Forget your troubles, come on, get happy! I've been in a House mood lately. I've also been extremely tired and thinking about these next few chapters. Please don't hate me, k? By the way! This is the last chapter of this arc. Next arc! His Yukiko of Duty and Loyalty. More about that from Kai and Kagami later.

Chapter Title: Mother Superior by Coheed & Cambria

Disclaimer: Yes...Get Happy! Because I don't own Naruto but own my characters and plot!


Chapter Fifty-Two

Come Catch The Rabbit!

Yukiko was confused. The day of her wedding started as all other days began. She woke up in the arms of Madara. She had a sick feeling take over however she held it down. It wasn't from him anyway and nor did it concern him. Stress from the wedding perhaps.

She slowly slid out of his embrace, having learned the delicate art of getting up without disturbing the Uchiha. She replenished Kibou's hay, food and water before having a bath and by the time she was done, he was waking up.

She wondered if the wedding was really necessary, the pair were in a very fine routine and if she recalled, her parents had the same routine.

Ever since she'd gone to the Ginhana Settlement she'd had persistent thoughts of her parents, actually. It'd brought up feelings she'd rather have forgotten and not to mention it reminded her of her mother's 'downfall'. And would that happen to her as well? If Madara were to be killed in some war would she react as badly?

"I have to go on ahead," Madara stretched as he got up. She knew what was coming next. "If that damn Kiyomizu comes anywhere near you I'll rip him limb from limb,"

"I'll be getting ready to marry you, Madara, even if he shows up here, I'll pay him no heed," she promised with a small smile. "Can I ask for a request?"

He took a moment to answer her, watching her carefully. "What?"

"Can you smile?" Yukiko asked rather boldly. "Please?"

The Uchiha leader sighed before looking at her and smiling quite honestly. "I doubt you'll need to bother with white make-up, you're pale enough as it is," he joked before quickly leaving.

"Hey! I can't help it!" she poked her head out of the bedroom door. "You're mocking a serious condition!" however she burst out laughing as she heard his own laughter as he left.

"Well aren't you chipper this morning?" a voice thick with jealousy asked her. Yukiko groaned.

"No sooner is my soon-to-be husband out of the door, you show up! Minoru, get a life!" she scolded. "I'm getting married, I'm expected to be chipper,"

"That's not you, you don't care about marriage...Well, not that I know of. So why?" he climbed through the window, glaring at her. "You said something strange..." Yukiko placed a hand over her mouth and closed her eyes for a moment. "Yesterday that you'll be free," he ignored her strange behaviour and moved closer to her. "Free from what?"

"It doesn't matter now, leave! I can sense Atsuko and a few other Uchiha women approaching!" Yukiko snapped urgently. He looked annoyed before quickly making his escaped.

"Yukiko-sama?" Atsuko called from the front door. The Ginhana grabbed one of Madara's shirts, putting it on after discarding her towel.

"Come in,"


It was a bitter-sweet feeling for Madara, this entire wedding. It was a needless charade for the sake of the Daimyo, who wasn't even going to be there. There was a large celebration at the village afterwards though, and he was going to be at that.

He walked into his office where he'd kept his black kimono for the ceremony. He sat behind his desk first, leaning back on his chair and taking off his chain to look at his locket, popping it open and staring at the picture of Izuna and Madara before flicking the glass and seeing his parents.

He had to do this. He had to get the Daimyo's favour. If he didn't it'd just be something else he'd failed at. If he became leader of the village, the Uchiha would be safe and their safety meant more to him than his own life now after all he still felt like a shell. It was that one thing he was missing in his life, his brother.

"Madara-sama," it was Genshi standing at the door. "Hope you don't mind my intrusion but you may wish to hurry up,"

"Genshi, what's the most important thing to you?" Madara asked suddenly, it surprised Genshi to say that least. Madara never took much of an interest in his private life.

"My wife, of course and my daughter," Madara looked quite surprised himself now.

"You've got a wife and child?"

"I do, sir," he chuckled. "My daughter is 6 in a few weeks. Why do you ask?"

"Hn. It doesn't matter, I was just curious," Madara sighed, getting up. He took his shirt off. "I need to get ready, you're right,"

"Would you like me to go on ahead?" for a moment he thought he heard Izuna's voice and stared at Genshi for a few seconds longer than he should have. "Madara-sama?"

"Hm? Yes. Go on ahead,"


"He'll flake," Hibiki sat down with Hashirama, overlooking the still under construction village on a mountain north of it. "He will,"

"You think he doesn't care about Yukiko?" Hashirama asked with a curious expression. "I'm afraid I have to disagree, he'll get married to her,"

"Ha! It's not that he doesn't care about Yukiko, it's that he cares about his pride more. This would be an admission of actual feelings. Did you know last time I spoke to him he thought falling in love was a choice?" the Daimyo asked, stifling a laugh. "They're prone to awful arguments at times from what I've heard,"

"Well, I personally think that's a good thing. She challenges him from time to time. Where would Madara-kun be without a challenge?" Hashirama stared up as several birds flew over them. "When were you going to tell us about the rebels in the East?"

"In a few days, they pose no harm and they'd have dampened the celebrations if I'd mentioned them. Several Daimyo have expressed an interest in having the same sort of system as us, by the way. However they first need to know if this works, I'll be keeping an eye on Our Dear Loose Cannon," Hibiki sighed shaking his head. "He has no idea how important he is," Hashirama laughed at this.

"He thinks he knows how important he is, his arrogance knows no bounds,"


Yukiko stood at the shrine in a kimono as white as fresh snow and wondered how she managed to end up standing in the Land of Fire, next to Madara Uchiha who was looking stunning in his black kimono, and was about to get married. It didn't...feel real.

She felt caught in a sudden shocking wave for a moment and she was quite sure why but the seriousness of the situation had just smacked her.

She didn't even really hear what was going on around her, it was a surge of self-doubt and what had she been doing this morning? Most important morning of her life and she'd been making jokes!

Wait...Drink...Nine glasses of sake to be shared.

Focus! Dammit, Yukiko! She viciously told herself. However it felt like leaping into one of the lakes in her country...A sudden rush as her body felt dipped in that ice...No. No. I can't focus, am I even breathing? What's happening? Is it over?

The next thing she realised, she was sitting on the steps of the shrine next to Madara.

"What are we doing?" Yukiko asked him so quietly.

"You asked to sit down after the ceremony, we've only been here for 20 minutes," Madara told her looking at her in such a strange way...She'd never seen that look in his eyes before. "I needed you to look slightly less dazed before we face the Daimyo,"

"Did we get married?"

"Yes," he took a deep breath in. "You're doing this wrong, for you, I mean," he repeated his words to her exactly, his arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. "Did you know Genshi has a wife and daughter?"

"Hm? Haya and Aiko, yes. They're both lovely," he seemed disappointed with this answer. "You didn't know? It's fine. He isn't very public about it, I only know because of that little challenge I set myself to memorise all the names of the people in your clan,"

"Keep that up. If you focus on the social parts of the Uchiha and I do all the practical things, that should keep everything simple," he sighed. "That's the proper role for a wife,"

"Oh that's so strange," she muttered however he managed to hear her.

"We'll have to go face them all at some point, my wife," he stood up and pulled her up with him and in a single fluid moment his lips caught hers. "Now you just look dazed again,"

"I have a lot on my mind. Not about the wedding, well there was that but that's over now. And now we can focus on everything else. Or rather I can focus on everything else," she frowned and looked away from him. "I'm sorry, I feel really tired,"

"Then eat these and don't think about it," Madara placed something into her hand. She uncurled her palm and stared at three tiny black orbs.

"And these are...?"

"Military ration pills, they'll give you a good enough energy boost that you can get through the night," she swallowed them down, needing no further explanation. "Let's go get changed and then I can rub this in Hashirama's damn smug face,"


Yukiko sat down a little way off as Madara spoke to the Daimyo, she heard that rustling behind her again.

"Minoru...That's just ridiculous," she whispered. "You're pushing your luck turning up here,"

"The whole village is here, blood please," she placed her arm in the bush as he quickly drew blood from her. "Thank you. No more drinking, okay?" he hissed.

"I won't. Even with these pills I feel sleepy," She admitted with a yawn. "Apparently there'll be fireworks later by the hill," however she quickly realised Minoru had scampered away and before she knew it, Hibiki was walking over to her. She swiftly got up and bowed to him. "Hibiki-sama, thank you for providing funding for this..." he held out a gold envelope to her. "A gift?"

"Of course, it's customary to give the bride and groom a money gift, I'd take it quick if I were you. I'd rather not get caught in the cross-fire," Yukiko did as she was told before frowning.

"Cross-fire?" before he could answer her, he walked away.

"This is ridiculous," Hisano spat from behind her. "You actually went through with it. And you're so...proud of yourself,"

She actually hadn't been until her aunt mentioned it. "Auntie, my husband is a very handsome and powerful man. Is there something I should be ashamed of?"

"He's an Uchiha,"

"A strong clan, no doubt he has good blood,"

"He's a madman,"

"Who'd ruthlessly protect me with his life if he must,"

"He's addicted to war,"

"And he'd tear down armies for me. Do you see how fruitless this is? I am very much in love with Madara Uchiha and nothing you can say will change my mind on that. I'm done being a Ginhana," Yukiko told her callously. "I can never be what my father wanted,"

"You can be what I wanted though," Hisano was quick to counter. "Your father's memory rests with me and you,"

"No, it doesn't. He's dead, Hisano, he's been dead for 6 years. I know you miss him and I do too but...wallowing in his memory is not what he'd have wanted. Don't you get it? He'd have wanted this," she gestured to the large celebration. "Happiness and peace and me moving on with my life, excuse me, I need to go speak with my husband," Yukiko walked away from her aunt with a tiny smile. Hisano seemed too annoyed to even protest. Madara glanced back at Yukiko as she approached her. He had been talking to Hashirama and Mito while noting that Tobirama was a little way off, glaring scornfully at the newly weds.

"Yuki-chan, you look exhausted!" Hashirama exclaimed. "How wonderful is this though? The fireworks will be starting soon. I won some money from the Daimyo as well,"

"Were you making bets again?" Mito warned sternly, her green eyes narrowed. "Well?"

"A little one with the Daimyo, who seems genuinely happy to have lost," Hashirama defended before turning around to Hibiki.

"It was my idea, Mito, and what an impressive day. I'm very pleased with you, Madara-kun, you've shown great maturity. Keep this up and you could be a wonderful leader," Hibiki said his piece and left to go talk to another clan leader while Madara smirked.

"Hashirama, seems like I've made more progress," Yukiko rolled her eyes and Mito sighed.

"Not this again," the Uzumaki muttered. "For once can you two talk about something that isn't point-scoring?"

"Yes, you've matured however do remember I've been married longer than you," Hashirama countered with that polite tone of his. Apparently Mito was being ignored.

"I could turn that and say I didn't rush into marriage,"

"Fireworks," Yukiko whispered, hearing the others behind them saying they were starting soon.

"Hn, come this way. We'll finish this later, Hashirama," Madara promised before leaving with Yukiko. They walked through the village alone in silence before up hidden stone steps up the mountain.

"Why're we coming up here?" she asked, as they stood at the top of the mountain. The dark night had completely swallowed their surroundings, not even the light from the village doused them as they sat down on the cliff edge. Madara still not answering her. "It's very dark,"

"I can see fine."

A sudden whistling filled the silence and then an explosion of bright red, tiny glistening embers floating down. More whistling sounded as more fireworks burst into the sky. From where they were sat they had a perfect, unspoiled view of the sky.

"We never had fireworks in my land, it's much too cold for it," Yukiko commented quietly. "But whenever I came to see the Senju in the spring, there'd be a fireworks display,"

"Hn, you never came in the summer?" she shook her head.

"Much too hot, as you know, I can't take the heat. I apologise for being so distant, there's something that's been playing on my mind," she admitted, placing her head in his shoulder. "I won't burden you with it,"

"Tch, you say that but I assure you in a few days you'll come running to me and we'll have a tedious conversation about whatever it is and you'll ask me to be polite," Madara scoffed. "Fireworks are useless. They fly up into the sky and then just explode. A tiny flash, that's all. You waste money on getting everything together for a tiny explosion that doesn't even hurt anyone," she wasn't at all surprised that Madara didn't appreciate the glistening embers and colours that dazzled many. He saw it in a much more practical way whereas she appreciated it in a more artistic form. She loved being swept up in a moment as she watched the various colours and how the wind caused them to slowly drift across as they fell. It reminded her for snow in a way...However this was much more beautiful.

"Madara...Can I lie down?" she yawned, he didn't reply however he did move back slightly giving her room to rest her head on his lap. "Thank you, oh...I will talk to you about it eventually but why ruin our wedding night?"

"Can't imagine we'll be consummating this marriage tonight in the sorry state you're in unless you sleep through it," Madara chuckled, his hand ruffling her hair slightly.


"I had another bad dream," a 6 year old Izuna told Madara, waking him up. "Nii-san,"

"Hm, Izu, are you crying?"

"Yea! I had a bad dream! Weren't you listening?" Izuna snapped, wiping tears from his eyes. "Nii-san!"

"Yes. Yes, Izu, come here," he moved aside on his futon and allowed his younger brother to lie down, his head on Madara's chest.

"Mm. Mada! Do it." he nudged his brother who groaned before gently scratching Izuna's head. "That's better, thank you...Thank you, Nii-san,"


A particularly loud bang from a large firework brought Madara out of his thoughts. He wondered how Yukiko could, seemingly, sleep through the noise with ease.

As a kunoichi, she surely couldn't be deeply asleep. She must have had some awareness of her surroundings at least!

"Yuki..." he nudged her slightly and got nothing. He frowned, this clearly meant he'd have to carry her home. Yet he had found her behaviour that day had been very worrying. She'd been in almost a daze which was very unlike her. As he started thinking about it, carrying her back bridal style, he realised she'd been like this for about a week and yet she'd specifically said it wasn't about the wedding.

As he placed her in bed, deciding that her kimono didn't seem like an appropriate thing to sleep in, he noticed a small bruise on the inside of her arm. If she hadn't been so pale he may have missed it but he saw a definite pinprick as well. He debated whether he should wake her up and demand she tell him what was going but his own sleepiness got the better of him and he decided that it was be a discussion best left to the morning.


"You must be pretty upset, I didn't see you around," Aoi told his sister, attempting to be comforting however in his blunt tone it was hard to be.

"That should have been me. That was my wedding! She stole it from me!" Raimei argued before growling and looking away from him. "She stole my husband!"

"Now now, there's no need to be irrational. It's our Leader's choice at the end of the day and hopefully she'll be a good wife," Aoi deduced however this didn't ease his sister's anger at all.

"No she won't. I'm going to make her pay, Nii-san, I'll make her wish she'd never even touched Madara-sama with her filthy Ginhana hands,"


Oooooh! Raimei is piiiiised. Kagami, that's immature. But yes she is. And she shouldn't be so mean about Yukiko. Kai, you're post-story love for Yukiko scares me. I hear coughing from Itachi's room, can we hurry this up? New arc! Looking forward to it? That the question this chapter? Nope. It'll be based on Pearl of the Stars by Coheed btw.

Question! Happy Raimei is back? Kay-chan was surprised that so many people hate Hisano.

Next Chapter: Pray To God He'd Let Her Rest.

Btw. During their wedding you should listen to the House version of Get Happy.