Hello, happy readers. At least I hope you are. :) Hope you don't mind that weird ending from last time. Here we are. :) My precious story. Precious because some of these bits were written many moons ago at the second draft of AFSF when I realised it'd be stupid to end the story like I did last chapter. :) Character theme...Hm. Aoi's theme is Full Moon by Sonata Arctica. He'll be a bigger character soon, just so you know ;)

Chapter Title: The Crowing by Coheed & Cambria

Disclaimer: I was reading Year of the Black Rainbow. Apparently I don't own Naruto. Cambria says it at some point. But I own my characters and plot, when there is one.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

I Will Come Reformed!

Moments later, Yukiko changed course. She didn't want to go back to the Stronghold. Instead she ran faster and faster, suppressing a scream and suppressing her tears until she reached her destination. She slammed the door open, standing at the doorway of the cabin as she looked at Izuna, bloodstained bandages tied around his eyes…No. Where his eyes should have been…

"Izuna-kun..." she whispered, he sat up, turning his head to her.

"Yuki-chan!" he exclaimed before she leapt onto him, causing him to fall back down onto the futon. "Yuki..." he had one hand on the back of her head and his other arm wrapped around her back. And then she let it all go, her horror and her disgust and her upset all came out in a flood of tears and strangled cries. "Don't blame Madara," he told her, trying to soothe her.

"He did this," she gasped, recoiling and looking at him. "Your own brother…"

"I know but…" he needed strength to say this because he had no doubt he'd be repeating it over and over again, perhaps until he died. "I let him, for the good of the clan,"

"For the…good of the clan?" she repeated slowly, wiping some of her endless tears away. "How could this possibly be for the good of the Uchiha?"

"The truth is there isn't a happy ending with the Uchiha, ever. I will never marry, you will be with Madara but only for as long as Madara wishes you to be and Atsuko will be stuck in the situation she is in. This Curse of Hatred...We were all naive thinking to ourselves it doesn't apply to us. Why won't you tell me what you really think, Yuki-chan? Tell me I'm just another sacrifice in this bloodstained history. I've known it all along and yet I thought if I stayed close to my brother I would be saved. I told you this already, Yuki-chan, I'm a selfish person. You're crying right now...Crying because you'll have to go see your lover and he'll be able to SEE you something I'll never do again. Now leave me, leave a blind fool to himself. I have battles to continue onward. Onward until I can continue no more, for this clan and for the man I'd give my light to," he gently ran his hand down her arm, finding her wrist and bringing up so she could see her bracelet.

Yukiko stared at it for a moment. "I'm going," she muttered, getting out of the cabin but not before she heard Izuna say to her.

"You won't leave him."

She didn't know what to do, standing out in the rain alone. Her crying hadn't ceased yet, her whole body didn't stop shaking whether it was from the cold or from shock she didn't know or care anymore. She took in a deep breath, what would she do? What could she do?

"Why, Madara-sama?" she whispered, that was all she was thinking now. What could motivate him to do something so terrible? She took a few steps forward until breaking into a run again.

Atsuko sat in the cell with Minoru, he was asleep but she had been talking to him about various healing techniques when the large Eagle Owl Izuna used flew to the window, pecking at the metal bars.

She got up, holding her hand out to the owl before leaving the cell and headed straight to the cabin, understanding she was being summoned. However she stopped part way there, she stood dead still and absolutely silent.

"WHY?" a familiar voice shrieked. "HE'S YOUR BROTHER!" Atsuko quietly crept down to the edge of the trees, finding Yukiko and Madara arguing or rather, Yukiko shouting at him. Something about Izuna? She'd never seen Yukiko so angry and upset before…

"Because it was what had to be done for the war, I must defeat the Senju to protect us all," he countered quite calmly.

"Don't lie to me!" for the second time in her time with the Uchiha, Yukiko had managed to land a smack on Madara. Atsuko waited for it, the inevitable slap back. But there was nothing.

The maid became very worried, she silently walked away before quickly making her way to the cabin, knocking quite urgently on the door. Her heart was pounding, her other hand gently curled on her chest.

"Izuna-sama," she called, knocking on the door slightly harder.

"Come in." a quiet voice commanded. A shaking Atsuko obeyed, the door slowly opening and her head poking around the door.

"Oh my god."

"I'm not lying to you, Yukiko. I'm telling the truth and if I'm so disgusting then why haven't you left?" Madara asked fiercely. Her eyes narrowed instantly, her fists clenched even tighter.

"And go where? To the Senju and disrespect Kohaku-san? To my aunt and disrespect myself? You know…" now she knew why she was shaking. Rage, complete rage. "You know I love you and you know I can't go anywhere!" she fell to her knees pathetic and defeated. "I'm at your mercy…Just like Izuna-kun…And your entire clan, we're all under your control and this feels like a betrayal that you're painting as a good deed for us all,"

"You think that I wanted to do this? I barely even remember doing it! Now you've accepted there's nothing you can do, get off the floor and stop this now. We're at war, there's no time for this pathetic drama from you if Izuna isn't willing to make any himself," he turned to leave before she pulled herself up, a real fire in her eyes now.

"You'll tell the entire clan what you did," she growled, he looked quite surprised and then gave a low chuckle.

"You try so hard to order me around and I think I just understood why. You've lost control. Both of yourself and this situation, weren't you the one who said you believed in me?" she didn't even attempt to answer his question, looking down at the ground. "That's what I thought."

"I'm not just going to let this go unchecked, Madara-sama! Go and tell your clan exactly what happened!" Yukiko repeated with an even firmer tone now. He paused before glancing back at her.

"I will, but not because you told me to, Yukiko, I'll do it because it's the honourable thing to do and quite frankly whether you let this go unchecked or not is up to you but I'll take you whether you do or not and if you love me, like you so claim, then you're not going to leave, you won't betray me and most of all…You won't stand here and watch me walk away," Madara explained coldly before heading back to the Stronghold…His kingdom.

She wanted to stand there for longer, just to prove him wrong but as soon as she tried her feet moved on their own and she ended up right behind him, her head bowed. When she'd finally bring herself to look in his eyes again, would she just see Izuna's?

"You've been silent for hours now, Atsuko," Izuna pointed out quietly, she was sat next to him now but shaking a little.

"Actually…Izuna-sama…It's only been about 20 minutes," she gently corrected.

"Hm? Really? Well as you've guess I can't see so I can't tell, what with me seeing no light or anything," he tried to joke but it didn't seem to help. He could almost hear the tears falling onto her lap. "You realise I let him do this, don't you?"

"I know you would have fought Madara-sama off if you hadn't agreed but…It seems an awfully high price to pay," Atsuko wept, he didn't quite know how to answer her though. It did seem like a high price but what else was there? The clan and Madara had to survive and as second-in-command it was his duty to make sure it did and even more importantly it was his duty as a brother.

"There's always a price, Atsuko, so don't cry. Be happy. I'm sure we'll have a huge banquet tonight and celebrate Madara's sight restored!" Izuna sat up, placing his hand on her shoulder. "So c'mon, you'll have to be my eyes while I adjust. There's an up side for you after all, we'll be spending quite a while together," she grasped his arm and helped him up which he rewarded her with a kiss on the cheek.

She wanted him to be angry though, she wanted him to say it was going to be hard.

Atsuko wanted Izuna to be honest for a change.

Madara left for his office to 'deal with some formalities' and Yukiko went to her secure place. She locked herself in the bathroom, sat against the door with her knees hugged closely to her quivering chest.

She still hadn't been able to look at him but she was finished being angry. Now she was just distraught and scared…Madara had always said he'd never hurt her, but if he'd hurt Izuna, would that change now?

She glanced up over at the mirror, her crimson eyes brimming with tears.

She could remember it clear as day…

"This is the first time we've talked," Yukiko whispered. "Is the Sharingan really that important? I've seen you fighting, you're talented enough without it," that was two compliments now and the last one hurt her to say more than the first.

He grunted in reply before adding "An Uchiha without the Sharingan isn't an Uchiha at all,"

"Is that what you think? You're defined by your clan?"

Yukiko slowly got up, making her way to the mirror.

"I'm bandaging your hand for you," nervously she placed her hand in his outstretched one.

She stared at her reflection.

"M-Madara-sama, I'm in the middle of something," she stuttered, her grip on Kiyoshi tightening.

"I was just making sure you were…"

"Still here?" she asked, smiling.

"No," he snapped, glaring at her. He moved forward quickly, grabbing her wrist and bending it until she had no choice but to drop Kiyoshi. "I was making sure you were still listening to me," he growled.

She gently placed her hand on the large mirror.

"What would father do?" she muttered to herself. Her flat palm curling into a fist again and her eyes were tightly shut.

Get out of my head…Get out of my head…She repeated to herself, her jaw clenched.

This whole place…it reeked of Madara. There wasn't an escape from him at all, his influence; her memories of him were everywhere.

Did she wish he was dead? No…Never. But she did wish he would show something like remorse.

"You know I love you!"

Had she really said that? She bit down on her bottom lip until it began to bleed as the images that Madara had showed her invaded her mind again.

"No!" she shrieked, slamming her fist against the mirror causing it to shatter, the tiny silver pieces falling, some covered with her blood. She pulled her hand back, a shard stabbed right into her hand. She stared down at the mess she'd made and with a weary sigh pulled the shard out, staring at the liquid covering her snow pale skin.

Yukiko slowly closed her eyes, collapsing on the floor as she blacked out from exhaustion.

"Madara-sama…I…" Aoi stared at him stunned while Madara glared at the boxes in the wall.

"I couldn't see them properly before, tch, that's really not a bad idea," he scoffed before glancing at Aoi. "Go call everyone to the hall; I'll need to explain this situation to them,"

"Yes, Madara-sama," the sensor swiftly left while the leader sat behind his desk, looking over the neat piles of paperwork.

"She runs this damn office too efficiently," he mumbled as he struggled to find some of his documents. "I'll have to ask her myself after this meeting," he jumped up and made his way down to the hall.

"We're coming up to the main hall now, I can hear Madara," Izuna pointed out, a small smile on his face.

"Perhaps we should stay outside while he explains," Atsuko advised him, the pair standing beside the door listening to Madara.

"So…Due to perhaps my own blind determination to protect the Uchiha I robbed myself of my eyesight and the only way to return it to me was to find a new pair of eyes. Obviously they had to be someone within the clan…" Madara took in a deep breath. He had to say it out loud this time, showing Yukiko had been so much easier than this. "And so Izuna offered his eyes to me," there were several gasps and then a wave of muttering swept across the hall.

Izuna tensed up, this was the part where Madara had to win them back or else he'd lose the Uchiha forever.

"As of now, Izuna is on active duty and will be Head of the Uchiha Council for his sacrifice. I doubt anyone has any complaints? And if anyone does have anything to say about Izuna's eyes, I'll gladly deal with them myself, tarnish his sacrifice and you tarnish the Uchiha name and his, and I will not be taking this lightly. These eyes…My brother's eyes…show that me and him share a common vision now and that is to win this war, destroy the Senju and earn our rightful place at the top of the world where no shinobi shall ever dare challenge us," Madara felt more confident now, his booming voice echoing across the hall and like an infection, his confidence was spread to his men as well.

He was promising them everything. And for everything they were willing to forgive him, for Izuna as well. Their proud and cocky leader was back and to them, that's what mattered, because no one could protect the Uchiha better. Their wives and children could sleep easy now, nothing could break Madara's resolves and in turn nothing would break theirs either.

Izuna laughed. "Head of the Council, that means more work, you bastard of a brother,"

"Our new Council is as follows. Izuna Uchiha, Atsuko Uchiha…" she let out a light gasp as she heard this.

"Izuna-sama, I can take care of your work now," she pointed out, trying not to smile too much.

"Aoi Uchiha,"

"Predictable, the guy's a damn genius," Izuna whispered to her, despite the fact they couldn't be heard outside of the hall.

"Genshi Uchiha," again neither of them said it but it was to be expected, Genshi had vast experience in both politics and battle. "And finally, Yukiko Ginhana."

There was a heavy silence, Izuna opening the door to the hall at this point.

"Yuki-chan?" he yelled from across the hall. "Any reason why there's a non-Uchiha in our Council, Nii-san? I know why but perhaps the men are a little confused,"

Madara glared at his troublesome younger brother, already playing tricks and interfering, any pity he'd felt for the blind one had gone. He was still Izuna and apparently nothing was going to change him.

"Fine, Yukiko because she's far more versed in the dealings of clans than anyone else. I would become frustrated at being ordered around by people who had no idea how to run a clan themselves but rather thought they did. As you all know, Yukiko is an ex-clan leader and so thinks more practically than anyone else on these matters," Madara explained, reminding himself that he wasn't allowed to strangle Izuna in front of the clan.

"I don't think that's what the men want to hear, no matter how true it is," Izuna took in a deep breath, visualising the hall in his mind and began walking down the centre aisle to his brother. "Perhaps you should try that again,"

"She's a non-Uchiha with strictly Uchiha access, I've always said that," Madara tried again, knowing all too well what Izuna was getting at.

"Men, do you know why Yukiko has been chosen for the Council?" Izuna asked, having reached his brother table and now turned to face them. "Hands up like good boys and I'm sure Atsuko will pick one of you for me and you can tell Madara your answer. He won't hurt you, I promise,"

Atsuko walked into the hall, noticing the Uchiha were now uneasy but a few of them had been willing to raise a shaking hand. Except one went further, Genshi Uchiha stood up and cleared his throat.

"Genshi-san?" she prompted him as she joined Izuna's side. "You wish to answer Izuna-sama's question?"

"If I may, it probably has something to do with the fact our Honourable Leader has fallen in love," again a wave of muttering spread.

Madara took a deep breath in again, reminding himself he could easily break Genshi's leg again next time they trained together.

"I don't see how my personal life has anything to do with this," he managed, his jaw clenched. "Even if that were true I doubt it's the clan's business,"

"Nii-san, relax we're toying with you. We have been for ages now; if Yukiko isn't willing to admit anything to you then I doubt you'd do the same," Izuna advised with a mocking tone in his voice. "How about a big meal tonight in celebration of our new Council and Madara's return?"

The men roared in agreement at this and vacated the hall to prepare.

"What the hell was that about?" Madara snarled.

"Hm? Oh the Yukiko thing, well…I was talking to her earlier. She's very shaken up, if you tell her how you feel it might make her feel better," Izuna advised before adding. "For poor ol' blind me?"

"Do not use that against me." Madara darkly warned before storming out of the hall. The younger Uchiha sighed.

"See, Atsuko? If I pretend everything's okay, it will be. Madara seems to be back to his usual self when I tease him, so I'll do that from now on," Izuna put his arm around her waist.

"I understand, Izuna-sama. If you'd like…You can be honest with me," she offered, gently sorting out his bandages for his eyes. He managed to steal a short kiss from her before replying.

"But I'm always honest with you, Atsuko."

Madara slammed the door to his room open. No sooner had he regained control had Izuna been up to his old tricks again.

"Yukiko!" he shouted, throwing off his cloak before going to open the bathroom, finding it to be locked he smacked his fist down hard on the door. "Yukiko, dammit, open this door!"

Silence. She wasn't usually silent, usually she'd come out with a gentle assertion she was 'doing something' or she'd agree to open the door. Now he had neither and wasn't quite sure where to proceed.

"You're really testing my patience," he growled, booting the door open and finding the Ginhana, lying on the broken mirror shards, bleeding. His anger melted away quick enough, as he ran back, grabbed a set of bandages from his desk before kneeling down beside her.

He decided he had to get her off of the mirror shards she'd fallen onto, which had cut the right side of her face, arm and exposed leg causing her to bleed more.

Thankfully though, Yukiko was light enough Madara could practically lift her with one arm however he had to be careful not to touch the shards himself.

Muttering as he threw her down on the bed. "Damn woman, bet she fainted at the sight of her own stupid blood and not to mention the mess she's made," he could hardly complain though. He'd broken countless mirrors, windows, doors, bones and various other precious and brittle things due to his anger.

He bandaged her only serious cut, a deep puncture on her hand before getting up. He was amazed to be able to see his room properly again, making a note to praise the high standard of cleanliness Atsuko kept up with.

Madara opened to door to his room, ordering a nearby guard to go get the maid before realising Yukiko was stirring.

"How did I…" her question trailed off as she noticed Madara watching her, she quickly looked away from him and inspected her hand.

"Don't be pathetic enough to ignore me,"

"You're back to your usual self," she scoffed, rolling onto her side so she had her back to him. "I just don't know what to say to you right now,"

"You have no damn right to complain about this! He's not your brother!" Madara yelled, anger swiftly returning to him.

"You don't even know why I'm angry!" she shouted back, sitting up and glaring at him. "I'm not angry because of that. It's you! It's your fucking self-righteous attitude! Can't you just admit that it was wrong? That you were wrong!"

"Yes I can! And that's why you're on the Council now! Because I made a mistake and I need someone like you!"

Yukiko didn't quite know how to respond to him, she opened her mouth to but couldn't form the words other than "You need me?"

"Do not misinterpret what I said…I said I need someone like you," Madara corrected, his voice quieter now.

"I need someone like you too," she whispered to him. "I've been immature lately because I felt useless to you, so I stormed around and I did stupid amounts of research until I was so exhausted I passed out and I wasn't honest with you,"

"I've always told you that you have your uses," he rightfully pointed out.

"Is Izuna-kun going to be okay?" she asked him.

"He's already being a pain again so I think so. Not even blinding him has stopped him in his tracks," Madara informed her, sitting next to her on the bed. "Embarrassing me in front of my army,"

"You're right. I…I can't complain because he's not my brother, he's only just been considered my friend again. Madara-sama, tell me honestly, did he really offer his eyes to you?" she moved over so she was sat right in front of him, staring into Izuna's…His eyes. They had that same fire they had done before and that same emptiness at the same time. They were Madara's eyes.

"I would never ever steal my own brother's eyes, Yukiko. I raised him and there's not a bone in his body I'd willingly break. He offered me the only way I could protect him, my people," he raised his hand, moving her fringe out of her blinded right eye. "And protect you." Her eyes widened in astonishment as he said this with that same tender look he'd had back at the Fire Daimyo's palace.

His lips gently pushed against hers.

Knock! Knock!

"Madara!" Izuna chimed as he and Atsuko walked in, Madara and Yukiko moving away from each other instantly. "Time to get ready for the banquet, think I should go for the bloodstained bandages or get a new set?"

The interrupted pair shared an exasperated look for a moment.

Yes, Izuna was back for good it seemed. Her lips curled to a genuine smile.

"Get a new set, I've got a bloodstained bandage look going on with my hand and I'd hate for us to get confused over whose is whose," she joked. Izuna seemed thrown off for a moment before laughing.

"You see, Madara, you've bagged one with a sense of humour, not like Raimei. Now let's get going to this banquet," Izuna and Atsuko waited outside as the pair got up and formally dressed.

Before leaving the room though, Yukiko grabbed his sleeve.

"Madara-sama, I meant what I said earlier by the lake," she confirmed before quickly leaving to go talk to Izuna.

Madara chuckled to himself. It didn't even need an explanation; he knew exactly what she was talking about.

"You're on the Council now, Nii-chan," Raimei burst into Aoi's room. He watched her carefully. "Grandmother knew you'd do it,"

"It's a pity for you then, Raimei, that I'm not going to betray Madara-sama," he said firmly.

"You don't need to, the mission's changed," she told him, her arms folded. She hated that cold look her older brother would always give her but she knew Aoi hated her, truth be told she hated him as well. But that's not why she was there.

"I was never part of your damn mission," he snapped.

"Fine. Just be warned, the mission is now the assassination of Yukiko Ginhana."

OH! More plot, what a naughty fox, Kay is. *sigh* What's wrong, Kagi-kun? This story is better than mine. No it's not. It's the same level of writing, I'm sure. Besides your story is more comedy based. There's lots of drama in my story too! Yes but you're a funny character. So's Yukiko. Can we get back to this story now? FINE. What do you think is goin' on, Kai? Nothing much. Yukiko and Madara are so in love it's unbelievable. They have been for a while now. But they're close to admitting it. Yukiko did admit to it.

So. Do you think Madara will admit anything yet?

Next chapter: With The Rise And Reform.