A/N: DON'T OWN NARUTO!
Sakura leaned back against Sasuke as they kept on through the night, the stallion not even tiring as he moved through the darkness drawing them closer to the borers of Grass country. Sasuke felt that Sakura was getting tired even though he knew the stallion would be able to keep going. His arms tightened around her waist as he felt her slip into sleep. Strangely enough Alexial was trailing behind them probably to confuse the enemy or to keep watch.
"We need to stop Shadow Dancer," Sasuke murmured to the stallion.
'Too close still.' He heard in his mind.
"She's tired and so am I. We can't keep this up."
The stallion's pace slowed down a bit. He moved forward a small bit and stopped. A small abandoned cabin lay in the middle of the woods. "Is it safe?"
'Yes, there isn't anyone here.'
Fire Storm dropped down from the sky and landed nearby and moved to lie down in front of the cabin. The action told Sasuke that they would be protected now. He carefully slid from the stallions back with Sakura still in his arms. He carefully nudged the door open with his foot. There were a lot of layers of dust there but the cabin seemed like someone had loved this place. Carefully he moved to the bed and laid Sakura down. He brushed his fingers over her cheek. He shook the layer of dust off the comforter before coving her with it. Then he backed away from her and then moved towards the book self in the room. There was something within him that told him that he shouldn't be this nice to her. She was his enemy in every sense of the word and yet they were supposed to work together, and yet there was a part of him that demanded that he protect her with everything that he had within him. They were too different from one another that he didn't even think that they could work it out. He picked up a picture that was resting on the book case. A woman with long dark brown locks was leaning against a very black unicorn. The unicorn was laying down and it was obvious that the woman was very pregnant and glowed with the loving smile directed at the man that was the father of her child. The corner of his mouth twitched as he looked at the photo. He could remember that he'd once imagined Sakura looking like this with him, but he shook it off. In the end it couldn't happen because they didn't really belong together. A tearing pain raced through his heart making his eyes sting. Setting the picture down he looked at another one. His eyes widened. The man was a Dragon Rider for sure. He was perched on his dragon's shoulder and the woman holding a bundle was sitting astride her black unicorn. The unicorn and the dragon were touching noses as they stared at each other and the woman and man were laughing. Then he moved to the next one. His mouth fell open. The black unicorn and the blue dragon were nuzzling the baby in the woman's arms. Shocking pink hair and tired emerald eyes stared back at him. Setting the picture down he stormed outside to look at a weary looking Shadow Dancer. Fire Storm looked at his rider curiously.
"What is this place?"
'I would think it would be obvious from the pictures Uchiha.'
"Why the hell would you bring us here?"
'This is a place of origins Sasuke. A lot of people have lived in this house that were riders and only the great ones come from here.'
"A Place of Origins? That other rider said that the only other black rider died."
'Takashi was Sakura's older brother and his partner was mine. Sakura knows nothing about her family and won't know.'
Sasuke got the message loud and clear. They didn't want her to know that she had family at one point.
"Why?"
'Because of Orochimaru, Takashi knew about Sakura but in order to keep her safe he kept Orochimaru's attention on him. Obviously he figured out once I took Sakura into my care.'
"What is so important about Black Riders and her?"
'Black Riders are the most powerful as you've probably gathered and only partnered with members of the Haruno Clan. The true heirs to the Grass Country. There are no others left except for her and she's the last hope for peace between everyone.'
"You're telling me that she's the true heir to the position of Kage in Grass?"
The stallion just nodded his head.
'She is. Though she probably won't take up the mantle as Kage.'
"Why not?"
If any look could describe what that stallion was thinking it was a cross between a blank stare and the 'are you stupid' look. Sasuke felt anger rush through him at the stallion's words.
"I would think that would be obvious Dragon Rider," Sasuke heard from behind him.
Alexial moved forward from the shadows. He hadn't heard or felt a thing as she moved. For some reason Sasuke didn't like her one bit.
"Obviously not."
Shadow Dancer cut in before they could start a verbal spat.
'Simply, because of you. You are a Dragon Rider of Fire Country. Being Kage of Grass will take her away from you.'
Sasuke thought on this for a moment. He didn't like what they were implying.
"Why would she care?"
Alexial rolled her eyes as she moved towards the house but didn't enter. She just leapt up on the roof and laid down. "Does she honestly think it'll work out between us like some stupid fairytale that we'll fall in love and stay together forever? Things like that don't happen and I will never be in love with her."
Before he could even move Alex had slammed him down into the ground. He hadn't even seen her move. Her fangs were longer and her eyes a bloody crimson. Her nails were painfully digging into his shoulders. Something told him to hold still or she'd rip him apart.
"I knew Madara was wrong. You aren't even worthy of her. I told him he should have waited until she was old enough and then be with her. He'd be better suited to take care of her as she was meant to be taken care of. Geeze even Obito or Shisui would have done a damned better job at taking care of her than a stubborn little prick like you."
"She has Itachi!"
Alex started laughing. Her hands released him as she sat up on his chest shaking as she laughed. "What's so damned funny?" he wheezed.
"You, that's what's so funny, Itachi asked his partner to marry him a few weeks ago."
"How the hell do you know so many Uchiha?"
"Just because I'm a Unicorn Rider doesn't mean I don't travel with people that don't know Uchiha. Kiri happens to be a friend of mine. So I've met them before. I've traveled with Sakura before and I met Madara without Sakura knowing it."
Sasuke watched as the woman rose so gracefully that he wondered just what it was a demon like her could do. He hadn't even been able to activate his sharingan before she was on him. "You make me sick Uchiha. You'd rather be with that whore than someone that could actually bring joy to your life."
"My life is none of your concern."
The white haired woman shook her head as she turned her back on him, but she didn't leave.
"Her life is my concern until her mate takes my place."
"And you think I'm her mate?"
"I hoped and prayed that you weren't when I learned of you but there's no mistaking that you're destiny is to protect her with everything that you are."
"You're so full of it."
"Let me ask you this Uchiha, why are you here?"
He didn't answer her at first. His eyes narrowed towards the demon's back. A few retorts burned on the tip of his tongue but only one answer escaped his lips.
"Because; I have to be here."
A laugh escaped her throat at his words. Though he knew there was no humor behind the action. A feeling of unease washed through him knowing that he probably wouldn't like what was to be said next.
"If that's your only reason Uchiha, then go home."
Before he could retort she was gone. He winced slightly as a small pain flared up in his shoulder. Shaking his head he headed back towards the cabin. Sakura was sitting up and leaning against the wall that the bed was against. Her arms were wrapped around her legs as she cried softly. Something within him twisted like a dagger. The non caring side of him ignored her pain because it wasn't his business.
"She's right Sasuke if you don't want to be here you can go. I won't think any less of you."
"Like I care what you think of me."
Her head remained down as if she didn't want to look at him. Something twisted painfully within his chest again. He didn't even know why he was angry with her in the first place. Suddenly the roaring of a dragon made both of them start but soon a wide smile graced her features as she furiously wiped away her tears and scrambled from the bed. She stumbled a bit weakly before she made it to the door. Sasuke was a bit at a loss at what was going on. He followed her only to watch her jump into the waiting arms of a black haired man. Something ugly reared up in his chest again. She seemed so at ease with this man, behind him stood a powerful black dragon. He'd thought black dragons had died out. They were like their black counterparts in the unicorn world. His mind was trying to tell him he'd heard legends about a Black Dragon Rider. It was irritating him that he couldn't remember until the man looked up at him. His eyes widened. The man had striking onyx eyes just like his. This man was an Uchiha. Then it clicked then, this was Uchiha Madara; the one relative that could possibly be alive now that could control a black dragon. There had been a story about a curse some time ago. Sakura looked so happy seeing this man that it made his blood boil a bit.
"Hello Sasuke," the man said softly.
His attention turned back to the pink haired girl for a moment. "Sakura I need to speak with Sasuke for a moment alone all right?"
She nodded happily before going into the house. Then the Uchiha flashed his dark eyes on him. For a moment Sasuke thought he'd seen his relative's eyes flash crimson with the sharingan. Sasuke knew that a tongue lashing was coming. He waited a moment before Madara sighed softly.
"You know you dishonor our clan name by being with that red headed girl you know this."
"Why is it everyone's damned business who I date? More so why the hell is everyone so damned intended upon me marrying Sakura?"
"Because it's your destiny to be with her Sasuke."
"What the hell do you care you're supposed to be dead?"
"I'm disappointed in you Sasuke. You run away from your destiny so easily, because; it's different that what you planned for yourself."
"I can't stand her."
Madara looked at him like he was stupid or something. The older Uchiha moved forward and yanked his shirt open and turned him around.
"That's not what your back says Sasuke."
"What?" he snarled.
Madara pressed a finger hard into his skin making Sasuke wince in pain. Something flared painfully in his shoulder to rise up against the pressure.
"You bear the mark chosen and that can only mean that you're attached to her a little bit."
"Attached out of duty you mean."
The older Uchiha shook his head in disappointment.
"The mark doesn't work like that."
Then it occurred to Sasuke how Sakura had hers after just meeting him if the mark was only meant to appear with special feelings. He groaned realizing that she probably fell in love with him on sigh just like his crazed fangirls. As if reading his mind Madara shook his head. "It doesn't work like that either Sasuke."
"If you know so damned much then how does it work?"
"Did Sakura look familiar to you when you first laid your eyes upon her?"
"No, should she have looked familiar?"
"That's so like her."
Sasuke looked on his ancestor with confusion. He didn't understand. Should she be familiar? He asked himself quietly. "Sakura wouldn't interfere with your life even if it meant that she would have to stand back and watch you from afar."
"For how long?"
"Five years for as long as she's been a Unicorn Rider."
"She would stick out in Fire," Sasuke protested.
"She would," he agreed. "If she looked the way she does now. One of Shadow Dancer's many traits is illusions. He changed them to look like a noble woman."
"She still would have stuck out…"
Madara shook his head at Sasuke. There were hundreds of noble families in Leaf going through at a given time. She wouldn't stick out. He'd seen her before with Shadow Dancer in disguise. That stallion was an intimidating figure when he appeared a normal stallion. He looked like a Friesian only bigger.
"Not necessarily Sasuke. She doesn't really stick out. The only thing that did was Shadow Dancer. Even looking like a normal horse he's bigger than an adult Friesian stallion."
Sasuke shook his head trying to remember and intimidating black stallion ridden by a girl. "She fell in love with you over those years Sasuke it didn't happen at once."
"Then why did her mark appear when she arrived in my house?"
Madara smiled at Sasuke which made him wary. Then his eyes softened and turned his gaze to the tree tops.
"Because; she knew she'd finally be able to meet the person she was destined to be with. I never got a chance to be with Izumi the way I wanted to be and because of my stupidity plus adding Orochimaru's jealousy I lost her. Don't make the mistakes I did Sasuke and let the best thing in your life walk out of it because of someone like Karin."
"Karin is my girlfriend."
"Maybe one day you'll realize what a gift you've been handed."
"All I've been given is someone to make sure survives a battle that has nothing to do with me, and to top it off she's an enemy."
Before he could even say another word Madara had him slammed against the wall his eyes blazing with the sharingan.
"She is the rightful Kage of Grass and the most innocent person that anyone can ever know. If you're not going to help her just say so and let her walk away. She'll die but she'll do it knowing you didn't want her around."
"You're trying to guilt me into going with her," Sasuke tried to hiss.
"I can't make you do anything, Sasuke."
"Why don't you protect her because she's so damned fond of you?"
"Because I had my chance and she died because of it."
Fire Storm looked on sadly at the two. He knew Sasuke wouldn't give in to Madara and they'd probably have to go separate ways from Sakura in the future. He'd seen Sakura and Shadow Dancer before in disguise.
"Sasuke?" he heard his dragon call.
The Black Dragon moved forward towards his rider.
"Madara say goodbye to Sakura we need to head back."
Madara let Sasuke go and moved towards the house. Sakura rushed out to greet the other man and spoke quietly to her before letting her go and getting on his Black Dragon and vanishing into the night. She smiled as she watched the other rider leave. Her eyes softened when she looked at him. He fought the urge to blush. She went back inside. Fire Storm looked at his rider pointedly.
"Let's stay with her awhile Sasuke before you make up your mind."
"I don't want to have anything to do with this anymore."
The dragon sighed tiredly. "Everything was simple but she comes crashing into my life and ruins everything."
"Ruins what exactly? Your relationship with a cheating whore?" the dragon snapped. "I smell every damned rider she's slept with every time she comes near you."
"Great she's even got you on her side."
The red dragon's eyes narrowed dangerously at his rider.
"I choose no one's side but yours Sasuke!" the dragon snarled. "Sakura would be good for you. The two of you complete each other. She is your light and you are her darkness, two halves of a whole."
"That's total bull shit and you know it!"
Shadow Dancer came out of the shadows and paced up to the feuding pair. His eyes met the eyes of the red dragon drawing his attention to the unicorn instead of his rider.
'Take him ahead to Grass so he can cool down, and we'll join you there.' The stallion suggested.
Sasuke looked at the two warily. Fire Storm nodded his head at what the stallion just said.
"Come on Sasuke let's go ahead and leave since you're so determined to leave."
"About damned time…" Sasuke growled.
Sasuke moved over to his dragon and hauled himself up on his back. He gave on last fleeting glance at the house. The Uchiha didn't want any emotional attachments to Sakura so he shook off any thoughts he had of her and looked forward. The dragon took off into the night.
Sakura tried to fight off the tears that pricked her eyes as she watched Sasuke leave. Her hands rested on the glass as she leaned against the pane. Her heart ached at watching him leave in the middle of the night, but she knew that she couldn't force him to stay and if he wanted to go he could.
"Don't waste your tears in him Sakura he isn't worth it."
Sakura closed her eyes knowing it was Alexial. She wasn't fond of Sasuke but they didn't see what she did about him.
"He's worth it when he opens up when no one is looking."
"He agreed to help you and at the first sign of trouble he runs."
"I can't fault him for not understanding Alexial. He did take in a lot of information in one day."
"You should. He's the difference whether or not you live or die."
"He doesn't like to be told that he's the answer to anyone's problems."
"That's a sign of a coward."
"I was afraid to, Alexial when I learned of my destiny. The only reason I accepted my destiny for what it was because I had help. Shadow Dancer, Madara, Neji, Gaara, and you. He has no one to help him like I did."
"Because he refuses help Sakura. We'll help him too, but he doesn't see past the prejudices he's been born to follow."
"Please Alexial," she pleaded softly as she turned to look the older woman in the eyes. "Don't judge him. We need him on our side."
Alexial scoffed at her words.
"How could you fall for that idiot?" she growled.
"He deserves love too."
The demon sighed softly. Alexial's sapphire eyes were sad as they turned to look out the window.
"HE throws away something beautiful for someone that smells of snake."
Sakura tensed at her words. She didn't want to believe what she thought Alexial was implying.
"Smells of snake?"
Alexial nodded her head without looking at Sakura.
"Karin smells of snake venom, and he doesn't even know it."
"We have to warn Sasuke!" Sakura whimpered.
The demon rolled her eyes in annoyance knowing that would have been her answer.
"Do you really think he'll listen to you?"
"Probably not."
"Exactly. In essence Sasuke is sleeping with the enemy."
Sakura slumped against the wall. Her heart ached all over again for Sasuke, knowing he didn't know the danger he was in by being with Karin. She knew at this rate she was going to die. Orochimaru would use Sasuke against her through Karin if he had to. That made her heart clench in her chest. Going over to the pictures much like Sasuke had she looked them over. Her heart missed her family. In the back of her mind someplace that Shadow Dancer never visited she hid a secret. She'd lived with her father for seven years before he died in a fight against Hunters. She never got to know her mother. It was because of that time with her father she didn't fear dragons, or hold any hatred towards them as most riders did. Her father had taught her a great many things. She'd known about Takashi being her brother too. Her father had thought it best that she didn't let anyone know that she knew of her father or brother. Looking over her shoulder at the quiet demon watching her she knew she'd have to follow Sasuke when dawn broke the horizon. Then maybe she could talk Sasuke into staying with her. With hope fluttering in her heart she replaced the photos and when to the bed and slid under the covers. As she drifted to sleep Alexial's glowed in the dark giving a sense of protection.
