Watching the 2017 Beauty and the Beast added more tears and feels as I was writing this final chapter. Review when you're done, but I don't allow flames. :'(

So, I was wiping my eyes the last time, and I did the same again here, for a variety of reasons. Because this story is finally complete, though it always is, and because we lost Itachi - but most of all Sasuke and Sakura, as well as their friends.

Seven months - that's how long I spent on this, and it's longer than I did for any fic by my hand. But it was worth it. :) I also need to get back to Allure of Darkness in the near future, which will break this record.

Chapter Twenty-Five

The Epilogue

He wasn't going to lecture Sasuke, because how could he based on what happened tonight? This great night which turned into one hell of a nightmare?

Sasuke and Sakura run off to find Itachi, and what kind of trouble would it have gotten them if no one knew WHY? His dad and his men arrived in time to find them all at the old man's apartment, and there were more than just a few complications: Danzo was in the same mentally paralyzed state as those street thugs apprehended last month, as was one of Dad's own - but he wasn't serious - and there was also a skeletal corpse surrounded by dust and wearing what Itachi had for the gala.

Ibiki Morino couldn't even believe what he'd seen himself and asked the chief what they were going to tell the public, and this was something the public couldn't know about. There could mean a few cover-up stories which hadn't been easy to come up with, but here was what it was: the fingerprints found weren't a match in the database, that it was official that Danzo was going to jail for a long time in which he was the ringleader behind the stolen mummy from the Konoha Museum, hence the skeletal remains whose DNA wasn't a match - although it DID go with the unidentified fingerprints that were found.

That still didn't answer a question: why was it that way, and who would buy such a story if they knew the mummy was up and walking around like the movies and old stories?

"Sasuke, Sakura!" he called to them, getting out of his dad's police car, Hinata with him. They were sitting down at the foot of the ambulance that had to come by for the sake of it, and Danzo himself was loaded on a stretcher. He was strapped down even though he wasn't mobile enough. Itachi did that to him. I guess it serves him right...but why didn't he kill him?

He remembered Minato saying that revenge solved nothing, killing solved nothing - unless it was necessary - so if he was right, Itachi decided death for his enemy was too easy. He wanted closure...and here he was now, bones and dust on the ground. To look upon his short-lived friend - and the mummy we've been around since we were kids - made his heart crack a little, then get bigger, and Hinata held onto him, trying not to cry as she looked upon the skull face framed with long black hair and being marked around with white as part of the crime scene.

"My God," Minato said, shaking his head in dismay as he looked down at what his son and future daughter-in-law were seeing. "I only met that boy a few times, thought he was a decent human being enough."

"But he had everything taken from him," Hinata said quietly, eyes glistening, "and he got to experience his life for a short time, made everything count. I really adored him..."

But look at their friends, holding onto each other and with different kinds of depression: Sasuke's face had darkened because he'd lost the brother he barely knew, and Sakura because once again, she loved and then lost it again. They're not going to be the same again - not even if we could help.

His dad noticed definitely and sighed, wrapping his arm around his son's shoulder. "What happens is up to them, but let them know you are still there, Naruto," he told him, smiling difficult as it was for all of them. "Going to take time, as usual." Then his face hardened when his attention fell to the pitiful old man on the stretcher.

"At least we're going to finally get somewhere with Danzo. We'll see what the hospital has to say on his condition after we search this place once more."

Little did they know the final facts were closer than they thought, because when the hospital did thorough examination on Danzo Shimura, they found what looked like an anomaly, but it was something they never expected: a memory chip.

What was inside could be something that was seen in period drama films. Everything regarding the demise of the extinct Uchiha - including the one who had been the stolen mummy: Itachi Uchiha, who was able to kill his parents while the rest of his clan was butchered in the night by Danzo's ancestor's - a man of the same name - men...and Sasuke, the youngest, was the only one left alive, but had no idea of what really happened. Thus his elder brother was given the choice of dying, being condemned as a criminal and murderer - or he take the self-mummification process to reach divinity. But it never happened, for Itachi was murdered by suffocation at the hands of the man who destroyed his life as well as his clan's.

A thirteen-year-old child who eventually was smothered to death at age twenty-one.

This as well as the proof that he hired Kyou Ito to break into the museum and steal the mummy was enough to put him away for a long time, but it appeared his comatose state was impossible to get out of. He was old enough to be near death now that the truth was out.

When Tsunade and Orochimaru saw what was on the footage, both somberly lowered their heads so no one could see their expressions. Hinata turned into Naruto and cried into his shoulder; he held onto her, numb to his core.

Sasuke and Sakura didn't yet see it, but if they were ready, things would be worse than they already were. Because no matter if the truth was out, Itachi was still gone.

~o~

His brother was gone.

He was half a man, not thinking straight and only being lost in himself. He could only see the image of his brother's corpse falling into pieces. Leaving him once again, but also leaving Sakura - both as a choice and not.

It was a miracle Sasuke answered police questions, going along with the story that Itachi revealed that night he had a terminal cancer and decided it was best to leave them all to go traveling around the world. It was a decision he made on his own, his reasons personal, but he loved them all and regretted doing this to them. The idea had been Tsunade's; the woman was distressed, but didn't let the emotions out into the open. Orochimaru was just as somber as he supervised the remains, eventually finding that the DNA inside matched along with the fingerprints KPD found.

They wouldn't be able to completely link it back to Itachi, who was no longer among them.

Though Danzo, that old man, was going to be in the hospital until the plug was pulled. The evidence stacked against him was overwhelming, and Sasuke finally saw what was on that memory chip, because he deserved to know. What he saw made him remember the final moments of the past him. The one who couldn't live without the brother who gave everything up so that he could live. The one who thought he would reunite with Itachi - only to end up HERE. And now they were separated once again.

He could have stayed with Neji for the next few weeks, while confiding in Kurenai about his brother "leaving" which made him feel hollow once again. His therapist was really fighting to not cry, which made him consider letting it out - and when he did, she held onto him and kept reassuring him over and over again that at least he got to spend time with his brother while it lasted, that he knew he loved him, and that he wanted him to start his life over.

She's right: Itachi wanted me to persevere and be happy again. And he wants Sakura to do the same.

He wasn't going to let himself be what he used to be, and it ended with leaving Sakura the way he did. She was in this as much as he was. So he ended up asking her if he could just stay in her flat for a few days just to keep her company and nothing else. Somehow she agreed all too easily.

Sometimes it felt like it used to for them. When they were younger, she was trying to cook on her own, and sometimes she'd burn, ending in them laughing. It made him happy to know she'd gotten better, when he smelled the grilled vegetables, the fish and miso. Finished off with good old sake, since they both needed it - but it wasn't something to always rely on.

He found himself slouched before the television, watching anything but the news, and that was when he saw a showing of none other than Genji Monogatari - which they used to watch when they were younger, and he liked it solely for the fact it was based off a well-known literary piece, but Sakura loved the romance.

Now he found himself thinking about certain aspects which were indirectly tied to what recently happened. Sometimes he could have sworn he heard his brother speaking to him, in the words: "You both have set me free. That's what love is."

And love hurt more than anything in the world, which was also what he was seeing in this film. Subtle but effective all the same.

The story's realism was more than he could just handle, so he turned it off, and by this time Sakura was bringing him his share. Numbly, he accepted and mumbled his thanks.

"Sasuke." She halted because she had no idea what to say. Here they were now at the moment following the prince taking the maid Murasaki - a relative of the woman he wanted but couldn't have - to become as close as possible to the one of his desires.

Sasuke looked down at his plate and suddenly felt like he lost his appetite before it even began, but as soon as he picked the first piece of fish and brought it to his mouth, his hunger returned. He noticed Sakura do the same. She wanted to talk; they hadn't done much except greet each other at the end of each day, trying to make life go on as it was, but a few days wasn't enough. Therapy for his part wasn't enough either. She never needed any, having always functioned well, but he was considering offering for her to see Kurenai or someone. Because she was no better than he was.

"You have something to say," she said finally, looking at him. Her vibrant eyes were muddied like moss.

He nodded and put his tray on the table; she mimicked the action. "Sakura," he said, "thank you for everything, but I don't think it'll work like this."

She numbly nodded, too. "I agree."

"Maybe it's best that you should get help like I did," Sasuke went on, "and when my sessions are done, I head back to my services, and when they're up, I'm coming home for good. You keep doing what you do best. We both know Itachi was right, but we should do it because we want to."

I want to do this for my brother, but he should know that this isn't his decision at the end of the day.

It was also his choice; he did want to be with Sakura again, but she deserved a say in this, as well. He thought of a good, rational idea: they would try dating other people, and if it didn't work, it was them having a second chance.

If not, then they were better off.

~o~

When she saw her mother's remains the next day after that terrible night, she broke down because she felt nauseous at the sight of Mebuki like THAT - the same as the ones who really deserved it. Sakura knew she should feel repulsed, horrified by what she learned. How Itachi had been a living, breathing corpse, that he killed her mother and the others, yet she couldn't bring herself to feel hatred and disgust.

Itachi...Itachi was just like them once, long before then and only when his life was stolen before given a second chance, however short and disturbing it was, but still, he got to live like a normal person. He got to experience things that he never did before, and she had been the one to show it to him. Yes, he had been a monster, but didn't monsters also feel pain and suffering; didn't they have souls, too...?

This Sasuke understood when they talked that night in her apartment he stayed at for his coping mechanism, but she was glad he was still functioning and accepting help - which she was beginning to need herself.

Love really did its work on you: it made you whole until there was nothing left. Some things were just too good to be true. But he'd experienced that, not just her.

Everyone at the museum was somber, keeping it up as usual, but hollow was present. They'd loved Itachi, but only she, Sasuke, Naruto and Hinata, Minato as well as Tsunade and Orochimaru knew the truth and would take it to their graves. At least Danzo won't haunt our steps anymore.

And at least they would look at it this way: Itachi had gone off to a better place than his last moments on earth, and better than having to live off others for himself. He did say that they would meet again one day, which wasn't going to happen any time soon.

Sasuke said he was going back overseas, his orders received after Kurenai gave her report, so that meant Sakura had to do the same because that woman was trustworthy. She could have had another choice of therapist, and she made hers. She also made the choice to NOT date anyone for awhile. She was going to finish her internship and then carry on work, just like her friends.

Though she didn't count that Sasuke would suddenly end up dating someone after the next time he would come home. A redhead who was pretty but not beautiful, with matching eyes - she was Karin, Naruto's cousin on his late mother's side. But they weren't even close. So it begged what Sasuke saw in her. "Just what I was thinking," Naruto grumbled when they saw it from afar - and they also saw Sasuke didn't seem all that interested in his new girlfriend of a few months.

Then why would he be with her if he doesn't love her?

Two years had gone by, and he was done with his term. She heard he was going to join the Konoha Police Department as a rookie in Naruto's father's unit. She, Naruto and Hinata were also done with the internship and would receive their licenses by the next year. They were so excited, and then there was one more thing to celebrate over.

Naruto and Hinata got married at the museum, the place which was close to heart. Complete with white roses in blue mercury vases, as well as creamy, beautiful lace-and-fringe tapestries and matching tablecloths - and a two-tiered cake printed with the Blue Willow scene and topped with a fresh white lotus plucked from the museum water pond. But the attention was on the happy couple who were wed by the local Shinto priest.

Hinata was so beautiful in that short and sweet lace dress with the sheer sleeves, full skirt and embroidered blue flowers, finally with the cutest icy blue heels set with dimensional blooms. Naruto might have dropped his mouth and drooled on sight if Sakura wasn't there to threaten him with a fist to his jaw if he showed such inappropriateness. His dad wasn't able to hold back his emotions, wiping his eyes with a tissue - and surprise, surprise, so was Hiashi.

Tsunade was leaning into Orochimaru, who had his arm around her waist, and keeping her close. Maybe they'll spend the rest of their days as they are, but will they ever get married after all these years?

Sakura was the maid of honor, Sasuke the best man - and it was then that they locked eyes when the new husband and wife shared their kiss. This was the first time they saw each other since his return home, because he'd been busy settling into his new life...and she could have sworn she saw a fresh new change in him. It couldn't have been whatever he was doing on the field, or even Karin, was it?

She tried not to flinch, and it wasn't because of the itching of the bold, tropical pink lace that Hinata said looked great on her. And the neck was a little too low for her chest, but no one said no to the bride.

At the reception, she and Sasuke finally talked.

"Karin and I are over. I was feeling sick about being involved with her. I thought we could work, because when we met, I though she understood me. She was one of the nurses overseas caring for our wounded."

In other words: Karin saw Sasuke outwardly instead of inwardly. She wanted him to be something else, something different. "I haven't been with anyone," Sakura confessed as they sat down at their seats, the choices free, with their champagne flutes. "I didn't feel like I was ready for a relationship. I was just enjoying life by myself."

Itachi was still a touchy subject, but the pain had lessened only a little. She still found herself wary around guys, though she waited for Sasuke to come home only to find him with another woman, and that was enough to make her decide she could quit this nonsense of waiting for someone when there was no forever.

Yet today he was telling her that his new relationship wasn't the one he thought it would be. He's holding back, too. "I don't know if I can handle being with someone," Sasuke admitted, "who didn't accept me the way I was. It was also because I was...thinking about someone else. And not to do with the promise of a certain someone, but a choice I'll make on my own...if you still want the shot again."

He had just outright told her that he had waited long enough, he kept his promises, and he wanted that second opportunity - and he wasn't going to hurt her again.

Herself? She was scared of being brokenhearted again, but she didn't want to spend the rest of her life alone either. Swallowing, she looked up at him and smiled, though it hurt because she was torn between joy again and uncertainty.

His hand coming out to take hers made her finalize the decision, as well as the desperation in his eyes. There was no more running, no more putting everything on hold - and no more promises that wouldn't be kept. Thank you...Itachi, she prayed up to the man who brought happiness into their lives again, left because he was forced, and brought her and his brother together again.

Their second chance was on its way.

Genji Monogatari was a period drama from the early 50s that tells of a great love story but also tragedy.

In terms of how to end this story, I had to think of a good compromise as to reconcile SasuSaku. My friend thought they shouldn't get back together after Itachi, because Sasuke LEFT Sakura the way he did, no matter if Sasuke realized his mistakes and wanted to make things right (though I agree with him). Thus they should find other people - and here was my final result to make us both happy as well as you guys.

I'm supposed to be happy with how this story came out, but today something horrible happened. Due to my father having liver cancer, he was supposed to STOP drinking - but today I found him slipping wine behind our backs. Back to more depression all over again. I thought we were all done with this shit. (Sorry about my language, but I had to get it out). :'(

Please keep in touch with my stories from now on, if you want to. For those who wanted ItaSaku, I may do a new one of them in the future that will end on a happier note.