"Tobirama." Mito called, approaching him in the living quarters. "I can't quite grasp this jutsu I've been trying to learn. Could you give me a hand?"

Glancing sideways at her husband, Sumi carefully observed as his expression softened while he answered. Why is she always bothering him? She thought bitterly.

"Of course. Let me see."

And why does he always comply? Sumi knew as her brother in law, Tobirama had certain responsibilities to Mito, but there was always something! Hashirama was her brother in law and she rarely ever asked him for favors – much less, every day, like Mito did. If she trained – Tobirama; if she studied – Tobirama; if she wanted to go somewhere – Tobirama! She didn't even address him properly. It was strange, they were too familiar and Sumi didn't like it.

Sure, they knew each other for many years and have always been friends, but they were still man and woman. There should be some limit to the time they spend together. Sighing, she had to reprimand herself for her resentful thoughts. She, of all people, was never too fond of all the patriarchal rules she was bound to follow. So, yes, it wasn't fair of her to think badly of Mito just for that reason. And no, she wasn't about to stop!

Was some of it due to jealousy? Maybe. Tobirama spoke very highly of Mito, and, not to mention, she was a clan leader's daughter, kunoichi and a princess. She was everything Sumi was not, and it didn't feel good to admit. It was unfair that a single person got to be great on so many fronts.

Tobirama and her had just started rekindling their relationship, they needed all the time they could get to spend together. Since Mito arrived, however, Tobirama was rarely available for longer than an hour. They did get to spend time alone in the evenings, before going to bed, but that wasn't nearly enough.

So, since Mito got to be all over her brother in law, Sumi went to visit hers. Amako wouldn't stop checking in with her about getting him to look for Madara and Mego, so she had decided it was time to just get it over with. Upon knocking on the door of the study, she heard him clear his throat before speaking.

"Come in."

"Brother in law?" Poking her head in, she was greeted with his polite smile.

"Sister in law. Do you need something?"

Entering, she closed the door behind her, pausing awkwardly as she tried gathering her thoughts before addressing him again. Clearing her throat, she moved, coming over to stand before his desk.

"There is something I've been meaning to ask of you, brother in law."

"Whatever you need." Hashirama nodded, encouraging her to continue.

"Lady Amako… Madara's mother in law… She begged me to ask if you'd be willing to search for her daughter." It didn't take his smooth expression long to turn sour with concern. Her plea was greeted with a sigh before she even got to finish saying it.

"She and Madara are legally married. He didn't kidnap her from the village, he simply took his wife along. I understand she wrote she came willingly?" Sumi nodded. "Well… Frankly, even if not, she's his wife. If he says she comes along… She comes along." Hashirama shrugged, "Pursuing them would be unwise, I'm afraid. Madara would consider it an attack. We don't want him for an enemy."

"I know. I tried reasoning with lady Amako, but she's grieving too hard to understand. Mego is all she has…"

Leaning back into his seat, Hashirama's eyes shut tightly as he seemed deep in thought.

"Tell her I'll think about it. I can't make such a decision rashly."

"Alright, brother in law. Thank you for listening."

"Sumi?" Turning away to leave, she stopped to face him once more. "I think… Mito seems to be having a hard time getting used to the house and all of us. I thought perhaps hearing a few encouraging words from someone who's been through that would help…"

Smiling, she nodded, thus letting him know there was no need to even voice his plea.

"Of course. I'll do everything I can."

….

The training went on daily, for three whole weeks. Madara had stopped pestering her about taking care of herself, since she was making bits of progress, although, Mego couldn't exactly decide if she was truly better off. Her muscles were so sore she lost sleep, and yet, she had to get up at dawn every day to join Madara as he guided her on how to warm up properly.

"This is too hard!" High-pitched complaints resonated across the meadow while Madara was attempting to teach Mego the basics of taijutsu. She seemed to just be going in circles, swiftly forgetting the things she'd learned as soon as he tried to teach her something new. She never did have much appetite for this sort of thing, and only kept progressively losing it.

"It's not, you're doing it wrong." Standing behind her, he helped her make a proper stance. "Lower your hips… Like that." Moving away, he went back to stand opposite her and took the stance himself. "Now, you have to use your whole body as you strike. Mego! Steady your arms."

With a warning to hold her position, Madara offered a reassuring nod, "Hit me."

"Where?"

"Doesn't matter. As if you can do any harm." His annoyed undertone caused her to swiftly drop the whole stance and cross her arms in anger.

"You're a terrible teacher! You have no patience!"

"And you lack all discipline! Do as you're told and stay quiet."

And she aimed for his chest. She knew, as he so bluntly put it, she wouldn't actually be able to hurt him, and she couldn't miss it if she tried. Until then, she would hit this bag he had fashioned up for her, and she got used to it. It didn't move, and she never held back, as it wasn't a person.

Her hips were low, she made sure to put her whole upper body into it, and in the form of a single quick strike her palm flatly hit the right side of Madara's chest, making him… Well, not even budge. He had tightened his muscles to be able to endure more, she knew, yet it was still discouraging.

"Again. Keep that form."

And she did. And she did, again. And again, until her neck, back, shoulder, elbow, wrist and palm started to burn from strain. Her breath rushed through her lungs, and she stepped away to carefully look at Madara.

"Are you really alright?"

He nodded. Pulling on his robe's collar, he revealed the pale skin and the lightly red wound, if it could be called that, possibly caused more by the friction of the fabric, than her excuse for taijutsu.

"Are you?"

"Yes…"

"Back to your form, then. Hit."

And unwillingly, she did. Again. Her dress unpleasantly stuck to her body, her hair prickled her exposed neck, simply inhaling air soon became a strain, but she went on. Just a couple more days, she reminded herself. She was never so eager to welcome her menstrual period before, but it was coming and she would take advantage of it to the fullest.

By the time they were done, the sun was very high and after stretching, Madara sent her to rest while he trained a while longer on his own. Blissfully, she made her way over to the lake, quickly shedding her clothes and jumped in, gasping at the cold that pleasantly shocked her whole body.

Before too long, she heard movement in the lake, and Madara joined her, wasting no time in wetting his hair so the water could wash away the sweat and dust from their training. Busy with gently exfoliating the skin on her shoulder, she smiled as a strong arm wrapped itself around her waist, and cold skin pressed against hers underwater.

"I'm sorry for getting mad." He whispered, resting his chin on the shoulder she wasn't washing. "I am just eager to make you less vulnerable."

"It's alright." Her fingertips came to rest on his temple. "I'll have a small break soon enough, and we will make it."

"Break?"

"Yes, I'll… I will start bleeding in a few days." It was inexplicably stupid, but she still felt ashamed to actually speak to him about things such as her cycle, no matter their relationship had been anything but platonic for a while now. Part of her still looked to him for care and protection of a brother in law, and she tried very hard to silence it, as it caused her to flush and get restless.

Madara's head left her shoulder and he stood straight behind her, turning her to face him with a gentle tug at her hip. Looking up, Mego curiously waited to hear what's on his mind.

"Kunoichi bleed. Such a break could cost us your progress. You're just starting to develop some endurance."

"But—My body will ache, and it's uncomfortable and messy!"

"You'll have to get used to it."

His poised tone did nothing to console her. Shaking her head, she stepped away from him, her body subconsciously wanting to show displeasure.

"I'm not you."

"What does that mean?"

"I don't enjoy this, and I can't bear anymore of it, without as much as a break!" Hastily, she made her way out of the water, grabbing a towel to wrap around her body. The complete disregard of her feelings and the state she would be in upon getting her period caused to get truly angry. If she decided she needs a break, she'll have the bloody break!

"Mego, we can't afford to stop!" Madara gestured from his spot in the water, not bothering to follow after her. "Someone could try to hurt you and you're completely helpless!"

Well on her way to their cottage, she stopped and turned to look at him.

"I could trip and break my neck. Oh, what do we do? Are you going to carry me everywhere?! Let me be!"

…..

Brooding and evasive, she still stood on the small field predicted for training the next day at dawn sharp, reluctant to meet Madara's unimpressed gaze. She had tried to apologize the night before, but he wouldn't hear of it. Quietly, they settled for simply looking at each other, with Mego's gaze occasionally roaming when her restlessness would reach its peak. Her hasty breakfast stirred uncomfortably in her stomach, and the morning sun was already burning warm enough to make her itchy.

"I already said I'm sorry…" She repeated herself unconvincingly, further discouraged by the challenging rise of his eyebrow.

"Weakness and disrespect are two things I hate more than anything." Gulping, Mego forced her eyes to remain glued to him as he spoke. "One I can tolerate. Both, I won't."

"You knew what I was like all along, and now you want to change me." Her voice neared a whisper, but she couldn't remain silent. She wasn't the only one who deserved a scolding.

"I don't want to change you, Mego!" Impatience slowly seeped in Madara's tone, yet his hand slowly reached up to rest on her cheek. "I want to help you."

"Help me by accepting me. I am weak! And I have no desire to change that." Before he could talk back, Mego continued, allowing her fingers to affectionately rest around his wrist, "I have you. Won't you protect me?"

"Of course! But what if something happens when I'm away, or—" With a small squeeze to his arm, Mego interjected, not wanting to allow the very known discussion to repeat itself again,

"You'll have to trust that won't happen. And if something happens, well, that's just bad luck. Please," She came closer, allowing her hands to reach his face, fingers slowly making their way into his black hair. "We came here to be happy."

With unchanged expression, he stood quietly for what seemed more than a whole minute. Mego caressed his dark locks, hoping the pleasant touch would prompt him to believe her optimism, but as anything else, it appeared to be futile.

"I'm beginning to think…" Frowning, Madara became the one to avoid her eyes, as his settled breathing switched to shallow, upset inhales, "I'm incapable of that." Seeing as his voice trembled and his eyes held a tearful glow, Mego's followed immediately. Much easier to bring to tears, she allowed hers to roll down her cheeks freely, as she hurried to hug him.

"This is a hard period, we're getting used to everything." Sniffing, she tightened her hold around his middle. "You'll be happy, I'll make it so."

Despite her words, she was beginning to fear he regarded his misery as she did her weakness, and the thought caused her to suppress a heavy sigh. What one doesn't want to be helped with, can't be.

"I'll train, and then I have to head downhill to the market. Will you come?" Madara chose to move on to a different subject entirely, and she let him, taking a step back to face him once more as he spoke. He looked back at her with dry cheeks and straight face as if nothing bothered him at all – the ability he owed to years of feigning indifference.

"Yes," She nodded with a trying smile. "I want to buy some seeds. I plan to learn farming."

She did stay to stretch alongside him, however, along with doing light exercises to rid her body of sleepiness. At least he had managed to make her develop a good habit, if nothing else.