So, grand finale is named after the song by Dierks Bentley, and it's an awesome tune! :3

Chapter Thirteen

Woman, Amen

Light streaked across the pewter sky by the time she made it down the foothill with Son Gokū at a steady pace. But in an hour, the sun would bring light to a very grim day.

Minato and Kakashi should be at the outskirts of town by now, Itachi mounted atop Shukaku with his hands still cuffed behind his back. She could picture them going to Rasa Sabaku's place, waking him up in order to turn over the prisoner and tell him about Danzo Shimura - and that would make Temari and Gaara witness to everything they'd see and hear.

She could also picture the four men and of course the assistant commissioner's children going right to the jail, the cuffs being removed from Itachi's wrist - and she could almost HEAR the sound of the cell bars slamming and locking as a final nail to the coffin. If she even managed to get to sleep, then she would hear that sound in her dreams and waking hours.

But that doesn't mean I am giving up. Quitting in our family is unthinkable. I'm gonna do what Kakashi advised and fight for the man I love - and that also includes the two people who might be able to help him.

The foothills were right behind her now as she rode Son Gokū. It was hard to believe that this big guy was all hers now, being the most splendid gift she'd ever received...but it just had to be under the worst of circumstances. Therefore, it was far from joy that she was feeling, and because time was her worst enemy, her pulse pounded with everything it had. It increased when she arrived at her grandmother's farmhouse, where the woman herself was in a green dress and an old sweater, the braids her hair was in being frizzy, and her face was haggard in the rising light. She rushed down the porch steps as her granddaughter approached.

"Oh, thank the gods you're safe!" Tsunade exclaimed, helping her down from the horse and taking her into an embrace. "I've prayed for hours, but where are the others?"

Hanaru couldn't bring herself to answer right away. She took to looping the reins around the rail. "Dad and Kakashi took Tashi, because he let them. I gotta call Mom and someone else, but I promise I'll tell you everything as soon as I..." She took a few breaths, which was the answer for her grandmother: catch my breath; that comes first.

Tsunade nodded, lips pursed. "You should let me deal with your mother and I'll leave you with whoever this other person is. Assuming it has to do with...Tashi. I know that's not his real name." She shook her head. "I made the coffee in the pot if you want any." Hanaru really did feel like it, and the walk helped stretch her exhausted limbs. That also meant she ended up feeling something far better than what transpired earlier: the sweet soreness between her legs from Itachi's loving.

No regrets, she swore, no matter what the days ahead may bring.

In the kitchen, her grandma had gone ahead, and the voice hinted talking to Kushina on the other line. Hanaru leaned on the counter and poured a cup of coffee before finding her mobile phone laying there, too. Her dad must have brought it with him. Time to do what she planned, but first, she mixed the black liquid with cream and sugar, and once she was alert and aware, she heard the morning birds with their first cries outside. Ironically, the dawn clouds were also gray.

Hanaru wasted no time picking up her phone and dialing for the operator, and the words slipped off her tongue, while her belly tightened with some anxiety. "Operator, I don't have the number, but I need to speak to...Mrs. Mikoto Uchiha, in Tokyo. It's an emergency."

It felt like forever until she finally heard the voice after the numerous clicking and static between operators - a throaty and low female voice, as if from crying or something. "Hello?"

"Um, hi," Hanaru said awkwardly, twirling one strand of hair around her finger. "I would like to speak to Mrs. Uchiha, please."

"This is she. Who's calling?" There was the clearing of a throat for composure. Hanaru did the same.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm Hanaru Uzumaki. I'm a friend of your son, Itachi. He's here in Konoha, and he's been...arrested."

There was a brief pause before a short cry of startle. "Itachi?! What happened - and you said he was in Konoha? You can't let them take him away until I get there!" the woman shouted frantically.

Hanaru wasted no time telling her that she could take a bullet train, and to have the station manager call the Uzumaki Ranch so that someone could pick her up, and they could talk then. "I'll be on the next train then," Mikoto Uchiha declared heatedly, "and I'm bringing my son AND my lawyer!" But before Hanaru could reply and ask why, the line had suddenly gone dead. She had to assume that the woman was bringing along her lawyer because it was a family one that she could really trust, based on the story Itachi had told her, but why did she have to bring her other son - Sasuke?

She set the mobile down on the counter, and looked up to see Tsunade standing there with her hands on her hips. "Well, looks like you have a lot to talk about, girl - but not without some breakfast in your stomach."

And over the rice and eggs, Hanaru did spill everything out to her, even telling her that Itachi's mother, brother and the family's lawyer were on the way here.

And when she was home by midmorning, she let the stallion loose in the paddock to graze at the grass while she calmed her paranoid mother. Afterwards, she bathed and had a change of clothes, while waiting for Kakashi and Minato to come home from town. When they did come back, Shukaku was led back with them on a rope. Iruka as well as a devastated Naruto were with her when they returned, waiting on the porch. She did the honors of going out there to them, accepting to take care of the horses for them. It was then that she noticed her father's eyes being weary with bloodshot.

"Is your mom all right?" Minato asked her. She nodded.

"I told her everything." Well, not exactly everything. As a result, she was still dwelling on her mother's words regarding her latest misadventure.

"You're a grown woman now, Hanaru. Your actions are your responsibility, and they can have consequences good and bad alike." It had sounded as if she'd understood what had happened, but it was more concern for Itachi than herself, and Kakashi ended up being the one to tell her that Itachi was locked up by Assistant Commissioner Sabaku, without trouble but with specific instructions from Itachi himself: she wasn't to come and visit him, therefore be seen entering and leaving the jail cell area.

"He really strikes me as being proud and decent," Kakashi said. "Your grandmother seems to also think the world of him. He didn't say a lot on the way to town to your dad and me, but we have every reason to believe what you said about him - right, Minato?"

"Oh, yeah." Minato answered this with a tired smile and nod. But Hanaru planned to tell them everything after a hell of a rest up for them both after the long night. And she reported the call to his mother who was on the way from Tokyo with her lawyer and other son in tow. "Good idea," Minato said.

"She also said to keep him here until she arrives, but would it be a problem, Dad?" she asked.

"No, it shouldn't be. Just paperwork required for extradition and the inquest into Shimura's death, which means he will likely be here for a week." His face became stern then, reminding her she broke the law with aiding and abetting. "But Rasa's willing to keep you out of it if he can, and Kakashi and I will testify that Shimura fell off the slope to his death with his pants undone, and with that, Rasa will definitely go along with the fact the troublemaker died while relieving himself off the cliff." Almost comical, wouldn't you say? But true or false, it was plausible. "He also says that he knows you were there, but understands a girl in love is entitled to a few mistakes."

Rasa Sabaku really was a wise man for his years, being maybe the youngest leading law enforcer in the town's history, not counting the old feudal days. Hanaru could hardly believe it, watching Minato and his friend leave her, and when they were gone, her knees buckled; she found herself holding onto Shukaku.

Her father had never been known to bend the rules the way he did. And her mother had not only forgiven her but set her free. To have all this love is more than I deserve. They could have lectured me or took my phone away, sent me to bed without entertainment, but they understand me. And Dad said it himself that a young girl in love is allowed to make some mistakes.

Add in the days that came and went, her period began, which dashed her hopes of having Itachi Uchiha's child - maybe a little prince who looked like his father, or maybe had all of his daddy's features as well as his mother's eyes. She had known all along it wouldn't be likely, so she would live with it now. And as a result, the sadness and yearning for Itachi and his loving touches continued to haunt her day and night.

The inquest into Danzo Shimura's death was without a hitch. Just as her dad guessed, it was ruled as an accident, and the corpse was released without a family to mourn and then cremated, the ashes scattered. And by this time, the former chief inspector's cronies were long gone from Konoha.

After the inquest, Minato picked up the repaired jeep and drove it home, and intended to go on horse to the bureau for the rights to the bog, leaving Kakashi. Hanaru waited all morning on the porch after helping her mother, and she helped her somewhat uncle unsaddle the gelding, asking if he'd seen Itachi at all.

"Yeah, we stopped by to see if he needed anything, but sadly, he wasn't at the inquest," Kakashi answered. He lifted off Shukaku's saddle to hang it over the stall. "Said he was doing just fine." She had to just disagree with him on that; Itachi would only say that if he was serious or if he were just miserable. Kakashi said it himself: the man was too proud to accept any kind of help, and she knew that good and well. She scoffed and ran the towel along the gelding's back surface.

"Did you mention his mother was coming?"

Kakashi hummed and nodded. "Yeah, and his reaction surprised us altogether. He didn't want her or his brother involved in this - demanded that we stop her from coming if we could, but based on what you told us, Mikoto Uchiha sounds like more of an unstoppable woman than anyone would have thought. Makes me wonder why Itachi would want to stop her from coming with her lawyer." Took the words out of my mouth. "Might be his pride, or perhaps..." His brows creased. "...it could be that she knows something that he hasn't said. Some secret he would like to be kept hidden. Even if his story is true, and with no other eyewitnesses, she has to be the only one - and his younger brother. But all we know is that Sasuke Uchiha came in AFTER his father was shot dead."

That left one other option: she could go to the jail to talk to him herself. No matter that it would break her heart, but she could deal with it. And Kakashi also said that broken hearts healed with effort. No matter Itachi not wishing her to be here, because his pride wasn't protecting himself and her.

If he was sent back to Tokyo, he would still be either shocked in the chair or injected with an overdose. If it were possible, the trial could get moved to somewhere else, which had to explain his mother's attorney. She had to not get her hopes up just to be safe; even if he weren't executed, he could get the life sentence. "It's clear he loves you, but he just doesn't want to see you hurt," Kakashi told her with his warm hands placed on her shoulders.

But Hanaru couldn't accept this or face the truth, because love did NOT work that way. She wouldn't let Itachi be left as a lamb for the slaughter, not while there was a fight left to the end. And just like her mother always said, there was still more until there was nothing left.

Kakashi laughed when she persisted, saying they were both going over there, and he once again said she was so much like her mother in this regard. Though he also warned her that she could be sorry about this, and she knew what that meant: Itachi saying cruel things to try to keep her at bay, but she'd seen through that and understood. And whatever he would say this time, she'd know again, but that did not mean he would get away with it again.

His mother needed to be picked up, as she would arrive as early as tomorrow afternoon, so that meant her dad's newly repaired jeep was in order - only if Kakashi was trusted instead of her, based on last time.

And the next day, she was too anxious to even eat her lunch, so the sooner she and Kakashi were gone, the better. Iruka even wanted to see a friend of theirs in town whom he hadn't seen in a while - he was also told about Hanaru and Itachi's relationship, even swearing that he'd never betray confidence - and that man happened to be Might Gai, who was Kakashi's "eternal rival" in their high school football days.

Hanaru's stomach continued to twist in the ugliest knot ever; she started to think this was a mistake after all, since Itachi made it clear he didn't want to see her and that his mother never should have been contacted. There was a chance he could turn his back to her and ignore her off the bat even if she would keep talking. But I'm not going to refuse. He's the most stubborn man I have met, but then again, I know how to be stubborn, too.

I will get to him even if I stand outside those bars all day.

The assistant commissioner's office was in front of the jailhouse, and there was Rasa Sabaku himself behind his desk; there was also Temari in hers, and after going through to her, she led them both into her father's area. The redheaded man smiled kindly at her and Kakashi. He rose up then to greet them.

"Your friend is back there in his cell." He was referring to the holding cells, which were temporary until the final setting. "But he won't be there for long. I received word that someone from the Metropolitan Police Department, with the extradition papers, is going to arrive at three-thirty in time to collect the prisoner and take him away at four." And just when things couldn't get any worse, could they? The blood all but drained from Hanaru's face. She threatened to not fall into Kakashi's arms. She needed to see Itachi and now, if this was true.

That also meant Kakashi had to distract the man so she could slip away. Rasa could have pretended to let her escape into the holding cell area, since he couldn't be blamed for that much, but he was just wary of the idea - until Kakashi smartly blocked the way to the hallway which led down to the holding cell area and got to talking casually about their football team pitting against the aggressive Kiri in the coming weeks.

Hanaru took the cue to duck behind her somewhat uncle and into the hallway. Under the cover of the shadows, she could hear that noise besides her best friend's distant whisper of good luck behind her - that noise in the background which was of a train.

~o~

He slumped on the metal bunk. Itachi heard the distant sound of that train, knowing it wouldn't be long. Assistant Commissioner Rasa Sabaku showed him nothing but kindness, as did his daughter - Hanaru's best friend - and briefly his son who was one of Naruto's best friends. In another life, this town where everyone still smiles at each other and know each other would have fit me like a glove.

The assistant commissioner had informed him that the Metropolitan Police would arrive with the extradition papers, then bring him back to Tokyo for trial. All he could do was hope that he'd be gone before his mother and brother arrived. Whatever it took, he would ensure they were kept out of this mess; the last thing he needed was Mikoto opening her pretty mouth and undoing everything he sacrificed for.

Itachi had been an active man all his life, so confinement really was hell, as proof when he stood to stretch his limbs. In the time after his arrest, he had plenty of time for his thoughts, and all of them involved nothing but Hanaru, none other. If only he could sell his soul for more time with her, but his soul was the only valued thing he had left. She was nothing but a torment day and night now. Except that didn't stop him from having the fantasy of the impossible: Hanaru as his wife, wearing his ring, sharing his home and bed, being the mother of his children...

...and speak of the devil, which made him hold back a groan. Not only that, but she stood there beyond the bars and a foot away from them. When he specifically asked the assistant commissioner to keep her away.

"Itachi."

Part of him wanted to say he was happy to see her, which was true, but he didn't. "You shouldn't be here," he said. Seeing her was adding to his torture. Didn't she understand now why she couldn't be here? Apparently not.

"Yes, but I HAD to be here. I don't care that we said goodbye before, and don't go telling me that I'll now remember you as a criminal like this, because we both know you're not." She took a shuddering breath. "You killed a man, defending someone you love. Any fair judge and jury could see that, like me and my family. If your mom's lawyer can get the trial moved elsewhere, then her story -" He harshly cut her off, not wanting to hear it anymore. He knew all along it was her doing that his mother was on the way here.

"Leave her out of this, Hanaru. She can't do anything but make things worse. Because of you, she's wasting a trip. Just go back home and to your horses, and forget about what you've seen." If he could just talk to her this way again, then she could burst into tears again and run away - but she didn't.

Now she was reaching through the bars, having taken a single step forward, and those hands outstretched in desperation for him - those dainty, calloused hands stained with hard work which he fell in love with the first time he met her. It made him feel like he was getting weaker, but he refrained himself and stayed planted.

"Hanaru, please go. I love you and always will to the end of my days. But don't make me do something I will regret from now on."

He finally willed himself forward and took both hands into hers, and her touch warmed him to his core. They remained like this until they both heard growing voices and footsteps on the wooden floors down the hallway. And they turned around together when the footsteps stopped and the shadows loomed in the doorway. Not only were there Kakashi Hatake and Rasa Sabaku, but no doubt the Superintendent of Tokyo.

She was a beautiful woman in her early thirties, having long auburn hair which went past her hips and was tied behind her neck. Her eyes were soft green and kind even if she were here on serious business. Her blazer and pencil skirt were both royal blue, somewhat lightening the place up, and around her neck was a waterfall of golden strands. "Mr. Uchiha, it's time to go so we can make that train." Her voice was very sweet and seductive, and who knew how many men could easily fall off their feet from that.

Itachi had no choice but to release his beloved's hands. She stood back and moved to be next to Kakashi. He let himself be handcuffed right after Sabaku opened the cell door to let him out. And he made one last eye contact with Hanaru, seeing her fight to not cry, turning to bury her face into Kakashi's shirt, and his arms wrapped around her as comfort. He was somber, too.

All of them were out of the area in a small, uneven procession - himself in the lead with the woman, Mei Terumi, on one side and holding him by the elbow, with Sabaku behind but on the opposite, leaving Hanaru and Kakashi in the rear - when they were all halted by the person who stood there at the end of the hallway, and Itachi thought he was going to have a heart attack.

Yet another striking woman, but one he knew far too well and had fought so hard to prevent from coming. Her hair, black as his own, was spilling in some ringlets from the bun she pinned behind her head. Her sharp and flattering suit was white with thin black, vertical lines, complete with an expensive-looking bauble of silver pearls, diamonds and chained fringes. Her onyx eyes were tired with a little bloodshot. And right next to her, the man with bright red hair and calm eyes held a briefcase in hand.

Mikoto Uchiha - my mother - had arrived, but his brother had not showed up right now. That was a little less trouble, but no less than the trouble that was coming now that she was here. And her first words were for the superintendent. "Where do you think you are taking my son? Back to Tokyo?"

"That's the idea," Terumi answered, unintimidated and smiling when the other wasn't. "Now, will you please step aside so we can catch the train, Mrs. Uchiha?"

"That won't happen now that I am here. My son is innocent, and I can prove it." Itachi had to open his mouth as one last ditch effort.

"For God's sake, Mom -"

But then she smiled at him. "No, it's all right, Itachi." She turned back to Superintendent Terumi then. "My lawyer has the proof and signed confession today. Itachi didn't kill Fugaku." Mikoto then nodded to the young redhead who agreed with a single nod and no words. She squared her shoulders and faced them all again.

"I did."

~o~

So, the whole story was coming out, and it took a while. Kakashi had suspected there was so much more - "some secret he would like to be kept hidden" - and his hunches usually were on the mark. Now was no exception.

They were both allowed to stay and listen to the tale, Itachi now freed of his handcuffs, and Rasa ordered coffee for the four of them as well as Temari who was excused from her desk for the duration, and Mikoto and her attorney who was simply named Juugo, and of course Superintendent Mei Terumi.

At this time, the four o'clock train departed with two vacant seats. But it had been worth it.

All said and done ended up being this: Fugaku Uchiha, on the night in question, had been really drunk as Itachi told her, and had been bounding murderously on the bedroom door, threatening to kill his own wife. Neither of them knowing their own sons were home yet, Mikoto had no choice but to frantically act on her own, and so she managed to grasp her husband's loaded revolver from his nightstand and shoot him dead. Afterwards, hearing the shot, Itachi ordered his younger brother to hide away while he investigated, and when he saw the body as well as took the weapon from his shaken mother - who had the black eye and bruised cheek - he knew that possible murder charges would leave Sasuke without his mother, and plus destroy his future which he'd worked so hard to get for himself as he was still a minor until next year. So Itachi decided to take the blame to protect them both.

Weeks afterwards, Mikoto recovered enough to finally go to her attorney whom she managed to get on her terms, telling him everything. Juugo was confident of a possible acquittal for self-defense, but advised her to wait until Itachi was found and recovered to act as a witness. And it had been on a loose end with his missing status - until Hanaru's call.

Her emotions were a myriad ranging from relief to dismay and a little bit of anger. Itachi had sort of lied to her, never really admitting he murdered his father; after all, she finished it for him, and he just let her draw that conclusion. You could have told me the truth, so why didn't you? I just thought I was doing the right thing, but you were willing to do anything to save your mom and brother - which is something I'd do myself. You were willing to trade your life for them.

But it was for those reasons she was in love with such a man.

When the story was finished, shadows were still in the room if getting smaller. Itachi was going back with his family to Tokyo, to do whatever was necessary to wipe the slate clean. They were going to leave for the early morning train in the company of the superintendent and Mikoto's attorney. There was a chance the case could be weeks or months if not a whole year. And the Uchiha family - these two and the third waiting for them, which was a true family just like her own - were not going to take it easy until everything was resolved.

Itachi promised her he would be back when it was done, and when he did, he would lay everything he had down and ask her father for her hand in marriage, even when Hanaru happily - with tears, too - said that her answer was already yes, and he didn't even need to ask.

~o~

The trial for the murder of Fugaku Uchiha also went without a hitch, and Mikoto was acquitted. Exhausted, she left Tokyo and went to Kyoto, taking Sasuke along with her for the extension until he started college. But they did manage to head to Konoha for a big day they would not miss out on for the world - something Itachi had longed to happen and came so close to losing.

The following spring when the cherry blossoms were in bloom was when he and Hanaru finally married. The trees were green and fresh with those flowers, while the rest of the gardens were in renewed prime with splashes of springtime hues.

Iruka and Kakashi also came, with their three-month-old adopted son Sakumo - named after Kakashi's father who died a long time ago - in tow. So did Hinata Hyuuga and her father and sister, the beauty in silvery blue beaded with flowers. Itachi thought she was a perfect match for his bride's brother.

He was more than glad to accept the gift from his mother and brother, watching as Sasuke conversed and seemed to get along with Naruto, but he was certain there was going to be competition in the future because of their clashing personalities. He just hoped it wasn't going to end with bitterness. Anyway, Mom's gift: none other than Son Gokū's pedigree.

He and Hanaru were going to live not too far away from this ranch, on a section of land granted as a wedding gift by Minato. The house had been under construction since the harvest began and would be finished by the time they returned from their honeymoon in Hokkaido, complete with their shared dream of raising fine horses and Itachi picking up with his own consulting business.

Everyone was really busy. He saw the spot through the window of a guest room as he readied himself in his suit, with Sasuke as his best man and Naruto present. Down below was an arch shaped like a Shinto entrance, constructed of real tree branches, set with ivy, pink orchids, and red and creamy white roses. And the farm hands were setting up the chairs for the guests who were coming to witness. Plus, the window was partially opened so that the mouthwatering smell of the barbecue being prepped were caught in the senses.

"Come on, brother. It's just about time," Sasuke told him, and they were walking out of the room to head for the stairs, Naruto excitedly going down the hallway to tell his sister it was also time.

Standing under the arch and with Kakashi - who had himself anointed just to marry him and Hanaru - he found himself looking in the small wooden box at the two rings within: both being gold, small and delicate with engraving like leaves, but hers was placed with a charming, tranquil blue pearl - for someone who appreciates everything in their life.

On his side was not only his brother, but eventually Naruto who was going to be his brother-in-law. In the crowd were the Hyuuga family but Hinata having gone to join her boyfriend's sister for the bride's party, Rasa Sabaku and his two sons - one of them having gotten back from overseas - as well as Iruka with the infant boy who was fast asleep in his arms.

Now the attention was on the bride approaching with Hinata and Temari ahead of her first, her father holding her hand to her left, and her mother and grandmother having taken their seats in the front row with Mikoto, Sakura Haruno also making the time to come here. But Itachi's eyes were on his woman and her only, Kakashi chuckling as he couldn't get enough, either. And it was like Naruto to sniffle and fight not to cry himself while Sasuke gave a single grunt of appreciation.

That dress was her grandmother's, passed onto her mother - and now her. That sweet veil is long and framing her gracefully, her hair held up by a comb placed with a preserved white rose and smaller pink buds as well as clusters of blueberries...

...she's perfect.

A tender smile was on her face, mirroring his own, as she stood right in front of him and the girls behind her, both of them waiting for Kakashi to say the words that would make them man and wife with the cherry blossoms swaying in the breeze.

Now that the story is all done, REVIEW! LOTS OF DETAIL! :3 And look for the upcoming final chapter of "An Offer She Can't Refuse" if any of you are reading that; both completed stories are my pre-Christmas gifts to all of you! :D