I am extremely sorry for lack of update peoples. I was in the hospital for a week (car accident) and then when I finally get to go home, I end up in the hospital again for tonsilitis! So needless to say, I haven't been having very good luck lately. Gomen nasai! I haven't forgotten about all of you though! I know this chapter is short, but please bear with me. I will have the next one up in a couple of days I promise! So please enjoy and remember to review! I live for reviews! They keep me going! Okay, on with SasuNaru goodness!

Chapter 10

"Please, wake up," Sasuke sobbed, squeezing Naruto's pale hand. He had spent a grueling week in this stark white hospital waiting patiently for Naruto to awaken.

Tsunade had helped him as much as was possible, but as she said, "It's up to him now. Kyuubi is helping with the healing process I'm sure, but Naruto has to be the one to want to wake up."

Sasuke sat in a chair next to Naruto's bed. He had lost a lot of his tanned color, his face nearly as pale as the sheets he was sleeping on due to his excessive blood loss. Sasuke had offered to give his blood, but they were two different types. He felt so useless. Powerless to do anything, and for an Uchiha to feel powerless was not good.

He had been sitting and sleeping in this chair for a week, not leaving Naruto's side, desperate for any sign of life to come from him. Right now all he had was the incessant beeping of the heart monitor to ensure him Naruto was still alive. He gripped his hand despairingly.

"Please, Naruto. I need you here, with me," he said kissing his hand and holding it against his cheek. He felt the slightest squeeze along his jaw.

Eyes wide as the full moon, Sasuke sat straight up in his chair, calling Naruto's name.

"Naruto, Naruto can you hear me?" he asked frantically bending over and running his hand softly along his cheeks.

It looked as if Naruto were trying to speak, to shout out, but no sound escaped his mouth. This worried Sasuke. Usually you couldn't get noise to quit coming out of Naruto's mouth. Sasuke placed his ear next to his moving lips, but to no avail. He heard nothing, meerly his breath escaping.

As a ninja, Sasuke knew hot to read lips. A necessary for spying on people. Staring intently at Naruto's mouth, he tried to make out what he was saying, but he was slurring his words, not saying them completely. Vaguely, he made out enough to understand.

"Sa- ke. I di- mea- it. Ple- fo- gi- me." Tears slipped out of the corners of Naruto's eyes.

Sasuke knew he was dreaming, but it didn't stop him from answering him.

"It's okay. There's nothing to be sorry for, Naruto. I know you meant it, please, wake up, Naruto."

Once again, Sasuke read Naruto's lips.

"I mea- i-." Naruto's breathing became easier, and his heartrate returned to normal.

"Naruto, Naruto. Please don't leave me, wake up. Wake up," Sasuke beseeched him, trailing his fingers down Naruto's whisker-like scars. If only there was something he could do, he would do it. He wished it were him, that it was himself laying on that hospital bed instead of Naruto.

This was all his fault. If he hadn't foolishly allowed his darkness to take over, Naruto wouldn't be in this state. He looked at the bandages that wrapped around Naruto's neck. Tsunade had shown him how to change and dress Naruto's wounds. He proceeded to do so, being ever so gentle as he lifted his head to unwrap, annoint and redress the wound. The many stitches on his neck made Sasuke want to weep everytime he saw them. There would be no scar, kyuubi would see to that, but Sasuke would never forget what was there. What he had done.

Sasuke decided he needed to stretch his legs, allow himself time to think, and deal with some unfinished business. There was also someone else he needed to check on as well.

Heading down the hall, his footsteps left faint sounds throughout the hallway. He stood outside Kakashi's door and knocked lightly. Inside he heard someone pad softly to the door.

The door opened and before Sasuke stood his former sensei. He looked forlorn, face drawn with worry for Kakashi.

"Sasuke."

"Iruka-sensei. May I talk with you?" Sasuke questioned, entreating Iruka through his eyes.

"Of course."

Iruka stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind him. He was conflicted about how to feel towards Sasuke. He had known Sasuke since he was a young boy, had taught him, watched him grow up into a skilled ninja. So skilled he was able to inflict harm upon his most precious person.

"Iruka-sensei, I feel obligated to apologize to you, personally. I never meant to- what I mean is I didn't know-"

"It's allright, Sasuke. I understand you weren't yourself."

"I'm truly sorry," Sasuke said, head hanging low in shame. He would've never intentionally hurt Kakashi, he just hoped Iruka truly understood that.

"All is forgiven. However, the only way I won't forgive you is if you don't apologize to him," Iruka said in his most stern teacher voice, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Don't worry. I planned on it. Thank you, Iruka-sensei. For understanding, for everything," he said holding out his hand and waiting for the gesture to be returned.

Iruka smiled happily and clasped Sasuke's hand in his, giving it a light shake.

"He's just woken up if you want to see him. I'm sure he will be happy to see you."

"Could I?"

Iruka nodded and stepped out of the front of the door, letting Sasuke go in. He closed the door silently, and began heading down the hall to check on his favortie student.

Sasuke peered around the corner, seeing Kakashi sitting up in his bed, doing what he did best; staying the biggest fan to Icha Icha Paradise. Sasuke had a feeling Kakashi would want to be buried with his favorite one in his hand.

"May I come in?"

Kakashi gestured to the chair next to the bed that had been formerly occupied by his favorite chocolate-haired chunnin.

"Please sit."

Sasuke crossed the room and took the offered seat. Twiddling his thumbs, he was at a loss of what to say to Kakashi. How were you supposed to apologize to your sensei for putting him in the hospital for two weeks encounting? Especially when you weren't even sure about what kind of injuries you had inflicted on them? Sasuke knew it had to be done regardless though.

"Look, I-"

"Don't. We both know what happened was no one's fault, so let's just leave it at that, hmm?" Kakashi raised his one visible eyebrow. Across his chest and head were the same bandages Sasuke used on Naruto. He hoped Kakashi wasn't as bad off as him though.

"That would be all fine and dandy with me Kakashi-sensei, but I promised Iruka that I would apologize to you. Plus, if I don't, he'll never forgive me, and I don't want to walk around knowing I have to look over my shoulder every five seconds to look out for an angry teacher," Sasuke looked at Kakashi, hoping he would understand what he was saying.

He did. Kakashi knew very well of the vengeful wrath Iruka could place on a person when he was truly angry. He had experienced it first hand when Iruka began holding out on him for a week in punishment for molesting him in public.

It really wasn't Kakashi's fault. How did Iruka expect him to keep his hands to himself when he did such innocent things and blushed so openly? He couldn't. It was quite impossible for Kakashi. He hoped Iruka would understand that next time and never put him through that level of hell again.

"Very well, then. I suppose if an angry Iruka is behind it, apologize away."

Sasuke stood to his full height, before dropping to his knees and placing his forehead on the floor in front of Kakashi.

"I beg for your sincerest forgiveness, sensei." Sasuke apologized with all he was worth. If his father or brother were to ever see him, an Uchiha bowing before someone, they would die all over from shock. He was sure right now they were turning in their graves, but he didn't care. What he had done was unforgiveable.

"Yes, yes. You have it. Now quit shining my floor with your knees and get up. If anything, I should be proud of you. If you put me here, then that means I've done my job well in training you."

Sasuke smirked. The closest he would allow anyone else to see of him smiling. That priveledge was for Naruto only.

Sasuke was headed back towards Naruto's room after a talk with Kakashi, when he felt something clutching at his heart.

Running down the hall, he knocked over two people and a cart in his haste to get to his kitsune. He saw him, eyes still closed with an outstretched arm, reaching for him.

"Naruto!" Sasuke ran to his side and grabbed his distended arm.

"I'm here, Naruto. I'm right here."

Slowly, Naruto calmed down into a more peaceful sleep. Sasuke stroked his hand as Iruka came back into the room.

"How is he?" Iruka questioned with a voice full of concern

"He's having nightmares. His voice is non-existent. I had to read his lips to make out what he was saying. I know he needs his rest, but I want to see him up and about. I want to talk with him, hear his voice," Sasuke said desolately, giving Naruto's hand a squeeze and rubbing his forehead in frustration.

"He'll come aroud. I'm sure of it. He just needs a little more time. Then we'll have our same loud, obnoxious, Naruto back, hmm?" Iruka layed a hand gently on Sasuke's shoulder in reassurance.

"It's hard. Harder than anything else I've ever been put through. I feel so helpless."

Iruka knew of all the things Sasuke had been through and for him to say that, then he must be taking it tougher than he thought.

"I promise it will get easier. Trust me. You'll see." Giving Sasuke's shoulder a light squeeze, he left the room with a smile for Sasuke on the way out. He looked like he needed to be alone.

"I hope you're right, Iruka-sensei. I really do."

Once again, I apologize for the shortness, but it had to be done! Please don't kill me! I hope however short that you still enjoyed it and don't forget to review!
TBC!