Her house smelled of miso soup and grilled salmon. Sakura stood in front of her kitchen counter, preparing bentos for her family. "Good morning, sweetheart", her husband said, stepping out of their bedroom. His strong arms hugged her from behind and he tenderly kissed the top of her head.

"Morning", she replied, unable to stop a demure smile from appearing in her face. Her lower back ached from the weight of her heavy pregnant belly.

She heard the quotidian ruffle of papers behind her, signifying he was getting ready to go to the office. "Leaving so soon?", Sakura wondered while she continued her task.

"The envoy from Suna arrives this afternoon. We have our work cut out for us", and shouting a quick "bye kids!" into their children's bedroom, he left the house. Suddenly, the sunny morning turned black with storm clouds. The silence in the house was eerily.

The abrupt change startled Sakura. "Kids, are you alright…", but when she tried to turn she discovered she was stuck in place. The peppery smell that crawled into her nostrils next was one she hadn't smelt for almost a decade, yet she immediately recognized. Against her better judgment, her body relaxed against the body which stood behind her.

"Sakura…", his hand caressed her cheek, and his tall figure enveloped her. "Have you forgotten?" Like if she was a juvenile Omega, heat pooled between her legs, and she soon started losing control of her consciousness. The second hand was placed on her stomach, stroking as lovingly as if he was the father of the creature; first, right under her swollen breasts, and then lower, and lower, and lower…

"You forgot… who you belong to…" Out of its own volition, Sakura's bottom started grinding against the hard member she craved so deeply. She needed this as if it was the last drop of water in the desert.

"Please… I…". The long fingers crawled into the elastic band of her pants.

His tongue licked the inside of her ear. "You forgot that you are mine". And with a flicker of blue light, his hand stabbed into her stomach.

DAY ONE

There was something wet between her legs, and the pain in her back was blinding. Still half asleep, Sakura tossed the covers aside and her hot skin thanked her for it. Illuminated by the soft street lamps' light, she saw a dark puddle in the mattress. The sight completely awoke her, and with medic reflexes kicking in, she turned on her night light with her left hand while preparing a healing jutsu with her right.

Her panties were soaked in blood. Looking outside the window, she located the moon. Waxing crescent. "You're alright, you're alright", Sakura gasped, trying to calm her racing heart. It was just her period. It was just a nightmare. A kind of nightmare that was happening more and more often these days.

Checking the sky once more, she deduced it was around 5 am. No use in trying to fall asleep again. Sakura stripped the covers from the mattress, threw them in the washer along with her panties and pajamas and hopped into the shower.

Today was going to be a long day, she mused to herself while washing her hair. It had been a little over two weeks since the incident in the prison cell, and today the criminal trial against Sasuke was set to begin. Sakura gulped down her anxiety. She hadn't faced him since she'd gone to see him that fateful day.

According to the message sent by Sasuke's lawyers, she couldn't be in the courtroom until it was her turn to give her testimony. Leaving him alone there made her feel like she was abandoning him, but there wasn't anything she could do about it. "At least, Kakashi will be there for the entirety of the affair", she thought, trying to soothe her nerves.

Knowing she needed to take her mind off things, she'd scheduled three major surgeries for that day. After all, according to the explanation she'd received, the first day was just the opening statements from both parties - no witnesses were called to testify then. Starting tomorrow, Sakura would be at the court's beck and call.

Shower, breakfast, clothes - it was still barely after quarter to six. Way too early to arrive at her office. She had an hour to kill. Begrudgingly, she looked at the open journal laying on her desk. She'd spent the previous night trying to write Sasuke a letter of support - failing spectacularly to write anything of essence. She'd given up halfway.

"Sasuke-kun:

Tomorrow is your trial, and I wanted to offer my support

I wanted to check on you…

"Sasuke-kun:

You're probably worried about tomorrow, and I won't be there…"

And many more that had been written only to be immediately discarded. The only decent iteration had been the following:

"Sasuke-kun:

Who knows what is going through your mind at these times.

I can't say I know what it feels like to be put in a stand, all my actions and words analyzed with ill intention, trying to find every one of my wrong doings.

All I can say is that I think you are a good person.

I hope that matters.

Sakura".

She hadn't had the spine to send it. After all, it was partially thanks to her that he found himself in such a position. To stay in her house was a pointless exercise in mind torture, so she chose to go to work early.

Sakura had been summoned to testify for two of Sasuke's charges: Desertion and Terrorism. Adding her character testimony, that made three days in court.

In their first meeting, back in Kakashi's office, proving how little she knew about Sakura, Fujii-san had told her to not "overthink it": "Simply say what happened. It's not your job to convince anyone of anything".

Of course it was. She had to convince herself things were going exactly as they were supposed to.

DAY TWO

Sasuke had been taken to the courthouse unbound. Good. He seemed to have had a shower and a shave - he looked more put together than someone who'd spent the last fourteen days tied up and alone in a cell should.

A voice called for her attention. "Do you solemnly swear that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"

"I do". Today she was going to be questioned about Sasuke's departure from the Leaf. Tsunade, who sat in a special row with all of the Kages, had already testified he hadn't been given any missions or tasks which justified his absence from the Village.

Sasuke's attorney, Fujii-san, would ask for her testimony first. She looked tiny, standing in front of all these imposing ninjas from all around the world. Sakura thought she could never do what she did: defending herself with her fists was highly preferable from doing so with her words.

"Haruno-san, thank you for your willingness to present testimony. Please state your full name for the record".

"Sakura Haruno"

"Please tell me, were you part of my clients' original four man team?"

"I was". Sasuke sat regally in his chair, face unclouded by fear or anxiety, like he didn't really care for the outcome of the prosecution. From his calmness, one could be mistaken in thinking he was the one passing judgment. Sakura's eyes kept drifting to him, even when she knew her full attention should be on the woman who had just asked her the question.

"And would you say you knew him well?" Sakura worked hard to keep from grimacing. Only straight answers, she had been told to say.

"I did". She avoided looking in Sasuke's direction. She didn't want to see the denying on his face.

"To the best of your knowledge, what was the reason for his departure?"

"He wanted to kill… He wanted to avenge his family".

"Do you know who he was trying to find and assassinate?"

Sakura took a deep breath. "Itachi Uchiha"

"And are you aware of Itachi Uchiha's status during those years?"

She really hated talking about Sasuke's brother. "Yes. He was a rogue ninja and was actively wanted by the Leaf for his crimes".

"Do you know what his punishment would have been if caught by a Konoha nin?"

"Yes. He'd be sentenced to death".

"Before Uchiha-san decided to desert, had you as a team ever been given the task to hunt Itachi Uchiha?"

"Objection!", a man in the prosecution team bellowed. "Irrelevant!"

"Objection sustained", the ancient looking judge proclaimed.

The woman nodded and continued. "In your time as a Team Seven member, before Uchiha-san left to hunt down his brother, did he ever show any proclivities towards insurrection?"

"No, ma'am"

"Before leaving, did Uchiha-san ever rebel against a direct order from a superior?" Kakashi's first lesson echoed in her head: "Those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum".

"No, he didn't"

"To the best of your knowledge, did he ever facilitate access to any Village secrets to a foreigner?"

"No, he didn't".

"Did he ever take any action against a Konoha resident, with the intent of harming them?"

Yes, he did. "No, he didn't". Sasuke's eyes burned a hole through her face.

"Thank you, Haruno-san. That will be all, Your Honor". Sasuke's attorney sat down.

Sakura sighed. There went the easy part of the interrogation. The prosecutor, a handsome man wearing a tan suit, stood from his desk. Sakura thought it was remarkable how his clothes were almost the same tone as his skin. If she had to guess, she'd say he was from Kumogakure.

"Tell me, Haruno-san", he started right away, leaning comfortably against his desk. "Is it true that you were at the gates the night Sasuke Uchiha left Konoha?"

How did he know…? "Yes, it is".

"You say he'd never shown signs of insurrection before. Then how did you know he would leave that night?" Here it comes.

"Ninja have a way of knowing such things about their teammates". Sakura hoped her tone conveyed more confidence than what she actually felt.

"You see, Miss… I might not be a ninja, but regardless, I do not believe in mind reading. If you had to guess, why do you think you chose to wait for him there?"

"Objection", Fujii said calmly. "Speculative"

"Objection sustained. Rephrase, Oyama-san".

"Understood. Did anything in particular happen that made you wait for him?"

A broken plate of apples crossed Sakura's mind. "For a while, he'd been acting unlike himself, I guess"

"Can you describe in which ways he was acting differently?"

"He…" How could she possibly put into words the indescribable feeling she'd experienced all those years ago? Even if she could, it felt like a betrayal - even if whatever she had to say wasn't really incriminating. "He seemed angrier, less controlled than he usually was".

The man turned around, grabbed something from his desk, and showed it to her. "Do you recognize this place, Miss Haruno?"

Sakura didn't need to look twice. "I do".

"Let it be known this photo portrays the top of the Konoha Hospital, minutes after a fight took place in it. Miss Haruno, do you know how the two water tanks were broken that day?"

Sakura begrudgingly answered. "I do".

"Can you tell us how that happened?"

"They were broken in a fight… between Sasuke and Naruto".

"Would that be the defendant and Naruto Uzumaki?" Sakura nodded.

"Why were they fighting?"

She shrugged, trying to look convincing. "I don't know"

"You previously said the defendant had never attacked a fellow Konoha man. How would you describe this interaction then?"

Sakura lied through her teeth. "They were sparring, which is normal between teammates". Some things must always remain between teammates, she thought.

The man procured more pictures, this time showing the back of the tanks. "As I told you before, I am no ninja, so indulge me: does sparring often have these consequences on public property?"

"Objection, badgering". The ringing tone of feminine voice cut Oyama off.

The judge conceded. "Objection sustained. Where are you going with this, prosecutor?"

"Let's go back to our original line of questioning. Was the defendant angry the night he left?"

Sakura thought this question was particularly odd, but she preferred it over discussing what happened in the hospital. "Angry?" She looked into Sasuke's dark eyes to help her answer. They were silent. She returned her gaze to her interrogator. "No, he wasn't angry".

"And yet, he attacked you before leaving, did he not?"

Her mind pulled to a blank. "He… he didn't…"

"Judge, may I approach?" The judge nodded along. "Here we have a written statement which recounts the witness was found unconscious on a bench the morning after the desertion, and woke up screaming the defendant's name". Looking at Sakura, he pressed further. "Can you explain what happened that night?"

Sakura could anticipate what the lawyer was trying to do, but she doubted she would be able to prevent him from doing it without lying. "I tried to stop him, but I wasn't successful, clearly ".

"And did you happen to fall asleep there, instead of running to the Hokage tower to inform your superiors?"

"I didn't".

"So again, Miss Haruno. What exactly happened between you meeting him at the gates and you waking up the next morning?"

"We… talked, and then he made sure I couldn't… intervene".

"How?"

It was impossible to stall anymore. "He knocked me out".

"So you're saying your previously righteous teammate, acting in his full senses, attacked his fellow comrade to escape the Village…"

"Objection!", the female voice didn't sound that calm anymore. "Argumentative!"

"Overruled".

"...And left you alone, vulnerable, where you could have been harmed instead?" Sasuke looked away.

A drop of sweat was rolling down her neck, and she focused on that so the words would come out from her mouth. "He did".

The prosecutor, Oyama-san, returned to his desk and closed his folder. "That'd be all, Your Honor". Something told Sakura this was going to be exactly as hard as she feared.

DAY THREE

Sakura seriously considered skipping work today. She was exhausted. She'd spent the entire night tossing and turning, worried that she was doing more harm than good to Sasuke's case.

With a forced rush of adrenaline, Sakura put on her shoes and left her home, thankful for having a job with no downtime.

A pair of scorching black eyes followed her all day long, chanting: "You're betraying me, you're betraying me".

DAY FOUR

A hawk tapped on her office window, where she'd spent the night trying to escape the choking feeling of despair that harassed her.

"He'll be alright - try not to worry too much.

Kakashi".

DAY FIVE

"You'll be called shortly. Please wait here". The courthouse lobby was too hot, or maybe it was just her nerves playing games on her. She undid the top button in her blouse.

She had barely recovered from the last time she'd been on the witness stand. The way the prosecutor had assaulted her with harsh questions… every time she answered, it was like she was handing Sasuke to the opposition on a plate.

The receptionist opened the doors once again. "Come with me, Haruno-san".

Their steps clattered on the polished floors. Today, the lawyers were going to interrogate her in regards to the terrorism charges. Sakura shivered. She knew that for her it meant the bridge where they tried to kill one another.

"Miss Haruno, is good to have you back", the tall prosecutor gave her a lopsided smile. "Please take the stand" Sakura hated that man. She hated him with a passion.

"Do you solemnly swear that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"

A 'no' wouldn't work for an answer, would it? "I do".

"Let's begin. Miss Haruno, do you know who Karin Uzumaki is?"

This conversation was going to be painful as well, but at least she wouldn't be caught off guard. "I think that was Sasuke's teammate, but I didn't know she was an Uzumaki"

"Miss Uzumaki took the stand minutes ago. She testified to having been healed by you. Do you remember such an occurrence?"

"I heal many people everyday, I am sure I've healed her more than once". She wasn't going to give in that easily.

With a stupid smirk on his stupidly good looking face, like he was expecting to find resistance, the prosecutor continued. "Understandable. How about if I give you coordinates? She says you healed her on a bridge in the Land of Iron. Do you remember helping her there?"

"I do, yes"

"Do you know who hurt her?"

"I don't". Sakura deduced there was a fine line between "lying" and "not telling the whole truth", and she was set in walking it for as long as she could.

"Was there anyone else on that bridge that day?" This question made her pause. She tried to remember who Karin had seen besides Sasuke and her. Had she lost consciousness before Kakashi arrived? She couldn't remember.

"There was". A vague answer that could only buy her little time.

"Was your former teammate, Mister Uchiha, there with you?"

Good. This way she'd avoid mentioning her other two teammates. "Yes, he was"

"This was before or after he killed the standing Hokage, Shimura Danzo?"

"I don't know if he killed Danzo".

His gaze turned inquisitorial "May I remind you: you are under oath, Miss Haruno"

Sakura raised her voice. "I'm not saying he didn't, all I'm saying is I wasn't there to check for myself"

"And do you think he did it?"

"Your Honor: objection, call for speculation". The heat that was quickly accumulating in Sakura's face was probably noticeable by now, so she forced herself to take three big breaths to calm down. She lost her temper too easily - that had always been one of her worst flaws.

"Objection sustained".

"Sakura Haruno, did Sasuke Uchiha try to kill you when you met him in the Land of Country at approximately five p.m.?"

"I tried to kill him first".

"But he did attack you with the intention to kill you?"

"Yes, he did".

"That will be all, Your Honor". Sakura had to dig her nails into the flesh of her thighs to keep from crying.

The styrofoam cup in her hands contained the most disgusting coffee she had ever tasted. The court had gone into adjournment, giving Sakura and everyone else some time to wind down from what had been a heated testimony.

"Everyone, we're continuing in five minutes", the same woman from before informed the floor.

Sakura felt completely checked out as Sasuke's attorney asked her questions. Her answers were automatic; she simply wanted to get out of that big room as quickly as possible.

"Haruno-san, why were you in the Land of Iron at the same time as my client?"

Voice almost breaking, Sakura answered. "I went there to try to assassinate him". Her eyes were focused on a humidity spot in the far wall. If she looked anyone in the eyes, especially Sasuke, she was sure she would break down crying.

"Who attacked first?"

"I did"

"That would be all, Your Honor. Thank you, Haruno-san"

DAY SIX

"We need to get him a new attorney". Sakura paced back and forth through the room, biting her nails.

Naruto stopped slurping his dinner. "Huh? Why?"

"The other guy is too good, and we haven't prepared enough! They have so much ammunition against us, and I'm sure Sasuke-kun won't do much to paint himself in a better light, and…"

Holding her hand, Naruto stopped both her ranting and her walking. "Hey", he rubbed her fingers. "Things are going fine".

"Have you and Kakashi agreed to take me for a fool or what? Don't you see things are dire?" Naruto laughed. He actually laughed at her.

"You should see yourself right now, you look like a spider" Glaring at him, Sakura untangled their fingers and raked them through her hair. "Listen, Sak. Everything is going according to plan, ok?". He patted her calf affectionately.

There was nothing else to do but to believe in him.

DAY SEVEN

"What is a character witness?", Sakura asked Fujii-san.

The woman fixed her glasses. "Do you believe Uchiha-san has valid reasons behind his actions?"

"For the most part, yes"

"Then you'll have to show everyone in that room why you see him under such light".

Today was her last chance to actually help Sasuke instead of further sinking him down. She'd spent her entire morning meditating, focusing on the calm waves of chakra cruising through her. She needed her passions to work for her, instead of against her. By now, she knew both of the lawyer's styles of questioning well enough to be able to foresee their questions.

She could do this. She could do this.

"Welcome back, Haruno-san. Are you ready to begin?"

"Yes, I am"

"How long have you known my client?", Fujii-san said, gesturing towards Sasuke.

"We met in the Academy, when we were five years old"

"And at what age were you assigned as teammates?"

"When we were 12"

"How was Uchiha-san as a teammate?"

Sakura took a deep breath. "Sasuke was always an excellent teammate. He pushed both Naruto and I to be better, and he protected us any chance he got. More than once, he put his own life in the line to care for us".

Sakura continued talking about their years as teammates. She described the many times Sasuke put Konoha and their citizens first; she recalled how he could have easily escaped Orochimaru and his cursed seal, if only he'd fled and left her alone to die. She detailed how he overcame the influence of such a seal when his friends were in danger. How, when they met years later, Sasuke didn't aim to kill, and how when she'd healed hundreds of Orochimaru's slaves, they explained how the Uchiha only ever disabled them instead of executing them. She disclosed how, during the war, he'd joined the Allies' cause against his kin. How, without his help, they would have all been doomed. How at times he defended Kakashi, herself, and the rest of the Shinobi soldiers, even when his goals didn't depend on any of them. How he'd accepted being put into a disused and ruinous prison cell, even when he could have perfectly escaped if he truly wanted. All those things she spoke with her characteristic passion, inflated by the tickling sentiment that ran through her body every time she remembered the softer side of her beloved teammate.

But everything that rises must fall.

"Miss Haruno, it is a pleasure to have you back". The balloon that had spent the last hour inflating in hope and optimism was popped by the presence of the detestable prosecutor and his daily pristine suit, burgundy this time.

He began asking the typical starting questions, all mild at best, but her heart sank to the floor when he dropped this bomb on her. "May I inquire what your secondary sexual designation is, Miss Haruno?"

Fuck, fuck, double fuck. "I am an Omega"

With the glinting eyes of someone who knows the answer before asking the question, he pronounced: "And have you always been an Omega?"

No point in lying. "No, I haven't".

"How curious. How did that change happen?" Sasuke, who had looked disinterested throughout the whole affair, was suddenly too interested in what she had to say.

"I was made into an Omega"

"By who?"

"By Sasuke"

"How?"

"He's a True Alpha".

"For those in the audience who are unaware, could you please explain what a True Alpha is?"

Sighing, she replied. "A True Alpha is a special kind of denomination which rarely happens".

"And how are they different from a regular Alpha?"

"They don't submit to the authority of Top Alphas"

"Are you aware of Mister Uchiha's incoming prosecution trial, Miss Haruno? He's being investigated for aggravated sexual assault".

"I am aware"

"And who is the alleged victim?"

"I am". Choked gasps were heard around the room.

"Honorable members of the Jury", he turned and spoke to the Kage. "We cannot allow ourselves to be swayed by the emotional words of an Omega who not only feels for him, but who has also bonded with the defendant. Let's not deceive ourselves into believing without proof that a dangerous True Alpha such as Sasuke Uchiha will ever yield his hand to serve and protect the needs and wants from any other individual besides his own."

Sakura's curses were heard well after she'd been dragged out of the courtroom.

DAY EIGHT

Thursdays were family days at the Haruno household. They'd started this routine back when Sakura had started her years as a mentee under Tsunade, who had urged her to find a place closer to the Hospital. She tried her best to always make it on time to their dinner dates, but because last Thursday Sakura had been busy testifying, they'd moved the date to the following day. Hence, that's where Sakura was when a perspiring Sai found her: drinking tea with her parents.

"Haruno-san, Mebuki-san", he said with a courteous bow, even when his breaths were shorter than they typically were. "Sakura, we've been looking for you everywhere!"

The kunoichi, who was already grabbing her coat and ready to rush out the door, asked: "Is anyone hurt? What's going on?"

Sai shook his head. "The verdict will be announced in…" He looked at the kitchen clock. "Fifteen minutes".

The big knot in Sakura's throat kept her from replying, but in her long strides her teammate had no issue reading "Let's go then".

The respected Judge took his high seat, not without struggling with moving his old and afflicted body. He was something of a legend in the Justice court, Sakura had learned, armed with more wisdom than wrinkles and with the admired ability to always arrive at a just conclusion to any issue, his most fervent devotees would say.

Legend or not, Sakura thought to herself, she wished to never need to see him in action ever again. A wish that was wasted on such a request, given that she already had an incoming appointment with the Sage - the day Sasuke's second trial began. "Don't think about it", she chastised herself. "Don't think about it until we're sure he won't be hanged in the public square for everyone to see".

Sakura sat in the third row, in a seat that creaked every time she moved. From this angle, she had a perfect view of Sasuke's immaculate profile. While the Judge cleared his throat for the fifth time, eyes never leaving the papers in front of him like he was leisurely reading the newspaper at home, Sakura took advantage of her position and got an eyeful of her beloved.

Right when her eyes found his lips and a pang of desire made her sigh, he looked back at her. Oftentimes, she was too flustered to hold his gaze for long, but today she was emboldened by the gloomy circumstances. His eyes were softer than they'd been throughout the entire trial, and she knew he'd been saving them just for her.

"I tried my best", she hoped to convey.

"I know", he seemed to be saying. The gavel pounded on the Judge's desk, interrupting their secret conversation.

"Sasuke Uchiha", the judge said, looking straight at him. "You have been found innocent of the following charges: desertion and aggravated murder. You have been found guilty of the following charges: Kidnapping, terrorism and murder. However", the elderly man took off his glasses and put them on the desk, "the testimony heard in this room also proves you have helped to save the world, and for that, we should all be grateful".

"In addition, three of the other world saviors have vouched for you and your behavior, and it would be unappreciative of this court to dismiss their wishes for your safety. You should thank them, young man; in them, you have good friends you can count on".

"Regardless of all this, many people have suffered from your rash behavior, and there is the potential in you to hurt even more, so it is fair for the victims to claim their due justice. For all of these reasons, you will be sentenced to renounce your title as ninja of Konoha.

"You will never again raise your weapons against a shinobi from any of the Five Shinobi Villages; however, to assure peace and cooperation between the nations, you will respond to any of their requests as long as they do not force you to go against another of the Five lands.

"Is that understood, Sasuke Uchiha?"

"Yes, sir". Sakura couldn't help her excitement, and hugged Sai, who was sitting next to her.

"Thank God!", she thought. In the room, many looked relieved, but there was more than one grim face, including the prosecutor's, Masaki Oyama. Naruto hollered.

"Silence!", the pounding gavel made them all shush. "I will see you Monday for your next prosecution, Uchiha-san. Everyone's dismissed". Oh, that's right. The black clouds of despair had not completely dissipated yet.

45 hours, Sakura counted. Looking at her ceiling, she made her best effort to stop thinking about Monday morning. She counted the shadows left by the shades in her window, she counted the pens scattered on her desk, she counted the amount of clothes she could see in her half-opened closet.

Telling Ino about her debauchery had been bad enough. Finding the courage to tell a room filled with people eager to judge her about her indiscretions felt mortifying already. Even worse, having to recount the events in front of him. Sakura covered her face with both hands, trying to rub the shame off of her face.

The closer the date got, the faster her heart beat. She wasn't ready - testifying had been bad enough when she was talking about her long lost past. But now? Once again, anger took hold over her heart. This was a matter between Sasuke and her, not an entire cohort of lawyers and judges and typists.

She could refuse to cooperate, of course. But what would be worse, uncovering the secrets between a man and a woman for everyone to know or letting Sasuke suffer the consequences of their unrestrained desire on his own?

Walking down the market and seeing the faces of customers and merchants alike who waved their hand in salute was further misery for her. Would they still consider her honorable once they knew everything that had gone down? Would they still ask their kids to look at her in admiration, hoping one day they might be competent healers such as herself? Would her coworkers still respect her once the gossip had spread through the town? All for a man who didn't choose her. All for a man who couldn't love her.

The courtroom looked precisely the same as it did three days ago. Sakura didn't know why that surprised her - but once again, she had grown accustomed to waiting for things to change without reason. The sinking feeling on her chest amplified.

The same typist sitting on the left corner. The same curtains draping over the windows. The same judge with the same limping walk approaching the bench. The same smell of painted wood. The same defense attorney sitting on the same polished desk. The same elusive man, exactly as he'd always been, ignorant to her most ardently wishes… no, not ignorant: indifferent.

Kakashi patted the free seat next to him, and even when her feet were heavy like sinkers, there she went. Last time, she'd been summoned to witness - now, she was also the alleged victim. This meant she was allowed to be there for the entirety of the prosecution, if she so wished. Sakura had learned long ago that being where the bad news was happening was far superior from listening to them second-hand.

Sasuke sat on the same spot as he was the previous time. He looked OK, if a little underfed. "Please look at me", Sakura thought intently, ordering her mental wavelengths to cross the room and worm their way into his brain. He didn't respond to her pleas. His lawyer said something to him, and he leaned to the side. She saw dark bags under his eyes, contrasting his paler than usual skin.

"All rise! The court is now in session", the bailiff exclaimed. The scraping of several chairs was heard reverberating on the wainscoting walls.

The aged Judge sat down. "You might take a seat". He eyed Sasuke intently, looked at the papers in front of him for a number of long seconds, and then his gaze drifted around the room until he found Sakura's.

"What do we have here today?", he asked who Sakura inferred was the prosecutor assigned to the case.

"Your Honor", the juvenile lawyer stood up, stumbling with his own two feet. If she squinted, she could see the remains of pubescent pimples on his face. "Today we're here to prove Sasuke Uchiha's charges of aggravated sexual assault against the victim, um…", he checked a paper on his hands. "Sakura Haruno, Your Honor". Apparently whoever was behind the case assumed it was going to be so easy to put the black-haired ninja behind bars that they sent the most incompetent lawyer they found laying around.

Fujii-san, Sasuke's attorney, rose. "We are here to fight the aforementioned charges Your Ho- '' Unexpectedly, Sasuke's hand snatched the woman's forearm.

Everyone looked aghast. The typist hid behind her papers, like they had the ability to protect her against an attack. "Is there something you want to say, Uchiha-san?", the Judge asked calmly, looking over his half moon glasses.

"I plead guilty".

Sakura was beyond herself with shock. Everyone was, if their eyes of the size of saucers were an indicator of anything. A questioning buzz slivered through everyone's seat.

Kakashi chuckled silently to her left, like he knew the butt of a joke everyone else was still waiting to hear. Sakura was too transfixed by the scene happening in front of her to care too much about the oddities of her former teacher.

Even Sasuke's defense lawyer was bamboozled. "Your Honor, I-". The judge raised his hand to stop her.

"Are you sure?" Sasuke gave a curt nod. "Very well, then. I'll have you know the consequence for such a crime is chemical castration". The ninja didn't look an inch taken aback by the intimidating sentence.

"Your Honor, if I might interfere: He's the last Uchiha heir", by the look in his defender's face, it was clear both that Sasuke and she had discussed this before, and that she was in deep disagreement with his answer to the charges. "Taking such an extreme measure is counterproductive for the ninja society as a whole".

Leaning back on his chair, the Judge indulged her. " What punishment do you suggest then, counselor?"

"Naien union, Your Honor. There's precedent in Onikuma v Konoha"

"And does your defendant agree with your proposal?" Moving his attention from the woman to the ninja, he asked: "Sasuke Uchiha, will you marry Sakura Haruno?" Sakura choked on her own saliva.

Sasuke's face was contrived in an unpleasant grimace. "I refuse".

The Judge looked more entertained than offended. "So what will it be? Or do you suggest you should walk freely despite your crimes?"

With his ever steady voice, he replied. "Bushido Shoshinshu. The code of the warrior".

"It is settled, then". The gavel was heard thrice across the chamber. "Sasuke Uchiha, you will own no land, bear no children, have no possessions, belong to no state. For your crimes, you are sentenced to eighteen months in exile. Court is adjourned".

In an ironic turn of events, a man and a woman found themselves in the same spot a love confession had been refused so many moons ago. The difference today? She knew his departure was for the better. But what a violent gap his absence would leave in her very essence.

"Before you go, I want to apologize…" She wanted to talk about it, she truly did. She wished there was a way of doing so without mentioning how much it hurt. She wanted to heal the wound without exposing it to the crisp sunny air.

His mismatched eyes would forever be mesmerizing, but the smirk on his face was what took the air out of her lungs. "Apologize for what, Sakura?"

She looked down to her feet, cheeks rosy like a freshly picked apple. "About last month, I… I shouldn't have forced you into anything". Even her, with all her healing prowess, couldn't make a scar fully go away. Her love scarred her - and that scar was more herself than anything else she had to give.

A poke in her forehead took her out of her musings. "When have I ever acted against my will?"

And with a promise unsaid, his figure blurred against the setting sun.

Longest chapter yet! Only subtle Sasusaku moments, but I promise the GOOD parts are coming soon ;) anyone noticed there's only a few days before Sakura's next heat? *wiggles eyebrows* ? - no more L's for Sakura I beg you
? - he should have accepted to marry her!
? - forehead poke ahhh!
? - please give us the heat scenes SOON!
? - these two fools are so in love already!
? - thank you for the chapter! (no, thank YOU for your kind review :) )
? - can't wait for next chapter! TYSM for reading and supporting my work, and I'll see you next time with a BIG ;) and JUICY ;) chapter