A/N: Yep, it's been three weeks since I've last posted a chapter, but Aoki is back! LE CHA! XD This is to continue the cliffhanger I left a valued reviewer at, Spiral. That's right, our first, and now most constant reviewer. This one is for you! Oh, and this story now had a dedication and memorial.

This story, 'The Art of Love and War', is now dedicated to my deceased cat, Elvis. Just days after I left for camp, he fell sick, and only days after that, he died. I wasn't even there to say bye. I was sailing for three weeks straight. I finally get recommendations for the national sail team, and this happens! (Sigh) But so it goes...

Anyways, this was a very serious chapter. Enh. Oh well. Next chapter will be more entertaining.

Disclaimer: I probably forgot this in a few chapters, but I don't own Naruto, any of his friends or enemies, or so on and so fourth. Misashi-sensei does.

Sasuke looked on in horror as a girl he just met laid helplessly in a glass coffin under tons of dirt and pressure. His two companions dashed through the crowd, looks of horror, screams, Sasuke had heard it all before. As if a natural reaction, Sasuke dashed behind Naruto, folding up the bottom of his yukata so he could keep up. Blocking out all the noises ringing in his ears, he finally caught up to Naruto. He watched a feeble attempt made by Naruto to get the girl out. Kicking and punching up and past the point when Naruto's knuckles started bleeding. It wasn't doing anything. He glanced up at the camera to see Sky's arms in front of her face, trying to keep the dirt out.

"Move it, dobe." Sasuke breathed, pushing Naruto aside and pulling out a pocket knife. Naruto just glared at Sasuke, trying to get up, only to be pushed back by the magician. "I can handle this."

Sasuke carved a line as large as him into the glass. Concentrating his energy into his hand, he took a shot at the glass and the glass shattered along the line. He jumped back and dirt poured out of the case. People cheered and clapped, and Sasuke had a sense of worth. He grinned and turned to Naruto, only to find him digging the rest of the dirt out until he hit the case.

"Sky!" Naruto yelled as Sachi kicked the glass in.

Pulling the azure haired girl out, he looked over her. She had fallen unconscious, but she looked alright. Naruto pulled her into his arms and started crying as Sachi started to call the ambulance. Sasuke felt a wave of annoyance and pain rush through him again. Why should she be the one getting the hug? Sasuke saved her!

Sasuke shook his head. Naruto's a guy! Why the HELL should he care?

He heard a cough and Sasuke looked over. The crowd roared as Sky lifted herself up into the sitting position, yawning like she had just fallen asleep. Naruto beamed and ruffled her hair, and she smiled in contempt through her half-closed eyes. "Good girl." Naruto letout, letting Sachi bull-doze him over to tackle-hug Sky. "YAY! GIRLIE! Your alright!"

"Ouchie. Sachi, your hurting me..."

Sasuke thought he had gained nothing from this encounter. He had saved a girl, and that's it. Why had he even saved her in the first place? He couldn't even tell himself that. Sasuke calmly walked around the near-deserted festival, only to find himself back at the place he had met Sky. Only this time, it was Naruto standing on the small bridge, looking out upon a small lake.

"Oi, dobe, what are you doing here?" Sasuke asked dryly, approaching the blonde. He blinked as Naruto continued to stare at the lake like he wasn't paying attention. Naruto looked like he was actually thinking. Sasuke grinned as he snuck around Naruto. I wonder what would would happen if I yell at him...

"Hey. About back there, I wanted to say thanks."

Sasuke jumped back in shock. "Oh. It was nothing." The brunette said blankly, pretending like he was expecting Naruto to say something then.

"No, really. It isn't as simple as that." Naruto breathed, turning around. "I've known Sky as long as I've known as you. In grade school, I let her live with me. She was all alone for God knows how long, and she really hadn't made any friends. She had one more, but... He got sick. I've been her only friend for... Um..." Naruto started counting on his fingers and Sasuke just stared in amazement. Only Naruto could be that dense as to make a conversation that was meant to be serious into this. "About 6 years. Give or take a few." Naruto closed one eye in thought.

"Jesus, your such an idiot dobe." Sasuke grinned, crossing his arms.

"Well fine! Maybe I won't invite you to dinner tomorrow!"Naruto pouted, sticking out his tongue. "Sky will be in the hospital over-night, so I have a day free, but if you don't want to..." He grinned slyly.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll go..."

No one had any idea how happy Sasuke was at that moment. Maybe that girl was good for something...

Sky blinked and looked around. Her clothes and video camera where on a night stand beside her, and she gasped and looked under the covers. Good. Clothes. Quickly deducting she was in the hospital, she picked up her camera, coughed for a few minutes, and turned it on.

Beaming at the shots of the boy in the yukata, and the whole VIDEO of her getting trapped in the magic show, Sky sighed and looked over to one side of her. A man not much older than her was coughing and wheezing, and the bags under his eyes showed he didn't get much sleep.

"You okay?" Sky asked, trying to get up, but being pulled back by wires and machines. "Ouch! Ugh... That must have done more than I expected."

The man coughed and looked at her through tired and beaten eyes. "Oh... Your awake..." He gasped between coughs. "I was wondering who you were... I think I know you..." He tried to lift his head up, but he was still to weak. Placing his head on his pillow, he glanced at her, then her name tag. "Sky-chan?... Where have I-"

Sky blinked and coughed up bits of dirt. "Hayate-aniki-sensei!" I was wondering where you went! You were going to teach me math! Iruka-sensei took over! You were also my mentor in highschool! I missed you!"

Hayate just grinned. "Yes. That's it. Midori-bozu."

"It's Sky!" She pouted, crossing her arms. "It's kinda ironic that we meet like this. I guess your condition got worse, huh?"

He nodded, but sighed. "It's getting better, I'll be able to teach again soon. So, you'll see me more often. I'll be teaching music."

"Music!" Sky beamed. "That's amazing! I take music second term! Let's both promise to make it until then." She held out her pinky, and he turned and held out his shaky hand, she joined their fingers and they both sighed taking back their hands.

"Sky Midori..." A voice came from the door. "You can leave in the next few hours, but if you continue to cough, or the spider rashes get worse, take this medicine and call us again." A woman told her from the door. The nurse looked worriedly at Hayate, who had fallen asleep again, and put a second bottle of medicine on his table.

"What's wrong?" Sky asked as the nurse checked over his status pages.

"This patient has been here for a number of years and his condition hasn't been improving. We're nervous about his bodily stability. He might not make it to Christmas."

A nervous pounding made itself known, but all she did was grin and shake her head. "No, I'm sure he'll be alright."

Sky got up and the nurse un-hooked all the machines. She changed back into her kimono. Taking a picture of herself, she hooked up her tiny portable printer and printed out the picture. Leaving it on Hayate's beside table, and signed it.

'Promise to Meet me There Aniki xx Midori-bozu'

"Well, time to hit the road back to Ottawa." She grinned, exiting the big hospital doors. Looking around for her car, she stopped and froze when she remembered she had gotten a drive from Naruto, and undoubtedly he had gone back to the campus.

"SHIT ALL!"

"Shut up out there! This is a hospital!"

"Sorry..."

A/N: This was a short chapter. Oh well. Anyways, read and review, for I AM VIRUS! XD Fear me, for I will give you trojans while your not looking! No, I kid, I kid. I'm not that mean.