Reviews are appreciated with this final chapter and thank you so much for your support. :D (wipes eyes with tissue)

Chapter Twelve

The Love of a Woman

Embezzlement, desperation, blackmail...now frame for murder. And to top it off, Itachi was truly a good man who had just seen and done so much, shouldering every burden to keep his younger brother safe. Kabuto knew and didn't tell her and for good reasons. She hated to admit it, but she could see the frenzy and attacks that would come to light if this got out. But I hate it so much. He never should have had to experience this and let his life be taken from him. He's just like his brother, but also different.

He was right: she had been such a fool. Why did she think that Sasuke would have done this to her and her father? Why didn't she TRUST him and ask him before her feelings got the better of her?

Now that she remembered, Ino had said that she never told him that her father lost his job, only the reason she'd worked for Sasuke in the first place. It had been blaringly obvious all along, and she'd kept her eyes closed long enough. "I didn't tell him that your dad got fired, because then he'd rub it in, and it would have been the last thing you needed," her best friend since childhood said, wiping the corner of her eyes and holding in her suck of breath.

They were both in Itachi's car, making way for the Uchiha Estate, which she had not been to since she left. It was here that Ino told them both what happened exactly. "I only said that you worked for him to pay your dad's debt, that you had to do it because he was working at the estate when he broke something, didn't mean to, but the man of the house said he would have him fired if it wasn't paid for, and that was where you came in until it was settled. I simply thought your dad having his job still was all that mattered. And you won't believe what he said either. 'Extortion', was what came out of his mouth, and 'working for that beast!' God, Sakura, I am so sorry." Her hand came up to take the pinkette's, who forgave her vocally, but she wasn't sure she even heard herself speak.

You only told him because he wanted to know where I was. You were a victim as much as we were. Oh, she planned to deal with Kiba later, but first things first: the man inside the rosy manor in winter surroundings, and it took her back to the very first night she came to confront him. "Itachi, you're coming in," she told him when they were inside the gate after getting permission, "because that is your brother, and it is time you made peace."

He said nothing to that, but the slight smile unnerved her even more.

"SASUKE!"

His name tore from Sakura's throat as she ran up the stairs, not pausing to see if Itachi and Ino were keeping up, and dashed for the office. She could hardly imagine what he had been doing without her, all this time, and with little help of the man who got the estranged brother here.

"Sakura!" Kabuto exclaimed when he saw her, then gave a grateful smile at the sight of Itachi.

"Kabuto, where is Sasuke?" she demanded, out of breath by now. When the silver-haired man answered he hadn't seen his master since this morning, her fears became a reality...and enhanced by what they all found in the office. Its occupant wasn't present, but the worst rested on the mahogany floorboards.

The box that carried the razor from his teen years lay there, face up, but empty. Glass shards lay inside and scattered around. "Oh, no," she moaned, kneeling beside it. "He didn't..."

Her hands felt numb as she tried to pick it up only to drop it, but Ino caught it and turned it over, reading aloud the brief script by his hand: Never again. Itachi took it from her and just stared at it without a change in expression. "Hold on, I'm calling his cell phone," Kabuto said and picked up the landline on the desk, but when he was finished dialing the number, that was when they heard the ringing - inside this room.

Sasuke's mobile sat there on the desk, atop the familiar colored report folders. Which meant that he left it here because he didn't want to be reached. No one was there for him anymore; he was once more consumed. But no, she was here, and she was going to find him. The first place that came to mind, if he wasn't on the grounds, was the spot in the forest where he took her after that dinner. The same place where he and Itachi used to be as boys.

Sasuke Uchiha, if you are dead and alone out there, I'll never forgive you for doing this - but most of all, I'll never forgive myself.

~o~

This place was perfect for him to make his decision when he smashed the box and took the razor out - the spot where his big brother once honed his skills while he watched behind the trees, and then he took Sakura out here. Good memories, but painful ones. It was also isolated from the rest of the world, where no one would find him in time.

But at the same time, when he thought back on the long road and efforts it took to get his life back on track, Sasuke wavered, looking at the cold, unpleasant thing as he put it to his wrist where an important vein and artery were flowing with blood. The blue stuck out against his pale flesh more than the red. And they said people who commit suicide had second thoughts; he was having them now. Back then, when he was sixteen, he cut himself in a heartbeat without considering the consequences.

The face of Kabuto appeared in his mind. His only friend in childhood and who lived with him, took care of him and everything. And so did another, with short pink hair, fierce and soft green eyes, as well as a pleasant attitude which would turn on a dime into a blade of steel...just like this one which one of his hands held.

"Sasuke?"

For a moment, he wondered if his mind was playing with him by allowing her voice to be heard in his head - except it was right behind him. He whirled around fast, and there SHE stood. "Sakura," he said in a monotone. He was torn between being happy that she finally decided to see him - how did you figure I would be out here, and what made you change your mind? - and just being the cold man he was.

"What are you doing out here?" Her attention was on the thing in his grasp. "You going to do it because of me this time?"

It seemed she might have made the choice for him here and now. She was in front of him, and there was no reason to cut his skin open and bleed on the pure white snow. No pain and freezing of the cleanly swiped edges. Sasuke stood up and threw the damnable piece of steel out into the open, where it would land in the small water pond that had melted at some point before he got here.

Sakura stared at it with a little disbelief. "What happened...to the reminder?"

"There's been enough time for it to hang over my head," he answered. "It's way overdue. And Sakura, I'm sorry about your dad." Every day I thought about this - morning, noon, and night. "I never should have threatened him or put you through this." If this was the last time he was going to see her, and if she still held onto it, then he would respect her and leave her alone.

"...you were right," she said finally, taking a few steps forward. "But it wasn't all bad." A smile appeared on her face. "I got to know you."

Sasuke couldn't believe what he just heard. "R-really?" He hadn't stuttered since he was a child, and it was never that bad. She...she forgave him, so did that mean she figured it out after all? And did she know who made the call? He wanted so much to ask her, but he didn't have it in him.

"Yeah, I knew the real you instead of all those rumors, and I should have known you would never go back on the deal." Her eyes fogged over a little. "It was Kiba who did it."

Kiba...figures. "Why am I not surprised?" She answered by appearing before him in a flash and threw her arms around his neck, firm at first before softening. A wave crashed over him and then left him feeling dazed.

Sakura was stifling sobs as she, too, broke. "I'm so...sorry for not trusting you. And I called you what they all did..." He returned the embrace around her dainty waist.

"I don't want to be that man anymore. I saw the way you treated others, me - in spite of the terrible things I did to you." You played a big part in showing me how to be a better person. You helped me see what I never did before, and you helped me realize I was never alone.

"Does this mean..." She raised her face from his chest to look up at him. "...you're happy now?"

He cracked her a small grin. "I'm getting there, but I'm not perfect."

"There's no such thing."

Now that it seemed things were fine now - here she was in his arms again - he found his voice to ask her if she wanted to be his assistant again, but there was the matter of school and her other job; it was just an excuse to have her around. She burst out laughing at this and put her face into his shoulder. He let himself join in, and then a couple of new voices interrupted their moment...but one was all too familiar and had haunted his dreams for the longest time.

The first who called out to him was feminine, and he turned around with Sakura to see a blonde around her age; if he remembered, she was Ino Yamanaka, her best friend. It was nice to finally see her, so she must have heard what happened that she had to come along. The other...

"Big brother," he uttered, dismayed. "Itachi - what are you doing here?"

His brother had not changed much, but the bangs framing his face had grown longer, and the tear troughs deepened. He looked older than he was and weary from being on the run. His old anger started with smaller bubbles as the man who ruined his life stood there. Sakura took his hand into hers. "Sasuke, it's okay," she said softly. "He came here to help."

Sasuke blinked in surprise and disbelief. H-help? What for, after what he did to me? He turned and narrowed his eyes at his worst enemy when he spoke - and it was not what he expected.

"To make peace with you, Sasuke, to apologize even if it's too late because Sakura wants this - unless you wish it yourself. And then I will be out of your life as I have done enough."

~o~

There was not much to say when they were all back in the Uchiha Manor, and the brothers sat before each other for the first time in years. She and Ino were in the kitchen with Kabuto when they were all just reeling over the day's events. She found herself looking at the time; it was just turning two o'clock. She and Ino needed to get to work, and Itachi was the one to drive them here while her car had been left at the inn. But she was half-tempted to just call in sick, which was something she'd never done in her life as far as she could remember.

"Well, Sakura," Kabuto told her, "I can drive you both back. We can leave the brothers as they are." Wasn't he a blessing or what? Before they left, she had a glimpse into the living room, where it looked like the Uchiha brothers were starting to reconcile, except with the deeper tension harkening from years ago, it was going to be harder for them.

Sakura felt herself crying inside the entire time she and Ino went to get her car and then go get ready for work. She had a lot to explain to her father, but that would mean a good explanation that Sasuke hadn't been the major villain. But while she was at work, she and Ino could figure something out.

And just as predicted, the devil himself stopped by, but not before he faced the SMACK of the century. Sakura delivered it to his face with calm precision, but beneath the surface, her mood was darker than he should have expected. "Ow, Sakura!" Kiba yelped. "What was THAT for?!"

"Let me ask you something, Kiba," she said icily. "How did you know about my dad being fired?"

He blinked as he rubbed his cheek, which was turning redder by his doing and not just hers. "Ino told me," he said. Liar, son of a bitch. Pants on fire.

Ino glared at him with pure disgust. "No, I didn't."

Sakura's temper was getting stronger now that her fist grew tighter. "You were the one who called my dad's work," she hissed. "I'm such an idiot that I can't believe I didn't think about it. How could you do something like that? You were low to make Sasuke try to commit suicide, and now you do this to him? You're just as low today as you were then!"

"Wh-what? How did you find out about all of this?" he exclaimed. "That was a long time ago! And as for now, I thought I told you I didn't like you working for that freak." Now she could unleash the punch in all its fury, this time to his abdomen, which had him doubled over and onto his knees.

"He's not a freak, Kiba Inuzuka - YOU are. You should have been punished a long time ago, but he got the butt of it. He suffered way more than you ever did. And you took a relish in making it worse for him." Sakura growled at him as she leaned down and stopped inches away.

"Get out of my sight. If I so much as see you near us AND my father again...I. Will. Kill you." Now that got him quivering in his pants, and he might as well have wet them while he held onto his poor stomach. Sakura stood up then and turned on her heel, going back to work, and Ino was right behind her, not before she heard the blonde spit at her bastard cousin whom she made the mistake of helping try to get with her.

"You're such a loser."

That was the last time either of them saw him.

As for her father, what happened was simply - leaving Itachi out of this - that she told him she figured out it was never Sasuke who wronged them. She discovered it was Kiba based on the fact that he'd told her Ino had informed him of the incident; her best friend just said why she worked for the Uchiha, and that was when the slip-up was exposed. This made Kizashi so furious he wanted to punch Kiba himself, but she stopped him by informing him that she'd done the deed herself and that she would really kill him if he tried to come near them again. Kizashi burst out into roars of laughter before slapping her back. "That's my girl!" And then he asked for her to invite Sasuke over so he could get to know him just like his daughter did.

It turned out to be better than expected without words, because there was nothing new with Sasuke telling her dad everything he told her, and of course begrudgingly - known to her alone - leaving out the true details behind his brother's "crimes". He just let them both know that he'd made peace with it.

"I hate Danzo for all of this," he growled when they were alone on the porch just as he was leaving by the time the sun was going down, and the wind was picking up. "He did this to my family, and Itachi will never be cleared for something he didn't do. He sacrificed so much for me." He closed his eyes and inhaled through his nose, trying to calm down. She put her hand on his shoulder.

"But know that he is still watching out for you while he's not here." He looked down at her then, and with his smile, his eyes sparkled. It was so remarkable to see this change in him from the first time she met him. He was never alone, but he didn't listen. He cared about himself for a very long time, so it had been awkward for him when he asked her to be his assistant only as an excuse to see her more; he really cared about her.

"Understanding as ever. I know that I probably don't deserve you, but I'll do whatever I can to try." She leaned up and pecked his cheek. But don't try TOO hard.

All of which brought them to this day, two years later, when she was done with school, and she had her degree as well as a full-time position at the center. It was the end of March when she and Sasuke married at the estate, in an intimate ceremony before his mother's gardens, witnessed by her father, Ino, Tsunade, and twenty coworkers from both sides. The white roses around the archway were in bloom and beyond were the white-centered red ones along with blue, white, yellow, and purple irises, finished with white aster.

What more could a blushing new bride ask for?

Here she was in this romantic fit-and-flare, which was made of lace and strapless, sheer over a short and equally sleeveless white slip. In her hair was a woven halo of pretty pink blossoms around her scalp like a crown. And she carried a bouquet of lush red orchids and roses and pink and white ones. Ino was beside her only, as her maid of honor - which you didn't see every day in a bridal party - and her dad on the other side. Her best friend's dress was long and navy blue with pink flowers. And it looked like she was trying so hard not to cry for her, which made Sakura want to weep and ruin her makeup they both took time to apply on each other. Kizashi chuckled and gently patted her hand, before he hiccupped, knowing his little girl was all grown up.

Sasuke's jaw just about hit the floor, before his hand came up to wipe the tears that formed in his eyes. Kabuto put a hand on his shoulder and shook it gently to calm him down just as the bride came to stand before her groom. And holding her bouquet in one hand, she let the other take his - and it was this hand which showed her engagement ring, which was a trio of majestic emeralds against liquid black. It was under the sky where the gods were looking down on them, wanting them to be happy, as they exchanged their vows and then the wedding bands.

A thin band of glimmering green came to join its companion, while his alone was sturdy tungsten - strong as the man wearing it - inlaid around with numerous diamonds blazing like fire in the mines.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife." Finally. Our life isn't perfect, but we made it. And I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you. It was that moment when Sakura Haruno became Sakura Uchiha. Mrs. Sasuke Uchiha - has a nice ring to it.

Inside, where the guests were enjoying the next hour and refreshing themselves with champagne and hor d'oeuvres, the bride and groom were surveying the beauty that was the reception on the back lawn of the estate. The vibrant pink cherry blossoms were in bloom, and each of the tables was all around the great tree that had been planted when this property was built by the first Uchiha. The bride and groom had their sweetheart table in the sunlight, shaded by painted umbrellas. And every surface was placed with vases of birch wood and pastel flowers. Finally, the cake was brought out; it was white and double-tiered, with spiraling roses and orchids - like the ones in the bride's bouquet - all around. "It's beautiful, considering I didn't have much of a say in it and left it all up to you," her new husband joked, bumping his hip lightly against hers and making her jump.

He was right; everything had been between her, Ino, and her dad, but this place was ideal because it meant the world to her and Sasuke. It had so many memories, good and bad. "Surprise to you, too."

"But..." His irises twinkled. "...it's not as beautiful compared to you and how happy you've made me." Sakura laughed and turned her entire body into him.

"You really made me happy, too, Sasuke."

It was then that they went down to their guests for the party to begin, and in the midst of checking out the wedding gifts that were displayed, one stood out and wasn't named except with the letters I.U. Sakura swallowed and held it up for Sasuke to see. "We should keep this one private," he said quietly, tucking it beneath his arm just as the others were preoccupied with dancing to the latest song. She chose to get away with him, but they couldn't be away for too long.

It remained hidden away amid the bookcase until the day was over and the night was coming. Which meant they were all alone and exhausted, but man, what a day! The best part of it was her husband, the first man she fell in love with, and she in turn pulled him out of a dark place. Now, in the privacy of their bedroom, he in his dark flannel pants and she in a negligée of rosy satin with a black lace bust, they could open this solo box which was nothing like the wonderful household items from their friends.

Inside the shimmering white box was a red rose of exquisite glass, the stem clear, and the leaves and petals accented with gold. "Oh, God, it's so beautiful. He was..." He knew who she was referring to. "...very thoughtful." There was an inscription of gold inside the lid, but there was also a folded note written by the man himself.

My dearest little brother and sister-in-law,

I am sorry to not be available on the day when you most need me. My new assignment in Kiri prevents me from having contact with the outside world, so I had to get this to you as soon as possible. Don't worry about me; I have taken my medication on the doctor's orders.

It is hard to believe two years have gone by when we reconciled. But it is for the best that I never return home the way I used to, Sasuke, even though we discussed this already. And Sakura, continue to make my brother happy as he has done for you.

Know that when I leave the world, I love you both always.

Last month, Itachi contacted his brother and broke tragic news beyond help: he had been diagnosed with a rare blood disease within his lungs, likely brought on by years of sacrifice, stress, and hiding away. According to the doctor he saw, he had a year at most to live, and the stages were most advanced. Sasuke broke down like he did a long time ago and when he and Sakura were apart, protesting that his brother didn't have to die the way he was going to. "Why do you have to die alone, without your brother? Like a monster?" he'd said angrily, almost slamming his palm on the counter. "You're supposed to be here, surrounded by people you love, not on some shady mission with a bunch of psychopaths!"

She didn't like this any more than he did, but they knew that if Itachi wanted to die, it had to be the way he wanted, and like a hero. They would remember him that way while the rest of the world saw him as a villain. It's what he wants, and we have to respect it.

Now, looking at Sasuke's face, there was a faint smile at the words of love, and those of the inscription in the box containing the wedding gift to them. The message was both from Itachi personally as well as between him and his new wife, which they kept open on her bedside as they made love on their wedding night.

I love you. I wonder if you really know how special you are to me. You are so very dear and in my heart for eternity.

~o~

With Sasuke's transformation and his renewed joy, the people in the land discovered the Beast was gone. In his stead was a kind gentleman whose heart had been changed by the power of love - with the help of a woman named Sakura.

And while their world wasn't perfect, they still lived happily ever after.

My God, even though the ending is cheesy, its message was still so powerful and brought me to harder tears than before. Just as much as with Itachi because I hadn't cried since the first time I saw his death in the anime as well as his and Sasuke's final farewell after the Edo Tensei was released.

As for the wedding present he left Sasuke and Sakura, that rose with the same written message exists in real life. When I found it in a catalog, it was a part of setting the foundation.