In the next chapter, I will explain why I chose the name for the ones who are interested! I'll also explain why I decided to end it this way.

I'll also tell you guys the surprise :)

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Asami sighed in relief once the house came into sight. After walking for quite a distance, her legs and feet got pretty sore. Walking this long was also something she wasn't used to anymore, and the extra weight wasn't making it any easier for her.

Instead of carrying a baby child inside her stomach, this time, she was holding her eldest child in her arms. He got tired rather quickly after they decided to go back home, so Asami offered to carry him and it didn't take long for him to fall asleep against her neck.

After all this time, Asami had finally agreed to let Mito meet Kouta. The letter which Keiji gave her a few weeks ago held a heartfelt message from her older sister and her wish to meet her one and only nephew. Of course, Mito had asked it before, but Asami refused every single time.

She was afraid that Kouta might say something that'd expose secrets which had to remain hidden. It was crucial not to let anybody know of Madara's survival, which was why Asami didn't want to risk letting Mito see their child. 

Kouta was young, way too young to understand the complex situation he was in. He could run his mouth off, saying things that needed to be left untold, which was why Asami was so anxious to let him meet Mito. One wrong word and their life could be over, which frightened her. She had never been so happy before. She wanted to protect this life, protect her precious family.

But after asking Madara for his opinion about this matter, she started to think about it again. Kouta was older now, and he listened more to what he was told. Madara also said that if she let the two of them meet, Mito would stop asking for a while. Maybe she'd even grow suspicious if Asami kept declining. He thought it was better to make an arrangement and get it over and done with.

After replying to her sister's letter, she received word from her again a few days later and they decided on a date, time and location. Asami suggested to use the same place they had decided to meet before, and Mito agreed.

When the day was there, Asami gave Kouta clear and strict instructions not to say anything about Madara. While Kouta didn't understand why, he nodded nonetheless. Asami had replied vaguely to all the questions he asked surrounding the mystification of his father. It wasn't time yet for him to know the truth, so lies were spoken.

When Kouta first saw Mito, he was pretty shy. All his life, he had only been around four people; Asami, Keiji, Kaede and Madara. His younger sister was now also added to that list.Since he never encountered of talked to other people, he wasn't used to meeting strangers, so he found it kind of scary. But with her kindness, Mito was able to bring Kouta out of his shell for some time.

Luckily, Mito didn't ask about Madara, and Kouta also didn't say a word about him, so the meeting went smoothly. After a few hours of talking, Asami noticed the fatigue on Kouta's face and decided to bring an end to it.

They said goodbye and went their own ways, and now Asami was home.

Holding Kouta securely with one arm, she took the door handle with her free hand and opened the front door. Asami pushed her shoes out with her feet and kicked them toward the corner where the other footwear lay. Then, she struggled but eventually succeeded in taking Kouta's shoes off as well. It was then that she realized it was very quiet in the house. No crying or gurgling, nor any talking. Were they upstairs?

''Madara?"

She didn't have to wait long for a response. ''Here.''

Asami entered the living room, and her lips curled up into a smile when she saw Madara laying on the couch, taking up the whole length of the furniture. He was reading one of the books Keiji had given them, seeming quite interested in the story. Their daughter lay on his chest, sleeping peacefully as Madara occasionally caressed her head and back delicately with his fingers, keeping his eyes focused on the words in front of him.

The sight brought nothing but incredible joy to Asami. She was surprised at how fast Madara got attached to their new and wonderful addition to their family, but she didn't complain. Why would she? Asami absolutely loved it.

That baby had brought their family closer.

''Everything went well?'' Madara asked, putting the book away.

Asami hummed happily. ''It went smoothly. No problems.'' She spoke, grinning softly. ''But I'm going to put Kou to bed. My arm is getting numb.''

Madara nodded and sat up, holding the sleeping girl fixedly against him. ''Then I'll do the same.''

Asami brushed her fingers against Kouta's cheek as Madara got up from the couch. She let him walk in front and followed him out of the room and up the stairs. Little tufts of her daughter's dark brown hair were visible from where Asami stood, while the rest of that little body was hidden behind Madara's broad shoulders.

Madara went into the first room in the hallway, while Asami entered the second one, which belonged to Kouta. She decided not to change him into his pajamas. Kouta was already wearing pretty comfortable clothing and she was planning to wash those and the mattress cover later. After carefully laying him down, Asami pulled the covers over him and pressed a kiss against his forehead and left the room.

Since Madara hadn't come back yet, Asami went back to the first room and stopped in the doorway. Madara stood in front of the cradle, watching the baby sleep. Feeling warmth spread throughout her body, Asami silently walked into the room until she stood next to him.

For a few seconds, she simply stood there, but then Asami lessened the distance between them and put her hands on his shoulder as a small and very satisfied smile played on her lips. "You're a wonderful father." She whispered softly, tracing a finger up and down his arm. Then she let her hand slid down until it met his, and she held it loosely. "But I already knew that."

Madara tightened the hold on her hand.

Asami enjoyed the warmth his skin was giving off and leaned her head against his shoulder. ''And the name you chose is beautiful.'' She spoke, looking up to him. ''It fits her perfectly.''

Madara's eyes flickered to hers, and the contentment in her green orbs told him that her words were free from deceit. She was genuinely happy with the name he chose, which made him even more glad that he chose it.

And even though she didn't have the characteristics of an Uchiha, like the black eyes and dark hair, Asami still wanted her to have her father's last name, just like Kouta. Madara had left his clan even though he swore to protect them. He may not have a clan anymore, but he still had a family, and Asami wanted their children to inherit his name. He didn't have a place in his clan anymore, but he was still an Uchiha, and so were his descendants.

Asami leaned down and carefully stroked the baby's head. ''Uchiha Miyu is a lovely name.''

.~.~.~.~ .~.~.~.~ .~.~.~.~ .~.~.~.~ .~.~.~.~

Asami frowned when she saw a small pile of clothing on her side of the bed. The colors were particularly dark, especially compared to the light colored clothes she wore. ''What's this?'' She questioned as she approached the bed. ''Did you put this here?''

Madara walked over and stood next to her to see what she was talking about. ''Oh that? I asked Kaede to buy it for you.'' He replied. ''She brought it earlier when  you and Kouta were away.''

Asami took the first shirt off the pile and started to unfold it. ''Why did you ask her to buy clo-'' Her voice trailed off when she noticed a certain crest on the back of the dark gray piece of clothing. Exchanging glances between Madara and the shirt, she tried to find the right words to say. ''Are you sure?'' Asami breathed, still bewildered by the surprise. ''I'm not an Uchiha, nor am I a part of the Uchiha clan.''

Of course, she had worn Madara's shirts before, which also had the Uchiha symbol on it. She could remember very well how embarrassing it was to tell him that she also wore his clothes near the end of her first pregnancy, just to explain why she needed them when her own shirts were becoming too tight and uncomfortable when she was carrying Miyu. It gave her a good feeling to see herself in the mirror with Madara's crest on her back, but to actually get her own shirt...

Madara sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed. ''I wouldn't give them to you if I didn't want you to wear it.''

The corners of Asami's lips curled up into the biggest smile Madara had ever seen and she put one knee on the bed and leaned down. Embraced him tightly, she wrapped her arms around his neck while still holding the shirt and buried her face into his shoulder. ''Thank you.'' Asami whispered hoarsely as she continued to hold him, not knowing how else to show her endless gratitude.

Madara let one of his hands rest on her waist, while he used the other one to support himself and Asami. He'd fall back onto the bed otherwise. His eyebrows furrowed once he felt the fabric of his shirt starting to stick to his skin. He turned his head to look at her face, but it was still concealed by his shirt. ''Are you crying?'' He grumbled, not expecting a reaction like that. Apparently, this was more important to her than he previously thought.

Asami sniffed and pulled away from him, wiping her eyes. ''Just let me be happy.'' She grunted, shooting him a playful glare, which already quickly ceased. Placing a hand on each side of his face, she leaned down and pressed a loving kiss against his lips. ''Really,'' She continued, letting her hands slid down from his face to his shoulders.

She smiled again.

''Thank you so much.''

While the future seemed so bright, so positive, and seemed to have so much more good in store for the four of them, little did they know that their life would take a different turn in a few years. After all, one of them wasn't supposed to walk the path in the sun. He wasn't supposed to be together with others.

His fate was sealed long ago, when the Curse of Hatred was put upon him.

Escaping it wasn't an easy feat, and Madara was never able to break completely free from the darkness which had consumed him.

Hashirama succeeded once, but that was only temporary. And Asami, she almost achieved it, but since Madara's mind was clouded over with murky thoughts no matter how much positivity was surrounding him, she wasn't able to heal him.

He and Asami were together, their destinies entangled but never to be joined.

He was to walk the path of darkness

Alone.

For that was his fate.