Well, here's chapter 19. This is the official last chapter besides the epilogue, but it's sort of short. I hope you like it!

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Tsunade's booming voice was easy for everyone to hear under the mike. "In order to restore faith in our government, and alliance with our former friends, the village hidden in the wind, I have decided to renounce the three most recent laws."

A chorus of delighted people cried out.

"Those who have been forced to be wed, you are welcome to separte without any record, also, if you want to stay together, you may do so and official be dubbed man and wife. Please consult the village council with your decision by the end of November. Thank you."

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After the ruffle of people who wanted to speak to Tsunade after her conference, I got my chance to talk to her.

"Tsunade…?"

She looked at me with sympathy, "No need to apologize, dear. I understand why you kept this a secret from me. I was too blinded by confusion to really understand what our village needed. Really, I should be thanking you."

I shook my head. "It's not that…"

She had a wondering look on her face, "It's just…."

I heaved a large sigh, "why did the land of sky kidnap me and attack us?"

She turned around and, I thought I spied tears in her eyes. "They were concerned, Sakura. They knew it was something I don't normally do. I guess age is catching up with me, the old cook. However, I did detect a sense of hostility in them. They felt threatened. I think they were afraid of what our village would become if this stupid plan was allowed to continue."

That made sense, I guess, but then I thought of something… "That man who had me in custody who Sasuke…," I shuddered… "Killed."

Tsunade sensed my remorse. "Sakura, you can't blame yourself for what happened, and don't blame Sasuke either."

I looked up, and I felt tears behind my eyes.

"It was nobody's fault. Yes, it was an unfortunate accident, but there was no blame here. It just happened to be the cause of events."

I nodded, keeping my eyes separated from hers. She gave me a charming smile and said, "Don't beat yourself up about it."

I felt better after that, and decided to go. On my way out I stopped. Which way was I going? In one direction was my house the other… Sasuke's. I shoved my hands into my pockets and turned around to see how the others were.

Knock knock. "Hey Naruto!" I called.

He answered the door. His eyes were shut tight, in a way that they sometimes are. "Yo, Sakura, how's it going?"

I shrugged. "Just wondering how you are doing."

He smiled. "He he! We're doing great. Hinata and I just sat down for some snack food. You want some?"

I felt honored to be invited, so I nodded and walked in.

I saw Hinata sitting on the couch and what appeared to be either tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or beef-flavored ramen.

It wasn't hard t o guess. "Oh, he-hello Sakura. How are you?"

"Fine, Hinata, just fine." I hated it, because I thought I sounded rude, "I was just wondering what your guy's decision about what Tsunade said was."

Hinata blushed and kept her words to herself, but Naruto scratched his cheek. "I think we decided to be achem unmarried for the time being, but we'll just be seeing each other for a while and see how it goes."

That seemed unusually wise… for Naruto at least.

"Well, I only stopped by to see how you were deciding things, so I guess I'll be going."

Naruto tried to stop me. "But don't you want some ramen or cookies or something?"

Turning around I shook my head and left.

I journeys to the other's houses. Shikamaru and Temari, Neji and Tenten, had both decided the same thing as Naruto. It became clear that throughout this whole fiasco, they really developed feelings for each other, especially when I walked into Neji's house and they were making out… yelch. Something I never thought I would see…

The thing that wasn't surprising was my enterprise with Kiba and Miho. They decided to actually get married. Go figure. The last guy we ever thought would get a girl is marrying before any of us. Kiba bought an actual ring after we told him why Miho's ring disappeared. He popped the question soon after.

I walked around with my hands holding each other. My mind was conflicted, one way pulling against the other. Our friends seemed to know what they were going to do, and looked very confident about it, too.

Then my mind wandered to Sasuke… and his face when he told me that ring was an engagement ring that he was going to pro… gulp … prose with. My brain didn't even want to think about that word.

But, as far as I knew, Sasuke cared and if he had an engagement ring that means… he… loves… me?

He loves me?

He loves me!

I turned determination and tears of joy in my eyes. I slapped my feet to the pavement, as if angry that I hadn't realized it sooner.

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Knock knock

Sasuke heaved a sad sigh and thought, "I have to get up…"

But he didn't want to. He didn't know who was at the door, but he didn't want any more misery.

The ring lay on the coffee table reflecting a little light.

Knock knock knock

"Urg," he said, "I'm here, I'm comin'!"

He threw himself off the couch and shuffled to the door. Sasuke opened it, not bothering to see who it was.

There I was, my eyes shining, face turning red. A large smile illuminated his dark house.

His eyes grew wide and his jaw dropped.

"Sakura… what are you doing here? I thought you… I mean… we…"

I let his voice trail off, I just stared at him seductively, my eyes half closed and a small smirk.

We stood there in silence for a few valuable moments, not one of them awkward until I said four little words enough to change one's life.

"Sasuke, I love you."

His face softened, and he looked at me with lust. "Come 'ere."

He grabbed my shoulders and dragged me threw the doorway to an affectionate kiss. He hugged my head closer to his, and, with one hand on the small of my back, whispered a word through my lips.

"Ditto."

He swept me off my feet, not one second letting go of my lips as he shut the door with his foot and carried me upstairs.

The ring lay untouched, gleaming on the table.

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Well, there you have it. The finale. I want to thank all of you for sticking with me through the hardships of this story, and the times when it seemed like it would never end. I've got something special planned for the epilogue, so merry Christmas, my wonderful readers. And this is S., signing off.