AN: Uwah, I can finally post the second chapter! Thanks to the people who convinced me to! I got exactly double of the amount I asked for, in just one week!

Special thanks to: PrincessChii (first reviewer!), the DragonBard, Sasuchimaru, Only Secret, Isiri, SoulShine, BloodySakuraLeaves, Blood red nin, Patty, MariQ, Great Saiyaman, joekool (I already gave some idea... check out my first chappie's AN... ;D), Hinata-hime (I also want to see! It's soon, I think), Celestartial Blossoms, rhiannon, BlackFeatherz29, Emily Raven, Dragon Man 180 (I got the idea from ep 110 where Shika-kun arranged them), Mistress DragonFlame, Oukaru Hanako (my best net friend!)... and those who read but didn't leave a review... and those who put me on author/story alert... It's you guys who keep me going!

This chapter is a stand-alone SasuSaku with a bit of the other pairings. It's only to show that the feelings are still there. But if you're not much of a romance lover, you can skip this part.

Warning: Spoilers for some episodes containing SasuSaku moments. You'll know which they are.

Chapter 2: Forest of Memories – Unwavering Feelings

The eleven shinobi journeyed in silence, the only sound to be heard being the crickets chirping, the air whipping around their bodies as they moved quickly, and the soft crackle of the static from their transmitters. Darkness was setting in, and soon they had to stop and rest.

So far, they had been journeying towards the Grass territory without meeting any obstacles. They traveled great distances by day, and rested up by night, so when Shino sent his bugs to find the nearest humans to their destination, they found that they were not far off.

All Sakura and Naruto could think about was Sasuke. While Sakura waited in nervous anticipation of their expected fight, Naruto's excitement, angry or otherwise, bubbled up every now and then, though he never let it get in the way of his usual cheerful demeanor.

They were going to settle everything on that day when they would finally meet again. They were going to bring back Sasuke any way possible, even if, as Naruto told Sakura the previous day, they had to drag him screaming and kicking by the ear.

Neji's voice came crackling into the transmitter. "Guys, let's stop now," he ordered. All of them halted their movements as soon as Neji was in sight. When everyone was gathered, he nodded. "Well, I guess we camp out here for the night."

Everyone leapt from the trees and onto the ground. "I'll go gather wood," Tenten said cheerily. Neji nodded.

"I'll go with you," he said. Tenten only smiled gratefully and nodded back, happiness alight in her eyes. She was going to be alone with Neji, and she never passed up the chance. The Hyuuga shook his head, amused.

He turned to the rest of the team. "Naruto, Sakura, it's your turn to keep a lookout tonight, so rest for a while. Girls," he added, looking at Hinata and Ino, "you had better cook up. Kiba, Shikamaru, since our supply of dry foods is dwindling, I think you had better hunt. The rest of you, set up tents and such. And whatever you do," he looked around them all sternly, "don't let down your guard."

Everyone gave a murmur of assent as the two older shinobi jumped into the trees. "Come on, Shikamaru," Kiba said, beckoning him.

"How troublesome," Shikamaru muttered under his breath, but he went and followed Kiba anyway. Hinata and Ino started the fire kindling, while Lee, Shino, and Chouji set up the tents. Naruto leaned against a tree and went to sleep right away. Sakura took a blanket from her pack, wrapped it around herself, and closed her eyes.

Even in her sleep, the thought of Sasuke was not far from her mind. Memories flooded her dreams as she napped under the trees.

Sakura jumped in front of their charge, kunai ready. "Mister, stay behind me!" she yelled.

"Y-yes!"

She braced herself for the attack. Just then…

A blur of black and blue, then a figure, arms raised protectively in front of her, his back to her. Then, his voice.

"Stand down!"

Sakura's features softened into a small smile.

"I always get right answers in all of the exams. I memorized over a hundred shinobi sayings. One day, in one test, there was a question…"

"What is shinobi saying number 25? And I wrote down the answer as usual…"

She looked at his handsome, lifeless face, and his body, pierced by many needles.

"A shinobi… mustn't show tears… The top priority is the mission… and emotions must come later…"

And her tears fell onto his shirt.

Sakura mumbled a little, turning in her blanket. She sniffled, as though she was about to cry, but her tears were yet to come.

"Sakura…"

She gasped as her name escaped his lips. "S-sasuke-kun…?" Her eyes widened in realization. "Sasuke-kun, you're alive!"

"Urgh… Sakura… you're heavy…"

"I'm so happy, Sasuke-kun!" She hugged him tight.

"Sakura… that… that hurts… stop that…"

Again, a smile crept up to her face, remembering the good times with him. But then, a few weeks after that…

Sakura caught sight of his face, and she sucked in her breath. His eyes were red with the Sharingan, and he had marks all over his body. Evil chakra swirled around him, giving her a feeling of intense fear. Her breath quickened. "Sakura…" he said quietly, bloodlust clear in his narrowed eyes. Sakura didn't want to believe it, however. She couldn't speak; she was frightened out of her wits.

"Sakura," he said again. "Who did that to you?" She could only stare at him and the marks all over his body.

When she didn't answer, he demanded, "Who?"

"Sasuke-kun?" she asked, when she finally found her voice, even as it trembled in fear. "Your body…"

He looked at his hands, the black marks of the curse seal all over it. "Don't worry," he said calmly. "Not only that, I feel power overflowing within my body." He clenched his fist. "I feel great." A pause, and then, he continued, "He gave it to me. I finally understand it. I'm an avenger. Even if I must take the devil's fruit, I'm on a path where I must gain power."

Staring at the Sound nins, he demanded roughly, "Sakura, tell me! Who hurt you?"

The nin called Zaku piped up, "I did."

Sasuke focused his attention to him, the red wheels of his eyes swirling. Zaku only smirked, and Sakura wondered why he couldn't feel the distinct aura of evil around Sasuke.

She tossed and turned under her blanket, her sleep disturbed.

Sakura stared as Sasuke took hold of Zaku's arms, then put his foot on the nin's back. A sadistic grin played on the face of the boy she loved. "So," Sasuke asked smoothly, the cruelty not leaving his red eyes, "you're proud of these arms?" He then pulled on the arms as if to twist them off his body. Zaku choked for him to stop.

Sakura watched in horror as Sasuke pulled on the arms harder, inhaling sharply and trembling. Zaku screamed in pain, and Sakura wanted to scream as well, but her vocal cords seemed to be unresponsive. Sasuke threw his limp body away from him. He focused his crazed eyes on the other Sound nin, Dosu. "You're the only one left." Dosu shuddered at Sasuke's insane grin. "I hope… you let me have a little more fun."

He walked slowly towards the trembling Dosu. Sakura followed him with her eyes as he passed her, her eyes anguished and confused.

And then, she realized that this wasn't the Sasuke-kun she knew and loved. She had no idea how she knew, she just did. Tears welled up her eyes. She stood up, took a deep breath to strengthen her resolve, and ran forward.

"STOP!"

She threw her arms around him, resting her head against his back. He glanced at her with his crazed Sharingan eyes. She could feel her tears flowing freely down her cheek. "Please…" she said in a would-be calm voice. "…stop…"

He continued to stare at her, and she looked imploringly back at him. As if by magic, the curse seal slowly receded back to the original one on his neck.

A lone crystalline tear fell down Sakura's cheek as she turned under her blanket, a moan of sadness escaping her lips.

Sakura was beyond worried now, but she knew she had to stay calm. She had to think rationally. The boys weren't, so she felt it was up to her to think things through. She could hear Gaara, half-transformed into a monster, talk to Naruto in murderous tones in the background, but all she could think of right now was Sasuke, keeled over in pain because of the curse seal spreading all over his body.

"We're going to run now, everyone!" Naruto yelled in panic, turning to them. But as he yelled, a brown blur moved past him.

Sakura turned quickly, and saw that Gaara had jumped past Naruto towards Sasuke. She had to act fast. She had no choice.

"Die, Uchiha Sasuke!" Gaara snarled.

She moved, kunai in hand, in front of Sasuke. She could feel her teammates' eyes on her, and she could see the monster's horrible face up close. She was trembling in fright, but nothing was as imperative as protecting Sasuke at that moment. Her eyes hardened in determination, her jaw set.

"Sakura-chaaaaan!" Naruto yelled. Gaara's eyes widened for a fraction of a second.

"Get out of the way!" he shouted, bringing his large hand towards her.

It happened so fast. She felt the hand make contact on her body, and a nanosecond later she was slammed onto a tree. She gave a shout as pain spread all over her, and her eyesight slowly went black. Her hearing was slowly fading too. She could hear screams, shouts, and explosions, and she was losing the sense of time, but she couldn't muster the strength to watch anymore. The sand was constricting her breath. The last conscious particles of her mind formed a simple conclusion: she could very well die.

"Sasuke-kun, Naruto…"

Did I do well?

Ino watched as Sakura mumbled in her sleep, her brow creasing. She thought about how little Sakura had smiled these past few days. She hoped, for Sakura's sake, the mission would turn out well.

She could see his back turned to her through her tears. "I know what happened to your clan. But with revenge alone, you will not be able to make anyone happy." A cloud passed over the moon, darkening the place. "No one…" she continued, her voice silent. "Neither you, or me…"

"I know that," he said. She gave a sound of surprise. "I am different from you guys. I follow a different path from you guys. The four of us together… it's true I've thought of it as one possible path. But despite that, my heart has chosen revenge. That's what I live for. I can't be like you or Naruto."

She stepped forward, anguished. "Aren't you going to be lonely by yourself? Sasuke-kun, you told me that being alone is painful! I know that very well, so much that it hurts!" Tears dropped faster on the ground. "I have family and friends. But… if you leave, for me…" she choked, "to me, it's the same thing as being alone!"

He said quietly, "From now on, new paths will start." She stepped forward.

"I…" she cried, "I love you more than anything!"

"If you are by my side," she sobbed, feeling more and more desperate, "I will make sure you won't regret it. I will make every day more enjoyable, and you will be happy! I would do anything for you! That's why… I beg of you! Please stay here!" She cried desperately, "I will even help you with your revenge! There must be something I can do! That's why…" her voice became smaller, "…please… stay here with me…"

The moon reappeared from behind the cloud. She took a deep breath as she tried to contain herself. "If that's not possible…" she continued, "…please take me with you…" She sobbed a little louder.

He turned to her, his smirk and his eyes cold. "After all this, you're still annoying."

She gasped, and he turned to walk away again. She took a step nearer. "Don't go!" She ran after him. "If you go, I'll scream and-"

He disappeared from his spot, and the next thing she knew, he was behind her. A cold wind blew past, making her skin form goose bumps. Not a word was said. Then…

"Sakura." How she loved the way her name sounded when he said it.

"…thank you…"

She did a sharp intake of breath. The wind weaved in and out of her light crimson locks. She didn't know what to think.

Thump.

She fell.

There was one last thought in her mind before her sight went dark.

"Sasuke… kun…" she whispered under her breath. She raised her hand in her sleep as she tried to reach out to him. She opened her eyes, realizing that she was reaching out to thin air.

Her cheeks felt wet, and she felt a pain in her chest. She covered her face with her hands. "Oh, Kami, why now…?" she asked, more to herself. "I can't… I can't cry… not while on this mission… not on this mission…"

She felt so vulnerable and weak. How could she prove herself to Sasuke if she was like this? She took a deep breath to steady herself, and she wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.

"Sakura-chan?" She looked up, and Ino and Hinata were there, bent near her, their eyes deeply concerned. "Is there anything wrong…?" Hinata asked.

Sakura forced out a laugh. "I just had a silly nightmare, that's all," she said in a falsely cheery tone.

Ino frowned, knowing she was hiding her true feelings, but she knew better than to push the subject. "All right, Sakura-chan, but if you want to talk about it, me and Hinata-chan, and Tenten-san are all here to listen, 'kay?"

Sakura nodded, grateful Ino didn't push it. She didn't want to talk about it, let alone think about it.

She ate dinner in silence, while the others chatted animatedly around the fire. Ino grilled a blushing Tenten about her time with Neji, while Hinata laughed and Naruto nudged a certain annoyed (albeit red) Hyuuga genius. Kiba and Shikamaru were recounting how the rabbits they had caught were hunted down while Shino, Lee, and Chouji had disgusted looks on their faces.

They were so happy. They were not thinking of the mission at hand, and she couldn't be as carefree as them. Normally, she would've been joking with them, but now, she just did feel like it. This mission was affecting her in a very negative way.

After dinner, everyone went straight to bed. There were three tents, and in each tent three slept. Sakura quelled the campfire, and went to join Naruto atop a tree, acting as a lookout.

"The stars are out tonight," he said, looking up at the sky above. She sat on the branch next to him.

"It brings back memories…" she murmured.

"Memories?" Naruto asked. "What sort of memories?" At her sad look, he knew right away. "Of him?" She looked down on her lap, an invisible hand squeezing her heart.

"There was one night…" she began…

The stars littered the sky that night. Atop a cliff jutting out of a tree-filled hill, under the night sky and above the thick growth of the forest below, were two figures, apparently sitting next to each other, keeping each other warm.

"When do you think Kakashi-sensei and Naruto-kun will be back with firewood?"

"Ch. They're taking too long."

The only girl in Team 7 laughed. "I know… it's almost like… they've left us alone. Do you think they're hurt?"

"Not Kakashi. And the moron… his head is too hard to crack. They should be fine."

Sakura giggled, this being one of the few times she was comfortable with Sasuke. A chill wind blew, and instinctively, both moved closer together. Sakura wrapped her arms around her knees. "It's unusually chilly, for a summer night." Sakura raised her head to the heavens as Sasuke nodded in agreement. "And the stars are so many tonight."

Sasuke looked at the direction she was looking. It was true. They could see so many scattered in the wide open universe, stretching for as far as the eye could see. "And the moon is full…" she continued softly. " I can see the rabbit…"

"Rabbit?" The comment was strange.

"Ee. My mother often told me that there was one rabbit who served the moon goddess so loyally…"

"…and it was honored forever by being able to be in the sky each night, making rice cakes for her."

Sakura looked at Sasuke. "You know the story?"

"Aa," he replied, but deigned to say anything else.

Sakura was murmuring, more to herself. "My father often tells me… That if you are far away from a loved one, you should take comfort in the fact you're both under the same sky. But it means so much more… if you're both looking at the sky at the same time… It's like you have a connection."

"That sounds sensible," Naruto now said as Sakura recounted the story to him.

"I believed what my father said," Sakura said, playing with her beige skirt for a time. "But…" She sighed. "I felt guilty after mentioning my parents. I knew he could get sensitive about that stuff, but I still rambled on."

"And what did he do?" Naruto asked.

Suddenly, Sakura gasped and looked up. She turned quickly to the boy beside her. His expression was unreadable, but Sakura felt a sudden pang of guilt. "I-I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun!" she apologized hastily. "I-I forgot how sensitive you were… about families…" She looked at him apologetically. "Are you all right? You're quiet all of a sudden-"

"It's nothing," Sasuke snapped. "Now keep quiet about it. I don't want to hear anything about your happy life and your happy family." Sakura was taken aback. And here she was thinking they had finally made some kind of intimate connection, that finally, she had a breakthrough in her mission to soften the avenger's hard heart.

But now she thought about it… to soften the avenger's hard heart… How could she do such a thing? He was an avenger through and through… he could never change the way his heart was… not unless he gave up being an avenger.

Sasuke would not be Sasuke, if he gave up. If he gave up on his life's goal, what would happen to him? He would have nothing to live for, only pursuing a selfish purpose for living, for himself by himself. Whereas, if he continued living as an avenger, he would at least feel, if he died after he fulfilled his revenge, that he had accomplished something.

Part of loving was learning to let go, after all. She would have to be content to watching him, loving and caring for him, from afar. If we ever got him back, that is. She bit her lip.

Naruto watched her expression, his heart going out to the heartbroken girl. "And then what?"

She stood up abruptly, and turned to leave. His head snapped up.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to check on Naruto and Kakashi-sensei."

And she turned on her heel and left.

"And you just left?" Naruto asked. "That's it?"

"I pretty much gave up on that night," Sakura said softly, letting the gentle breeze blow her hair askew. "Of course, a few days after that, I was myself again, you know, asking him out and caring for him and stuff. But something changed that night." She looked at the moon. "I learned the hard way that there's no real way to get around him."

"Yeah, I know the feeling," Naruto considered. "I tried being his friend. Goodness knows I tried. I even thought I'd manage to do it too, but that was before he left." He watched Sakura squirm uncomfortably at the fact, and he decided to change the topic. "So, so!" he said cheerfully. "What's happened at home these past two and a half years? What has Hinata-chan been saying about me?"

Sakura was glad at Naruto's sensitivity. She grinned. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you…"

The two talked into the night about the question at hand, but their minds often lingered somewhere else.

Even if we're apart, we still look up at the same sky.

It's our one connection we haven't lost yet. All the people, if they live under the same sky, they are connected. And so are we. But… I feel that we can only truly connect… if we look up at the same time…

I'm still hoping…

Wherever you are, it's the same blue blanket we're under during the day, and the same black velvet we're under at night.

But do you even look up anymore? Do you think of some other thing besides training? Do you relax once in a while, without me or Naruto or Kakashi-sensei forcing you to? Do you look up at the glimmering stars, or at the pale moon, and remember our days together?

I miss you terribly.

Please look up the same sky tonight.

Like I am.

If we look at the same sky, right at the same time, we still would have some remaining connection. If we wished on the same star, a wish that involves both of us, then it might come true. If we looked at the moon, it would connect us. If we had the same thought… the same intentions of looking at the sky, then we would feel each other's presence. That was what you told me. That's what I struggled to understand.

Are you looking at the sky tonight? Can you still remember me? Have the others forgiven me? Will they hate me?

Will you?

I don't wish for forgiveness. I don't dream about it. But I certainly would like to know if you would.

You said… it meant so much more if both were looking at the sky at the same time… then the connection would be there…

The sky was cloudless, and like the old rhyme said, the stars were like diamonds in the sky. They were small glimmers, like rhinestone scattered across black velvet.

His raven hair, now reaching his chin and framing his still handsome face, flew around as wind whipped around him. He put his hands in his pockets. His coal black eyes mirrored the stars above.

He often looked at the stars like this. It reminded him of wonderful times, and very wonderful memories. Not that he wished he could go back to those times again… they were to stay as precious memories and nothing more.

Training was everything, now. He didn't know just how strong that man was now. He could've gotten better in the span of two and a half years. He knew that he had gotten strong tenfold in that span of time. The thought of the unknown about his brother made him fear, but it also gave him direction and determination. Nothing was going to stop him now.

Except…

Thoughts of the people he had left – no, betrayed was a better word – still managed to invade his mind. He hated having to remember them, their happy, shining faces, their joyful laughter, and their hysterical antics. To him, during training, it only served as a distraction. Those were better left as memories to think about at night, when he was alone.

And her… there was something about his memories about her that made his heart do odd things. Like he was guilty, but he often told himself this was impossible. If he could kill without hesitation or remorse, why would he feel guilty over a little thing like her? Matters of the heart were definitely not his expertise.

It's her expertise, a part of himself told him. He wondered vaguely, had he allowed her to follow him here, if she would tell him what this strange feeling was. She was always good at explaining abstract ideas like that.

He had grown, that was something definite. His training with the snake bastard (as he called him in private) was paying off. However, reflections of the old life he had were coming back to him now more than ever, and they were things that not even training could distract him from.

Something was going to happen. Definitely.

(He liked having things definite. He was not good at anything with abstract thought. Like feeling, for example.)

All the signs were there. He felt different. He felt nervous at times he didn't need to be. His tea cup cracked right in the middle for no reason the other day, although he was not one to believe in superstitions. Something was coming.

"Sasuke-kun?"

His name with the affectionate term, something he hated, sliced through his thoughts sharply, ringing in his ears. He scowled darkly. There were many things that irritated him easily, and having his thoughts interrupted was one of them. "What," he said, more of a statement than a question, knowing without looking that it was Kabuto who had spoken.

"We're all set to leave for Hidden Grass."

"Hn." It was an instantaneous reply, as though by instinct. "I'm coming."

"All right." There was a flurry of leaves, and Kabuto vanished.

Sasuke looked at the stars, the moon, and the sky. It seems we might be able to meet up soon.

Naruto...

He smirked.

Let's see… how strong you've become, staying in that comfortable little village of yours.

He turned on his heel and casually walked away, his hands in his pockets.

I wonder if you can prove me wrong.

A strong gust of wind blew as Sakura watched the shadows in the moon's pale face. A shiver went up her spine, and she froze momentarily, her eyes wide.

"… and so I told Ero Sennin that I-" Naruto stopped his storytelling suddenly. "Sakura-chan, what's wrong?"

Sakura wrapped her hands around her arms, feeling a sense of dread in the pit of her stomach.

"He knows."

Next chapter…

NarutoThe Sound bastards are here! Whohoo! I finally can show everyone the results of my great training!

What's this? The others are stronger too! Now I'm really burning to show everyone how much I've improved. And… him! We get him right off the bat? And Sakura wants to fight him real bad! Since when did she start wanting to hurt him?

Next chapter, Light Piercing Darkness – Sasuke versus Sakura.

Sakura's scary when she gets angry…

AN: Okay, how was that? Was that a bit long? Tell me what you think in a review!

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