Madara's eyes slowly opened, he turned around only to be met by a snoring Ayumi. She was drooling, her mouth unshyly wide open. The Uchiha rolled his eyes, keeping in a chuckle.

"Tsch." Madara pushed the covers away from his body, "How unsightly."

Seriously, how could a princess touted to be so powerful be knocked out as a piece of wood so easily?

The princess quickly snapped awake though.

"What was that about unsightly!?" Ayumi punched his arm.

"Oi!" Madara patted the area, "Where did you get that sudden energy from?"

She yawned, stretching her arms. "Koniko, thank you for preparing breakfast." The princess eyed the platter of dishes that were set beside the couple. "Breakfast for two. Itadakimasu!" Ayumi winked at the Uchiha.

"Eat and let's head out. Where are the children?" Madara questioned.

"Outside training." Koniko slide the shoji door.

"Ah." Ayumi nodded, nibbling on the food, "They must be feeling better."

"They certainly are. They were smiling and laughing all morning. I think it made them closer."

Madara ate a portion of the food and vividly recalled how the many hardships he faced brought him closer to his brethren. "Tragedies have a way of doing that."

Madara sat up right now, folding his futon and then meeting Koniko's eyes. "I can trust you to leave you here alone with the children?"

Koniko nodded. "I'll take care of things here while you two are out there."

-

"A debt collector's place." Ayumi shifted in her spot, adjusting her kimono. "This will be the perfect spot to start investigating. Yosh. Let's go!" She took a couple of steps forward, until she felt a familiar grip around her wrist.

"Calm down." Madara eyed her. "If we risk being impulsive they might come after you too." His dark eyes narrowed in on her. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat, yanking her wrist back.

"I can't sit still, I'm going!" She frowned as she scurried forward.

Madara sighed, it would be futile, he thought to himself. She was emotionally involved and he couldn't blame her.

-

"My name is Tsubaki and this is the Debt Collectors office, how may I help you?"

"Konichiwa." Ayumi made herself welcome in the space while Madara had been checking around. The lady named Tsubaki was eyeing the Uchiha, but her attention was quickly diverted to Ayumi's.

"I was hoping to see the list of people who failed to pay their debts this past week." Ayumi preppily smiled.

Tsubaki hesitated for a minute as her hand touched the knob of the drawer. "On who's accordance are you here on?"

Ayumi cleared her throat. "I was hoping you'd tell me that. Ever since we started working for you guys we have no clue who's the boss. It's been stressing us out since we need to talk to him about something."

"Ah." Tsubaki stared at Ayumi a bit too intensely for her liking. "Tenji-sama prefers to be elusive."

Madara snapped the office lady a quick stare. Tenji-sama.

"Tenji-sama, that he sure does." Ayumi repeated, making sure she'd not forget that name. Maybe he was responsible for the arson murders. But still! She's horrible at her job for giving up his name so easily.

"I can set up an appointment if you wish to speak to him." Tsubaki offered nicely.

Ayumi looked at Madara, who stood beside her now.

"Yes please." Ayumi nodded. "Oro, how does this Tenji look like?"

"Tenji?" Tsubaki looked at her confused.

"Sorry, Tenji-sama." Ayumi cringed in her spot.

Madara walked away, he had already known how he looked like.

"I'm outside waiting." Madara said as he looked at Ayumi over her shoulder.

It stayed quiet between the two for a moment.

"That guy is extremely frightening." Tsubaki brought a hand to her mouth to whisper to her.

"Hahah!" Ayumi caught her stomach. "He is, trust me. But go on."

"Tenji is an old man who has a long white beard with glasses. But don't let his age fool you, he's actually quite strong. Hailed as one of the highest level nin in Kumogakure, and he protects the financials of the village to ensure that every one can live comfortably."

"Ah." Ayumi rubbed her chin. Why did his noble job have to involve killing?

-

"How do you know who he is?" Ayumi trudged, kicking rocks along the soil. Tsubaki had told them their appointment had been set up for two days from now.

"I had a brush with him during the warring states era." Madara explained, "His speciality is taijutsu. He puts those younger than him to shame despite his old age."

"This Tenji must be strong if you're acknowledging his skills." Ayumi pondered.

"He is but most likely not on your level, since your mastery of Jyuuken probably outdates him." Madara looked down at her.

"Yare yare." Ayumi rubbed the back of her neck. "I need to get used to your compliments more."

Madara sighed closing his eyes, furrowing his eyebrows. "Now is not the time to get caught up in fluff. Facts are facts."

"We will turn him in for his murders. He is a closeted arsonist that hires others to kill people in debt while maintaining the guise of a just financial dealer." Ayumi brought a hand to her forehead to shade herself from the sun.

"Send him to prison you say." Madara took a couple steps forward to her. "Why not kill him?"

Ayumi frowned. "We're past that era of killing."

"Or perhaps you've gotten too soft." Madara retorted. "If things get out of line I won't hesitate to kill him."

"Madara. There is no need to take a life." She looked at him, "Besides, his old age will catch up to him soon enough. I appreciate your offer though."

"Hm." Madara turned on his heels and walked ahead. "You should head back to the cottage. I have a couple of other things to tend to that I'd like to be alone for."

Ayumi nodded. "I'll see you later then."

-

"I can't believe I'm actually looking for a ring." Madara muttered to himself, walking throughout a portion of the town that had jewellery shops. Red spinel, he recalled Koniko's words. How does that even look like?

He saw a grand jewellery boutique not too far, he entered and eyed the intricate displays of rings with crossed arms.

"How may I help you today?" The male adorned in a suit spoke. "My name is Aoshi."

Madara shifted in his spot, unravelling his arms. "Do you have red spinel rings?"

"Oh?" Aoshi's eyes lit up, walking to the section of the glass displays which had an array of rings and bracelets of red spinel. "Exquisite taste. As you can see we have plenty over here." He pointed with his fingers.

Madara's eyes swiftly scanned the options available to him, he was a man who made quick decisions and he did not hesitate once he saw the option that entrapped his gaze.

"That one." Madara pointed to a silver band, and right in the center was the red stone glimmering brightly. Aoshi slide the glass aside and handed it over to Madara so that he could take a closer look at it.

How ironic. The jewel looks like the sharingan up close. Madara thought to himself. It was a deep red with specks of black within it.

"Who may it be for?" Aoshi asked curiously, "We don't get a lot of buyers for this particular stone."

Madara hesitated to speak, his eyes still set on the ring. Would I be revealing too much if I spoke? No, I don't care. "My fiancee."

"Ah." Aoshi rubbed his chin, looking at the Uchiha slightly confused.

"What?" Madara looked at him.

"Nothing." Aoshi waved his palms in the air, "I just didn't-"

"Didn't peg me as the type? You're not the first to say that." Madara sighed, placing the ring back on the glass. "I'll take it."

-

*AYUMI'S POV*

I slide the shoji door open to Madara's cottage, patting my yukata from any dust. "Tadaima."

Much to my pleasure, Koniko had been teaching and playing around with Kenzo and Kaouru. The sight made me smile to see them recovering from their recent loss. Children are so resilient.

"Ayumi-hime!" Koniko chirped up, "Back already?"

I looked up to the sun, it was nearing lunch. "Yeah. Madara said he wanted to take care of a couple of things and that I can go and return."

I laid down on a futon, my back touching the wooden floorboard as it creaked.

"You guys hungry?" I looked at the three of them.

"Yes! So much!" Kenzo fell on his back.

"Ugh me too. All this learning is getting to my stomach." Kaouru looked down at her belly.

"I could fix us a meal." Koniko eyed the two children, "What are you two in the mood for?"

I sat cross legged now, intently watching the children.

"To be honest I sort of want to go to town and eat." Kaouru spoke.

"Me too. Can we splurge once in a while?" Kenzo added.

I sat up right, glad that they had wanted a change in scenery.

"Let's do it then!" I picked them both up on my shoulders.

"Ayumi-sama! We're too old to be held by you!" Kenzo's arms flailed.

I laughed. "You two are still my babies."

"Yosh, let's go and eat a big meal together." Koniko got up to follow them.

-

We walked throughout the village surrounded by the smells of many restaurant auras. It was getting hard to choose an option, but we decided to leave that decision to the two children frolicking in front of us.

"Ayumi." Koniko nudged my elbow, whispering into my ear. "Look at that shop." She pointed to it.

"W-what?!" I brought up a hand to my mouth. "Why would you..."

I took a closer look.

Lingerie shop. On sale. Premium quality.

Make your lover happy~!

My jaw dropped, my cheeks instantly turning red.

"Anyway, you know the rumour they say about Uchiha men?" Koniko brought a sly finger to her chin. I shook my head feverently. "No! Tell me!" I looked at her more curiously.

"They say they're like, stallions in bed. Apparently because of how much stamina they have." Koniko bashfully grinned.

"Koniko!" I yelped, my fist raised.

"What!" Koniko chuckled, "It's normal to consider these things! You're getting married."

"I-I guess so..." My arms dangeled. It was tradition to consummate a marriage on the first night any way, and it would happen any day now that he proposed.

I bit my tongue. Every week was getting more difficult to be around Madara, because a part of me was beginning to yearn for him in a different way. I blushed at the thought. I was sure he felt the same, since our touches only grew more tantalizing. I couldn't lie to myself though, the thought scared me as the first man to appreciate me in such a way would be him. Uchiha Madara, who's power even rivaled the tailed beasts. I looked at my arms where goosebumps raised, sighing.

"How do hot beef pots sound?" Kaouru looked up at us from a distance.

"Mm! Good!" I smiled, flashing her a thumbs up.

Koniko brought a hand to her mouth as she chuckled, as I kept looking back at the elusive shop.

M-maybe I- I should... see...

-

Do you guys want a lemon in this fanfic? I honestly don't mind but let me know!

And do I write Madara out of character or is he good so far?

I'm writing him on the basis that Izuna is still alive so his temperament is more merciful I guess you could say!

This is the longest fanfic I've worked on!