Note to the reader: Since I'm having a feed back that some readers want to have Sasuke back (I do too!), I'll interchange the sequence and make few adjustments.

Errata: Pardon me Aburame Shino fans! I typed in the previous chapter that the wig was black. It's supposed to be brown. Please take note of the error.

Summary: Life is all about sacrifice. One must die to keep another alive.

CHAPTER XI- Departure and Return

During the late afternoon by the end of winter, the televisions were suddenly turned on. The main news was about the return of the army from the Snow Country. Parents were wailing like children in their homes and the other concerned citizens held their breath while waiting for further information.

In the news program, a male reporter stood at the gates of the Fire Country and his camera man rushed to take a video of the incoming trucks. He caught sight of soldiers who were waving happily to show that they were alright. "The soldiers have started arriving!" the reporter almost yelled to vie with the noise of the trucks and the shouting soldiers. "The list of the casualties are posted at hospitals where the patient lives. A hundred is dead and there are more names being reported. The medic trucks are arriving—sir! Excuse me sir!" The reporter ran after a truck where the field general was. His camera man followed him with his pursuit.

The parents did not find the interview of the general interesting for they were already off to their corresponding hospitals. Some went to the Military Department to check the names of those who had arrived in good condition. Among all those crowding people, a pink headed teen was distinguishable. Her pink hair had grown longer that it reached her shoulders. She was in line while her neck extended, trying to see how long would it take her to see the list. She was Haruno Sakura. Sakura was constantly checking her watch because she estimated that in a few minutes, the trucks would arrive in Konoha. The line took longer than she expected. Sakura groaned and interlaced her fingers because of anxiety. Her lips parted and muttered the name 'Sasuke'.

Before she could even see the list, the trucks came. The people scattered like dust and almost blocked the driveway. Sakura almost ran among the people and ran beside the trucks. "Sasuke? Sasuke?" She cried out as she transferred from truck to truck, pounding on the sides of the vehicles. "Sasuke! Sasuke! Is he there? Sasuke!" The soldiers in the truck did not reply. When the vehicles stopped, the soldiers rushed out and ran to their loved ones. Sakura was pushed aback but she managed to look out for anyone having a unique style of raven hair. And because of her effort, she accidentally bumped into someone else. "Kiba?"

"Sakura!" Kiba and Sakura automatically embraced. "I thought I'd never make it!"

Sakura seemed not to hear what the teen said. "Where's Sasuke?" She looked like she was to collapse.

So she is the mysterious girl Sasuke was anxious about. Kiba opened his mouth to say something but his voice faltered. "Sasuke… he's… Sasuke? I mean… Sakura, I don't know how to—" He halted and saw that he should not continue.

Sakura's eyes welled up. She understood his difficulty. She understood why. She smiled—a sorrowful one—before she left Kiba standing in the middle of the crowd. She walked with unsteady feet. She bumped into people… she got pushed to different directions… she got pulled by the shirt… but she didn't care. She just had to go in the Konoha Hospital. The other crying parents were also grabbing the slim opportunity to pass through the door way. Everyone was squeezing themselves through without any consideration of who they might had hit or pushed. They wanted to see if their son or daughter was still breathing.

After much pushing and almost killing just to get in, Sakura finally got her feet in the hospital. The hall was less crowded than outside. The people were still experiencing same state of panic nonetheless. Sakura moved to the over populated customer service. Most of the people trying to debate with the head nurse were mothers. Many of them could not be blamed because they were just too scared of what might have happened.

"Please be considerate!" the head nurse had lost half of her long patience. "Please understand that there are many parents trying to get information about their children!"

"Just get us the room number and we're done! You don't know how we feel! You! Do you have a son? Huh? Do you know…?" And the uncontrollable rant continued. Sakura was also shouting for Sasuke's room number but she was not heard whatever she did. She didn't realize it but she was actually acting like those parents. The pushing and name-callings went on until someone pulled Sakura out of the crowd.

"What are you—?" She turned and was stunned to see red glowing eyes matched with velvet black hair.

"It's been a while Haruno Sakura." It was the older Uchiha, Itachi. "I knew you'd be here." There was no tone in his voice depicting what happened to the younger.

"Itachi, where's Sasuke? Where's—"

"Calm down." He basically smiled. "Follow me." He walked normally without any tint of panic. Sakura exhaled heavily after noticing the movements of Itachi. Maybe Sasuke is fine… maybe I didn't understand what Kiba said. Tears rolled down her face once more. The two walked through a less crowded corridor and stopped at a certain room. Itachi gave her a look to indicate that Sasuke was there. Sakura's heart skipped a beat. What will I tell him? What will he say to me? Is he still the same? Questions appeared in her mind before she nodded to Itachi and turned the door knob.

The first thing she saw was the blinding light of the morning. The window was open and the curtain was tied to keep from covering the sunlight. She smiled to herself as she scanned the room and she clasped her trembling hands in indescribable fear. Her eyes slowly moved and fell on the person who was lying on the white covered bed. But there was something wrong… Sakura's smile faded and her lips trembled. A loud painful cry escaped her mouth as she flung herself to the side of the bed. Itachi went into the room and looked at Sakura who was pulling the white sheet to her face. There was Sasuke, yes, but he was fully covered from head to foot with a white blanket.

"SASUKE! WAKE UP! TALK TO ME! WAKE UP!" Sakura was supported by Itachi before she could have fallen to the floor. She was crying and hopelessly calling Sasuke's name and Itachi was embracing her torso hushing her down.

"Sakura, there's no use…" Itachi mumbled.

"No! No! Sasuke!" Sakura pushed herself away from Itachi and pulled the blanket off Sasuke. She enfolded the body tightly and she felt the stinging coldness of the corpse. Her eyes leaked more as she buried her face on Sasuke's neck. He was unmoved. He did not respond. She could not feel his heartbeat which was one with her. She silenced after seconds and whispered. "I know you can still hear me… Wake up for me please… Sasuke… Please wake up for me…"

That was pitiful. The two individuals knew that there was no possible way that he could wake up. But…

Wake up for me…

A heartbeat…

Sasuke…

Another heartbeat…

Wake up…

…and another one…

Sasuke?

Sakura's eyes immediately stopped leaking tears. She could feel beats against skin. She couldn't believe it. She pushed herself up to feel Sasuke's pulse and then she covered her mouth. She turned to Itachi who was pretty surprised with her reaction. "He's alive!" For a moment there, he thought she had become deranged. He needed for her to confirm the words. "Sasuke's alive!" she repeated with a more convincing enthusiasm.

In a flash, the nurses were already rushing Sasuke to the Operation Room. Dr. Haust, who had just arrived the other day, took over the operation. Sakura and Itachi remained outside the room for about fifteen hours. They were silent as they waited for any news about Sasuke. Gradually, the parents and other people lessened and the hospital became serene again. There was no sound coming from the room but the nurses constantly came out making the two stand up. After realizing that they would not retrieve any data, they sat again beside each other waiting until midnight.

Finally, Dr. Haust moved out of the operation room and slightly nodded to the two. It was finished.

"How is he Doctor?" Sakura was clasping her hands again. "Is Sasuke—"

"He's weak but he's fine now." He placed his hand on Sakura's shoulder. "He had been clinically dead for five minutes which was almost impossible." He continued and smiled to Itachi. "He just had a heart transplant so we strictly prohibit him from doing anymore trainings."

"Heart transplant?" Itachi appeared anxious.

"Yes, I told him he needed an operation. Luckily, someone had approached me a day before their departure. I think he was with the army as well." He coughed and looked through the window of the door. "He said that if he'd die, he'd donate his heart to Uchiha Sasuke."

"And who might that be?" the older Uchiha inquired.

"If I'm not mistaken, he is Gaara." Dr. Haust turned to them.

Itachi stayed in Sasuke's apartment since Sasuke was rushed into the hospital. He occasionally went to see his brother with Sakura. Dr. Haust was always happy to tell them that Sasuke was recovering fast and he might wake up after that week. But that certain morning, the two went not to the hospital but to the cemetery. Both of them were in black attire while Sakura was holding a bouquet of roses and Itachi was carrying a box which contains Sakura didn't know what.

There were only a few people who went to the funeral. Most of the attendees were strangers, perhaps belonging to another college school. There was Gaara's family, as they reckoned, who was showing gratitude to those who attended. One of them was a blonde lady who they heard was named Temari. Kankurou, who was the eldest brother, was with his father. Sakura and Itachi moved toward them and expressed their condolences.

"We are more than thankful of Gaara's sacrifice." Sakura said sincerely. "He saved Sasuke's life even after his death."

Temari looked at Kankurou and then turned to Sakura. "We really didn't understand why he loved that Uchiha so much." That reply made the indication that the two didn't agree with their youngest brother's affair.

"But, past is past." Kankurou concluded. "Thank you for visiting."

They proceeded to the coffin where people were crowding to see Gaara. Once they had the chance, they gazed at his seemingly sleeping body. Gaara's eyes were closed and his lips were pale but still lovely. His porcelain white skin was whiter but there was no sign of painful death. He was wearing a scarlet robe with a cloth hanging from his shoulder to his hips. Sakura's eyes moved slowly to his left chest where his heart was once. It was now empty, though unseen, but it was full of love for Sasuke.

The mass began after a few more minutes. The priest was looking at the attendees as he solemnly read passages from the Bible. There were also soldiers in uniforms to honor the bravery of Gaara. After the blessing, the coffin was brought down to the dug hole. The people threw flowers while other just wailed. Sakura threw the bouquet while Itachi carefully placed the box on the coffin before it got too low. After lowering the coffin, the soldiers made their shot.

The people slowly left, making final talks with Gaara's family. Sakura and Itachi remained standing by the burial site. "Itachi, what was inside there?"

Itachi looked at her in question.

"The box you placed there. What was inside there?"

Itachi looked at the leaving people for a while before answering. "Sasuke's heart."

"What?" Sakura stared at him. "You mean—"

"Yes, his real heart." Itachi smiled at her. "Isn't it that Gaara gave him his? Why not give Gaara Sasuke's?"

Sakura understood how Itachi sympathized with the death of Gaara. Why not fill his empty chest with his loved one's heart?

"You don't mind do you?" the Uchiha asked.

"No, not at all." Sakura smiled to herself and read the gravestone.

Sabaku no Gaara

After that week, Sakura went to the hospital again. She brought with her fruits and flowers since she knew that Sasuke was now awake, according to Dr. Haust's frequent report. Itachi was out that day because he had to do something so she went alone. By the moment she got there, Dr. Haust was just about to get out of the room. She quickly approached him and asked, "Is Sasuke awake?"

"Yes," he smiled, "he's actually looking for you."

Sakura walked into the room finding Sasuke still lying on the bed but with eyes open. She placed the basket down and sat beside him. She was looking at the open window thinking of what to say when she heard a faint word from Sasuke. "Haruno… I didn't know you were coming."

"Of course you knew." Sakura replied weakly. "Do you feel alright now?"

The Uchiha nodded and a faint mischievous smile passed his face. "No."

He was Sasuke. She thought and sighed. "What do you need? Just tell me…"

"I want to get up…" Sasuke sounded pitiful yet determined.

"Stay down Sasuke. You need more rest." Sakura shook her head and held Sasuke's hand gently but firmly. "Please promise me not to do this again."

"I can't Haruno…" Sasuke appeared serious with his answer.

There was pure silence before Sasuke spoke again, "Will you do something for me?"

"Sure! Just tell me right away." She answered.

"Kiss me."

"What?" she blushed and looked around as if there were people staring at them. "Sasuke—"

Sasuke's eye brows went up. He really was the mischievous Uchiha.

"Sasuke, are you serious?" Sakura crossed her arms and she couldn't help but chuckle.

"Well, yes I am." He smiled weakly.

Sakura parted her lips to say something but she lost the words. She shook her head and bent down. She slowly lowered her face until her lips pressed against Sasuke's forehead. After which, she sat upright and said, "There you go."

Sasuke was pretty amused because he didn't realize that Sakura could be cunning at times. He closed his eyes and then muttered, "Look under the bed and you'd find a box there."

Sakura got off the bed and took out a stained box and opened it. Sasuke watched her move her fingers into the box. She took out one content and gasped. It was a letter addressed to her dated weeks ago when Sasuke was still in the civil war. She opened it and read the letters:

Sakura,

My team is to be called tomorrow evening. If ever you have the chance the read this, please do not be depressed. I'll come back as soon as possible.

Sasuke

Sakura,

I am sick. I wish you were here to tell me of moaning things in the corridor again.

Sasuke

Sakura,

I wonder what you're doing right now. I am quite fine. There is a hidden base where tons of Charlatans are found. Don't worry I didn't get them.

Sasuke

Sakura,

This is not me but I terribly miss you.

Sasuke

Sakura,

If ever I do not come back… wait… erase that. I must come back.

Sasuke

Sakura dropped the letters and looked at Sasuke who was red and was looking away. "Why didn't you send these?"

The Uchiha did not reply but tried not to meet Sakura's eyes. Haruno's eyes were welling up and before she even controlled herself, she had embraced him tight.

"Wait, Haruno—you're killing me—ouch—Sakura!" Sasuke futilely tried to make her move. He smiled to himself and held Sakura close to him. And then everything went back to him…

"Sasuke," a familiar voice called him in the battlefield, "so we meet again."

Sasuke turned and replied, "Gaara."

"So we're in the same field."

"Yeah."

"How are you now?"

"I'm fine. I've been lessening Charlatan."

"Good." Gaara replied without a tone.

"Ambush!" a soldier yelled. There were rebels flooding the path and shooting. Sasuke began killing the rebels when he got shot at the leg. "Shit!"

"Sasuke!" Gaara covered him and continued shooting the assailants.

The killing went on for hours. Sasuke finally had the strength to get up and attacked the incoming enemies. He was busy killing someone when he heard someone running to him from behind. It was too late… the enemy had raised his bayonet but he did not get hit. Gaara moved in front of him and grabbed the bayonet. He was not successful in pulling it away but he did point it to a different direction… The bayonet had hit his right chest.

Sasuke managed to kill the enemy and rushed Gaara to the base. They tried to heal him but he had suffered blood loss. He didn't have the chance to speak to him for the last time. They communicated through their eyes… Gaara knew he was to die.

Sasuke averted his thought from that memory and focused on the heat Sakura's body was giving him. "Sakura," he said, "What will you do if I didn't make it?"

There was pure silence before Sakura replied, "Don't ask me things that will never come true."

Sasuke looked at the open window and sighed. Because I'll always come back to you.

END

Er, the chapter is a bit crappy eh? Confessions is really near its end. Thank you for reading! Hmm... I think those men who loved Sasuke are dying one by one.