A/N: I just wanted to say thank you all for the reviews, as they really give me a passion to write the chapters for you all. So, without further ado, here is the Dawning Sun.

The last few days have been a roller coaster for the once Uchiha Matriarch. Passionate sex, being loved, standing up to Fugaku, and now home with her new lover. Dare say it, future husband if things work out well for the both of them. Yet, she wasn't completely happy with the new living arrangement.

Her children wouldn't be here as they once were. And that saddened her immensely, but she could not go back to that soulless compound. She would adapt, improvise, and overcome one day at a time. The ringing face pain reminded her of those brutal moments a testament to her cutting bond.

"You shouldn't be daydreaming with your mouth open Mikoto. A fly might take a visit," Avarice makes his appearance with a terrible joke.

"Hey.. Are we at your place?" She barely manages to speak out her bruises and wounds hindering significant amount of he

"Yeah. No one is going to harm you anymore. So, don't fret over the small things. I'll take care of anything you need or want for the meantime." Avarice caress her red checks lightly, gaining a crimson blush from his partner.

"You're a real Prince Charming, but how do I know you will not do what Fugaku did? Taint my mind with sweet lies, then lure me into your trap. Taking me as a wife and bearing children. Leaving me all alone in the same cycle, albeit with a different man and better sex." Her voice breaking into sadness and depression with tints of happiness every so often.

"I can't honestly admit that I love you at the moment, Mikoto. You're great at sex and very loving, but we will have to spend more time together before it just clicks, ya know?" Sitting beside the bed-ridden woman with a sad smile.

"Do you ever think you will love me..?" Clutching the bedsheets not knowing how to feel about the situation. If anything, she has ruined her life and is on the path of no return.

"Give me time and I will love you," Placing a soft kiss on Mikoto's head.

She had nothing but time now. A husband that would be soon issuing divorce papers, keeping her kids from her, and any money she may have had is gone. "I'll wait for you then Avi. Just don't make me wait forever." Producing a tiny smile, as she attempts get out bed.

"I won't Mikoto," Cusping her hand and kissing it. "Now let the Doctor Avi take care of you for the morning, and we can go out for a walk around the village later. If you are up to it?" Avarice playfully asks trying to keep the woman in high spirits.

Rubbing her face, she caresses the bruises that mark her. "If you get a coat, so I can hide my face then I'll go." Mikoto wouldn't go out in public with visual scars, so the public could condemn her with vile words that eat away at her once cheating affair.

"I have coats here, but they're too big for you."

"New coat. Now." Edging the final word, Avarice shunshins from the room. Leaving Mikoto to her thoughts and an empty bed.

"Why did I have to be so needy... I had a family. Children that were distant, but I loved them. And all for this? A man that doesn't love me as of yet, but cares enough to try. A heavy toll for the lack of reward. It's too late to change the past, but the sun rises for another day. I wonder what Kushina will say about all this? It has been a long time since we hanged out like we used to."

Whistling a soft tune, Mikoto waits for her partner to return. Mind fantasying the what if scenarios and possibilities. While natural light floods the room.

Kushina Uzumaki, the Fourth Hokage's wife, and best friend to Mikoto Uchiha. Is searching for shinobi attire for her son, at Ken's Training Shop.

The boy had become a rival with her best friend's son, which reminded her that she needed to visit the woman for once. With Naruto mostly busy with the academy, or training with his father she was mainly at home attending to her wifely duties. Boring most of the time, but the shinobi life she has given up a long time ago.

"Mikoto will probably love a visit from me, dattebane!" Kushina hauls her way through the store before bumping into a stranger. " I'm so sorry. Excuse me for the accident, dattebane."

Avarice wasn't one to complain, but when a hurling red mass launches itself into you. There is room to complain then, but he is too easy going to argue. Settling for a simple, "It's fine."

"Where are you going anyway in such a rush that you would knock a complete stranger over?"

Kushina scratches the back of her with a smile, " I was on the way to see my best-friend and I gotten all excited... and bumped into you. I'm very sorry for the trouble, Mr...?"

"Avarice."

"Mr. Avarice. I'm sorry for the trouble."

"Who's your friend anyway that you are in a rush to see?" Regaining his bearings, Avarice stands up and inspects the woman. Crimson-red hair that is almost as long as Mikoto's, short stature and nice curves, and Uzumaki swirl outfit.

"Mikoto Uchiha. I'm sorry once again, but I'll be on way now." Opting to walk pass the man and head out of the store before she is rambunctious once again.

"Wait. I know that woman. She isn't at the Uchiha compound if that's where you are headed red head." Avarice calls out to the Uzumaki woman, hoping she wouldn't ignore his call.

"Then, where is she? Last time I have seen Mikoto she was there and nothing has happened since then. So, why wouldn't she be at the compound?" Squinting her eyes in bewilderment, as she whirls around to face Avarice.

"Mikoto, actually lives with me for the moment." Deciding to let the blunt statement take its affect on the Uzumaki. Avarice continues, " If you would like visit her, then I can take you to visit." Finishing off his trail of thoughts and inspection of the red-head woman.

Grumbling to herself, Kushina finally makes a decision, " Fine. But, if you try anything I'll have you arrested. After all, my husband is the Fourth Hokage."

"The Hokage's wife, interesting indeed."

" I won't lay one finger on you, unless you wanted me too." Avarice confirms, " I'll finish this purchase then we can be on our way. Deal?"

"Yeah." Kushina agrees taken back slightly by his seemingly flirtatious suggestion.

The two head to Avarice's home, neither speaking to another as they continue on the trail. Silence isn't Kushina's greatest strength and within minutes she is assaulting Avarice with questions. "How did you two meet? Why isn't Mikoto at the compound? Have you two had sex!?"

Avarice wanted the hell to end, as they woman continued to blabber questions until the manor is in view. Mouth agape from the design and foreign design of his aesthetically pleasing home.

"Shocked?" Avarice smirks content with the quietness that has enveloped the loud mouth Uzumaki. He was never one for the culture here, and took inspiration from his homelands that are now gone.

"If you stare all day, you'll never see Mikoto."

Snapping out of the sense awe, Kushina follows suit ready to see her best friend. If the man wasn't lying about the whole incident of course. If the exterior of the home was a shock, then the interior is something to die for. Pristine material encompasses the manor and set it apart from other homes she has seen. But, this one by far has certainly caught her eyes more than anything.

The duo reaches the room and before Mikoto could comprehend the situation, she's toppled by Kushina.

"Mikotooooooo! I have missed you, Dattebane!" Squealing in absolute delight of being in the presence of her friend. "What have you been up to? How are the children? Why aren't you at the compound?"

Mikoto smiles letting her friend rant and ask an obscene amount of questions.

"Kushina. I'll answer your questions if you give me a chance to process them." Stroking her friend's silky red hair as a calming method for the woman.

"Fine." Kushina stops hugging her friend and settles down. Noticing the bruises on Mikoto's pale skin. Pointing her finger to the not-so-hidden marks, "How did you get those, dattebane?"

Sighing, Mikoto knew the topic of discussion wouldn't be light and her friend wouldn't take it all to well. "Avi? Can you give me and Kushina some girl time?" Getting a nod in response he disappears from the room, allowing the door to achieve an audible click.

"I'll begin with your last question, the bruises can from Fugaku. He beat me and put me out... Kushina... Now, I'm here with the man you met, Avarice." Mikoto lowers her head in shame.

Kushina process it all for a moment. Anger quickly budding inside of her, " What gives him the right to hit you? More so, beat you until you're scarred!"

"I-" Mikoto is promptly cut off as her friend rages in her stead.

"The stupid Fugaku. Wait till I tell Minato about this. He'll be sorry then, if not he will have a very special visit from me personally," Cracking her knuckles menacingly with sinister laughter, and dark over-glow.

"Are you okay, Kushina?"

Sweat dropping, Kushina sighs. "Why are you with guy, in particular? Did he save you or something?"

"In a way, he showed me there's things that I deserve not only as a woman but as a lover as well. Plus, Avarice takes the loneliness away... Making the world worth living in and being here to see. Changing me from a trophy wife to a woman that can be more than helpless. A woman that can go out when she pleases and decide what she wants do." Raising her head to match Kushina's eyes, tears forming in the corners.

"I was alone, Kushina. You didn't have much time for me anymore, and neither did I. The compound was a constant hell and it sucked all life from me... Avarice was an affair gone right. It was wrong, but I was sick and tired of not getting love or attention. Eventually, breaking and doing the deed for my guilty pleasure." Latching onto her best friend as she cries freeing the dams of sadness from her frame.

"I'm sorry as well Mikoto. I should've been here with you and talked to you more. I should've checked up on you. Asked you what would you like to, and so many other opportunities. Yet, I wasted them with spending all my time at home. I'm sorry. But, I'm here now, Mikoto." Crying with the woman, as waterfalls flow each from letting down their friend.

"Thank you, Kushina."

"Thank you, Mikoto."

"Best friends forever?"

"Best friends forever, dattebane!"

"Where is my wife, Otsutsuki?"

"In a castle, if we're talking fairy tails."