A/N: Don't worry, There's going to be more of Sei and Tobirama in the next chapter ... Sei is too much of a double playa. So it continues first with answers to reviews...

firemaster101- Ah, Sorry about that... I'm in the re-editing process of that chapter... Hmm, You won't be lost for long... All will be explained in due time. If you have any questions leave it in the reviews or message me. Thanks... :)

New Original Characters:

Mai Uzumaki: Mitō's wild out-spoken cousin who is going through a phase of denial melancholy due to the death of her husband and the abduction of her seven year old son.

Hoshimi Uchiha: Izuna and Madara's cousin. Helps them with housework, Uchiha Temple ceremonies and is a skilled mednin who aided in the process of manifesting the eternal mangekyo sharingan. Little Kagami's mother for this fanfic.

Chapter 9: The Thread That Binds

Few weeks later Aikiku sent Sei a letter by courier bird asking for assistance in a delicate matter. She needed Sei's masterful skill in the exquisite art of sew, needle and measurement. Her wedding was going to be three months from now in August. She was asked to arrive at the Uchiha clanhead residence. The dangerous uncharted territory Sei unofficially called: The Uchiha side of town. Upon arriving at the entrance she was met with a familiar face.

"Welcome, To my side of hell." It was Madara who bowed to her.

Sei returned, "I did not expect to be greeted by you."

"No, To be greeted by the Uchiha clanhead is the highest respect." He offered his hand to her.

"Oh, Forgive me!" She bowed back humbly.

"The pleasure is mine." Madara replied with a smile. "I liked the aggressive side of you... This is fine as well."

"Well, She will not be coming out soon. I'm sorry for all my rudeness." As they walked through the district eyes watched them. Sei noticed the hateful gaze of several Uchiha women. She whimpered, "I think your clanswomen hate me?"

Madara revealed laughing, "They all think they are entitled for an opportunity to become my wife."

"You want me to fill that position? As you said back at the resort? I will make you mine..." Sei said to herself, "More flattering than being called a goddess..."

He was surprised Sei remembered what he said. He claimed, "Yes, Though it is up to you."

Sei finally requested, "Why do you call me a goddess in the first place?"

"Around the time I met you... I had this odd dream. Of this beautiful goddess who looked like you... She would emerge from the dark of the forest on the nights when the moon was bright. Her kisses were warm and her arms felt like home..." Madara explained keeping a watchful eye. "You have never had any strange dreams? Or visions?"

Sei closed her eyes, "Maybe these dreams did fuel my fascination in literature... I have to say... They are a bit personal..."

"Personal?"

"Not in that way..."

"Private?"

She winced, "A lady doesn't speak of her wanton dreams."

"Wanton dreams?"

"Of strange handsome men." She continued bashfully.

"Ah, That's it? Anyone particularly?"

"Yes, A handsome man with a piercing gaze and the nicest smile."

"Your dream man..."

"I said men..."

"Well there is always one or two that stands out amongst a crowd."

Sei scrunched up her face, "What about a crowd of one man?"

"There is always one true man amongst many duplicates. They crowd around this one man because he is different or grand in some way. That leads them to imitate him in some way. They become his duplicates."

"Or they form a hunting party. Women get involved that leads to copulation from those acts a clan is formed... We are getting off topic... So yes, But the man in my dreams looks nothing like you."

Madara mischievously chuckled putting his hand over his eyes. "I almost forgot..."

"What?"

Sei jumped feeling his hand slide across her behind. Fire brightened her eyes, "Mada!"

He spoke taking her hand, "Come, This way to my residence."

Much like the Hyūga residence the Uchiha's was dark with minimal light, reserved and quiet. With such exceptional eye sight sources of light were unnecessary. Simple furnishings and decorations about the walls mostly of the Uchiha crest and art murals.

"Aikiku seems to have left..."

"Show me around." Sei fastened her arms around his waist. Comfortably resting her head against his firm chest.

"Yes, My love."

He displayed to her every single room. Sei herself was astonished by well kept the whole residence seemed to be. Before entering the last room she made a comment about cleanliness.

"This place is rather clean..."

Madara nodded and explained, "Yes, I like to keep things simple... This is my room. Since Izuna's choice to manifest the eternal mangekyo sharingan within me I have sworn to protect him with my life from our enemies and what he may trip over in the hallway... Though I do have the help of a cousin of mine... That fire-eater isn't here at the moment either."

"Fire-eater?"

"Let's just say Hoshimi hates me." He snickered welcoming her into his room. Sei rested upon the comforter on her side like a majestic tiger.

"I guess now I get you back for all those sudden advances."

He countered her suggestion, "Please, Do your worst... However this behavior is very unladylike."

Sei gestured her finger for him to come to her. He sat beside her still as a statue. Sei moved in kissing him and running her fingers through his long hair, "Your demeanor is no better... I should cut your gorgeous hair short."

"Absolutely not!"

She giggled sneaking her hands under his robes massaging his shoulders before pulling him closer in her embrace, "It's only going to get in my face... Hmm, What muscle you have..."

Madara blushed, He shot back grinning, "You thirsty monster..."

"I'm just kidding!"

He insisted, "I am not."

"Show me how serious you are..." She whispered touching his lips with her index finger.

He kissed her fingers, "Pull on my hair again and I will show you how serious I will get."

Giggling audacious Sei yanked on his ebony hair. He flipped her over onto the blankets. "I like how clingy you get... The more I touch you."

Sei retorted egging him on, "Claim your dominance all you wish but know you are giving me all I want."

"You greedy vixen."

"Though I should tell you something important..."

With the vibration of a child's laughter through out the halls and a woman's voice. Both separated and fix their clothing. A shifting of his bedroom door welcomed the slim figure of a Uchiha woman with the common Uchiha traits dressed in ceremonial garb.

"Still napping? Madara? You..." She moved her wavy black hair to take a closer look, "A Hyūga woman? I know your eyes can overwhelm your mental strength but... Have you gone completely insane?"

"No, I'm sane, Hoshimi."

"Did you at least get permission from her husband?"

Sei flamed out, "Husband? I'm not married or engaged!"

"Her father?" Hoshimi ignored her.

Madara defended Sei, "Hoshimi, Sei is a grown woman able to make her own choices."

Hoshimi spoke words of wisdom, "Cousin, Hyūga would accuse you of trying to steal the byakugan and statutory offense... The Uchiha clan would not defend you..."

"Technically I would not be stealing the byakugan and she wanted to be close to me." He hugged Sei close to his body. "I plan on making her officially mine. Her father should be proud that a prestigious leader such as myself is interested in courtship to his daughter."

"You have lost your mind... Besides that, Aikiku should be back soon."

"She can take her time and you can leave. I'm busy." Madara rolled his eyes. He still could not believe his little brother Izuna was getting married! He was the older brother. Older brothers are suppose to marry first.

"Such a pity our clanhead's brother is marrying a Senju... Female Uchiha aren't concupiscent enough for you both? Madara?" Hoshimi inquired with lewd expression.

"I did not say anything about Uchiha women not being 'lusty' enough... I'm not going to marry you... a widow, Hoshimi. You have a young son... Go organize his life instead of interfering with mine."

Hoshimi took Madara's disapproval well,

"Hmm... You know where I will be, along with all the other Uchiha women you have turned down... I guess I better go find out where Kagami ran off to..."

Hoshimi walked off.

"How many Uchiha females have you turned down, Madara?" Sei questioned.

"Its in the double digits now."

Sei inquired, "What makes me better than they?"

"Other than your aggressiveness and beauty... You have vision they do not."

"Oooh, Madara you're too flattering."

He was taken back, "I'm not aiming to flatter you."

"What is your motivation?"

He whispered in her ear of forbidden passions. Sei squirmed, "You cockerel hell beast!"

He remembered that one, "A hell chicken? Really Sei? Can you do better?"

"A cockerel is a rooster. I thought I might as well give you a farm pet name since you call me vixen."

Madara opposed, "Vixens hunt roosters hence they are not... I get it... What is important? You wanted to tell me?"

"Ah, There you are... Come on, Sei, I brought some supplies for you." It was Aikiku who walked in wearing a fox ear headdress and holding a bag of sewing supplies.

Sei stood up and teased the fox ears, "Where did you get this?"

"I bought this cute hat from a monk spreading the 'Way of the Nine'. One really awesome god but I already have one."

Madara held Sei back around her waist, "Wait your turn, Girl. Sei is occupied."

Aikiku snorted, "You can have your bootylicious time with her later. We have work to do... Is Izuna here?"

"He went to train with your brothers." Madara reminded her.

"Yes, Could you cook us something to eat? Madara?" She requested sweetly.

Madara reluctantly agreed, "Fine."

Aikiku showed Sei to her room. She placed everything on the floor and took out robes from her wardrobe. Sei went to work measuring the small frame of Aikiku. Starting with her waistline.

"Are you sure you are not pregnant? Aikiku? You have gotten wider around the waist..."

Aikiku stammered, "I don't know..."

"We might as well find out... Because your wedding robe must fit or it's going to look funny."

Aikiku whimpered tearing, "By kami, I hope I'm not! Tobirama is right! I'm not ready to be a mother!"

Sei activated her byakugan for half a minute to gaze for a bundle of chakra in the middle of her pelvis and then returned, "Congratulations!"

"No!"

She stated matter of fact, "Byakugan is the most accurate pregnancy test."

"Izuna will be happy but I'm frightened. How far am I along?

She explained patting her stomach, "Your petit body has soo far hid your current condition... Though, You are about three months..."

Aikiku raised her pointer finger at Sei. Violet power flowed through her, "Curse you! Sei! I hope you meet the same fate as me! Not by your cockerel Madara but my wolfish brother Tobirama!"

"I'm two years too early for that fate... And soo far undecided." Sei remarked writing down her measurements on parchment and off Aikiku's curse. "So how did you and Izuna meet?"

"We first met in the forest. It was the battle of the mind Vs. the body. After receiving many bojutsu blows to the head Izu gave up." Aikiku giggled indulging her memory.

"Poor Izuna."

"Hmp, He brought it upon himself. Heh, heh! After... Izu surrendered, I brought him to my temple to be healed. He thought Senjus lacked mercy and kindness for their foes. But little me proved different. Now here we are."

"I can picture it..."

Aikiku changed the subject, "Though... I heard about your dilemma with my brother."

"He doesn't trust me and has been spying on me." Sei measured her shoulder and arm length.

"It's his way of looking out for you. He does the same thing for me and I'm his lil sister!" Aikiku embraced Sei, burying her face into her hair. "Hmm, Your hair smells nice... What do you use to make it smell that good?"

"A sakura flower extract I created myself."

"Hmm, maybe you should sell it at the fire general store. You are sure to make a profit! Every woman wants nice smelling hair regardless of clan."

"Oh, I'll think about... Actually I was thinking of my own shop here."

"That would be nice too! I will be your first customer!"

"I have an even better idea, I will make a wedding gift for you of my personal spa treatments. Izuna is sure to like it."

"It doesn't matter if he likes it. It matters if I like it!"

"That's true."

Aikiku whispered in Sei's ear, "Izuna would never forgive me for saying this but Madara talks alot about you."

"Madara talks about me? What does he talk about?"

"Oh, Everything. Your beautiful smile, your eyes ... You're curvaceous hips."

Sei blushed beet red, "This is soo embarrassing..."

Aikiku raised her brow lewdly. "However, His inner thoughts would make you slap him ten fold."

"Oh, Stop, Aikiku! You're going to make me blush to death! A thought reader, Tell me what does Tobirama think?"

"I try not to read my brother's mind... The last time it was quite scary... At times he knows what I'm doing and thinks up random thoughts... It gets good when I catch him unaware." Aikiku laughed deviously and winked, "His thoughts about you are more complex than Madara's and at times the same."

"Details?"

"Well, He loves you deeply... It's goes contrary to his common conduct... So deeply that he would die for you or let you go if it would make you happy."

"WHAT? I'm such a..."

"No, no. Don't say such things. Its his fault." Aikiku dismissively interrupted Sei. She explained, "On a usual day He's the type to put reason over emotion. This is emotional growth for him."

"Oh, That explains alot."

"A hard nut to crack that's my brother."

"Yes, But you need to use the right utensil to crack the nut." Sei remarked measuring her height.

"Which wily utensil?"

"A nut crusher." Sei loudly belly laughed.

"Funny. But seriously?"

"And a tender hand... The fact that you have Izuna means you have already used your wily - utensils."

"Hmp! I don't call your hand a wily utensils..."

"Where your behind and breasts are naturally occurring attractions... Your hand requires mastery to get the same results..." Sei tactically assumed.

"You used your hand on my brother? You are such a perv, Sei."

Sei almost fell back, "Not in the way you are thinking... I gave him massage therapy and then again back at the resort. Though there he did welcome the proposition."

"Ugh! Gross! Tell me no more! Perv." Moving on Aikiku pointed out, "Hmm...I think the pink robe looks best between the red undergarmet and the white kimono."

"You have good fashion sense."

Aikiku mourned, "Well, Now much to my dismay... I know what kind of women my brother secretly likes... The perverted ones..."

"Every woman is a perv in one way or another."

"Heh, heh! That's right." The smell of delicious food entered Aikiku's nostrels. "Hmm, It seems Madara has begun cooking."

"Is he a good cook?"

"From what Izuna said he is. Do you cook? Sei?"

"No, Though the should start practicing..."

"Heh, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach."

"No wonder he has been a bachelor for this long..."

"He's way too picky!"

"That's evident... I would say I'm not a golden pick..."

"Nah, You like the extra attention..."

Sei confirmed her assumption, "Two is better than one."

"You will eventually be left with one."

Sei nodded, "Yes, That's true. Either one is good for me."

Both began to walk down to the dining room. Aikiku added, "Though, Watch out just in case your two lovers try to kill each other."

That caught Sei off guard she knew Madara and Tobirama were bitter enemies nevertheless she thought they could get over it. Being between the conflict and the object of both of their desires wasn't helping either. Picking one over the other would cause their quarrel to go over the boiling point. Rejection was after all a hard thing to take for anyone.

Sei sighed deeply. "I hope it never comes to that."

"Me too, Sei... I would hate to see my brother and my brother in law kill each other over you."

"I will never let that happen..."

"Thank you, Sei... I already did some horrible things awhile back."

"Like what?"

"I-I... I tried to curse my brother but it failed... That is why all those horrible things happen to you while you are around me... I know it was childish of me."

"It didn't work."

Aikiku teared confessing more to Sei, "It took effect in a different way. After my wedding day stay far away from me..."

They were greeted by Madara who was quite satisfied with his culinary craft.

He offered some grilled squid. "There's plenty for all."

Sei looked down at the squid and cringed. Aikiku giggled, "I don't think Sei likes squid."

"Yes, I don't like squid."

"Oh!..." Madara exclaimed as if making a mental note. "I made grilled chicken too."

Sei smiled sitting down at the table, "Even better."

Aikiku informed Madara, "After the wedding, Izuna and I are getting our own house... We will need room for the baby and all."

"Yes, I heard that was going be Hashirama's wedding gift. Hmm... What I am going to give you and my brother won't even compare!" Madara boasted.

Aikiku's eyes burned, "Madara! This is Izuna and my wedding! Not a competition!"

"Hashirama just upped the stakes by giving my brother a house! This is a competition my clan's and my honor is at stake!"

Aikiku growled, "Rhargh! You make me soo angry! Just you being there will make Izuna happy."

"Yes, However I'm sure it's your hormones talking for you."

Sei ordered them to stop, "Shut up and eat! The both of you!"

Aikiku snickered, "Yes, Mother."

"Hilarious,"

Sei added picking up her dining utensils, "Madara... So what are you going to get them?"

He crossed his arms, "I don't know... What do they need anyway?"

"All we need is your love, Madara." Aikiku simpered after drinking her tea.

After a few bites Sei complimented Madara, "You are quite the cook, Mada. Delicious! I love it!"

He relished Sei's comment, "My mother taught me those skills... As she said Uchiha recipes are simple yet complex and unmatched."

An exhausted Hoshimi entered the room with a little boy at her side. He smiled and hugged Madara, "Uncle Madara! Where did Izuna go? He promised to give me lessons..."

"Kagami... He is training in a specialized jutsu..." Madara refered feeling a bit uncomfortable with a kid clinging to him. Due to Izuna now being totally blind, he had to develop a whole new justu.

Kagami confirmed, "He can show me when he is done."

Madara did not sugar coat his reply, "The most advanced jutsu takes years to master... Kagami. In the meantime please eat."

"Yay! Food!" The little boy cheered.

"Here, I made some hibachi barbeque." Madara offered Hoshimi a platter.

"Hmm, It smells good, Uncle Madara!" Kagami complimented Madara's fine cooking.

Sei giggled remarking, "Ah, You are quite kind to children, Mada."

Madara blushed. He had a soft spot for young children. Children liked Madara, he wasn't sure why or how children liked him so... But it was possibly his love for his younger brother that attracted children to him. But their attention was wasn't always welcomed by Madara... Children could be unreasonable.

"Did you make any sweets? Uncle Madara?"

"Uh?...Umm, no."

"Aww, I want Mochi." Kagami whined.

"Hmm..." Madara left for a couple of minutes and came back with a basket full of wild berries.

"There..." Madara said placing the basket at the little boy's feet.

"It's not Mochi." The little boy whined once again.

He claimed, "It's better for you than mochi."

"It's not mochi." The child cried.

"You better not pout, Kagami. Uncle Madara has been kind to you." Hoshimi interjected.

"I'm sorry, Mother."

"Don't say sorry to me. Say sorry to Uncle Madara."

Kagami ate a handful of berries.

"Sorry, Uncle Madara."

Madara patted him on the head, "Thank you, Kagami."