A/N: Sorry for the wait. I've had so many ideas...but anyway...thanks for the reviews. I love you guys!

Legal Stuffiness: If I owned Naruto, I wouldn't be living in this crappy apartment!

On with the show, and don't forget to review!

Seven: Redemption

"What are you so nervous for, Sasuke-chan?" Sasuke sat in a chair near the window of his living room, watching the street. He had been fidgeting, which was very unlike him. Amaya adjusted the collar of her short kimono. The neckline was still low, but it wasn't so bad now that she was wearing her net shirt as well. Why had she kept wearing the thing? The kimono that she had been wearing when she left Orochimaru's lair was now about two and a half feet shorter, and her leg bandages peeked out from beneath the second under-kimono. She supposed that the reason she was still using it as her jounin uniform was that it was a reminder of her mistakes, and how weak she was.

Sasuke's hands stopped playing with the hem of his shirt. He had been strangely nervous all day, and it was driving her nuts. He looked over at her with an annoyed expression. "Amaya-onehsan, please, you're making it worse." She walked up to him and smacked him, just like always. "What--!" He stood up and pretended to start a hand seal, but instead poked her forehead.

"That's it, Sasuke-chan. Outside."

"Sorry, onehsan. Not today." What? Sasuke rarely turned down any attempt to train, or to fight with her, because he still had not beaten her. At least, not with taijutsu. His ninjutsu was far superior to Amaya's, even though he had only just attained the level of jounin the month before. Genjutsu was her specialty, so there was no way he would ever be able to surpass her in that.

A knock came at the door. "I'll get it, Sasuke-chan. You sit down, and relax." He was always so tense! She padded to the door, and opening it, saw the last person she expected to see. "Tsunade-sama!"

She nodded in greeting. "Amaya-san, I went to your house, and you were not at home. I must speak with you. As well, is Uchiha Sasuke here with you?" Tsunade's tone, as always, was a bit curt, but not unfriendly. Since Amaya had come to live in Konoha, the two of them had become reasonably good friends. She invited the slug-Sannin in, and she thanked her. As she led the Hokage into the living room, Sasuke stood, and bowed in his quietly dignified way. The image was a bit flawed, since he was so nervous.

"Hokage-sama," Amaya asked, "What is it you needed to speak with me about?"

"I only needed to tell you that Yakushi Kabuto was released from the Konoha Prison today, and after his processing, will be a free man." The blonde woman smiled at her. She could feel her face redden. The Godiame laughed, and turned to Sasuke, who was also laughing. "Now, Uchiha. You are in deep trouble." He suddenly stopped laughing, and gulped audibly.

It had been a difficult road for Sasuke these past two years. His friends, teammates, and former classmates all were pleased to have him back, but many of the others in the village had still been skeptical of him.

There were vague rumors of sightings of Orochimaru, but nothing concrete. However, there had been other developments, including some aweful business with Akatsuki that Sakura, Naruto and others had to deal with while Amaya, Sasuke, and Kabuto were in the midst of a three-person rebellion in the Sound village. Most of the really big trouble had been taken care of, though Itachi was still out there.

Sasuke's face, as he looked up at the Godiame Hokage, was full of a kind of terror that only Tsunade could inspire. "What did he do, Tsunade-sama?" The younger kunoichi blurted out before she could stop herself. Tsunade aimed her death-glare at Amaya for only an instant, but it caused her to readjust her leaf forehead protector, which was actually around her neck.

She swallowed, and the metal plate pressed against her throat. Why had she let Kurenai adjust it? It really was a little too tight. She laughed at Amaya when she was re-tying the knot, saying that it 'looked better' that way.

"You know that Sakura is back from her mission?" Tsunade's voice was steely. The question sounded like an accusation.

Sasuke's eyes fell.

"She's in the hospital, Sasuke. And you haven't even gone to see her. How is she supposed to heal if all she does is cry?" Tsunade took a couple of steps toward him, and smacked him on top of his head.

"Itai! Tsunade-sama…I'm not sure that she really does want to see me right now." Oh, is he starting that self-pity bullshit again? I thought I'd broken him of that habit.

"Oh, what the hell did you two fight about before she left, anyway?" Tsunade's hands were on her hips, and she was leaning toward Sasuke, who seemed as if he wanted to become part of the chair he sat in. But when she asked this question, Sasuke sat bolt upright in the chair, folded his arms over his chest, and frowned. He was not going to tell her, and no amount of punishment could make him do so. Or so the look on his face said…

The Hokage sighed. "Just go and see her, Sasuke. It doesn't matter if she wants you to or not. It will make her feel better, even if she yells at you." Just then, Amaya heard the front door slide open, and down the hall stalked Uzimaki Naruto. Holding his grimy jacket in his hand, he entered the living room and looked around, his eyes narrowed. When he found Sasuke, he stood for a moment in shock, then marched straight over to the dark haired young man and stared down on him with a look of utter disgust.

He raised his hands over his head and yelled, "Baka! Baka, baka, baka!" Sasuke looked up at him, confusion all over his face. "What the hell did you do to Sakura-chan? I just came back from my mission and heard that she was in the hospital. I went there to see her. Ino-chan and Hinata-chan were there to visit with her. But you know who wasn't? You, that's who! What are you doing, just sitting here on your ass?" Amaya moved toward Naruto, and put a hand on his shoulder. The muscles under his shirt were tense. He turned to look at her. He was really angry.

"Naruto-kun, please, calm down. We don't know what's going on. The Hokage says that Sakura and Sasuke-chan had a fight before she left on her mission." Although she was trying to soothe him, it really didn't work. On the contrary, what she said only incensed him further. Turning, he pointed at him in an accusatory pose.

"That's it, Sasuke! Outside!"

"Sorry, Naruto. Not today."

Naruto blinked repeatedly. He did not understand. Even now, Sasuke rarely turned down a fight with Naruto. It was one of his favorite pastimes. "Oi, Sasuke…are you ok?" Naruto's face was devoid of all anger now. Concern furrowed his brow. Sasuke only turned to watch the street. Something really was bothering him.

The only thing Amaya could do now was to get both Naruto and the Hokage out of the room, and try to talk to Sasuke. "Hokage-sama, Naruto-kun, I think that Sasuke-chan wants to be alone right now. Maybe we should leave him to himself for now?" The Hokage nodded, understanding, but Naruto protested loudly, saying that they had to beat the truth out of him, because it was 'the only way.' While it was the route she preferred with Sasuke, it would only work if she could make him fight her. "Please, Naruto-kun," She said as she pushed him after Tsunade-sama. When she had gotten him all the way out the door, she turned him around and said softly, "I promise everything will be ok. I'll make him go see Sakura-chan. Now, go home and take a shower. You smell."

Naruto's jaw dropped, then he grinned sheepishly. He ran off down the street, and Amaya shook her head after him. She closed the door. When she got back into the living room, Sasuke was still sitting in the chair, watching the Hokage walking slowly back up the street. She knelt in front of him. "Sasuke-chan, please. Why won't you go and see Sakura?" He remained silent, staring out of the window.

Flashback...
When Sakura and Naruto had come back from their mission to retrieve Gaara, Naruto and Sasuke had an all-out fight, resulting in a draw, as usual. Sakura had tended both of their wounds, which were numerous. She had calmly borne all of Naruto's complaints about the ointments she used having too much sting, and even smiled as she worked. In spite of her annoyance with him, she really had developed a fondness for the loud shinobi. Naruto had gone home, and Amaya had just arrived at Sasuke's house when Sakura began to tend the wounds that Naruto had inflicted on Sasuke.

Before she rounded the corner, she heard them talking, and stopped.

"Sakura-san…"

"Yes, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura's voice was calm, with no hint at all of her former excess of excitement for him.

"Are you and Naruto…together now?" He nearly stammered over the last bit. There was a clatter as Sakura dropped a bottle of ointment onto the floor.

"Ah…" Sakura seemed to be at a loss for words. Amaya didn't need to be able to see the two of them to know that both of them were blushing furiously, but neither of them could look at the other.

"Gomen, Sakura-san. It isn't my place to ask. I only wondered because…you seem to like him more now, and you…helped him first." Sasuke's voice at this point had begun to sound very unsure. Amaya mentally willed him to knock it off, to be more confident in himself. Was this the same person who went toe to toe with a Legendary Sannin? "Gomen, Sakura-san. I won't mention it again."

"NO." Sakura's voice had taken on a firm tone.

"W-what?"

"I mean, no, Naruto and I are not—" Sakura's voice was still calm and firm, but she did not finish.

"Oh. Ok." Sasuke's tone was much lower, and seemed more calm.

Amaya backed herself down the hallway silently, and then started walking back toward the living room, where the two of them were. This time, she let herself be heard coming down the hall. When she got to the doorway of the living room, they were seated three feet apart on the couch. Their hands were folded in their laps, and they were looking away from one another. They were the very picture of innocence. There was only one problem. They were both blushing, and Sasuke's ears had turned red.

"Sasuke-chan, were you fighting with Naruto-kun?" Amaya asked in an accusatory tone.

"Gomen, onehsan." He mumbled, and looked at the floor.

She sighed exaggeratedly, and then turned to Sakura. "Take care of this block-head, will you Sakura-chan? I don't know what to do with him."

"Hai!" Sakura squeaked. She snuck a glance at Sasuke, who was staring at Amaya in disbelief.

His adopted sister flashed him a mischevious grin and waved at him as she left the room, "Bye, Sasuke-chan! Have fun, and no more stupid fights with Naruto!"

End Flashback
That had been the beginning of his relationship with Sakura. When they weren't on missions, Sakura could usually be found with Sasuke and Naruto, or, more often, with just Sasuke. He was quiet in his devotion to her, and she had developed an air of humility and dignity that suited her much better than when she was just another member of the 'Sasuke fan-club.' He was much more open with his emotions around others now, and laughed more often, which made Amaya feel better.

For Naruto's part, he seemed to give up on Sakura when he saw that Sasuke really did care for her. When he finally opened his eyes and looked around him, he noticed a certain white-eyed kunoichi who seemed to pop up in most places he was. In spite of his idiotic tendencies, he had managed to gain Neiji as an ally, who was helping him to brush up his etiquette in preparation for meeting Hinata's father.

Occasionally, Amaya would visit with Sakura and Sasuke, but most times, she could tell that they would prefer to be alone. They seemed so happy together. Everyone was happy for them, even Ino, who had finally realized that she didn't really like Sasuke that much, but preferred chubbier men. Because of all this, Amaya was completely baffled by the current situation. They were wonderful together. So why was he here, instead of at her side where he belonged?

"Sasuke-chan. Look at me, Sasuke." Her tone had taken on the one she did when she used to train with him at Orochimaru's lair. His ears pricked up out of sheer instinct, and he turned to look at her. "What happened, Sasuke-chan? Why is Sakura-chan crying, and why are you here when you obviously want to go to her?"

He continued to remain silent for a time, but finally seemed to realize that she was not going to leave and let him be a complete idiot. Breathing deeply, he prepared himself to speak. Quietly, and in a tone that sounded as if he were announcing his own funeral, he said, "She said no, onehsan."

" 'She said no?' " She blinked, momentarily confused. "What the hell—oh. Why? Is she stupid?" She tried to bring a fraction of humor into her tone, but he only looked more miserable. "Gomen, Sasuke-chan. Did she say why?" Amaya had wondered when he was going to ask Sakura to marry him, since it had been nearly two years, and it was bound to happen some time. But why, when her dream of him actually wanting her finally came true would she say no? Baka.

"Because I want children as soon as possible." Sasuke's entire face seemed to sag. It was clear that this had been on his mind for a very long time. It was part of his dream to rebuild his clan, and he obviously wanted to do that with the woman who meant more to him than anything else. "She said that she didn't want to quit being a shinobi just yet. I told her that she didn't have to quit, but she wouldn't listen. She's so stubborn, onehsan!"

Tears had begun to stand in his eyes. She had not seen him cry in a very long time. Taking him in her arms and squeezing him gently, she chided him softly, "It takes two, Sasuke. Both of you have to work at this thing, and the only way you can do this is if you stay strong." He looked up at her, wiping the tears from his face. He seemed confused. "You and Sakura are stronger together than you are apart. She's what makes you whole, and you do the same for her. Now, do both of you a favor. Go over to Ino's and get her a bunch of red roses. If you want, throw in a pink one. Take them over to the hospital, and go see her. If you want, I'll go with you so that I can get rid of any interlopers." When he eyed her suspiciously, she said, "And I promise, I won't listen."

Like hell I wouldn't.

"But onehsan, she was so angry when she left…"

"Damn it, Sasuke-chan! Get up off of your self-pitying ass and suck it up. Are you a shinobi, a man? Did I or did I not see you fight on the same level with the man who invaded Konoha? What the hell are you waiting for? I even gave you instructions!" She sighed, and then her tone softened. "If she hated you, Sasuke-chan, she wouldn't be crying."

His eyes widened with the realization that Amaya was right. It's about damned time, moron. He rose from the chair, a look of composed determination on his face, and started walking to the door. Pausing, he turned back. "How does six red and one pink sound, onhesan?" She nodded, smiling, and made a shooing motion to get him out of the door. He padded to the door to get his shoes, and then she could heard his footsteps speeding up until he was far enough away that she could no longer hear them.

"Ah!" she said, and flopped down on the couch. Relief settled in, and she leaned her head against the back of the couch and closed my eyes. What in the world am I going to do with those two? And what the hell am I going to do when they start having kids? Scary thought, isn't it? Oh, yeah. A bunch of little Sasuke-chans running around! It will drive me insane, I just know it. They better not call me obasan.

She heard footsteps in the hallway, and asked, "Did you forget something, Sasuke-chan?"

"No." That wasn't Sasuke-chan's voice! Her eyes flew open, her head popped up, and she nearly fainted.

"Kabuto!" She cried, and jumped up from the couch. He was a little thinner than he had been two years before, and his hair was much longer, but it was still Yakushi Kabuto. Amaya flung her arms around his neck, and squeezed. He returned the embrace, though with a bit more composure.

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