Forgotten Life

Chapter 2- Old Friends?

"Sasuke appears to have suffered a case of amnesia," Shizune said, stating the obvious.

"I know that Shizune! I just can't accept it. I mean, he was so innocent, like a little child, when he said it. But Sasuke, the old Sasuke, was never like that," Sakura ranted. She didn't know whether to think of Sasuke's ailment as a good or bad thing.

"Sakura, maybe we should be happy about it. I mean, I highly doubt that the "old" Sasuke would have been happy to see us. This way, maybe he can start anew." Naruto spoke with such wisdom. Sakura still couldn't believe it, after all these years, that he had matured so much since they were genin. Now, as Hokage, he was just as handsome and wise as his father had once been.

Sakura could still remember him telling her about his encounter with the Fourth, how his father had appeared in his mind and stopped Kyuubi from being released. She had seen a genuine smile on his face that day, it was just too bad that she could not be as happy.

And the reason for her sadness lied in a hospital bed now, unaware of all the hurt and sorrow he had put both of them through. Now, he could not even remember who they were, much less what he had done to them. They were strangers, with no past, only the future.

"But he will remember eventually. He has to, they always do. Bits and pieces of his past will come back to him and he will be "old" Sasuke again. There is no use getting our hopes up!" Sakura exclaimed. Naruto backed away from her rage.

In truth Sakura only said those things out of fear. She did not want to fall back in love with him because he had hurt her so many times. She just couldn't go back to that little frail girl she had once been because if she did, she knew he would only break her again.

So Sakura turned away from the hospital room that housed Sasuke and walked away. Naruto's cries followed her out the door. "Sakura-chan, don't leave!"

She ignored him and kept walking. She had to get away from that dark-haired knight that threatened to take over her life again. So, once she was far enough away that Naruto could not see, she ran, and ran.

Naruto watched Sakura leave, knowing that there was nothing he could do to stop her. She still had feelings for the Uchiha, he knew that for sure, but he just couldn't understand why she would not take this chance to start over with the Uchiha.

Forgetting Sakura and her confusing actions, he walked back into the room where a nurse was doing a final diagnostic on Sasuke. "You're clear to go now," she said just as Naruto walked in the door.

Sasuke looked at her confused. Naruto read the expression on his face as such: "Where do I go?" In that instant, he stepped in.

"Hey Sasuke! You probably don't remember me but we are best friends. Come with me and I'll explain everything!" Naruto shouted causing the dark-haired fellow to look even more confused.

He did not reply however and instead rose from the bed, stumbling a little as his legs adjusted to his weight, and followed Naruto.

"So you see, we found you injured just a few days ago and well, you almost died. Then you were in a coma for a few days and when you woke up you did not remember any of us!" Naruto explained. He had left out the colder details of Sasuke's life, instead painting the picture of the perfect ninja for him.

Naruto's Version of Sasuke's Life: You were born into a prestigious family but a tragic accident claimed the lives of your parents and your older brother never recovered from losing them. You joined the ninja academy to forget what had happened. That's where you met me and Sakura. Sakura, in case you didn't know, was the girl you saw when you first woke up. The one with the pink hair, yea you can't miss her. We became your teammates and friends along with Kakashi-sensei, who treated you like you were his son. We were a family, a disfuctional one, but a family nonetheless. Then, a few years ago, you got sent on a special mission but you never returned. We tried to find you but we were not successful. We thought you were gone for good. Sakura shed many tears over you. She loved you, you see.

By the time Naruto finished, Sasuke appeared to have a firm grasp on who he "was" but now he needed to know who he "is." That question stumped Naruto.

"Well you've been gone a long time on your mission. I don't know all the things that happened to you, but I can tell you that today is like the first day of your new life. Just forget about the past, start over. That's what we will all do, okay friend?" Naruto explained, only hoping that Sasuke would agree.

"Okay Naruto. So how should I start my new life?" Sasuke asked mockingly.

"Funny. Well, I think we should start by finding Sakura."

"What do you mean 'find?' Where did she go?" Sasuke asked curiously.

"She was very upset about your condition and she ran off, but it's okay. I know she didn't go far. She never does," Naruto explained carefully. He, Sakura, and the others were going to have to get their story straight.

Sakura had ran as far as the gates before deciding that an amnesia-ridden Sasuke was nothing for her to leave her village over. She couldn't bear to hurt Naruto that way, not when he'd been there for her. So, once she reached the gates, she turned around and made her way slowly to the hospital.

It took her twenty minutes going at a normal pace, and when she got there the receptionist said that the Uchiha had checked out an hour earlier. They told her that he left with the Hokage.

Sakura sighed. She should have tried his estate first, she thought as she started walking toward Naruto's house. Naruto lived in his own section of the Hokage tower, the same section that his father had occupied during his service.

As she approached the huge building she looked up at the monument dedicated to the Hokages. The statue of Tsunade had been completed a few years ago, and now a new face was being carved into the stone. A face that held a huge grin. Why they had to carve out an image of Naruto looking childish, she had no idea but she guessed that it was because that's what the dork wanted.

She eyed the long set of stairs that made their way to the tower. She really didn't feel like making the walk, especially since there was no guarantee that Naruto was there. Then, she saw the blonde in his custom-made Hokage's robes walking down the steps with Sasuke beside him.

He saw her at about the same time and then waved crazily. "Hey, Sakura-chan! Get up here!" She put on a smile and then complied with his wishes.

Sasuke now seemed happy. He gave her a smile, one that almost made her melt. She liked this new Sasuke, the old one never showed any emotion and she always missed out on this kind of beauty.

"Hi Sakura-chan," Sasuke said in a smooth, warm voice. Sakura's eyes widened at the name that he called her. She liked the way it sounded coming from him. With Naruto, it was just an annoyance that she had come to accept but it was different with Sasuke.

"Sasuke-kun..." she said, waiting for him to make a frown or something. Give her some sign that the old, cold-hearted Sasuke was still there, but he did not. Instead, he only gave her a grin in response to the nickname that he'd once despised. "Wait a sec' what are you wearing?" she asked suddenly.

"Oh this? Naruto loaned it to me. He said my other clothes were messed up and he didn't want me walking around in a hospital robe," Sasuke explained. He wore one of Naruto's black undershirts and a pair of his orange pants, which Sakura was sure he had a hundred sets of. To be frank, he looked quite comical and Sakura had to stop herself from laughing.

Suddenly, Naruto's phone rang. He pulled it out of his coat and answered it formally. "Uzumaki Naruto speaking."

Sakura and Sasuke listened for the reply but whoever was on the other end spoke quietly so they did not hear. Sakura guessed that it must have been Hinata.

He said a quick goodbye and hung up to phone before turning to Sakura. "I have to go. Hinata's at the hospital."

"Is she okay?" Sakura asked, wondering what she could possibly be in there for. She had not been called for an emergency.

"She wouldn't say but she seemed okay, just nervous maybe. I have to go. I will call you later to tell you what's up, Sakura. You and Sasuke will be okay if I leave you two alone, right?" Naruto said with a slight grin.

Sakura glared. "Of course, now go!" she exclaimed but he had already vanished.

And there she stood, alone with the man that she had not seen in six years, the same man that she had loved, but who had broken her heart in two. And yet, she had nothing to say to him.

-End-