"And don't forget to call me when you arrive, ok?"
Sakura allowed what seemed to be the hundredth sigh in the course of the three hours that it took them to gear up and get ready for their voyage to Greece. "Yes mom, I promise I'll call right after we get settled."
Tsunade glanced at her daughter suspiciously and crossed her arms across her chest. "I believe you. But since you cannot be trusted when it comes to this kind of thing..." she said after a few seconds and turned to Toshiro who had just finished saddling up Uragiru. "Toshiro, dear, please make sure my daughter calls me, will you?" she asked politely and smiled sweetly at the young man who grinned back at her mirthfully.
"No worries Mrs. Haruno. I'll take care of that."
"Thank you, dear. Such a nice young man! Completely unlike a certain someone who seems to pay little mind to the justified worries of a mother." Tsunade said almost dramatically and sent Sakura a pointed look. The pink-haired woman rolled her eyes. Same old Tsunade.
"I'll be right back." Sakura said and headed for the back door that connected the backyard to the kitchen to grab a couple water bottles she had put in the fridge last night.
Neji had finished checking Tsuki's saddle to make sure that it was secure on her back and was about to check his own gear when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and was met with the serious hazel eyes of Haruno Tsunade.
Tsunade was stubborn and had a temper to be scared of but stupid she was not. She knew that this was not just a simple trip. You don't travel 5,500 miles just to visit a man you don't even know in the first place. The blonde woman knew that their lives would never be the same again and after hearing the whole story she was well aware of the danger. It was still kind of hard for her to process everything that had taken place, the dragons and the 4,000 years that were Kaien and Kurenai's lives being the hardest. She knew that it was only natural to be worried and she was positive that the uneasy feeling at her gut was because of the distance that they would have to travel to reach their destination. She knew all that as she also knew that she had to be strong and remain calm for her daughter's-both her daughters'- sake. But that didn't stop her throat from clenching and the knot at the pit of her stomach from tightening.
But she had faith in her daughter's strength and resolve and she knew that Sakura had people (and dragons) around her that would protect her; Neji being one of those people. In the year she had known him, Tsunade had grown to really like and respect the young man. She could see the special bond he had with her younger daughter- though she couldn't really understand it- and she was absolutely sure that if there was one person on the entire planet that would go to hell and back for Sakura it was Neji.
With seriousness that was unlike her usual lighter tone she started speaking.
"I know that you have much to do, Neji. I also know that my daughter's life as well as ours will never be the same again; not after everything that has happened. I have faith in her and Tsuki and I know that they both put their hearts in what they are doing. But I can't help the fear that has clouded my heart. Please..." she said and her tone was almost begging "Please protect my little girl."
Neji regarded the blonde woman with a soft gaze and a gentle smile appeared on his lips. This was not Tsunade the scientist or even Tsunade the woman. This was Tsunade the mother. A mother that was worried about her daughter's well being. A mother who had seen her child become something extraordinary that was beyond her imagination.
"With my life." he replied and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
The most grateful smile he had ever seen on a person's face bloomed on her lips and for a moment he could swear that he saw her fighting back tears of gratitude.
"That's…great!" she said almost awkwardly and she immediately straightened up, regaining her composure. Tsunade Haruno was not a woman who was used to showing weakness to anyone but her tense shoulders had visibly relaxed, if only slightly, and she was standing up straighter as if a heavy weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She stepped back, dropping the hand she had placed on Neji's shoulder and ran the other one through her hair to untangle knots that weren't there.
"I'll…..I'll just go get Sakura and you can finish what you were doing."
"That would be a good idea." he answered back still smiling. It was amusing to see such a strong and usually composed woman scratching her head in nervousness.
"Ok, I'm all set. We are ready to depart."
Both heads turned and they saw Sakura walking towards them with her pack hanging off her right shoulder and a determined look on her face.
"If the winds are kind we should arrive to Greece in two days time. Once we reach the coastline, it's only a matter of a couple of hours before we reach Sarutobi's residence. Kaien and Kurenai will probably arrive a day or two later."
"Do you really have to make such a long journey?" Tsunade asked and grabbed her daughter's hands in her own.
"Mom, you know we have to. We will just check things out over there and come back in no time. You won't even realize we are gone. Relax, ok?" Sakura said and tightened her grip on her mother's hands to reassure her that everything was fine. And if she wanted to be true to herself, it was all lies. Lies, lies, lies…..Would it ever end? Would she ever be able to look her mother in her eyes and tell her the absolute truth? She wasn't sure. Her life had been calm and happy for almost a year until this new calamity made its appearance. It was almost ironic, really. All she ever wanted was to be a normal girl, yet now she didn't even know the meaning of the word 'normal'. Whatever normality and stability she used to have in her life before Tsuki and the whole dragon-rider thing was long gone and she highly doubted that it would ever come back. Her life was far too complicated now to change.
"Toshiro and Uragiru are ready and so is Tsuki. We can set off immediately." Neji said and broke her out of her thoughts.
"Right." said Sakura "We shouldn't waste anymore time."
She was about to move away when Tsunade pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. Sakura was startled at first as her mother wasn't usually so expressive but quickly brought her hands around her mother and buried her nose in her shoulder.
"Promise me, Sakura. Promise me that you'll be safe." the blonde woman whispered in her ear and tightened her hold on her even more. It was as if Tsunade was afraid that if she let go, Sakura would disappear.
Sakura hesitated. Could she really give that promise? Would she be able to keep it? They knew little to nothing about what they were going to face and time was running out. They were going up against a force so old and vengeful that it put Madara to shame. She could already feel the burden of this new mission weighting her heart and they hadn't even reached the battlefield yet. Facing Madara had been the hardest thing she had ever done and more times than she could count she had been sure that she wouldn't make it out alive. But this…..This was taking it to a whole new level. Fate had thrown them into another one of her games and this time…Death was her ally.
"I promise. I'll be safe and I'll be home before you even know it. " she said at last though she couldn't know what message her moment of hesitation had passed to her mother.
Tsunade was reluctant to let go though she knew she had to. Her little girl was not so little anymore and her life would never be the same again. It was difficult for the blonde woman to grasp completely the full extent of the change in her daughter's-their lives and it would take time to finally be able to come to terms with everything that had taken place. But Tsunade was a mother and she loved her children to death. She would support her daughters' choices no matter what they were and offer them all her love. And no dragons, 4,000 year old people or madmen bent on world domination would ever change that.
Her arms fell from around the girl's body but not before lingering for a little while longer on the young woman's hands.
Sakura smiled sweetly at her mother. She understood how the blonde woman was feeling. From one minute to another Tsunade had been thrown into a completely different world, a world where black was white and fire-breathing dragons were a common occurrence. She herself still knew little to nothing despite being an apprentice to Kaien for almost a year. It would take time and no small amount of understanding and mental labor to finally grasp even a small part of this storm of events.
'Sakura, it's time.' Tsuki said and came to stand beside her rider. Sakura nodded her head without tearing her eyes away from her mother and mounted her dragon with Neji behind her. Toshiro and Uragiru were already ready to go and were waiting patiently for them.
Tsunade smiled faintly and patted the silver dragon's neck gently.
"Take care of my little girl, Tsuki; and of yourself. "
The young dragon lowered her head and softly touched the woman's forehead.
'I will.'
"We better get going." said Neji and Sakura had to agree. Time was flying faster than dragons and even a minute could make a difference in a situation like this.
Tsunade was left standing there, watching as the hug beasts spread their wings and with a leap and a few powerful beats they were off the ground, their membranes shinning under the sunrays like silver and black diamonds.
As they grew smaller in the distance, Tsunade couldn't help the shiver that ran up and down her spine nor could she stop the fear from gripping her heart in a tight hold.
She stayed there until there was not even a trace of them in the distance and all she could see was the endless blue of the sky…..
XxxOxOxOxxX
As it turned out the Gods were with them for the winds were kind and there were no unexpected complications along the way. The Sun was just beginning to rise announcing the arrival of the third day of their journey when the rocky coasts of an island came in sight.
"Which island is that?" asked Sakura turning halfway to look at Neji.
"That would be Crete, one of the biggest Greek islands. It has a long history and an ancient civilization. In ancient times, the Cretans were the rulers of the Mediterranean any had ships in almost every port. They used to be a remarkable force. Nowadays, the island of Crete is an important tourist attraction and the Cretans, like most Greeks, are known to be especially hospitable."
"I seem to recall something I once read about a Labyrinth."
"That's another important part of the history of Crete. Minos was a king of Crete, son of Zeus and Europa. Every nine years, he made King Aegeus pick seven young boys and seven young girls to be sent to Daedalus' creation, the labyrinth, to be eaten by the Minotaur. After his death, Minos became a judge of the dead in the underworld. Archaeologists today believe that the legend of the Minotaur was created because of Minos himself, who used to wear the mask of a bull's head in feasts and symposiums. Though we do know for a fact the Minotaur was indeed there. We do not know how he got caught by the Cretans. He is a particularly strong individual."
Sakura shot him an incredulous look. "'Is'? What do you mean 'is'? As in, he is still alive?" The girl had learnt to have an open mind and she didn't doubt that Minotaurs were bound to be another one of the unknown, ancient species that still roamed the earth. Sure, she already knew a couple of people that were a few thousand years of age and sure, she had faced many bizarre situations but it was still kind of hard to believe that an ancient legend like the Minotaur of Crete was indeed true and most of all, alive.
"Old and grouchy with a strong dislike for Cretans but alive nonetheless."
"Wait, wait, wait. You mean you have met him?" It was getting stranger and stranger.
"I did meet him once when I came to Greece with Kaien to help our allies with some problems. He's a bit unpleasant, especially when reminded of his imprisonment in the Labyrinth, but patient and with some great stories to tell."
Sakura didn't answer, only shook her head and fixed her eyes in the distance. They were flying high enough so they wouldn't be seen but she could still see clearly enough the island as they flew over it. There wasn't much green and rocks and dry, yellow grass covered most of the island but it radiated a certain charm that had Sakura wanting to get to know more about it. She made a mental note to come visit when all this was over.
Soon they were flying over an endless blue and the distinct smell of sea salt rose in the air along with the cool sea breeze. Sakura marveled at the way the orange rays of the early sun reflected on the sea foam and watched in awe as small waves rippled the surface of the beautiful waters. They were an inviting blue and at some places an exotic blue-green that reminded her of Toshiro's eyes…..
She glanced at the young man who was flying on his dragon a couple of feet away. She watched as the morning air blew through his white hair ruffling them but still doing nothing to lessen his unique charm; if anything, it made him even more handsome. Her emerald-green eyes traced his refined features, the pale skin, the straight nose and the inviting lips and then rested on his eyes that so much resembled the sea.
'Though his eyes are so much more beautiful…..'
"That's Athens. It's the capital city of Greece."
Sakura shook her head to clear it and mentally thanked Neji for the distraction. She glanced at the city as they flew over it and though she couldn't see much she could still make out the roads and the cars as well as some of the bigger buildings. That's when a particular one caught her eye.
"Hey, what's that?" she asked and pointed at a strange, marble structure that stood out. It seemed magnificent to say the least even from this height and it radiated a unique, ancient aura.
"You have a keen eye, Sakura. That's the Parthenon. It is a temple on the Athenian Acropolis dedicated to the maiden goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron deity. Its construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power and was completed in 438 BC. The Parthenon is regarded as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece, Athenian democracy, western civilization and one of the world's greatest cultural monuments."
Tsuki flew over the Parthenon and as low as she could so she wouldn't be seen and Sakura managed to get a better look. Though it was brief and nothing more but a simple look, Sakura couldn't help but feel drawn to the ancient temple as if something was calling her and it had nothing to do with its beauty. She fought hard to resist the urge to tell Tsuki to turn around and head for the ancient monument.
"How do you even know all this?" she asked to take her mind off the strange feeling the temple had woken inside her and turned to glance at Neji.
"I've been here more times than I can count. Greece is our…headquarters, of some sorts. Modern Greeks, at least most of them, as well as the rest of the world do not realize it but this land holds more power than you can imagine. It is where everything started. It is where the first dragons and mythical creatures were born and where the Gods met humans for the first time. Many secrets this land holds and many more its ancient civilization."
He didn't continue after that and Sakura didn't press for more. She couldn't know how, but suddenly she got the feeling that when all this was over she would have a completely different outlook on life.
"Where are we heading? Kaien failed to mention that."
"Our destination is the Pangaion Hills, a mountain range that lies in Northern Greece. It is where Sarutobi has been living for the past few centuries. We should be there in an hour or so."
The rest of the flight was silent apart from the occasional scared bird and Sakura spent the following hour regarding the villages and the towns that they flew over. It was a beautiful country, she decided, with both big enough cities and picturesque little villages that reminded her of tales that her mother used to tell her when she was younger.
The wind picked up and the chill in the air was more noticeable as they traveled north. The scenery changed and became wilder and more uneven. There were long mountain ranges and a couple snowy peaks despite being summer. The trees were taller and their barks were a dark brown while their leaves were a darker green.
'Are you ok, Tsuki?'
'I'm fine. A bit tired but fine.'
"How much till we're there? The dragons won't be able to go much longer. We've been travelling nonstop for the past two days." asked Sakura and patted Tsuki's silver neck to offer some comfort.
"Won't be a problem for long. Look up ahead."
True to his words, Neji pointed in the distance where a peak rose high in the air and the Pangaion mountain range was just beginning to become visible. Sakura sighed in relief and stoke Tsuki's scales.
'Just a little bit more Tsuki and you'll get your much deserved rest.'
"Where does this ally live?"
"In a cave not far from a small village."
"In a cave? You mean that he has been living in a cave for the past few centuries?"
"Sarutobi is very frugal and he is content living the way he is. He prefers the company of the trees and the forest animals to the one of humans and he rarely ever goes to the village. After all, the peace and quiet of Nature is ideal for his powers."
Sakura nodded and fixed her eyes to the approaching mountain range. She could clearly see it now and though it wasn't the biggest one she had ever seen, it surely was big enough to catch someone's attention. As the dragons' got closer they started to fly lower and lower, trying to find a good enough place to land without being seen.
"Look, that's the village." Neji said and pointed at a small amphitheatric village at the base of the Pangaion Hills. "Sarutobi's residence is close; in a secluded area behind those rocks and after that part of the forest."
Finding a place suitable for landing was not easy. Not many dragons ever stopped at this part of Greece as very few were aware of Sarutobi's whereabouts and there were not many clearings big enough to host two dragons of Uragiru and Tsuki's size. After several minutes of searching they finally managed to locate one big enough and hidden by a thick cluster of tall trees that would hide the dragons from prying eyes when they landed. Both beasts circled the clearing a couple of times before landing as soundless as they could. The place was secluded but the village wasn't that far and it would do them no good to attract unwanted attention.
Sakura's feet where sore after so many hours of flight and she had no doubt that she wasn't the only one. Toshiro cringed when his back made a loud crack and groaned as he stretched trying to get his sore muscles to work properly once more. The only who seemed to be rather well was Neji who smirked at the tired teenagers. Apparently after so many years with Kaien he had gotten used to so many hours of nonstop flight.
"Come on. Sarutobi doesn't approve of being late." Neji said and started walking away. The two teenagers glanced at each other and groaned but followed him nonetheless. He cleared a path through the forest that they didn't know was there and continued walking seemingly to nowhere in particular. Several minutes passed and with all of them tired and wary from the journey the walk was anything but pleasant. No one was talking and the small mountain road Neji was following still seemed to have no end. At some point Sakura was almost certain that they had taken a wrong turn somewhere and was about to call out to Neji that they were lost when suddenly the trees cleared out and the entrance of a cave came in sight. Sakura fought hard to get rid of the urge to fall to her knees and kiss the ground and instead only allowed a small sigh of relief to escape her lips.
When they reached the entrance Neji kneeled and bowed his head, nodding at Sakura and Toshiro to do the same. The dragons watched curiously at their humans and waited to see what would happen next.
"We have come Reader." said Neji and his tone was serious.
"What are two riders and a Guardian doing outside my home?" came a male voice from inside and Sakura had a feeling that whoever it was, he was smiling.
"We have come to seek your guidance."
"Then step inside Guardians. You too riders. Come, for I've been expecting you."
The five of them walked inside the cave. It was nowhere near being as big as Tsuki's but it was spacious enough though Sakura could tell that it was not meant to host dragons; at least not two at a time. The inside was warm, the warmth coming from a bright fire blazing in the middle of the cave. Sakura could make out the shapes of a mattress and a couple of pillows in the far left corner as well as some other necessities but other than that the rest of the cave was dark.
"Please sit. You must be tired from your journey. I shall fetch some water for you."
The man stood up easily despite his age and wandered deeper into the cave from where e came back holding a medium sized flask full of clear, cold water. She was the last in line to drink but she welcomed the refreshing sensation of the cool liquid running down her throat. She cupped her hands and asked Neji, who was sitting beside her, to fill them up. She slowly brought the water up.
'Come, Tsuki. Drink.'
The dragon quickly drank the water and affectionately rubbed her nose on her rider's cheek in thanks. Sakura kissed the tip of her silver nose and smiled. In the corner of her eye she noticed that Toshiro had done the same.
"Forgive me but this is all I have to offer you. I don't usually have guests ."
She focused her eyes on the figure sitting near the fire.
The man was old though how much she couldn't tell. According to Kaien this man was far older than Kurenai and him. And by the looks of it he was indeed, much, much older than any of them. His hair was short and white though not the same white as Toshiro's as was his beard though it was slightly unkempt. He was wearing a long grey cloak-at least it seemed grey in the darkness of the cave and the orange light of the fire- with faded dark red letters. He was smoking a pipe and sitting on an old looking log with one hand on the pipe and the other hidden in his cloak. It reminded Sakura of the old men she used to read about in fairy tales when she was younger. Travelers and story tellers who always had a new adventure or another ferocious beast to tell the children about around a fire much like this one.
Though this time, Sakura could tell that this was no mere story teller. There was something about this man that had her on edge. Something ancient and powerful that had the hair at the back of her neck stand. It wasn't a negative feeling; quite the contrary in fact. It was as if there was a natural urge to respect this man despite never having seen him again in her life. There was something about him, the aura of wisdom and knowledge and power he was emitting that made Sakura feel lucky that he was on their side.
"It has been a while, Neji. It was almost a decade ago that I last had the honor of having the White Warrior in my humble home."
"It has been a while indeed, Sarutobi. Though, given the situation, I can't say that I am particularly pleased to see you."
"And I couldn't agree more. I suspect that this visit is not for entertaining or sightseeing purposes. For Kaien to send two dragon riders and a Guardian he must be really worried. Unfortunately, he has every right to be worried."
"I am afraid you are right. I have never seen Kaien and Kurenai more alarmed. He sent Sakura, Toshiro and me here to seek your advice and help as much as we can."
The old man's eyes focused first on Toshiro and then on Sakura. "Ah, so this is the pair I have heard so much about." he said and smiled at them, the wrinkles around his mouth making it softer.
"Excuse me, but what do you mean?" asked Toshiro.
"My dear boy, the defeat of Madara was no small feat. All our allies know of the part that each one of you played in his demise. Especially your name Sakura, has reached my ears more times than I can count. A remarkable achievement for someone your age and so inexperienced at the time. "
The girl blushed heavily and scratched the back of her head in a clear sigh of something between awkwardness and embarrassment.
"Umm….thanks. Though I wouldn't have made it without the precious help from everyone."
The man smiled. "I am sure that all of you played an important role as I am sure that you'll have a huge part to play before all this is over."
"Maybe we should get down to business." interrupted Neji who was growing edgier and edgier as the minutes ticked by "Time flies fast and time we do not have."
"Nonsense!" said Sarutobi mirthfully "Even though it is true that time is essential, night has fallen and you are tired. Rest tonight and once the sun has risen we shall speak again. Daylight always brings new hope as the shadows of the dark disappear."
Neji was skeptical for a few seconds but seeing the tired faces of his companions, it was obvious that not much would be done tonight. He sighed and nodded and Sakura fought the urge to jump on him and hug him tightly. Gods only knew how much she needed a good night's sleep.
"Rest…For now, Welcome to Greece."
TBC
YEAH! Finals are OVER! I'm going to college in September! This is the second chapter of "The Dragon's Egg II: Hade's Rebellion." Some things will be explained in the next chapter and there will be more ToshiroXSakura interaction. Thank you for all your wonderful reviews! I am very happy that you liked the first chapter and I hope that you liked this one too! Leave a review to tell me if you like how this is turning out! You opinion matters to me!
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