Hikari kept herself from looking up at him.  If he looked in her eyes with his sharingan active, he would easily see that she had lost her sight.  That's not how she wanted him to find out, but yet she didn't want to tell him either.  The dilemma ate away at her as he sat patiently, waiting for her to continue.  She took a deep breath.  It's better to get it over with than to drag it out.

"Madara, I...lost my sight," she explained quietly.  What would he think?  Would he be understanding?  She didn't want to lose the man she loves, it would be too much for her to take.  She sensed his chakra flare, most likely meaning that his sharingan had subconsciously activated.  She cringed and closed her eyes.

"Who did this?  Was it one of those pathetic elders?  Whoever it was, I will personally throttle them," Madara snarled, pulling her close to him protectively.  She felt safe, loved, even calm as he held her close to his chest.  His strong heartbeat soothed her raging emotions.

Snapping out of her calmed state, she shook her head.  "It wasn't any of the elders, it was the last survivor of a clan that I massacred.  I planned to get information out of him when he slashed at my eyes.  I drained the chakra from his body so you have no need to worry about killing him," Hikari clarified.  

A tear ran down her cheek and Madara wiped it away.  He could tell she was heartbroken about having lost her sight.  If only there were a way to help her regain her sight, but he doubted that her clan's kekke genkai-shiru-me-was anything like the sharingan.  But perhaps it was.  She could possibly regain her sight by exchanging her eyes with her father's eyes.  It would be a long shot, but hopefully achievable.  There was one question still plaguing his mind, however...why did she massacre an entire clan?  What drove her to do so?

Hikari shivered in his arms, drawing his attention back to her.  The wind blew harshly and he brought her closer to him.  Would she answer his question truthfully?  If she didn't, his sharingan would tell him the truth.  "Hikari," he called, gaining her attention, "why did you massacre an entire clan?" he inquired.  She froze, casting her eyes downward.

She didn't want to tell him, that would possibly drive him away from her or make him hate her.  He'd get the answer out of her though, he always did with his charisma and charm.  Hikari listened to Madara's steady beating of his heart, calming herself down.

"My clan doesn't want the two of us to marry, I am betrothed to one of my clansmen named Daisuke."  A low growl left Madara's throat.  How dare the clan elders of her clan and his decide who they are to marry.  He thought it was about time that the elders learned their place. 

He turned Hikari's head so he could meet her ruby eyes.  How he wished those eyes would be bright once again.  "I think it's time we teach the elders of both our clans their place.  We will decide who we marry," he stated as he pulled out a small velvet box.  Placing her hand on the box, he watched with a smirk as her eyes widened ever so slightly.

"Madara, what are you doing?" she questioned.  He smiled softly before opening the box to reveal a diamond ring in the shape of a snowflake.  pulling it out of the box, he carefully slipped it onto her left ring finger.

"Hikari, my light, I would be honored if you would spend the rest of your life with me," he whispered softly into her ear.  A gasp left her lips as tears threatened to spill.

He knew her answer already, but he wanted to hear her say it out loud.  It didn't matter that the elders had forced them to be engaged to someone else, that would soon change.  Her reactions were absolutely priceless to Madara, they were so innocent and full of light as she was.  Perhaps that's why her father named her Hikari-meaning light-because she was so full of it.

Before he could fully prepare himself, Hikari pushed him to the floor in a hug as the tears flowed down her cheeks.  "YES!  I love you so much!" she exclaimed and boldly kissed him on the lips.  This surprised the male because she was always so shy and reserved, never taking a chance like this.  He rather liked this side of her, this new daring side that has sprung forth.

As if realizing what she had done, Hikari pulled away with a dark blush dusting her pale cheeks.  Madara frowned slightly and pulled her close to him.  "Come now, I enjoyed your boldness, don't be so shy," he teased, making her blush grow even darker.

She had no desire to be so bold again, that was absolutely embarrassing to her.  Not wishing to show how flustered she was, she buried her head into Madara's chest with a small mewl.  His chest rumbled as he chuckled.  "M-Madara, it's not f-funny!" she cried out.  He couldn't help but snicker slightly before pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"Oh, but it is, my dear," he replied jokingly.  Hikari shook her head dejectedly before tensing.  She sensed a new chakra had entered the vicinity.  Apparently Madara had as well.  He kept her close to him as he pulled out a katana.  "Whoever you are, you fail at concealing yourself," he barked.

A sigh sounded in front of them before the bushes parted to reveal Izuna.  "Really, big brother, I'm hurt that you didn't recognize my chakra signature," he spoke dramatically.  Madara's right eye twitched before he sheathed his katana.

"What do you want Izuna?"

"Father is looking for you," he replied, "he said it was urgent."  The eldest of the brothers growled in contempt.

"With him everything is urgent," he grumbled and stood with Hikari still in his arms.  "Inform him that I will be home momentarily," he requested before turning to the woman he held in his arms.  It seemed like her eyes were staring straight into his soul, yet he knew they weren't.  "I have to go, be safe."  He kissed her on the forehead and departed, leaving his precious Hikari behind.  A sigh escaped him.  He will not tolerate the elders of their clans anymore, they will learn not to go up against Madara Uchiha.