Author's Note: I promised the final updates on Christmas day, and though it is late here, it is still Christmas. I hope all of you had a happy holidays, no matter what you celebrate.

Please note, Chapter 37 is going to be a vital Author's Note. It will detail many questions I have received throughout the adventure that has been TIASV and OSM. You don't have to read it, but it will clarify everything that you have wondered over, should I never have the time to make a series of one-shots.

Also, I would love to hear from all of you on how things have finally broiled down. Did the story work for you? Did you enjoy reading it? Was it everything you hoped for in the end, or would you have preferred a different route? I love feedback, and knowing that all of you liked or even disliked this and TIASV would make my Christmas.

XXXV: And the Woman He Loves

Long ago, a shadow lurked through the darkest parts of this life. She was a feared being, one not meant to be seen, and had been crafted as such by a man controlled. Only two in this world remained that she loved, a fox and a kunoichi of great power that basked in the light of day. They were her only allies; they were the only two who were allowed to know of the shadow.

The shadow hated her life, hated living in the darkness and killing on the whim of the man controlled, but she was good at it. With the fox by her side, she was legendary and dangerous. Each day, she carried out the orders she was given and remained in hiding, until the man controlled was killed. The kunoichi of great power resumed his role and with it, the shadow was at last allowed to slither from her hidden corners.

The kunoichi knew the shadow was in pain because of the person she had become, and she also knew the dreams of the shadow. It was this kunoichi that drew out the shadow and sent her away to finally live a new life, a fresh life, and one that would later change the shadow.

That is when the shadow found the light of day, and in turn she found the gleaming sun, the flowered field, and the pale moon. She was careful with them, cautious, but she felt connected to the moon and thus, she became quite close with him. The moon spoke to her and after an amount of time, she considered the moon her family and they shared in that bond, one filled with love and littered with few secrets. She allowed the moon to see her for what she was and that led to letting the gleaming sun and the flowered field into her life as well.

Yet still, the light of day burned the shadow with its brilliance. She took a vast time in coming into his world, into finding out just what made the day what he was. The fox, always by her side, urged her to bask in it while she could and at last, she did. There, she met a raccoon and from his gentle words to her, she embraced the love that had grown for the day and accepted it in some ways, but was also afraid. The light began to enter the shadow and a spark grew slowly over time until she knew she could be saved by him.

But the shadow, long from hiding in the darkness, did not see the snake as it slithered closer to the moon and soon, her light in the darkness began to fade. The moon had always hated the night, a being the shadow had met in passing and later owed her life to, and as such, that hatred darkened his brilliance and took him from the shadow.

The snake did not only want the moon; he wanted to possess the shadow even as the light bloomed within it. The kunoichi of great power did not see this either; she sent the shadow into the snake's hole to rescue the moon and together, with the fox, the shadow went blindly. That is when the snake attempted to devour her.

It was the moon's love for the shadow that kept her alive and saved her from the snake, but with that love came a great loss. The shadow killed the fox while trying to slay the snake and take her moon back, and for that the light within that had grown so brilliant over time diminished into nothing more than a flicker. She had lost one of her family members by her own hatred.

That is when the night, the being hated so entirely by the moon, rescued her. It may not seem that way, but he had done so to keep the woman safe. He had always loved the moon and had lurked in the darkness so it would shine and thrive, but he never really left the moon. They needed the other to coexist, and when the night learned of the love the shadow had for his moon, he kept her safe so she might one day light that moon again when the night was gone.

Always, the shadow found herself wanting to bask in the light of day again, to see him and love him as her heart wished, but things would not go her way. She also loved the night, though it paled in comparison to what she felt for the day. In a moment of weakness, a time of shame that lead to something great, the shadow and night became one for a very brief time. In a way, she thought it might be a way to forget the day, but never would he leave her mind. The shadow learned shortly after that a star was growing within her, the prodigy of the moment she shared with the night, and then everything changed.

Her love for the star growing within her outshined everything she had ever felt in this world. She would protect him, nourish him, and one day meet the being that would save her. The night soon realized, but never spoke of it, and with his silent aid, she escaped from the shadows that wished to bind her further, those that controlled the night and tried to contain him. He knew losing that star would destroy her, but the light that had begun to bloom from that spark within the shadow again after the loss of the fox was too great to shy away from. He helped her, and because of the night, the shadow fled.

And so, she ran with her growing star and found herself in the den of the family the fox had come from. The eyes of that family spoke to her, the only being to hear her voice in over a century, and told the shadow how she could keep her star away from danger, but at a price she may be unwilling to pay. In return, the eyes would one day give her redemption to the day, should that time ever arrive.

Pay it she did; the shadow lost all recollection of who she was before the star, of the gleaming sun, the flowered field, the fox, the kunoichi, the raccoon, the night, the moon, and the light of day. To save her star, she lost who she was and the shadow was ripped from the spark, sealed away to let that spark turn into the light. With that darkness, she not only lost her memories but the one power that might remind any of the shadow.

The light was given to a stone, very far away, and the stone was told by the eyes of the fox family of what had transpired, vague as it was. The stone allowed her to stay with his family in a mighty village and there, she birthed and raised her star until it shone just as bright as the light for many years. From this village, she found the ability to heal others with her power as the light and used it to better her new home. She never worried over the memories she could not recalled and basked in the star, nurturing him until he truly outshined all.

Then, she met a dragon that had been sealed for many, many years. She saved that dragon, never knowing that it was because of how similar the dragon was to the moon she forgot, and together they lived as a happy family. The light, the star, and the dragon needed one another and they loved so deeply, it ached.

But the light always felt wrong inside when she woke up to smile at the sun that streamed across her face, blinding her eyes with the day. Flowers did nothing to soothe the woman and the moon, the night, frightened her and enthralled her. Something was always wrong, but never did she place it, until war began.

With war, the light was placed into a position where she met many. She met a raccoon who cherished all, a flowered field who protected and healed, the sun who shined across everything he touched, the moon that had turned to darkness, and the day that filled her entire being with warmth. The dragon, the star, and the light fell into this war and meant to protect their loved ones.

Then, a shadow began to whisper to the star and the light. It started small, but soon, it grew and grew until the light began to lose part of herself to the shadow, but the shadow never harmed the light, never consumed her. The shadow protected the light and those they both loved, weaving darkness in her wake but making way for the light that followed.

The star met the night soon after the war began and the night nourished him in a way only he could. After their bonding, when the star shone bright against the night, the star found the moon. Together, they created the perfect night sky, but the shadow had kept many things from both the light and the shadow.

The light found herself growing so close to the day, she began to shy away from it. It took many words from the shadow and the fear of death to finally make the light realize how deeply she loved the day over their short time together. And the day loved her in return, but the day still loved his shadow.

As the war progressed, the sun, the moon, the field, the raccoon, the night, the star, the resurrected fox, the kunoichi, the light, and the day became heroes. With the fame came strange memories that the light could not place. The shadow had begun to speak to her more frequently, had even made appearances in this war to save her loved ones, but that brought great pain to many, but it also brought life to those that had once been dead. With the help of the star and the light, the shadow gave them what they needed to bring back those that were meant to live.

The dragon, who had always protected the star and the light, learned of what was going on from the shadow shortly before things changed. The light, who had ached for too long, finally accepted the darkness and allowed it to foster within her. That is when they became one and the light finally realized everything she had lost.

The light remembered. She remembered everything, everyone, and wept for the absence that had finally been filled in her heart. She could recall the brightness of the sun and how it had fostered light within her. She remembered the flowered field as it was nurtured and it bloomed for the shadow in return. She felt the love of the kunoichi that had always cherished the shadow and the companionship the fox had given her, all the way into death and back. She felt the cold chill of the night as it shielded her from the other shadows, protecting her, and the words the raccoon whispered to her that lead to accepting the day. She wept over the feelings that returned for the moon and how dark he had become, how the once-full light of that moon had waned into nothingness.

And she remembered the day. That warm touch of him against her skin, the way he welcomed her into his world and let her bask in his light, she remembered it all. She felt the love she had never quite forgotten for him and she wept even harder for what she had done.

But she had done it to protect her star and she had met the dragon on the journey, which had fostered the love in her heart that had always been there, but had been missing. Her love for the day had never really left her, as it had been proven when the light that was part of the shadow had fallen in love with the day as well.

It was then she realized that she had been the shadow all along, but had been taken away to become the light. She was both; the shadow and the light at last became one and she could finally see what had been before her the entire time. Her love was remembered, renewed, and she vowed she would never, in all the years she had left in this life, forget it again.

-( Our Sweetest Memory )-

As my story finally ended, I tore my eyes from the ground and wiped away the tears that had raged down my cheeks. Many had joined the small group that had grown quiet for my tale and I looked into each familiar face.

Terumi Mei, Mizukage, was weeping, though she hurried to wipe it away when I met her gaze. Haruno Sakura wept as well, though she did so openly and proud. Sabaku no Gaara, his ringed eyes glistening, stared in shock at me and Uchiha Itachi did not seem surprised at all. He had realized long ago, no doubt.

Sagase Kimimaro, a name that would one day change again, also did not seem surprised. In fact, a smile was on his usually solemn features and he appeared to be proud that things were drawing to a climax. Sagase Ichiro was confused, but slowly the dawning of my words were waging on him.

But it was Kakashi that I gazed upon and refused to move my teary vision from. I held my hand out to him, praying he would take it, and stifled the sob as he glanced down at it, as if he was unsure if he should progress further.

"Kakashi, let us end this ceaseless dance of riddles. It is time to open the jar… if you wish it so."

He did not hesitate again as he strode forward, grabbing my matted hair and forcing my lips to his over the fabric of his mask. I choked back the sob again and threaded my fingers into his vest, holding him close. It was not until he broke away, touching his forehead to mine, that he spoke with a smile in his black eyes.

"I have always loved you."

And then, he removed the lid of the odd jar and I was engulfed in a brilliant light that blinded any too near to us. My skin tingled and crawled against my bones, tugging deep into my heart and ripping away at the walls that had been built in the absence of the missing part of my soul. That organ expanded and I felt in my heart all the love I had been missing for much too long.

When the light dissipated, many gasped in shock and awe, but others laughed at what they saw, purely out of excitement and glee. Kakashi moved away from me so I could see this group again, but he never strayed far, as if I would vanish again.

"Do you see now? Youko, Ichiro, Kimimaro, Itachi, Mei, Sakura, Kakashi? Do you see that I have always been beside you?"

Kobayashi Sayomi had always been Sagase Maname. She had been the darkness that lurked in my heart and tore away from it to protect my child. She had lost everything to make sure Ichiro would be safe, and she had done it graciously, even if the loss had hurt her more than words ever could.

I was back, as I should be and nothing less.

"Sayomi!"

That was when all that I loved, save the two missing souls, came forward and embraced me. The only three that stayed behind were Ichiro, Kimimaro, and Itachi, and I certainly noticed. Through the tears and hugs, the endless amounts of love and questions, I pushed through the growing group to stand before my son, my star. I crouched before him, as I always did when I spoke to the boy heart-to-heart, and gnawed at my lip.

"Ichiro, do you accept me as I am now?"

His fingers touched the alabaster hair and then a cheek without a mask, the purple markings jutting down either side of my nose, and finally fell to my shoulders.

"I'll always accept you, Mother," he cried and for once, all of the bravado of my son was dropped as he embraced me in a hug filled with tears.

Now, only two were missing from this reunion.

-( Our Sweetest Memory )-

Hatake Kakashi
First Person's Point of View

Somewhere, deep within me, I had always known that Sayomi was really Maname, hiding away but never far. The doubts had bloomed when I learned that Ichiro had the Sharingan and finally, I was able to put everything together.

Kobayashi Sayomi had slept with Itachi at some point in a moment of weakness, as she said, and had fled all of us because of a life growing with in her that birthed Ichiro. As a mother, she had sacrificed everything to protect her baby and I could not find it in my heart to hate her for doing what she did, regardless of my endless searching for her. She was more beautiful than ever to me and all the love I had for her grew until it tried to burst from my chest.

If I had seen Sayomi's face beneath the mask before she left nearly a decade ago, I would have known that Sagase Maname was my lost lover. They were identical when the mask was gone, now that I could see her so clearly, except for a few small features. Now that she was whole again, her skin had paled and her markings had returned as her hair turned sterling instead of black.

Never, in this life or any to come, would I let that woman leave again.

I loved her, so deep and pure that it burned in my chest and spread my ribs to allow for it. I did not care that she had a child by another man; all that mattered was that the women I loved were with me, as one.

Yes, I loved Sagase Maname, but now it was apparent it was because she was my Sayomi. I had loved her no differently that the Jounin of Kirigakure, but I had loved them both as they were nonetheless. She was meant to be at my side, and I would stay at hers.

"Kakashi?" That sweet voice broke me from staring at the woman that would never be separated from me again. "Let's go get Sasuke and Naruto."

"Yes." I smiled, crinkling my eyes with the strain it put on my cheeks, and clasped her hand in mine. Ichiro held the other and, with Youko, Itachi, Sakura, and Kimimaro behind us, we left to find the missing two from our joyous reunion.

-( Our Sweetest Memory )-

Uchiha Sasuke
First Person's Point of View

Light touched my face from the sun, warming it until I let my battered eyes open. I was weak from blood loss, but Naruto was still here with me. Neither of us were able to move and there was a chance we would die soon, but we had made amends. I had lost to him and, should we live, I would not be the darkened Uchiha that had wanted his death or to bear the hatred of the world on my shoulders.

Gentle hands lifted up my head after a brief conversation with Naruto, setting it back into a crossed pair of legs. Blearily, I stared up at the one who had come and nearly believed I was hallucinating. This woman, one who had shown herself to me very rarely over the course of this war, was unmasked and beaming down at me.

"Sayomi? No… wait."

I could recall her face from many years ago now, a gift she had given in private to just the two of us. I had seen her unmasked long before she left us, and now I remembered the features so clearly it burned into my head. Had I lost my way so much that I could not even remember what she looked like when I met her anew? It was not just Sayomi's features that I realized, but also those of the one named Maname from the Kage Summit.

"You have many things to catch up on," she joked playfully and placed a hand on my heart. "I can't heal you like I could when I was solely Maname, as my past sins have tainted that light again, but know that I am here with you forever, my moon, my Sasuke."

"Sayomi-sensei?" Naruto coughed. "You're that… Mana-chick. Your mask…"

"I'll never wear it again," she promised and I believed her. "And I'll never leave your side either, Naruto, my sun."

The horizon in the background would signify the dawning of a new day. Nothing would be the same from this moment on and within my heart, I felt the love I had lost swelling. I had my brother, my Sayomi, and my best friend. I even had Ichiro, the boy that had grown on me over the course of this war. I had them all and I would never let them leave me in the years to come, be it death or whim. Because I loved them and I had them all back with me, a new Uchiha Sasuke.

"It's about time," I whispered up to her.

"It is, isn't it?"

I had missed her more than any semblance of words could justify.

Next in 'Our Sweetest Memory':

It was the end of a dark night and the beginning a brilliant new day. Time would pass and with it, the changes gave way for a whole new world. The future was with the children, but it had been the past that would allow them to flourish. The final chapter of Our Sweetest Memory is next...