One more day until we marry.

I was counting down seconds, and as each one passed by, the more excited yet nervous I became. I bit down on my lip, forcing myself to come back to reality. Honuko, Koniko and Mito had all been mindlessly chattering. We had been sleeping over Mito's house tonight, and tomorrow we planned to spend the morning getting ready for the ceremony. Hashirama thankfully did not mind the extra company.

"Look at her all zoned out." Mito brought a hand to cover her mouth as she whispered to Koniko, and she giggled in response.

"I can hear you y'know!" I puffed.

"Looks like someone's nervous for her big day tomorrow." Honuko winked.

I sighed. She wasn't entirely wrong. Just the thought of Madara and his eyes staring into mine flustered me.

"Well, I'm sure Madara would get nervous seeing you in that." Mito eyed my traditional wedding kimono that was hanging.

I glanced over my shoulder to the dress. It had been custom made beautifully.

They continued to tease me, dropping comments here and there. But my blood quickly boiled, and all I could see were flames.

"Enough! I"m not letting him make me this nervous!" I smashed a fist into the tatami mat, and the three women had quickly fell silent. Honuko had been hiding a laughter though, and it quickly spread to the other two, and then eventually to me.

We all broke out into heavy laughter, our backs falling onto the floor.

I panted, perking myself up on my elbows. "I'll let you guys have it this time."

"Now that I think about it, Madara doesn't really seem like the type to enjoy big gatherings." Mito rubbed her chin.

"Mm. But I'm sure if Ayumi's there it'll make it more bearable." Koniko eyed me.

I sighed in defeat, my arms dangling to my sides. The sight made the three laugh again. "I just hope it goes smoothly and..."

"The idiot's scared for the first night is what it is." Honuko winked.

"Oi!" I raised a fist, "You three have been too lax teasing me every chance you get!"

But my retorts were futile, and they laughed again.

But Honuko had gotten it exactly spot on. Madara was much taller than I, and in fact much more bigger than me. Just the mere difference in size of our hands was enough of a testament.

I shook my head, flustered. "I'll be fine."

*LATER THAT DAY*

Madara had been laying flat face on the tatami mat floor, after much insisting from Hashirama. Madara flinched, as he felt Hashirama stand on the bottom of his feet, rocking back and forth. He was massaging the Uchiha.

"I figured this might help tame your nerves." Hashirama looked over his shoulder, "I was quite nervous when I was getting married."

They both had been in the comfort of Madara's home, and all the preparations had been ready. All that was left was to wait. The thought of a big gathering bothered Madara, but it would be bearable if she were by his side.

"Nervous?" Madara muffled, "I'm not nervous, no. I'm more so..." Madara's eyes wandered across the wall.

"Ah ah. You're nervous about being alone with her on a romantic night aren't you? I wouldn't blame you, she is quite beautiful." Hashirama grinned.

Madara's eyes narrowed. "Oi. Don't speak so laxly about my wife around me."

Madara sighed, but his mane of hair had luckily been covering the faint dash of pink spread on his cheeks. He had never been with a woman before, and it was tradition to give oneself to your spouse the night of. It wasn't that that was making Madara anxious, rather he had never felt the need to bring his walls down before someone, and now that he had to be vulnerable...

Needless to say, Madara was growing curious about her in more intimate ways, and he was looking forward to the challenge. Ayumi was indeed beautiful, and she complimented him well.

Madara grunted as Hashirama massaged a spot that had ached him, the tension in his muscles fading away. "Besides, I think that she's most likely the nervous one, knowing her tendency to overthink." Madara added, his chin resting on his forearm. Madara enjoyed thoroughly the influence he had on the Hyuga princess, and it never dulled whenever they spent time with each other.

"That may be so." Hashirama started, chuckling, "You want tips? Though I don't think a genius like you would need 'em."

Madara spared him a glance and looked away, but he hesitated for a moment. He knew what there was to know anyway, and it helped that the Uchiha were naturally quick learners. Why would he need tips from him of all people, a knucklehead idealist? Madara mentally scoffed at the idea.

"Well?" Hashirama interrupted his friend's train of thought.

Madara looked at Hashirama's eyes, they were eager and he had actually been happy for Madara.

Madara relaxed his arms.

"Fine." Madara grunted as the ball of Hashirama's foot rolled on the lower arch of his back. "Tell me what you know."

Hashirama itched his cheek. "Well, well, well... First thing's first..."

Madara's eyebrows raised as he sighed, sparing his friend an ear as he spoke. He didn't have anything to lose any way.

-

Madara stood on his two feet, stretching his arms, cracking his neck.

"Your hands have some good use, I'll give you that at the very least." The Uchiha spoke with closed eyes. Madara still couldn't believe he had sat through an hour or two winded advice-like lecture from Hashirama while being massaged.

"Ah." Hashirama nodded, sipping a cup of tea. "But I should head back to the Hokage estate, it's getting late now."

Madara eyed the moon through the open shoji door. For some reason the whiteness of the moonlight had reminded the Uchiha of Ayumi's eyes. "Mm." Madara hummed.

"I'll see you tomorrow then." Hashirama grinned at his old friend. Madara simply nodded in response.

-

It was late now - too late for Ayumi's liking. But she had been walking back to the Hyuga compound to pay Kenzo and Kaouru a visit, and then planned to head back to Mito's place. Ayumi promised the two children she'd see them every night if she could.

A couple of strides later and it didn't take her too long to find their new home. She slide the shoji door to find the two children asleep, their chests slowly rising and fluttering down. Ayumi took a moment and looked at the two of them, until Kaouru had stirred awake.

"Ayumi?" She spoke with a hoarse voice, rubbing her eye.

"Can't sleep?" Ayumi whispered, as she made her way in and sat beside her futon.

"Mm." Kaouru sat cross legged. "I couldn't. I'm still trying to get used to it just being the two of us." Kaouru glanced at Kenzo's back. He had been knocked out completely.

But Kaouru quickly looked at Ayumi. "Your wedding is tomorrow yet here you are still keeping your promise to us." Kaouru reached for a hug, to which Ayumi reciprocated.

"Of course." Ayumi smiled in her hair, then retracted herself, "Even though I'm your clan leader, think of me as your elder sister." Ayumi smiled, "I'll always try my best to check up on the two of you. As often as I can. That's a promise."

I'm sure that's what your parents would have wanted. Ayumi thought to herself.

Ayumi heard mumbling next to Kaouru, and it was Kenzo now too stirring up.

"Ayumi?" Kenzo perked up.

"Ehhhh? You're awake too, huh?" Ayumi rested a fist underneath her chin.

"I thought I was having a nightmare because I kept hearing this monstrous voice, but it turned out to just be yours." Kenzo rubbed his head.

Ayumi raised a fist."Oi! Talking about monstrous, have you seen your attitude?!"

"What attitude!" Kenzo innocently smiled.

Ayumi sighed, shaking her head. "Just get back to sleep, the two of you." She smiled softly at the two. And before she could take her leave, she left a bag of money in a corner of a room that would help them get through the week.

-

Am I writing Madara in character? Please let me know!