Love and Memory: Prologue

By WhiteLightForever

A/N: The following writing in italics are lyrics from the song "Memories" by Within Temptation. It's an incredibly sad, beautiful song which inspired this story. My point: these words are not mine, they are solely the property of the lyricists.

All of my memories keep you near

In silent moments, I imagine you here

All of my memories keep you near

Your silent whispers, silent tears

Sakura knelt by the grave. The smell of fresh rain on grass lingered in the air, and a cold breeze blew Sakura's bangs gently. Her long pink hair was tied back into a long braid, and she shivered in her white kimono. With quaking fingers she placed a daffodil in the wooden vase before her first true love's headstone. Her emerald eyes gazed upon it in sadness, yet she did not shed one tear. She had mourned him enough over the years, which had been many. But now she was happy, and though she would always feel a tinge of sorrow for her lost love, the feelings she possessed now would never falter.

The memories ease the pain inside

Now I know why

"Mommy, I'm cold. Can we go now?" a little girl tugged on Sakura's sleeve. Sakura looked upon her youngest daughter with love, tearing her eyes away from the stone.

"Yes, dear. We can go now." she said softly, standing up and taking the child's hand. The young girl was almost a mirror-like reflection of Sakura in her youth, with short pink hair and milky-white skin. The only difference was her dark eyes. She stared up at her mother with a curious look.

"Mommy? Why didn't you pray this time?" she asked with innocence. Sakura smiled down at her.

"I didn't have to, Satori." She replied.

"Why not?"

"Because I know that he is alright. The gods have taken care of me; they have surely taken care of him as well. I have faith." Sakura ended in a whisper.

You made me promise I'd try

To find my way back in this life

I hope there is a way

To give me a sign you're okay

Satori's attention was drawn away from her mother when they came upon a familiar face. "Uncle Naruto!" she exclaimed with glee, letting go of her mother's hand. Satori ran into the outstretched arms of a tall man with blonde hair and blue eyes. She laughed as he swung her around, and then held her up in a hug.

"Hey there, Satori! How's the little princess today?" he said in a deep voice. Satori giggled and told him she was fine. Naruto turned his attention to Sakura.

"Hi Sakura." He began. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, Naruto. And you?" she replied pleasantly.

"Ah, you know me, I'm always great!" he laughed. "You know, you sure are lucky to have a husband that lets you visit his rival's grave every day. Doesn't he ever get mad?"

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "No, he doesn't. He understands. Don't you?"

Naruto gulped, taken aback. "Well, yeah!" he said desperately. "Of course I do! But is it… um… really necessary to visit the grave every day?"

Remind me again it's worth it all

So I can go home

Sakura's eyes fell on the ground, and she held her hands together. "Well, I suppose not. But wouldn't you, if you ever lost Hinata?"

Naruto placed Satori on the grass beside him, holding her hand. "Yes… I would. Never mind, Sakura. It was a dumb thing to say."

"Oh Naruto, did you say something dumb again? That would be very unexpected." A voice said sarcastically. Behind Naruto, in a poof of smoke, appeared a tall man whose face was half-hidden with a blue mask. Silver hair sprouted on top, and one bored eye twinkled maliciously at Naruto.

"Kakashi, damn it all, you have to stop doing that!" Naruto cried, springing away from him. Kakashi's eye showed a smile from beneath the mask.

"Naruto, language!" Sakura scolded, placing her hands over Satori's ears. Satori wriggled out of Sakura's grasp and ran up to Kakashi, who ruffled her hair.

"Hello Satori, Sakura." He said happily.

Sakura clapped her hands together. "Oh, I'm very glad you're both here now! I was meaning to ask you both something."

Naruto and Kakashi looked at her inquiringly.

"I was wondering if one of you could take care of Satori and Kyo for me for a while? I have to make a trip, and their father is away on another mission… it would really mean a lot to both of us. It's just that I can't put this trip off any longer, Katara has been sending messengers for a while now, and-"

"Say no more, Sakura, I'll watch them." Kakashi interrupted.

"And Sakura, I would, but Hinata and I have been pretty busy with the twins lately. It wouldn't be any fun for Satori and Kyo to stay at our place with screaming babies all night." Naruto responded.

"Yes Naruto, I understand. Thank you very much Kakashi!" Sakura said, relieved.

She watched as her only daughter practically dragged Naruto and her former sensei back into Konoha, begging for ramen. The wind began to blow again, and Sakura tucked a stray of hair behind her ear. She turned around and stared back at the grave site. He had been buried beneath a Sakura tree, just as he had asked. He had said that that way, she would always be with him. When the cherry blossoms fell on the headstone, and the roots eventually became entwined with the stone, it was a sign that she was there. He said that his spirit would be guided right by the Sakura tree.

Together in all these memories

I see your smile

Sakura turned back and started to walk back home, smiling. He was right. Her namesake tree was proof that she was a part of him, and he of her. But she was sure that he would be happy for her now. She had a family, and a husband that loved her even more than he had. All the same, her feelings for her deceased lover would never fade away.

All the memories I hold dear

Darling you know I'll love you

Until the end of time.