*It took me longer than I thought it was going to, but I finally got the fourth chapter done. This one was a little difficult for me to write, I know Sai is OOC, but it couldn't be helped, so please be gentle with your reviews...)

*Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

SAI

Sai walked home at an almost snail pace, it's not like he didn't want to read his letter, because he did. The problem was that he knew when he read that letter, he would have heard the last from Sakura in this lifetime. Although he hadn't known the pink haired kunoiche for as long as the other members of his team had, apart from Yamato that is, he had become really close to the girl, and he missed her a great deal.

She had been a good friend to him, she was more patient than Naruto or Sauske were with him when he made an error in communication, or spoke to bluntly, and she was always the one to include him when the others decided to do something together, it's not like Naruto or Sauske hated him or anything, it was just those two sometimes forgot that he was also a part of their team now.

Even though Sai had been walking so slowly he eventually reached the door to his apartment, he opened the door and entered and then he decided to sit on the couch for awhile before opening the letter to read it, he needed some time to prepare himself for Sakura's last words to him.

After a while Sai slowly reached for the envelope and gently opened it, inside he found two pieces of paper, one was a letter written to him by Sakura, and the other was a sketch of all five of the boy's sitting under a tree together eating lunch. Sai sat the sketch on the table and unfolded Sakura's letter to begin reading.

Dear Sai,

I hope you liked the sketch, I know my artwork isn't as good as your but I think it's alright, anyway I wanted you to have this sketch that I drew on the last evening we all spent together because I know how much you appreciate art over words, so this sketch is my way of reminding you in a way that is unique to you, that you are a part of team Kakashi now so that you won't forget it.

I know that you had a hard life before you met Team Kakashi, and I know that we can't make up for all that you went through before we met you, but I hope that in some way I helped make up for just a little of it by being the best friend that I knew how to be to you. I know that I was hard on you sometimes, but it was only because I wanted you to be the best person that you could be and I wanted to help you be that person.

I know that you haven't had any experience with "Family", but that is what Team Kakashi is, we are a family, and now you are apart of that family. Even though I won't be around for you to come to when you are having trouble with something, that doesn't mean that you can't go to Naruto or Sauske with it. They may never show it, but they would do anything for you, because you are just as much family to them as you are to me, and I hope that you feel the same way about us.

You were a good friend to me Sai, and even though I didn't know you as long as I did the others, you became family to me. I regret that I won't be around to see you grow into the wonderful man that I know you will become, but that doesn't mean that I am any less proud of you for all your going to accomplish in the future. I know that you will miss me, as I will miss you, but just think of me when you are doing your drawings, imagine that I am standing over your shoulder watching, and know that you will never be far from my heart, wherever I go I will always carry you with me as a precious memory.

This is where I must say my final goodbye and ask you for a special favor. I don't want you to be alone, so I ask that you open up a bit more to Naruto and Sauske and that you try to become as close to them as they are to each other, I know this will be hard for you, but I need you to do it, because that is how you are going to take care of each other, by maintaining your bonds.

I am sad for leaving, but happy because I know that we will see each other again someday. So let's both look foward to that day, alright?, But for now live your life to the fullest and enjoy your new family, remember that I love you all.

Sakura

Sai stared at the letter and then he gave a small smile, "For you Sakura I will try to make stronger bonds with both Naruto and Sauske.", he took the letter and placed it in a special drawer in his desk and then laid down to go to sleep. As he drifted off, he could have sworn that he saw sakura wave goodbye to him in his minds, she looked just like she had on the day she left for her last mission. Sai smiled again and drifted off to sleep peacefully.