Man, this chapter was rough on me guys. Just so everyone is aware, we are getting close to the end of this story. As I stated towards the beginning of this story, there will be two endings. The original ending will be featured here. The alternate ending will mostly likely be released as a oneshot, but I'll keep you guys updated on that. So pleased with the support this story is getting, keep it coming! Read, Review, Enjoy! Xo


What possessed me to want to hold Sakura like this, I have no clue, but I could see in her eyes how much she needed me; she didn't want to be alone tonight. Her fear of whatever it is that haunts her is starting to worry me more than I'd like. Although, through her breathing I can feel that it doesn't take long for her to fall asleep and I wonder if, at least in part, that had something to do with me.

I wonder what Tsunade told Sakura. It can't be that they've made a decision on my trial already; I would know about that. Something is agitating her and I want to find out what. She shifts in my arms, rolling over in her stupor until her face is buried in my chest. How am I supposed to fall asleep when she's so close I can feel her breath on me? How is it so easy for her?

Maybe she's used to it. She's probably done it before with her 'many boyfriends.' The thought makes my mood sour. To think that she has called out anyone else's name in the throes of passion makes me sick. But she told me I have no claim on her; she's right. And I shouldn't want to have that hold on her. I shouldn't have this desire for her, but it won't stop. Seeing her come undone whether it's by my fingers, my dick, my mouth, as long as it's me making her sob with pleasure, it's intoxicating.

"Sasuke-kun," Sakura moans, shifting her hips, "You're poking me."

"Sorry," I chuckle as she flutters her lids open sleepily and stretches her arms up.

"Have you slept yet?" she looks up at me with heavily lidded eyes.

"No," I reach a hand up to brush a lock of pink hair away that's fallen in her eyes. Why did I do that? Just so I can see her face?

"Is something wrong?" even though her voice is thick, her concern is evident.

"No," I shake my head. I think that's the problem. This doesn't feel wrong or bad, even if I can't make sense of it. She smiles at me, a little humorous.

"Was I snoring?" I chuckle and shake my head again, "I would ask what you were thinking about, but I think I know the answer to that."

My breath hitches as her thigh slides up between my legs. I reach beneath the covers to grasp her hips and flip us over so that she sits atop me. Her pert nipples press against me as she lays on my torso, her chin coming to rest on her arms that she crosses over my chest. Though I feel myself prodding her entrance given this position, I don't move further.

"I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's okay," she says through a wide yawn.

"But this is much better than sharing a room with Kakashi," I smirk and she smiles at that.

"I remember all those missions we would go on with him and even if he were in the next room or his tent was on the other side of the clearing you could still hear him," Sakura giggles, then peers up at me somewhat tentatively, "We missed you on those missions. Did you ever miss us?"

"I think I did," I answer after a moment. It's difficult to pinpoint any other emotions through the haze of rage that followed me over the years. "But I never let myself think about you guys for long. If it didn't have to do with Itachi, I convinced myself it wasn't important enough to dwell on."

She doesn't seem hurt by my admittance this time. Sakura appears to be making sense of it.

"What was it like training under Orochimaru?"

She's so unassuming in her questions, but I hate opening that door. It holds nothing but pain for me.

"He was a sadist, Sakura. He believed that experience was gained only through pain," I can't meet her eyes as I'm forced to suffer through the memories, "And he taught me well."

"How long were you with him?"

"For a few years, and then I decided I was better off on my own."

"And he just let you go? He didn't try and stop you?"

"He tried," as if it were new, the scar on my shoulder blade burns. Sakura bites her lip as she battles something within herself.

"Did you kill him?"

I frown; why would she ask me that? She must already suspect I did. She'll only think less of me if I tell her the truth. Yet she'll know I'm lying if I don't.

"Sakura - "

"Did you kill him?" she persists softly.

"Why do you want to know?"

She ducks her chin, not meeting my eyes. With a sigh she shakes her head.

"Never mind," she resumes chewing her lip, looking past me.

"You've killed people before, Sakura," I say without accusation. Her eyes snap back to mine and I can see it's true. "But no matter how terrible they may have been, it doesn't make it any easier to live with. So, yes, I killed him. I told you I've killed many people before and nobody has ever deserved it, not even the people like Orochimaru. You were acting on orders from the village, but I was goaded by revenge. Now, you've dedicated your time to healing people. I'm not capable of that and I never will be. Everyday for the rest of my life, I have to wake up with blood on my hands and that will never go away."


I was trying to map out the road I wanted this conversation to follow, but his words have caused mine to dissipate. I wanted to ask him about his time traveling with Karin and Suigetsu, but suddenly Tsunade's request no longer matters. I don't want to think about the future, I just want to be in this moment where I can kiss Sasuke until neither of us feel pain. I only want to think about the way his hands rest comfortably in the dip of my back and how right his body feels against mine.

My heart hammers in my chest as the love I want so badly for him to know threatens to spill between our lips. No matter how many times I tell myself I can't have him, I shouldn't have him, I don't want to have him, it never goes away. It's always at the forefront of my mind threatening to pull me apart and promising to put me back together.

"Sasuke, I never meant for this to happen," I whisper breathless. The rough pads of his fingers caress my cheek as he regards me with a gratuitous hunger.

"Neither did I," his admission is not a surprise, but I don't know what 'this,' is. I don't want to ask because if we name it, I'm afraid we'll lose it. The last thing I want, I realize, is to lose him. I can't let the council take him away from me. I have to do whatever I can to convince the council of Sasuke's absolution, even if that means breaching our trust. I rest my head against his chest and feel a hand begin stroking my hair. If I'm going to do this without Sasuke noticing, then I need to be discreet about how I ask him. I can't unload a bunch of questions on him at once. And he has to be willing to tell me. "Do you feel any better?"

"No," I mumble. If anything I feel worse. He urges my eyes back to his that implore me for a solution.

"What can I do for you?"

Sasuke-kun, stop. Stop making me love you. Stop me from falling further. Stop caring about me, because I know you do. You feel something for me and I want you to stop; if you don't, then I'll be ruined by you.

Kami, I might already be.

"Don't worry about me," I say and he smirks.

"It's too late for that."

"It's too late for me, too," I say earnestly and his sobering expression alerts me to what I just gave away. Perhaps not all of it, but enough that it causes his eyes to search mine for additional answers. "Don't."

"What?"

"Don't look at me like that."

"How am I supposed to look at you?"

"With contempt," I say vindictively.

"I don't feel that for you," his brows knit as he frowns at me.

"What do you feel for me?"

"I don't know," he says with a hint of frustration, "Why are you asking me this?"

"It doesn't matter," I shake my head furiously and move off of him, rolling to the other side of the bed. It hurts to be so close to him and still so far away.

"Come back here," Sasuke tugs me gently and try as I might to ignore the pull I feel in my heart, I can't resist complying. He situates me so that my back is to his chest. His arms hold tight around my waist and his teeth nip softly at my shoulder. I get the feeling that this is his way of apologizing for pushing me away. I curl my fingers around his upper arm tightly. His voice comes out soft against my hair, "I travelled with my own team for a while. I'm sure you've heard of Karin and Suigetsu. They would bicker all the time and fight each other over the stupidest things. A lot of the time they reminded me of you and Naruto; the way you guys used to act around each other. Karin used to follow me around like you did when we were younger. It was so annoying."

"This isn't a compliment, Sasuke," I speak softly with mild humor.

"My point is: I think I did miss you both, without even realizing it, because I had somehow attempted to replace you when I hadn't even thought about it."

"What happened to them?" he pauses for a moment, but I don't think it's with hesitation. I think he's trying to decide what to tell me.

"We parted ways."


I like waking up to her naked. I like waking up with her naked in my arms even more. I dip my head to the crook of her neck and lick a trail to the outer shell of her ear where I bite on her lobe softly. She squirms in my arms with a muffled moan.

I saw something in her eyes last night. She feels something for me and I thought that would be scary but I only felt desire for her; a desire to make her mine. I tug on her ear again and she turns over, her eyes still closed.

"Sasuke, it's too early to wake up," her voice is groggy and she hides her face in my neck.

"Come downstairs when you're ready then," I press my lips to her forehead and gently disentangle myself. I pull the sheets completely up to her neck, just in case somebody decides to come barging in and sees her naked. I scowl; that would not go well with me. Picking up my forgotten clothes off the floor, I pull on my pants and almost don my shirt before a better idea strikes me.


The space beside me is empty again when I wake up but I feel cloaked in warmth. When I sit up, I notice something fall from my chest and pick it up off the comforter. It's Sasuke's shirt. I don't know whether to smile or roll my eyes. Instead, I find myself bringing the material close, letting it slide against my skin. It's plush and smells distinctly of Sasuke's musk. I won't put it on for him. Taking up my own disgusting clothes, I quickly dress and perform the contraceptive jutsu before moving downstairs.

My stomach drops when I see Tsunade conversing with Kakashi at the bottom of the landing. Sasuke sits off to the side in the living room, hands clasped together beneath his chin.

"The dead hath risen," Tsunade says dryly.

"What do you want?" I don't bother to hide my animosity and I see her glower at my attitude.

"A word with you, outside."

I follow her out the door, unable to make eye contact with Sasuke since I know what this is about. When we're safely out of earshot on the front steps, she stares me down.

"Have you given any thought to what I said?"

"Yes," I swallow past the lump in my throat.

"And?"

"I'll do it, but on the condition that I relay the information directly to the council myself."

"That's fine," she says sharply, "As long as you behave yourself."

"I can't promise that," I bite out. She smiles.

"You wouldn't be my prodigy if you could."


I face the line of Daimyos and advisors in almost week-old clothing with the dried sweat of last night's sex still clinging to my skin. The Daimyos sit in a single panel in the Hokage's office while advisors and council members are seated on either side of the room. Is this all for Sasuke?

"This is my apprentice, Haruno Sakura. She has been caring for the prisoner for three months now. She has been able to observe the Uchiha's behavior and learn some of what happened to him while he was away," Tsunade places a hand on my shoulder and I'm torn between shrugging it off or leaving it there. I appreciate that she stands beside me, though, as a pillar of strength. Standing in this room is more intimidating than I thought it would be.

I'm doing this for Sasuke, I remind myself. Garnering strength from that thought, I hold my head high and proceed to speak.

"It is my belief that Uchiha Sasuke is eligible for a chance at rehabilitation and reintegration into Konohagakure. He has displayed a remarkable sense of compassion and remorse for his actions. I find him deserving of redemption."

"But what does he have to say for himself?" the gruff voice of one of the Daimyos cuts through hushed whispers floating through the room, "What defense does he have for the atrocities he committed?

"Uchiha Sasuke's actions were perpetrated by a horrible truth covered up by the Third Hokage. The clan was planning a coup and Uchiha Itachi feared the start of another Shinobi War. He was given the choice to die with his clan or prevent the coup and save his brother. Itachi had no choice and Sasuke wasn't allowed to know the truth," the room goes silent for a moment and I feel a sense of triumph. They're stunned. Tsunade's hand squeezes my shoulder before dropping to her side.

"Haruno-san, are you here to exonerate your friend or Uchiha Itachi?" I stiffen as another Daimyo glares down at me, "This is something that each leader has been made aware of upon their ascension. While this may be news to some of us in the room, and unfortunately there is no coming back from that, your information is useless."

"What about his companions? The girl and the boy?" another sovereign questions.

"To my knowledge he is unaware of their whereabouts," the blood drains from me and I can feel myself start to shake with fury.

"And Orochimaru?"

"Dead," I answer simply. A subdued gasp passes through the room.

"By the Uchiha's hand?" a Daimyo asks. I hesitate but realize the longer I do so, the more obvious the answer becomes.

"Yes."

"What else have you learned?"

"That's all, for now," I mutter, humiliated.

"That's it?" an advisor asks incredulously. I keep my gaze steady, ahead to the Daimyos as if everything else is beneath me.

"And yet you think he has been redeemed from the countless villages he's slaughtered?"

"What?" I can't keep the word from slipping out in shock. A Daimyo scoffs at me like I'm a petty child.

"Have you nothing to say for the countless lives taken by Uchiha Sasuke's hand?" the Daimyo stands, pointing an incriminating finger at me, his voice raised to a threatening pitch, "Shinobi, men, women, even children, taken from their homes and massacred by him. All for Orochimaru's pursuit of immortality! He had no remorse then, why should he have any now?!"

I stand paralyzed, unable to move despite the very powerful drive to do so.

"You are a silly little girl striving for an impossible cause for a lost teammate!"

I have to bite my tongue to keep from lashing out and humiliating myself further.

"That's enough!" Tsunade's voice booms and she takes my arm, leading me out of the room. I feel like I can finally breathe as soon as the door shuts behind us. I close my eyes as an onslaught of emotions ravages me and lean against the wall, "Are you all right?"

"No," I take a shuddering breath but I can't seem to fight off these thoughts. I see images of Sasuke bloodied and hovering over a fresh graveyard. His eyes are cold but his sword is warm, "I wasn't prepared for that."

"They're a bunch of assholes, Sakura, but this is why I said we needed facts," even though she's saying 'I told you so,' her voice is tender, "I'm sorry you found out that way."

"Did Sasuke really do that?" I recall his words from last night. We've all killed, it's what Shinobi do, but he told me he killed people that didn't deserve it. Did I think he was exaggerating? Or did I just not want to believe him?

"You'd have to ask him that. Orochimaru's team was said to have decimated countless villages to further his experimentations. His bloodlust caused him to desert Konoha in the first place," Tsunade's shoulders lilt and I see the strain Orochimaru's memory puts on her; the constant weight of a defected team member.

"Tsunade-sama, may I please see the records on Sasuke? I have to know," I plead. I have to know exactly what they think of him if I have any hope of saving Sasuke.

"Okay," she sighs heavily, "But I don't think it will do you any good. The Daimyos are leaving in twelve days to return home. By then, we'll have made a decision."

Twelve days.

Twelve days to find out the truth.

Twelve days to convince everyone in that room, Tsunade included, that Sasuke is worth liberating.

Twelve days to save the man I love.

Or lose him forever.


Sakura's been gone a long time. Where is she? Where could she and Tsunade possibly have gone that would take this long? Lost in my thoughts, I fail to anticipate Kakashi's fist and it connects with my jaw. I stumble back, rubbing what I'm sure will be a nasty bruise by the end of the day.

"We should stop for today," Kakashi puts his hands down.

"No, let's keep going," I prepare my stance but Kakashi shakes his head.

"You're not thinking straight right now. It's not a fair fight."

"I'm worried about Sakura," I concede.

"Why is that?" he asks as we start walking inside from the yard.

"She seemed really upset about something last night, after she spoke to Tsunade. Now she's been gone with her for hours," I clench my fists, feeling a great unease. It is so foreign to me, distressing over somebody like this.

"Are you concerned she's not coming back?" Kakashi jokes, but I don't laugh. The thought hadn't occurred to me, "She wouldn't leave without saying goodbye. Most likely Tsunade is consulting with her on the trial.

"Consulting?" Kakashi nods.

"She probably wants to see if Sakura knows anything that might help the trial along," Kakashi shrugs, but panic settles in. Sakura wouldn't say anything to them, right? She has to know that everything I said was told in confidence, "Sasuke, what's going on with you two?"

Kakashi's voice is low as we settle in the living room. His gaze is so probing without the mask on. I shake my head and shrug, looking to the floor.

"Nothing."

"Right, so the whole time you were in her room last night nothing happened?" he chuckles.

"What do you want me to say?" I put my head in my hands and rake my fingers through my hair.

"The truth. Just admit that you feel something for her."

When I finally look at him he's got a self-satisfied smile on his face.

"What do you think that is?" I cross my arms over my chest, resisting his scrutinizing stare.

"You tell me. Why have you spent the night with her twice now?"

"That's because she wanted me to," I retort defensively.

"And you didn't say no," Kakashi smirks.

"Why does it matter to you?"

"Because like I've told you before, life is short. You shouldn't spend it denying or ignoring how you feel for somebody. Both of you deserve a moment of happiness given everything that's happened over the years."

"And you think my happiness has something to do with her?" It doesn't come out sounding quite so menial when I say it. It's a real question.

"Yes," he says carefully, "Just like hers involves you. It's been years since I've seen Sakura smile so much. She's happy with you."

"She doesn't have a future with me," I snap and suddenly something ruptures within me. A flood of longing and thoughts of a distant prospect swallow me whole. I grit my teeth and fight off these feelings; there's no way it could ever happen. Sakura could never want me that way and even if she did we're not fortunate enough to have such a blissful end. But an ache opens in my chest as I grasp that I want it and I want her in a way I didn't think I ever could. She hasn't just made being here tolerable, she's made it good.

"That's for both of you to decide, Sasuke."