I was shaken awake the next morning by Miko. She frowned down at me. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but you're going to miss Hoshigaki-san's trial if you don't get a move on."

I bolted upright and quickly put my boots on. "What? Why didn't he wake me?"

"He wanted you get your rest. And I suspect that he doesn't want you to be present for the trial."

"Why wouldn't he want me there?" I asked.

She looked away. "I don't think he expects to be pardoned."

I gasped. "You don't mean…they'll execute him?"

"It's not unreasonable, his crimes are extensive."

"I'm going!" I said as I flew out the door.

"Wait a minute!" She called out to me.

"There isn't time to waste!" I snapped as I ran down the stairs. "They're not going to sentence him without me present!"

"At least wear a coat, you idiot!" She threw one at me just before I closed the door.

A coat was probably a good idea since it was winter now. I hurriedly put it on and asked a passer-by where the trial was taking place. I was directed to the Hokage's office, it wasn't hard to miss with its big insignia on the building. I raced there, collecting snow in my boots which threatened to weigh me down. I knew I was pushing myself too far, my legs threatened to give out. But I couldn't give up now; I was nearly there. I threw the door open, rushed past the bewildered guards and used my Chakra Sensing ability to lock on Kisame's chakra. I went up two flights of stairs and collapsed at the top of them. I took several deep breaths as I struggled to get on my hands and knees.

"Why am I not surprised to see you here?" Itachi said dryly as he helped me up. "I suppose it doesn't matter to you that Kisame didn't want you to be here?"

I glared at him. "What do you think? I'm not going to miss his trial so don't try to stop me."

"I won't," he quickly assured me as he pulled off his long travel robe. "But you should at least look more presentable. No one will take you serious if you barge in looking like that."

"What's wrong with the way I look?" I asked. Then I realized I was still wearing pajamas. "Point taken."

I let him help me into the robe. He removed his hair tie and gently gathered my scattered locks and secured them. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I can't just abandon him to his fate," I said.

"This may be beyond your help though," Itachi warned. "Don't be reckless and fight the Kages decision. They have been kind to forgive your crimes; don't give them reason to rethink that."

I nodded curtly and stepped through the double doors. There was a small crowd of people sitting along the sides. All five Kages were seated on a pavilion, looking down at the lone shackled figure that stood before them. All looked at me and stared for a moment, except for Kisame. But I have no doubt that he knew it was me.

"You shouldn't be here," He whispered as I came to his side.

Gaara-sama stood up. "Ritsuko-san, I am pleased to see that you're feeling better; but we are in the middle of a trial. You must excuse us."

I bowed deeply. "Please forgive my intrusion Kazekage, but I must speak in Kisame's defense."

The Kages looked interested and Gaara-sama sat back down. "You have something to add?"

I nodded.

"You have two minutes," Lady Tsunade said firmly.

I bowed gratefully. "Thank you. I admit that Kisame is probably guilty of most of the charges he's accused of. But he's changed."

"How?" The Raikage's brow furrowed.

"He was the one who attacked Madara. Kisame's loyalty to the organization was based on the cursed rings each member is obligated to wear. He never followed their ideals faithfully and when he was given the chance to rebel, he took it. That proves that he is no longer the evil Monster of the Mist. I know him better than anyone else, his heart has changed. If he were given his freedom, he would be a valuable asset and ally. Please just give him a chance to prove himself."

"That hardly justifies his grievous crimes," the Tsuchikage grumbled. "You will not make light of his crimes in this court. Whether he was forced to commit them or not is relevant. The end result is the same."

I lowered my head and collected my thoughts. "You are absolutely right. And in following your logic, I should not have been pardoned. I was Kisame's partner in Akatsuki and most of his crimes are mine as well. I should be held just as responsible as he is."

"Shut up right now!" Kisame snapped, turning to face me. "There is no reason to refuse their kindness in pardoning you!"

Lady Tsunade's brow furrowed. "What are you getting at Ritsuko-san?"

"I don't want to be separated from him," I said as I took his hand and squeezed it. "So wherever you send him, you'll have to send me too."

This clearly shocked them all. The female Mizukage stood up. "You'd be welcomed as a hero back in Kirigakure. He is a traitorous missing-nin whose crimes start from before his membership in Akatsuki. Why would you want to share his fate?"

"Because she's lost her mind," Kisame grumbled his breath.

I elbowed him. "Because I love him."

"That is so romantic!" Someone wailed from the crowd. It was the nine-tailed jinchuriki from Konoha. He was wiping tears from his eyes just as Sakura smacked him upside the head. "What? Its like something out of those romance books you read all the time."

She turned bright red and kicked him out of his seat.

"It's alright Suko," Kisame said softly. "This has been a long time coming and its time that I paid for my crimes. There is nothing you can do here, so go home."

"I've abandoned you twice," I said back. "I don't want to do it a third time."

"You're in no position to follow him. Prison is no place for a pregnant lady," the grumpy Tsuchikage said gruffly.

"He's right you know," Lady Tsunade said. "And given the trauma the fetus has already experienced, your pregnancy will be closely monitored. You would be wise to stay here."

"Listen to them." Kisame said, letting go of my hand and stepping away. "I won't have you pay the price for my mistakes."

I reached out for him when I felt gentle pressure on my arm. I turned to see Kakashi-san offering his arm. "Perhaps you'd be more comfortable sitting down."

I looked back at Kisame, he refused to look back. I still felt drained from my run this morning so I gratefully accepted his arm. He led me to a seat right next to Temari-san. I wasn't surprised to see that Kankuro wasn't with her. She wrapped an arm around my shoulders reassuringly.

"Please forgive her outburst," Kisame bowed respectfully. "She is not herself."

What nerve! I stood up to shout at him, but Temari pulled me back down. "He's only covering for you. Have you any idea what kind of trouble you could get into by opposing them? Their word is law."

"Nevertheless," Lady Tsunade said firmly. "I believe she meant every word." She looked at her fellow Kages. "I think we should consider that whatever punishment we give him will have repercussions."

"We will not go easy on him!" The fifth Mizukage snapped. "His crimes against Kirigakure are even to condemn him!"

"And he was one of the most loyal members of Akatsuki," The Tsuchikage said grimly. "We can hardly let him go free."

The fourth Raikage glared suspiciously at me. "We can't be too sure that her testimony is a valid one. Itachi-san did say something about the brain-washing techniques of Akatsuki. It could just be a ploy to sway our emotions in an attempt to make his sentence a more lenient one."

Gaara-sama considered him thoughtfully. I could see him looking from me to him and back again. "She is no longer under the curse of Akatsuki. I know Ritsuko-san well. She is not lying." He fixed his gaze on Kisame. "If you were given the choice, what would you do with your freedom?"

Kisame was startled. "What do you mean Kazekage-sama?"

"Yes, I'd like to know the same thing!" The female Mizukage growled. "Just what are you suggesting?"

Gaara-sama waved her down. "It's just a simple question, not an out-right pardon."

Kisame looked at me at first. Gaara-sama narrowed his eyes. "Look me in the eye and answer."

Kisame looked him squarely in the eye. "I would settle down with my family."

"Would you say that your love from Ritsuko-san is genuine?" Gaara asked intently as he rested his chin on his interlaced fingers. I recognized this position, he was trying to detect if Kisame was lying. He didn't have the same ability to detect lying through chakra as I did, but he did know quite a bit about the darkness in people's hearts. He knew when people were lying to him.

"Of course." Kisame said firmly.

"How is any of this relevant?" The Mizukage objected.

"People often change for the ones they love," Gaara-sama explained simply. "We must not forget that he fought Madara as well."

"Backstabbing is often a repeat offense. It was stupid for Madara to rely on him," the Tsuchikage huffed.

"Either that or his loyalty has changed." Gaara-sama said as he locked eyes with me. "I agree with Ritsuko-san that he has changed. Since the last time I have seen him, he carries none of the anger and blood thirst that plagued his heart before. Even as he stands here, he has not made excuses or begged for mercy. He freely admits his guilt and his willingness to pay the consequences. That is the behavior of one who is repentant, not one who is still a monster."

The Mizukage looked ready to explode and he turned to face her. "His life was returned by the gods as a sign of forgiveness, would you take it away so lightly? And what good would it do you to have him rotting in jail?"

"Then how would you suggest that Kirigakure get their vengeance?" She asked through her teeth.

"Vengeance should have no place here," Gaara-sama said firmly. "Have you forgotten that we just got out of war that centered on someone else's vengeance? We are not ruling for vengeance, but for justice. He is guilty of every offense; there is no doubt of that. He should pay for his crimes, but perhaps in a more practical way."

The Tsuchikage looked thoughtfully at Gaara-sama. "I think I can see where you're going with this…but some many things could go wrong. What safeguards would be set in place?"

"Only the very best," Gaara-sama said simply. "What I propose is that Hoshigaki-san be welcomed home and provide community service for however long the honorable Mizukage sees fit. Give him a chance to prove where his true loyalty lies. If he steps out of line, kill him on the spot without further trial. Are these terms acceptable to Kirigakure?"

She didn't look entirely convinced. "What safeguards would be in place?"

"I feel that Ritsuko-san would be perfectly capable of keeping him in line," Gaara-sama assured her. "She is, after all, the kunoichi who defeated Madara. And if her skills aren't convincing enough, why not employ Itachi-san to the task as well? He is more than capable as well. Does anyone object to this movement?"

The other Kages moved to pass the movement, but the Mizukage still looked uncertain for a moment longer. At long last she sighed and smiled. "Perhaps you are right Kazekage. After all we have been through; it would be foolish to still harbor angry feelings. But in addition to your suggestions, I would like to employ Kirigakure's ANBU as well. One cannot be too careful."

Gaara-sama nodded. She stood up and addressed Kisame directly. "Hoshigaki-san you will be sentenced to twenty years of community service. You will work directly under my supervision. And if you prove yourself truly changed, you will be counted as a shinobi of Kirigakure once again." Her eyes took on a steely gaze. Clearly she was not someone to be trifled with. "But if you resort to your traitorous ways even after your probation, I will not hesitate to strike you down. Is that understood?"

Kisame bowed deeply. "Yes Mizukage-sama. I will not disappoint you."

"I hope not, for your sake."

"I would like to make a tiny exception." Lady Tsunade interjected. "That he remains in Konoha until Ritsuko-san is ready to travel with him. Any objections?" All were silent and she beat a gavel on the table. "Case dismissed. Remove his cuffs and place him in the custody of Ritsuko-san and Itachi-san."

The crowd stood up to leave and Temari-san stopped me for a moment. "I have to leave now, but you will keep in touch, won't you?"

I nodded, and then lowered my eyes feeling a little more sober. "Take care of Kankuro for me. He is still a good friend of mine."

"Never mind that blockhead," she groaned. "He'll be just fine. Now go and see that shark of yours." She said as she playfully pushed me towards him.

He was talking to Itachi but once he saw me, he raced towards me, gathered me in his arms and spun me around. "I can't believe it! Now we can be together for good!"

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. "Now after so many years, we can finally celebrate our first wedding anniversary."

He threw his head back and laughed. "And many more to come!"

I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Gaara-sama was leaving. I couldn't let him go without saying good-bye. I gently pushed back. "Let me go, I'll be right back."

I hurried out the door and called after him. He turned to look over his shoulder and I fell to my knees in a deep bow. "You have my eternal gratitude Gaara-sama! You saved his life!"

"No Ritsuko-san," he said simply. "You saved his life. You do realize that he will still suffer prejudice from others, don't you? He may very well spend the rest of his life proving his worth. He will need you more than ever, are you sure you're up for the challenge?"

I stood up and looked him squarely in the eye. "I am."

He wore a small smile and cocked his head to the side. "You have been a loyal guard and your services will be greatly missed. And I must confess that it is a shame that you won't be my sister."

I blushed in spite of myself. I should have figured that Kankuro had told him.

"But I can let you go knowing that for the first time since we met," he said as he placed a hand on my shoulder. "That the heavy shadows over your heart have cleared because you are truly happy. It would appear that you two complete each other. If you ever get the chance to visit Sunagakure, please do so. You will always be welcome."

I nodded. "Thank you for all you've done for me over the years Kazekage-sama."

He smiled appreciatively, then turned away and walked away without looking back.