This is my tribute to Sasuke.

Things to remember:

A) I began writing this in '06, and it is awkward. I have a beta, but I asked them not to change much because I wanted this story to remain as young as possible, so my readers could watch me grow as a writer.

B) I will insert quotes that are relevant to the Uchiha family inbetween scene changes, so don't ask. You'll find out later.

C) Don't own Naruto, not would I want to. It's losing my respect, and fast.

More relevant info to this chapter: Ugh, missed my Monday deadline by half an hour. So sorry I've not updated, but my family suddenly decided to spend the weekend with us, so that took up my time. Again, my sincerest apologizes. This lovely little creature will hopefully make up for it. This arc is almost over(I WILL have it done by Friday, no excuses) so we can thank Neiva(my OC for Sailor Moon) for that. After that, I will be totally motivated to type on this.

Sincerely wishing you all well,

Kida-Asumi, the Captin of Sirius

- "She slept with him." L said simply. -

"Oh God, Sasuke-kun!" She breathed, quickly running to his side. When she noticed his eyes were squeezed shut, she dropped to her knees and grabbed one of his hands. He immediately squeezed it, biting back a groan.

"You'll be okay." She muttered, pushing back her panic so she could focus and dial Naruto's number.

When he picked up, she launched into an explanation about what had happened. After she was done, Naruto paused.

"Stay right there, Sakura-chan. Hinata-chan and I are on our way." He promised, his voice strangely steady. She nodded, ending the phone call.

"Please be okay, Sasuke-kun. Please be okay." She whispered, eyes widening when he passed out. She curled herself over him, and bit back sobs.

"Sakura-chan?" She finally heard, after what felt like hours later. She froze, heart beginning to race again. Naruto appeared in her doorway, Hinata just behind him.

"Could you get him to the hospital, please?" She asked, tears still streaking down her face. Her blond best friend's eyes softened and he nodded.

"Okay. You need to let go of him though." He added, kneeling down in front of her. Hinata walked over, silently offering Sakura her hand. The pinkette accepted it, and Naruto scooped Sasuke up.

"Let's go." He said, expression not giving any hint that he might need help supporting Sasuke's weight. Hinata wrapped an arm around her friend. She lead Sakura out of her house after Naruto, and together the group walked to the hospital.

- WARNING: YOUR LEMONADE IS SPIKED - Riku Harada -

"Sakura?" Rin asked as soon as Hinata helped Sakura stumble into the hospital. A nearby medic helped Naruto set Sasuke on a gurney. Sakura bolted out of Hinata's arms and into Rin's.

"Rin, Sasuke - he -" She sobbed, trying to get a hold on herself long enough to explain what had happened.

"Shh, it's okay." Rin said soothingly, tightening her grip on Sakura.

"Sasuke suddenly collapsed." Hinata supplied to Rin, wrapping an arm around Naruto as Sasuke was rolled away.

"Why?" Rin asked, puzzled. Most people do not simply collapse, especially if they were in a condition as good as Sasuke was.

"His sides. Something to do with his sides." She mumbled. Rin frowned.

"Get Tsunade-sama and Shizune-san." Rin ordered a nearby medic. He nodded, instantly doing as he was told.

"Let's get you some coffee, sweetie." Rin said, gesturing for Naruto and Hinata to follow after her. Together, the foursome went to the lounge.

- "Ah, our baby bro getting married." Riki cooed, gripping L's cheek. -

Sakura nearly jumped out of her seat when Tsunade exited the room that they had placed Sasuke in.

"Is he going to be okay?" She asked, green eyes wide with terror. Tsunade gripped her shoulders to steady her, and nodded.

"He'll be fine." She promised. Sakura let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding and fell into Tsunade's waiting arms. As the blond rubbed her 'daughter's' back, she turned to Naruto and Hinata.

"I'm sure Sakura is thankful for your moral support, but I'm afraid I'll have to ask you both to go home. I need to speak with Sakura alone." She said. Naruto nodded, standing.

"Call if you need anything." He said to his ex-teammate, squeezing her shoulder. She nodded, smiling slightly at him. Sighing, he took Hinata's hand and left.

"Let's go to my office." Tsunade said to Rin, who walked over to her. Rin nodded.

"Okay." She agreed, wrapping her arm around Sakura as well as they headed to said office. Once seated, Tsunade sighed.

"There are a few reasons this happened." She began.

"Which are?" Rin asked, squeezing Sakura's shaking hand. Tsunade sighed.

"First off, Sakura. Did you know that all of Sasuke's ribs had recently broken and healed?" She asked, leaning back in her chair. Sakura nodded.

"Yes." She answered quietly. Tsunade nodded her approval.

"Good. Some of his lower ones were cracked, so that is why he grabbed at his sides." She explained. Sakura nodded, hope filling her eyes at the thought that that was the only problem.

"However, that was not his main issue." Well goodbye hope, hello the act of her heart stopping.

"What?" Rin and Sakura asked together, the latter terrified that he was still in immediate danger. The blond Hokage sighed.

"The reason he passed out was because he was low on blood. Tell me, my child, what was his condition when he returned. I know he was badly injured." Tsunade hinted. Sakura nodded, nervously pushing a lock of pink hair behind her ear.

"He was covered in blood…mainly from the chest area." She mumbled the last part as a sudden revelation came to her. She blanched, hanging her head. "I'm so stupid! It took me three fucking hours to stop his bleeding, and I never gave him a blood replacement tablet. God, I'm such an idiot. It's my fault he's like this!" She sobbed, burying her face in her hands. Rin's gentle arms came around her.

"No it's not, honey. You did everything you could think of at the time, and you might not even have the tablets. It's not your fault." She assured her, lifting up her face. Sakura nodded reluctantly, allowing Rin to wipe away her tears.

"Because of what you did, he's been able to live." Tsunade said as she joined their hug. Sakura nodded, taking a deep breath to calm herself.

"Can I see him?" She asked. Tsunade nodded.

"Yes. Be quiet though, and let him rest." She added sternly. Sakura nodded, leaving the room. Rin sighed as the door closed. Tsunade wrapped an arm around Rin, leaning over to allow Rin to rest against her.

"I'm so worried about her. She's like a sister to me, and I know she feels the same." Rin said softly, allowing herself to relax against Tsunade.

"I'm worried too…about both of you. I think of you as my daughters, Rin." She explained, resting her head against the brown hair. Rin nodded.

"And I think of you as my mother." She clarified. The two fell into a worried silence.

"So how is the kiddo?" Tsunade finally asked, to break the awkward silence. Rin shrugged.

"Happy to have his Daddy home." She replied, pulling back. Tsunade smiled.

"You think it's a boy?" She asked. Rin winked, smiling back.

"Don't tell Kakashi." She said, standing up. The Hokage chuckled as she joined her.

"I won't."

- "Hot stuff, why the sad look on a pretty face?" Kida glared up at the male. -

The next day, Sakura was leaving the hospital as Rin and Kakashi were exiting.

"Good luck!" She smiled. The both thanked her and headed inside. They would find out the baby's gender today. Sakura was returning home to get some clean clothes for Sasuke and herself…and to also meet Sai.

Entering her house cautiously, Sakura quickly made her way to their bedroom. She jumped when she noticed Sai sitting on her bed. He smiled and stood up.

"Hey. I was worried you wouldn't show." He admitted, pulling her into his arms. When he pulled back, her eyes widened as she noticed he was going to try and kiss her. Wiggling out of his grasp, she turned to her dresser.

"Not now Sai. Become invisible and follow me. I have to show you my answer to your letter." Sakura said as she pulled out the items she had returned home for. He nodded.

"Okay."

- "Dad? How come you have lipstick on?" Sanosuke asked his father, frowning. -

"So why are we in a hospital room?" Sai asked as Sakura closed the door. The curtains were drawn around Sasuke, so Sai couldn't see him. Sakura smiled slightly, sitting down the clothes and hesitantly drawing back the curtains. Sai's eyes widened when he noticed Sasuke. Chuckling at his reaction, Sakura sat down beside Sasuke and took his hands.

"When he came home, he came straight to me." She began tenderly. "I healed him, and helped me get over the deaths of my parents. We're in love Sai. I can't, nor do I want to, go back with you. My home is here, with him." She explained softly. Sai's eyes narrowed. Content, and very naïve, Sakura moved away from Sasuke to put up their spare clothing. When turned back, she nearly screamed.

"One false move and he's dead." Sai warned. The artist was standing beside Sasuke, a scalpel at his throat. Sakura forced back his rising horror as he chuckled…though it sound wrong. Not at all like the way he used to laugh.

"Please, don't hurt him. I'll go with you." She said softly, the panic clear in her voice. He smiled.

"Good." He said. She hesitated when he moved to grab her.

"Can I at least write him a quick goodbye letter?" She asked. He rolled his eyes.

"Fine. Hurry it up. He doesn't like to be kept waiting." The raven haired artist snapped. Sakura nodded, and gulping, she quickly wrote the letter. After she was done, she folded it and set it down by his clothes.

"Goodbye, Sasuke-kun." She whispered, leaning down to kiss him. Her heart clenched painfully as she stared at his sleeping face. When she sense Sai's patience running thin, she pulled back and went to his side. With one last glance at Sasuke, Sakura jumped out the window with Sai.

Dear my beloved Sasuke-kun,

Even though I knew you didn't want me to meet Sai

alone, I did anyway. It has turned out to be the

greatest mistake of my life. I am so sorry for the pain

I know I must be putting you through, but if it saves

your life, so be it. He threatened to kill you if I did

not leave with him, so I left. I was allowed to

write you one letter, so here it is. I will always

love you Sasuke-kun, and this is a sacrifice I

am more than willing to make. I know that you will

come rescue me, and I am loyally waiting.

Until we meet again,

Your Sakura