Evening one and all. :) I was listening to Down in the Dark by Avantasia during the first part of this chapter. Snowpeak from Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess in the middle and Blowing Out the Flame by Avantasia at the end. Aren't I a musical god? No. No I'm not. Anyway read!
Chapter Title: Mother Superior by Coheed and Cambria
Disclaimer: You don't want to hear this. But I don't own Naruto but own my plot and characters, do you? Well...I don't. -.-
Chapter Fifty-One
Your Sincerest Apologies
Yukiko was immediately ushered into a room alone with Hisano as soon as she got to Hashirama's. She wasn't particularly keen on being separated from Madara either.
Hisano sat down with her usual stern expression and for a moment Yukiko felt like she was looking at her mother.
"I honestly don't know what is going on in your head anymore. You've been so manipulated that you stand by his side like a needy little lapdog and wait for him to throw you a damn bone," Hisano began as she meant to go on. Angrily. "Your father would be so disappointed,"
"What? He'd be disappointed I'm with a man who signed a treaty for peace in the Fire Country? Did we know the same man? Because my father would have gladly given me away to a man who wants peace for his people!" Yukiko had originally planned to stay quiet and let Hisano get everything out of her system however she was willing to argue back as soon as her father was mentioned.
"A man who wants peace for his people! That's what you think that monster wants! He'll ally himself with the Senju and then tear them apart when they least expect it! A man like that only wishes for war!" Yukiko did something bold. She stood up and turned to leave. "Where the hell do you think you're going? Sit down right now!"
"No. I'm not going to stand here and be yelled at by you about the man I've chosen to marry. Because I just realised something. I'm 21 and technically still Leader of the Ginhana despite there being only 2 of you. So I refuse to sit here and be scolded. And before you even bother saying it, this has nothing to do with my mother's influence over me. I don't know what happened between you and my mother nor do I care. She wasn't perfect but what mother is? She cared very deeply for me. What more could I ask for?" Yukiko said rather calmly before adding. "Also, I believe partly the reason mother acted so bad after father's death is because you pushed her over the edge when she desperately needed support. So you're also to blame for her so called insanity," with her own piece said for a change, Yukiko opened the door and quickly made her way back to Hashirama, Mito and Madara.
"That was quick," Hashirama commented before frowning. "Or not."
The door to the room slammed open.
"How dare you. I am your aunt and I have done nothing but slave over you and try and insure you live the best life possible! I love you like you're my own daughter and you throw it back in my face!" Hisano shrieked. "You spoilt little..."
"Shut up." Madara was swift to cut her off. "If you continue to talk to Yukiko like she's some dog I'll deal with you personally whether you're the wife of a Daimyo or not, I don't care. Don't you come into someone else's home, scream at my fiancée and think I'll sit here and just allow it. I suggest you leave," Madara stood up to face her, Sharingan spinning. "Now."
Hisano stood strong there, staring straight into his eyes. "I am the wife of the Hot Water Daimyo and you will treat me with respect, Madara Uchiha. I could muster up a force to flatten this village if I so wished,"
"Is that a threat?" Madara spat. Yukiko looking to Hashirama for assistance however it didn't seem like the Senju was going to interrupt.
"Not a threat, Madara. A fact." Hisano's voice was filled with a tone Yukiko hadn't heard in years...
"Hisano, please leave," Yukiko felt almost as though she was pleading. "Either way you have no influence on me. Not as a family member anymore. I'll get married regardless. You can claim that Madara is this, that and the other however I actually recall you upset my father by marrying a Daimyo so you have no high ground here,"
"That was completely different and you know the rules. Do not talk about family matters in front of others," her aunt hissed. "Why couldn't you have just married Hashirama-kun like you wanted to?"
Yukiko felt a wave of shock for a moment when she said this, looking back at the Senju however it was Mito who ended up talking.
"Hisano-hime, leave before I get the Fire Daimyo involved," she warned sternly. "You can take up this matter with him if you really need to."
Hisano went to speak before turning and leaving.
A few hours later and Madara and Yukiko were walking home in silence. Madara occasionally glanced at her, eyes filled with a bitter anger. She couldn't stand it any longer.
"I was 10 years old. Are you going to hold that against me?" she asked before sighing. "Madara, I'm also very sorry about my aunt. She's...passionate which is something I can't fault her on but she gets carried away,"
"Hashirama? Of all the people in the world." Madara scoffed, his eyes turning skyward. "When you talk to him about your childhood do you ever mention it?"
"I don't! He does. It's rather embarrassing, not to mention you can't hold it against me. You were engaged when I met you," she was quick to point out, remembering her first meeting with Raimei.
"Forcefully and there was no way in hell I was going through with it. Besides, I don't have a problem," this surprised and confused her.
"Excuse me?"
"I'm rather glad. Since he mentions it it's clearly something that plays on his mind," Madara wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. "And you're going to be mine. I win. Again. And your aunt is one of those headstrong women that I detest and now my mind is wandering back to Raimei. They both think because of their rank they deserve to inherit everything,"
"You worked for everything your whole life, I can see why that'd annoy you. But I inherited my clan," Yukiko countered.
"You did and at first that pissed me off most about you. That and you were hell bent on the idea of bargaining with me when it was completely useless to do so," he bluntly stated before smirking. "And you still insist on bargaining with me when its completely useless to do so...Your aunt is going to be a real pain,"
"Hisano has always been a pain. You realise it's a month and 10 days before our wedding, don't you? I've not even made any arrangements yet, have you?"
"Yes. It's why the Uchiha Tablet is being moved to Nara Shrine which is where we'll be getting married. And sake, I'll treat you by ordering the best I can find," Madara laughed slightly. "You can return the favour by learning to cook...properly."
"I can cook shark fin soup, which...I find difficult to find around here due to a lack of sharks and omelette and fried rice. I am trying though. I think I may start training with Atsuko," she announced quite suddenly, as though the thought had only just popped into her head. "She's becoming a bit of a recluse and I'd like to do something to boost her confidence,"
"If I were you, I'd leave her alone," Madara advised, sounding quite honest which confused her for a moment before she remembered that he knew Atsuko far better than she ever had. She smirked.
"You know something embarrassing about my childhood, tell me something about yours,"
"No. You don't need to know anything about it," she pretended to look hurt.
"I thought we were having an honest marriage! Clearly my soon-to-be husband can't tell his poor soon-to-be wife, who he hand picked no less, anything about when he was young! And I thought you loved me!"
"I do but..." he stopped what he was saying immediately. Yukiko studied his face as his look of shock turned to one of anger. "YUKIKO!" she quickly ran down the path.
"Forgive me, Madara! I couldn't help myself!" she called behind her as Madara gave chase.
"You...little! Dammit! Yukiko! Grow up!"
"I've never been this far west before..." Madara commented, taking in the landscape around them. "Tch, I suppose it'd be useless now asking if this is what you really want?" he glanced at Yukiko standing beside him.
"I've always spent my birthday here, you can tell me I'm trapped in the past later, this is what I want,"
"Your birthday is next week, you realise that now I have to be a good fiancé and offer you anything you want, don't you? The Daimyo will ask what I got you and I'm a clan leader, I'm expected to be lavish under these circumstances," Madara told her as he came into the kitchen during one of her cooking sessions. "So, Yuki, what do you want?"
"Hm? Anything I want? If we pack our bags and leave now, I can have what I really want on my birthday," he laughed at this which caused her to turn and look at him puzzled. "Madara, I'm serious. If you want to give me what I want we'd have to leave now,"
Which was why the pair had ended up in the Land of Water on a north west island. He turned to see the raging sea behind him but found that the snow had covered it from even his view.
"It'll only take an hour from here. Madara?" Yukiko touched his hand. "You're cold,"
"Really? Because there's nothing here! Just snow!" he snapped. "Why here?"
"You keep asking me that and you've not guessed yet, have you?" she asked, leading him down a small path on well trodden snow. He was growing annoyed now. Her footsteps were light, they didn't make a sound as she stepped on the snow whereas he wasn't yet used to forming his chakra in a way in which the thick blanket of snow wouldn't crunch beneath his footsteps. He heard a low growling nearby however Yukiko didn't seem to react.
"Just wolves, Madara, they'll be hunting the lemmings and rabbits," she informed him casually. "They have no trouble hunting in winter they're built for it, they'll be fine,"
"I'm sure they will be, feasting on our carcasses. You lived here, didn't you?" now she did react, her grip on his hand tightened.
"I did. This is the northern island of the Ginhana Settlement. You should see it in the winter, or rather, you don't," she joked as though she'd made it countless times. "Actually you're here to meet some important people to me,"
He would have pointed out all the people important to her on this island were dead however...It was her birthday and he wasn't sure whether reminding her what had happened here was a good idea when they were heading there anyway.
It was the strangest thing actually. When they reached the settlement, the snow seemed to be less constant and became slow, drifting through the air effortlessly. He could see now as well which eased his anger slightly.
"Welcome to my home. This is it. This is where I lived as Leader of the Ginhana," she walked slowly down the wide path leading to a large house at the end. "And that is my house which is where the aforementioned important people are. You seem surprised,"
"No one's even bothered looting here, it's been deserted for months now," she was mildly surprised by his suggestion.
"Madara, to loot here would be more effort than it's worth. You'd need boats and enough men and you'd need to know these lands well. No...Ginhana Settlement will be forever frozen over by time. It'll rest in peace, like the people here will," she explained with a solemn tone and a weary sigh. "In a way, the Ginhana found peace at last just like my father wanted,"
"You realise birthdays are usually a happy occasion for a woman, don't you? It seems to me you've come a very long way to be depressed," she shook her head.
"I...This is the first time in a very long time I've wanted to be here, come on, you're getting rather cold. It's warmer in my house," she led him down into the large house.
"It is a wonder you people didn't all die before now," he muttered, trembling. "You've never dressed like someone who lived somewhere as cold as this," he noted some fire wood in a fireplace and with a wave of his hand it ignited. "Before you ask, I can only do that to wood,"
Yukiko shook off her cloak and laughed. "Must be handy when fighting Hashirama-kun. See? I cleaned up when I was last here just in case. It's like I never left," she grabbed a thick blanket and threw it to Madara.
"These better be damn important people, I don't want my death from this cold to be for nothing," he growled softly glaring at her before realising she was frowning again. It just wasn't his day. "Go on. Who are these important people?"
Yukiko didn't say anything, she opened the back door and gestured him to look outside. He was stunned. If he hadn't been such a stone hearted man, the sight would have made him tear up for sure. His eyes quickly did the calculations. 702. There were 702 graves. One for every single Ginhana who had died in the massacre and then two more. "I thought you said no one had come here,"
"I did. It was my other reason for coming here when I assassinated the Water Daimyo. Every man, woman and child...Madara, meet the Ginhana. And at the very front here," she pointed to two graves further forward than all the others. "Those are my parents. Actually, funny thing, that way," she pointed to the right now. "That's where Minoru's parents are buried. He won't come to see them though, only me," He had to admit, at this point he felt as though he had something in his throat. And a feeling he hadn't felt in quite a while. Guilt. "I wanted you to meet my parents,"
"The legend, Isamu Ginhana," he muttered, following her to her parents gravestones. "Ritsuko Yuki,"
"Izuna-kun had actually heard of her. She used ice and poison in her attacks like I do. She only died a year and a half ago. I don't know how. One day I just found her lying dead in her room. Perhaps...she died of a broken heart at last or maybe she poisoned herself with something even I was unable to detect," she explained as she crouched down. "I'm sorry if you think I'm depressing myself. I think it's something important and I realise I shouldn't have dragged you away from your work to show you this however when you told me I could have anything this was the only think I wanted. I want to come here every year and I want to see them all again and remind myself why peace is so important. We sought to find peace only to find death instead. If war continued, this could have happened to so many more. It's very...sobering," Yukiko bowed her head and shut her eyes, muttering something in a dialect he couldn't quite understand properly. He realised she was crying though. He wondered if he'd cry for the Uchiha if he was in the same situation. However he found the entire massacre of his clan a difficult thing to imagine as paranoid as he was that it would happen.
"It's okay," she looked up at him. "If you want to come here every year, I mean. You can think of me as not even being a decent human and in a way you'd be right. I proposed to you for the most selfish reason. You seem okay with it now but my eyes don't lie, you're not. What would your father say if he knew you were in this position?" he asked her, not even making eye contact with her. His eyes scanned all the graves.
"He'd say to follow what I believe to be right. When people die they regret the things they didn't do more than the things they did. I think if I didn't marry you, I'd regret it for the rest of my life," she straightened up. "Perhaps, Yukiko Uchiha doesn't sound so bad after all,"
"When I take a look at this place, I can see why they'd call you Snow Child," she held onto his arm suddenly with a tearful smile.
"Come on, I think the fire has warmed the room up enough. And thank you, if you want to get me something to show the Daimyo that...I don't know you were taking me away on a wonderful romantic trip to alleviate the stress of the wedding...You could get me something useful. Like a new sword?"
Minoru had been so thankful the couple had gone away for two weeks and a few days. He actually lived in their house during that time. Something about being there made him feel much more at ease than in his own home. Although he nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard the front door opening in the middle of the night. He immediately leapt out of the window, falling to the ground with a painful thud.
"What the..." he heard someone growl from behind before there was a flash and he was pulled to his feet. "You're a very disturbed man, Kiyomizu," Madara snarled.
"You can ask Yukiko, it's just a bad habit," the healer managed to stutter. "You can't kill me, we'll be family soon,"
"Why would that mean I can't kill you?"
"I'm so tired!" Yukiko exclaimed from the bedroom behind them. "Madara...come to bed...please?" he seemed to weigh out his options before decided he couldn't deny that pleading tone of hers and let go of Minoru. "Thank you," she purred as he came into the room.
Yukiko stared up at the blue sky with clouds rolling across. She was lying on a patch of grass while the Uchiha dealt with the Nara Shrine. They were getting married the next day, Madara having taken her everywhere with him since they had got back from the Land of Water. His excuse to other people was that he wanted to make sure she was safe. His excuse to her, which she presumed was the honest reason, was that Minoru hanging around her all the time was annoying him. She couldn't help but think her time would be better spent doing work though.
"You don't have to look so bored," Aoi advised, looming over her suddenly.
"Oh! Aoi-kun! I'm not bored, I was thinking," she lied with a smile before sitting up. "Are they nearly done?"
"Yes, we're just hiding the tablet now,"
"But I thought you needed the Sharingan to read it. Why would you need to hide it?" she asked, watching a large group of Uchiha standing guard at the Shrine.
"It's very precious, that's why. And say someone found a way to decipher it. The secrets of the Uchiha would be left open for all and that's something we'd rather avoid," Aoi explained, sitting down beside her. "Yukiko-san, I think Madara-sama wants to talk to you," he gestured towards Madara who was ordering Uchiha round left, right and centre occasionally the leader would glance over at her as though he was making sure she was still there or...
"No. He's checking where Minoru is. He's gotten very edgy about my cousin, I don't mind. It gives me some peace," Yukiko laid back down as Aoi was called over. "This...is my last day as Ginhana." She whispered.
"And to think you could have ended up a dog," Madara sneered as he appeared next to her, staring down at her. It was quite the ominous site, his arms folded as he scowled. "And then I'd have had to kill you, it's not like you to be so lazy,"
"I've been very tired, I'm sorry," Yukiko finally stood up, stretching.
"Madara-sama!" Aoi yelled, Madara immediately making his way into the shrine.
"I know you're there." Yukiko said flatly, looking behind her. "What're you doing?"
"Nothing, not really. Is he gone?" a tiny voice asked her; the bushes rustling slightly.
"Would I be talking to you if he wasn't? You'd make an awful shinobi! What are you doing to make so much noise?" she leaned into the bush to see Minoru crawling awkwardly on the ground and looking up at her with a wide-eyed look of amazement.
"Technically, I am a shinobi. And because when does a healer ever need to crawl around in bushes to avoid an insane possessive Uchiha?" he snapped. "By the way, our sake situation...?"
"Your sake situation," she warned him in a low hiss. "This is your fault,"
"Oh that's not true. It's yours. So...should I do anything to the sake?"
"No. One day won't be a problem. If he catches on, it'll be a problem," Yukiko sighed and shook her head. "Yes?"
"I agree that perhaps one day won't be a problem however...he will catch on...Not if he catches on. I mean he's not stupid or blind although, he was both when I first met him," this earned Minoru a smack round the back of his head. "Right, I'll keep my mouth shut,"
"Just...Wait a few days after the wedding. I don't want to spoil everything suddenly,"
"My cousin, you have a very confused notion of what this will do. I doubt it'll spoil anything," Minoru advised her before he realised Madara was heading back out of the shrine. The healer darted back into the bushes. "Good luck! Not just with him now but I mean good luck for tomorrow as well, all the Uchiha around I doubt I'll be able to hide. Will you be okay?"
"Of course, I'll be free," she laughed as she walked away from him and over to Madara while Minoru pondered on the ominous words she'd spoken.
Free...? What was trapping her right now exactly?
So...That was a weird chapter, wasn't it, Kagami? Oh sorry I was drinking some apple juice. What? Never mind. We're not listened to here anyway. We're here for Kay's own amusement. Hey! Did you hear Kay's on DeviantArt now? She has been for a while now. BlackYoite. She'll be uploading little side-stories from A Fresh Snowfall once a week. Side-stories? Parts that were edited out, parts that will never make it in the story, things like that. Interesting.
Question: What's trapping Yukiko?
Next chapter: Come Catch The Rabbit!
