Here's another chapter! Thanks so much to all you who reviewed! It made me smile. Again, I apologize for the cliffy in the previous chapter. Well, here we go.

Disclaimer: are you seriously asking that question?

Sakura's POV

It was just like grade-school again. Everyone staring. Back then, it was because of my strange coloring and odd fashion sense.

This time, it was because of the police officers dragging me away.

Naruto, bless his heart, came up to the officer and shouted at him to let me go, that I had done nothing wrong. He was telling the truth, but since when has the truth ever mattered?

As my friends shouted angrily at the police, I glimpsed Sasuke in the back of the room. An officer was at his shoulder, explaining things to him, no doubt. But he wasn't paying attention to the man.

He was staring at me. His black, endless eyes seemed to stare right through me. He looked almost…sad…like he had lost all hope in the future and in life.

It couldn't possibly be because of me. It couldn't be.

As the policeman at my back pushed me forward, I could almost see the old Sasuke, the cold, cynical, harsh man without a heart.

And I knew that that was because of me.

The officers shoved me into the police car and I was transported to the Konoha Police Headquarters. I was pulled out of the car and the flash of cameras momentarily blinded me. Reporters were shouting questions at me over the roar of the crowd throwing insults and curses for stealing away the Prince.

I knew that everything they said was true. I closed my eyes against tears threatening to fall from my eyes. I heard their insults paired with insults from years ago.

"Freak!"

"Whore!"

"Bitch!"

"Go back to where you came from, you stupid little weirdo!"

"We don't want you here!"

"What have you done?!"

"Forehead!"

"Ugly!"

"Stupid!"

"We hate you!"

"Just disappear!"

The feeling of self-hatred rushed through me in a cold, poisonous wave.

It was true. It was all true. I was ugly. I was stupid. And people hated me.

It was all bitingly true.

I barely felt the pebbles a few people threw. The police officers pushed those individuals back and escorted me quickly into the brick building. I tripped and fell to my knees on the marble floor. I was dizzy. My surroundings were spinning. Then, the only thing in my vision field was a pair of fine black shoes.

I dared to look up.

And His Majesty, King Fugaku Uchiha of the Land of Fire was glaring right back at me.

I was tongue-tied. Scared out of my mind. And I could only say one thing.

"Oh, shit…"

My police officer snorted. The king raised an eyebrow.

"So you are the criminal who kidnapped my son, are you?" he said quietly, his deep voice rumbling through the room.

"I never kidnapped your son, sire," I replied, staring defiantly up into his eyes.

He grabbed the front of my shirt, pulled me up so that I was level with his face, and slapped me. Hard. And it hurt. My officer winced.

I dropped to the ground, holding my stinging face and spitting blood. I stared up at him with hard eyes, as if daring him to try that stunt again.

"Liar," he hissed.

"I'm telling the truth!" I protested.

He hit me again. I crumpled on the floor. He was furious.

"HOW DARE YOU LIE TO YOUR KING?!?!" he shouted.

I continued to stare at him determinedly. "I am a lot of things, your Majesty. But I am not a liar."

I felt his large hand grab me around the throat. I gasped for air.

"Listen well, little girl! I am the king. If I say something is true, then it's true. If I say something is a lie, it's a lie. Anyone who says otherwise will be punished."

He let me go. Once I had my breath back, I stared at him defiantly again.

"So this is what our society has come to? Liars are praised as truthful, and those who speak the truth are punished as heretics? Well, then if that's the case, Heaven help us all if you live for another thirty years."

The king raised his fist for another blow when my officer held back his arm. The king turned his fearsome face to face my officer. His visible eye was squinted, like he was smiling.

"I don't mean to be rude, your Majesty, but I'm afraid that she is under state protection. As long as she is in this building, even you can't touch her," he said calmly.

The king looked infuriated. But he pulled his arm away instead and glared down at me.

"Your trial will be tomorrow morning," he growled. "In the meantime, maybe you should think over your options. Because I do not take lying very lightly. Remember that, Miss Haruno."

I shuddered involuntarily as he swept out of the room.

As soon as the door swung shut, my officer exhaled loudly and bent over to help me up.

"You okay, kiddo?" he asked kindly. He was very tall and thin, his shoulders slumped and his gray hair stood up like he had been electrically charged.

"I guess," I muttered.

"Name's Kakashi. Don't worry, kid, you'll be okay. This'll all get cleared up real soon. I promise."

I sighed.

"I hope so."

AT LONG LAST I HAVE UPDATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yikes, this chapter has been bouncing around in my brain and stewing for months. I'm so sorry I haven't updated in so long!!!!!!!!!! I had a lot of family issues this winter and things have been pretty rough with school and stuff….but now that the year is almost over, I WILL UPDATE MORE!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks, and see y'all next time!

sakura ten'nyo