"Seihana chose to marry the head of the Uchiha clan?" Disbelief coated Shōten's question.

His son Daisuke sat at his father's bedside. It pleased Dai's ego the fact all of his father's choices were turned against him. He stated aiming to sting his father's nerves, "She is pregnant with his child. Father... It is honorable for him to marry her. Besides that he loves her very much."

"Love? Such a foolish notion... A wise man doesn't marry for love."

"If you are displeased maybe you should have locked Sei in her chambers after the onikage's attack... Ah, Even before that!" Dai reminded his father, "You love your daughter too much to do that? To lock Hana in her chambers? The same hesitation you showed in face of her suitors!... Never mind... You were the one who wanted her killed."

"Foolish son... The onikage will destroy everything our clans have built. All the families we have created. If killing my daughter and her unborn child is the solution to stopping a mad man's plan I will order it."

Dai shook his head, "Killing Sei and her baby will not stop him in generational time... Such an act would start a family feud with the father whom is also an excellent ally... Besides Sei wishes to stop the onikage's plans through other means."

"In this life there are some things not in our control. Your elder brother's murder and Hana's rebellion... I thought of disinheriting you both but I realized my time is short and my youngest children are far too young for leadership responsibilities. Dai, Don't make the same mistakes I have made." His father admitted content with his son's critical thinking, "You must support this family and your sister when I'm gone. Use everything I have taught you and be honest with those around you... If not you will loose their support."

Dai bowed his head, "Yes, I understand, Father."

Sei sat alone in her room repairing the silk robe her mother had worn at her own wedding. Her thoughts and memories returned to that fateful night. However,

The entrance of Daisuke broke Sei's focus on the past. He sat beside her looking onto her sewing hand. She nodded continually stitching the fabric. He proceeded to braid her ebon hair.

She spoke to Dai, "You helped Madara."

He noted weaving her hair, "Yes, Are you going to punish me?"

"No, I was beginning to have doubts myself before he came with his proposal... Concerning Tobirama, I do not want the blood of the Senju to be absorbed into my own more powerful family. He will understand my stance on this."

Dai moved on, "Knowing him for far too long. I know Madara will treat you as his one and only. He may be a little intense but at heart he's a good man."

Sei rested her head on his shoulder. She noted of something else entirely, "I hope this doesn't lead to too many children."

"A few more kicks to the scrotum could solve that problem."

"No, I don't want to make my fiance sterile."

"Funny, I heard about your foot happy exploits."

"Beside the question, The onikage will probably kill Madara and I before then."

Dai reminded her, "Unless he is stopped... You want to have more than one child?"

Sei caressed her stomach, "Yes, I want my eldest child to have younger siblings... It will help with their growth."

Dai snickered deviously, "Lord Uchiha has a lot of work ahead of him."

"You will come to my wedding." She hugged Dai.

"Yes. I always planned such." He patted her on the back.

"You planned on getting us together?"

"Many had thoughts. Other than the onikage, Aikiku and Izuna had planned on getting you and Madara together. Izuna concerned with his brother's happiness thought his elder brother required a family. However, Aikiku wanted to start an upheaval of what is acceptable and what is not concerning relationships."

Sei thought about everything Aikiku has said, "I think she was also playing both sides with her brother."

"Choosing between your sibling and your lover is not easy."

"True."

Dai caressed her stomach affectionately. He remarked, "I don't understand why you are soo obsessed with death. You are experiencing the exact opposite."

"After this... What life will I have?"

"Sei, Your life doesn't stop with a family."

Dai handed Sei a letter, "Here I almost forgot... A letter from Madara."

Sei read it quickly, "He wants me to meet him today and wear the robe he gave me... I will go meet him but I will not wear that robe."

Later that day Sei met with Madara just outside his residence. He greeted her with a brief kiss. Hearing painful screaming next store, Sei spoke to Madara, "What is happening to your neighbor?"

"My neighbor is my brother... It is his wife Aikiku."

"She is giving birth?"

Madara dismissively took Sei's hand leading her down the street, "Yes, It's no place for you... Let's get out of here."

"Where are we going?"

"To a more quiet place. Where we can hear each other."

She demanded clutching his broad shoulders, "My feet hurt... Give me a piggy back ride."

"Yes, Hold on." With ease Madara picked Sei up with his arms. She kissed his cheek remarking, "For your height you are quite strong."

"You may be taller than many a woman but you are lighter than they."

"You picked up other women before?"

Embarrassment marked Madara's comeback, "To throw them out... No... Not the way you are thinking of... I'm not Hashirama I can't sleep around with several women."

"Hashirama does have a lot on his hands concerning his family."

"True."

Sei smelt his aromal hair suggesting, "Ah, So that means you are a one woman type of man..."

His thin lips formed a balmy smile, "The night where you slapped me was the moment I realized... You are the woman for me."

"You are such a stubborn goat..." She kissed his cheek, proceeding to turn her gaze into the silent brush. "Where are we going? To the temple?"

"No, I took care of the ceremony and everything else partaking to the event."

Sei warned, "Madara, You take on too much responsibility... It's going to be the end of you."

"Someone had to make the preparations."

"I could've helped you."

"No, You could not. Stress is not good for your situation."

Sei resisted, "I'm not fragile mentally or physically because I'm with child. You worry too much about me."

"You are dear to me." Madara stopped all movements, "I will always worry about you... You are my fiancee... Unlike yourself, I'm not marrying you just in cause of the child alone."

"You think I'm marrying you only because of the baby? I'm marrying you because it is the most logical thing to do internally and externally. We are making history."

Madara shook his head laughing, "That is more important than love?"

"Love will blossom in that history."

He declared sternly, "I don't want you to marry me because you pity me and regret your unkind actions."

Sei noted criticizing herself, "I must hold myself accountable for my rudeness."

Beside the river shore Madara released her back on her feet. He claimed facing her, "As it is my goal to prove all your past claims as erroneous."

Sei resisted turning her back to him, "I will not make it easy for you. My mind is not soo easily changed."

"It took me less than ten minutes to convince you to marry me."

"Yes..."

"It will not be all that difficult..." Madara noticed she did not donne his gift. "I see you are not wearing the robe I gave you."

"Madara, It would be disrespectful to both of our esteemed clans if I attired your clan's crest. By blood I am not an Uchiha."

He clutched her shoulders assuring her, "I understand. Since you will be living amongst my clan I thought it would be best for you to blend in. From behind you could pass for an Uchiha."

"Is this the spot you wanted to take me?"

"Yes, It is peaceful and quiet... You love me?"

Sei glanced down at her feet, "My love for you is a budding flower in the early days of spring... So on there has always been a part of me that adores your absurdity. In my erroneous thought I was terrified... I fought against those feelings for more self indulgent moments... I perceived my end and so I pursued it. Without ever considering those around me and their true motives. My loved ones and our child has caused me to have a different perspective on my life... As long as I am alive... I am not worthless."

Madara kissed her forehead, "I will treasure you until the end of my days."

Sei kissed his lips, "Thank you."

"I thought of a way to seal the bond we share."

"Please tell me."

Sei peered into his hand which held a silver ring. Elegant Hiragana letters carved into the silver. He spoke, "Everyone will know you are my wife."

Sei placed the ring on her finger. She remarked peering down at the bond, "Now this I will wear... Secretly I do adore a man who is a bit possessive of me."

"I'm not the type of man to stray. I'm worried about straying when it comes to you."

Sei flirted, "I will make sure to keep you busy."

Madara jested taking her hands into his own, "Yes, Keep me on my feet... Come we shall watch the stars."

Later that night Madara and Seihana returned to his residence. Izuna sat on the cold stone steps. He whimpered sorrowfully, His head in his hands.

Suspecting something had gone horribly wrong Madara hurried over to his brother, Saying, "What happened? Izuna?"

He moaned guilt, "Aikiku... She's dead... It's all my fault."

"Nonsense... She's dead? What of the baby?"

Izuna faded into the darkness, "He is with Hoshimi... Excuse me, Brother... I have to tell Hashirama his sister is dead and prepare a funeral."

Madara turned to Sei who stood beside him. "Aikiku was your friend... It's probably best if you stay out here."

Sei entered the home before him, "Madara, That is exactly why I will not."

Sei walked through the main corridor to Aikiku's room which was closed off and lightless. The adoring voice of Hoshimi lured her to the room opposite of the dark bedroom. Sei sat beside Hoshimi her sad eyes never leaving the bundled pink baby whom captivated her.

She cooed, "Adorable... That light brown hair... He looks soo much like Aikiku!"

"She named him Tsukimura." Hoshimi revealed. "Moon village."

Madara noticed something unusual about his nephew, "Though... His eyes and chakra... I can't explain it."

Hoshimi placed him on a flat bed, "True... However all babies have clouded eyes when they are born."

Madara noted, "Yes, It's probably best now to give him to a woman whom can feed him."

Sei motioned, "I would offer to nurse the child if my body was at that stage... Later maybe but... Mitō had her son a few weeks back. She may agree to nurse her nephew."

Hoshimi nodded, "There are many other new mothers in the village as well."

Sei's voice trembled, "um, What happened to Aikiku?"

Hoshimi's tone changed to a more caring one, "It's best if I do not tell you, Lady Sei. I don't want to frighten you... Lord Madara would never forgive me."

Sei found her change to be unsettling. Formerly Hoshimi was strongly vocal about her disapproval of Madara courting her. Sei spoke dismissively, "Indeed...Thank you, Hoshimi."

Her reply made Sei think twice about her former thoughts, "Madara has enamored the whole clan with his strong arm methods. How he went obtaining you was all part of it. Now ill treatment of you comes with a death sentence."

She grinned in Madara's direction, "Ahh, I see."

Madara blushed turning away from the women, "That is only one eighth of it. A man who doesn't protect his family is of no value, So forth, I will not allow anyone of this world and beyond harm the woman destined to stand beside me."

Sei checked off holding the sleeping baby in her arms, "That detail was in your proposal."

He proposed, "Yes, Come along, We must get this child to a woman."