First off let me apologize for this taking so long to be updated I've had a lot going on and it has just been hard to find time to write. I have awesome readers and I'm happy you all have been able to stick with me through this story. I started the first one in 2010 so it just amazes me that there are so many people that read it honestly. For those of you that review you are extra awesome. For those of you reading this note I just hope that you all treat each story you read as something that could have potential. I hope none of you review telling someone a story was shitty – I just got one on a different story of mine saying that it is. I don't care about people saying that just because I don't let that negativity bring me down but I hope you guys know that there are writers that will be discouraged by bad reviews. I hope every review you give is positive even if you think the story needs work I hope everything you say to them is constructive. Your reviews do get read and people will take them personally, especially young writers, so just make sure that you think before you write.

Anway that is my note for the chapter so as you know I own nothing regarding Naruto if I did I wouldn't be writing on here and there would have been NaruSasu action

Enjoy and please review …

Chapter 24: Bittersweet

Sasuke had just gotten news from the police – news that should have made him happy. He had such mixed of feelings because most of him was happy, but the other side of him felt uneasy. He had just been told that Orochimaru was being charged with multiple things that could potentially put him in jail for the rest of his life. Haru was going to testify as to what Orochimaru had made him do and they had found so much evidence in his house that showed the kind of monster he was. They found the tape he had stolen and many others that Sasuke had no idea even existed. Videos of himself being hurt all throughout his time he was under his custody. It made him feel uneasy because there was that fear that he would get off and just come back to haunt him. He was scared to testify and see the videos the police had found. He knew it would only bring back the old feelings that he had. The feelings that made him scared of the dark in the first place. They were the feelings that Naruto helped him get over and he could only hope that Naruto would be able to help him through it all. It would be a long trial, he knew that, and a painful one as all the memories would come back. He closed his eyes for a moment as he took a deep breath, his head down and his hair covering his face.

Naruto looked at his lover and wondered what was going on. He knew he had just been on the phone and he worried that it was bad news. He slowly walked over and put his hand on the other man's shoulder. Sasuke didn't move or even look at him, so all he could do was try to comfort the man. "Its going to be okay," he tried to reassure him. "What did they say?" he asked, knowing exactly whom he was talking to. "He better not be getting off."

Sasuke just shook his head, trying to find the words to say. "He's being charged," he was finally able to say. "They found more evidence," he looked at Naruto, "evidence I didn't even know existed." Sasuke bit his lip as he tried to hold back tears.

"What's wrong then?" Naruto asked. "You should be happy," he was extremely confused, "he's going away for a long time." Naruto was sure that he wasn't going to get off easily, there was too much against him.

"How do you know?" Sasuke asked as he stood up. "How can you be so certain that he won't get off like he always does?" He ran a hand through his hair, "There are videos, ones that I don't know that I can see without completely breaking down. I don't want to push you away again, but with everything that will come back, I can't promise that I won't just pull away." It was then that Naruto understood what was going on. The man got up and walked over to Sasuke, putting his arms around him and pulling him close. "I don't want to lose you," Sasuke said quietly.

"You'll never lose me," Naruto assured him. "I'm not going anywhere," he said, "you should know that by now." Sasuke shook his head and no other words were said. They held each other for a moment. They knew it would be difficult but Naruto wasn't going to let anything tear them apart.

NS

Suigetsu was sitting on a park bench waiting as he tapped his foot nervously. He didn't know why he was so nervous to talk to Ryuu. Part of him knew it was because of what he was going to tell the man, the part was telling him that there was nothing to be worried about. He didn't want the other man to hate him and he was worried that what he was about to say would cause him too much pain to forgive him. They both knew that he was still, and probably always would be, in love with Kiba and that would make it a little easier. The man walking over to him pulled him from his thoughts. All he could do was look at him for a moment. He couldn't return the smile that Ryuu gave him because it wasn't a happy time.

"I know what you're going to say," the man suddenly told him. "I've known it ever since the first time I saw you talk to him," he admitted. Ryuu sat next to him, though didn't look at him. He had a sad demeanor, clearly disappointed that the conversation was happening. "I guess I just figured that I could be the one to help you get over him, but that's not going to happen," they both knew the statement was true.

"I'm sorry," Suigetsu said in a low voice. "I never meant to hurt you. I really did think that you could be the one to make me move on, he just won't let me and I hate him for that. I don't even know that I can ever take him back, but I know that I'm not ready for a relationship. I thought that I was, but I'm not and it wouldn't be fair to you. If you try to be with me it'll just make you unhappy and you don't deserve that," he said as he finally looked at the other man. "After all he's put me through I still love him and I don't know why. I don't know why I love him but I know that right now I can't give you all of my heart."

Ryuu cut him off before he could say anything else, "I'm not mad. I saw this coming and yet I still tried. I guess it was just wishful thinking on my part. I understand that now is clearly not the right time, maybe someday if we both end up single again we can try. But now isn't the time." Suigetsu just shook his head, wishing he could give his heart to the understanding man. "I hope you find happiness, even if it is with him and not me," he said as he stood up. He gave the man one last kiss on the cheek, "I'll see you around." He walked away, not looking back because it would only make it more difficult.

Suigetsu watched the man. It felt like he was possibly letting one of the best men he's ever known go for a man that had done nothing but break his heart. He didn't even know if he could give Kiba another chance, yet he was letting an amazing man walk away. It hurt but he knew that he had to do it.

NS

If there was one thing Naruto and Kiba had in common it was persistence. Suigetsu kept ignoring his call, but the man still tried. It was almost like having a stalker, but one that he was in love with. It was on the fifth attempt that Suigetsu finally picked up, "Are you dying or are you just trying to be annoying?"

"Neither," Kiba answered. "I just want to talk to you and get you to listen. I want you to believe me." What he was clearly was saying was that he wanted Suigetsu to take him back. It was hard for the man to say no, but he had to.

"Kiba give up," he said. "I'm not taking you back," he told him, "I can't take you back." It hurt him because he knew it hurt Kiba, but it was something he had to do. He had to protect himself from getting hurt again. Part of him wondered just how long they were going to play the same game. How long they would lobe each other but not be together. It made him wonder if he was being stupid and hurting himself more by saying no, but the sensible part told him that it was for the best.

"I love you," Kiba said. "I have for a long time and always will," he hoped that Suigetsu would believe him. "I was stupid for ever thinking otherwise. I was stupid for ever thinking that I could get over you or that I could ever be happy with someone else." There was dead silence for a moment, "You still there?"

"Yeah, I'm here," Suigetsu responded. "I just don't know that I can ever trust you again. How many times are we going to have this conversation?" he asked.

"Until you believe me," Kiba replied. "You should know that I don't just give up," he said, knowing how creepy it probably sounded, but not caring in that moment. It was true so he didn't care how it sounded.

There was a knock on Suigetsu's door and he knew it was Sasuke. "I've got to go," he said, quickly hanging up. It almost felt like he was sneaking around by talking to Kiba without Sasuke knowing. He knew that Sasuke didn't like Kiba, which was one of the reasons he felt like it would be a bad idea to tell Sasuke about Kiba's persistence. Kiba had been trying a lot and he hadn't been telling Sasuke about most of it. He realized that he hadn't opened the door yet so he quickly got up and opened his door.

"What took you so long?" Sasuke asked as he walked into Suigetsu's house. He looked around at the half packed up house, and frowned. "Still thinking about leaving?" he asked, hoping that the answer was no.

It was in that moment Suigetsu truly made up his mind, "No." He knew that he was never truly leaving; he wasn't even sure why he lied to himself and started packing. "So what is so important that you had to come over?"

"I've got news about Orochimaru," he stated, which got Suigetsu's attention. Sasuke then proceeded to tell him what he'd found out. "I'm just worried he'll get off," he concluded with.

"He won't," Suigetsu said. "And before you ask me how I know, I just do. Don't question it," he told him.

There was a moment of silence as Sasuke just looked at him, "What's going on with you?" Suigetsu looked surprised by the question. "Don't say nothing, I can tell there's something; something that you're not telling me," he waited for an answer, just looking at him.

Suigetsu let out a deep breath, knowing that he wouldn't be able to lie, "It's Kiba." He could see the annoyance on Sasuke's face as he waited for Suigetsu to continue. "He's been calling a lot lately and showing up here. He wants to talk and for me to take him back. I keep saying no, but he's making it really hard," he finally told his best friend.

"I can get rid of him for you if you need me to," Sasuke said. Suigetsu looked at him, not amused but Sasuke's statement. "I'm kidding," he told him, though they both knew he wasn't. "I don't know what you want me to say, you know I don't like him. I don't think you should get back with him; it's as simple as that. But I do want you to be happy, even if it's with that asshole," though his word were clearly laced with unhappiness. He wasn't going to be completely accepting of another relationship between Suigetsu and Kiba. Suigetsu just nodded and sighed and the conversation ended there. Instead they decided to start unpacking Suigetsu's things, both not wanting to talk about Kiba any longer.

TBC…

This is the second to last chapter and so I want your guys opinion…is there anything that you really want to see happen in the final chapter? The main thing – should Suigetsu take Kiba back? Are there specific things you want me to wrap up during the chapter?