flames of lust. He seemed to do this to her so easily though. No other man could ever have done this to her. He stole her breath away and turned her blood to molten lava so effortlessly.

He forced her legs to coil tightly around him before sliding into her, enjoying that feeling of being sheathed by her once more. That sweet tightness, her gasps as he did so, all of it just seemed to enhance a pleasure he already had found in other women. But none of them were her.

Each time he roughly slammed into her she seemed to release such a sweet cry of ecstasy that was almost like a drug. He became more hurried, more frenzied, noting the way her hands ran up the walls trying to seek something to grip. He was rewarded with more moans and gasps though. The pair were both beginning to lose themselves though. Madara trying to desperately to cling to his own sanity for a change, it was an unfamiliar feeling to have someone else do this to him, to have them fill him with a seemingly uncontrollable lust despite what others thought.

He growled her name in her ear as his burst from her voice in broken pants. Finally her back began to arch, pressing against his body coated finely in sweat, her head slowly turned to the ceiling.

Madara could feel the muscles within her begin to become tighter and tighter around him, he placed one hand on the base of her back while the other grabbed one of her lightly bouncing breasts. His mouth found the pulse of her neck which he greedily sucked at.

"Ah...Ah...Madara!" her voice was becoming louder and louder as she desperately pressed even closer against his own, she felt as if he still wasn't close enough to her. All rational thought span out of her mind faster than she could comprehend, using her hands she pushed against him even harder and moaning even louder.

He gave what she was craving so obviously, pleading with him for him to pick up the pace. Madara did as he was told, his lover rewarding him with even more cries of pleasure until he felt himself completely lost. The world around them dissolved as they climbed higher and higher.

"Ah, Yukiko..." he snarled, biting down on her neck as he was desperate to hold himself in this world. But she quickly shattered it, screaming his name as she threw her head back and gave in to him completely, her walls grasping him sharply and forcing his release, groaning as he did so.

By the time their exhausted senses came back to them they had slid down to the floor. Madara pulled her gently onto bed with him, her back pressed against his chest.

"And again happy birthday, Madara-sama," Yukiko whispered. He laughed, leaning forward and kissing her cheek in an almost gentle way.

"Thank you, Yukiko. I think you can stick to just Madara for now," the Uchiha said, turning her around to their normal sleeping position, her hand gently resting on his chest.

"So what happens when Izuna-san gives you a gift on your birthday?" she asked playfully.

"Usually? I say thanks and then we go have a good sparring session,"

She wasn't surprised but the conversation needn't go any further. They were both tired, through their travellings and their session however Yukiko needed one last question answered.

"Are we friends, Madara?"

"Hm? I doubt it," he yawned.

"Lovers?" she persisted.

"Maybe, but for now we're sleeping, Yukiko," he growled, growing annoyed with her. She got the blatant message and the pair quickly drifted into a peaceful, dreamless sleep.

All the while a large Golden Eagle sat at the window, hooting once before setting off into the darkest night to return gladly to its owner.

Hm? Oh that Eagle, yea plot point. Starting to see some real progress with the romance stuff but erm, Madara and Yukiko aren't too keen on the idea yet. Ah well. I'm sure they'll grow to love each other. For now? It's naughty lemon smex. Yum.

Soooo. Enjoy that latest installment.

QUESTION TIME: Who loves me? I'm joking. What do you think of what I've done to Madara's personality btw? I've asked about Yukiko, Kai and Izuna but never about my take on Madara. =/

Next Chapter Title: Ignoring The Words Of Your Obnoxious Little Brother!