This chapter was very fun to write. It reveals a lot about Sasuke and Kaeru's past. The next few chapters after this includes some memories from their childhood.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto, I just created certain elements in this fanfic.

CHAPTER 10: Reunion of Memories

After the training exercise, we were all out of energy, as well as food in our stomachs. I had invited everyone to my house, and then we all ate. We then planned a training session so that we could all understand each others abilities better so we'd be better suited in battle. Everyone had left afterwards, except Sasuke.

"Sasuke, if you insist on staying, I guess we should make the most of it. I know! I want to meet your parents!"

"Huh? Oh, sure."

"Ranawa Spirit Summons! Surprise!" I put my hand on the ground, and a strange pattern appeared on the ground. It looked like an ancient rune. Five seconds after it appeared, it started to glow blue. I yelled, "Kai! Uchiha Mikoto! Uchiha Fugaku! Release!"

The ground split in front of my middle finger. This was the spirits' portal to the living world. "I am Ranawa Kaeru! Developer of this technique, heir to the clan Ranawa! Spirits, obey!" The silvery blue masses of ectoplasm then went back into the pit except for two. These spirits began to take shape, and then return to their regular form before they died. "Sasuke, call me when you need me. Remember," I smiled at him. "It's OK to shed a tear and act human." I went to my room and summoned my parents. It was time to introduce them to the parents of my long lost friend and the parents of the clan murderer.

-=+ +=-

They both appeared in front of me. With my power, these spirits could stay on Earth and solidify for a maximum of thirty minutes. I heard out side my window,

"Mom! Dad! I-I can't believe it's you!" Mikoto-san spoke, obviously confused.

"How… how are we together? Sasuke, did you die too? We heard a girl summon all of the spirits and the next thing we knew, we were here!" Sasuke looked at his mom with a genuine smile on his face.

"The summoner was… my um… friend." I cut him off.

"Sasuke, I know what you want to say, so just say it already!" He looked at me, smiled warmly, and said,

"The summoner was my girlfriend, Ranawa Kaeru." Mikoto-san and Fugaku-san looked at me. This time, Sasuke's father spoke.

"Ah, Kaeru-chan! Long time no see! You grew, physically and mentally! I see you also perfected that jutsu! It's very effective!" I thanked him.

"Arigato, Fugaku-san!"

"How many times did I have to tell you when I was alive? Call me and Mikoto –chan, not –san!"

"But you're both adults!"

"Even though you're the heiress to the strongest clan in the known ninja world, it's OK!" Sasuke had an extremely confused look on his face.

"How do you know her, dad?" All the Uchiha looked confused now.

"Sasuke, didn't you spend time with her every waking moment earlier in your life?"

"Son, how can you forget about her?" Suddenly, I heard my mom's voice.

"Kaeru masked his memories with a specialty jutsu." My dad continued explaining.

"A jutsu that can morph and erase the memory of anyone at the users will." He walked towards Sasuke and put his hand on Sasuke's forehead. "His memories will return… in ten minutes? Kaeru, has your foresight always been this good?" I answered.

"Well…. Yeah, since I could speak." I walked over to Sasuke. "I'm sorry I hid things from you. There was a reason…" Sasuke's expression changed. It was not angry as I had expected, but warm, and welcoming.

"It's OK. I bet that reason was important, wasn't it?"

"It was."

"Well at least they aren't gone forever!"

"You're going to have to stay at my house again. I need to perform a ritual since I modified half of your life's memories." I looked at my watch. "We need to be in the Kawazu temple in four minutes. Parents, we need ten minutes for this ritual, so please ask any questions later." I transferred some speed power to Sasuke, and we left for the temple. It was in the foot of a mountain, deep in the Forest of Origin. "Sasuke, when we start the ritual, try to stay still. Focus on the one thing most precious to you, and the other thoughts will come back to you in your dreams tonight. The same must go for me as well. After that, you'll remember them forever. Understood?"

"Yup."

"One other thing… this ritual is extremely risky. You must trust me with your life."

"Kaeru…"

"Yes?"

"If you led me into an obvious deathtrap, I'd follow you. If you told me to do what my brother did to my clan, I'd do it. If you told me to assassinate the Hokage, I'd do it."

"Is this flattery?"

"No. The point is, even if you'd never tell me to do those things, I'd do it anyway. I trust you already with my life. You never make a decision with only your intentions and reasons in mind, but with others as well. You have a golden heart, and haven't done much to get attention, even though you were parched for it. You always give the guilty a full chance to tell their side of the story with an open mind. Kaeru, if I had to leave my life between you and the Hokage, I'd choose you." I looked at him. He was serious. We arrived.

"We're here. Kaeru! Gama!" I used two special hand signs, and the doors opened. The temple was completely made of stone, and there was moss and vines everywhere. Inside were two circles, one for the caster of the spell, and one for the victim of the spell. "Sasuke! Stand in that far circle over there!" I then ran to the caster circle and started a seemingly continuous stream of hand signs with one person in my mind: Sasuke.

-=+ +=-

Five minutes passed. The last handsign formed. Beads of sweat came down my forehead and hit the ground.

"Kawazu!" A burst of energy flew towards me and Sasuke, and he lost conscious. I picked him up and released all of my speed energy. In less than five seconds, we were at my house. I put him on the first story bed and then went outside. There, I explained in the short time that I had what had happened to our parents.

"Sasuke should remember everything by morning." His mother talked.

"Itachi… I'm sure there was a reason! He couldn't kill Sasuke, or the girl that he loved… he must not be all bad!"

"Mikoto-san, I'm positive this would've happened one way or another. It was simply unpreventable. The Ranawa and Uchiha were too prosperous. I'm sure this would've happened eventually, to test the clans final heirs to surpass their founders."

"But Kaeru-chan, I thought your chakra readings were the highest in your clan!"

"I had forgotten... but there was one other with the same chakra readings as mine."

"It's gonna be a tough run, isn't it?" Mikoto-san was starting to fade.

"Yes, it is." His parents souls had vanished. My parents souls had one more minute. I saw them and asked, "Do you guys… think Itachi-san is guilty?"

"We're not the ones to make the decision. That's for you to decide, Kaeru." My mom and dad always were like that. "Make sure you take care of Sasuke-kun, Kaeru. Keep the Uchiha-Ranawa bond strong!"

"OK, mom. Great seeing you guys again." They both disappeared, and I went to my house. 1 o' clock in the morning. Not my real bedtime, but it seems that way lately. I checked on Sasuke. He was hugging a pillow and saying,

"Kaeru, I always want to remember the fun times we've had. I never want you to erase these memories." I continued to my room. I remembered when he told me that. I put on my PJ's and tied my hair like I always do. Tonight, Sasuke and I visited each other in our dreams.

This ends the "Beginning of Romance" arc. Next is the "Memories" arc. After this chapter, all chapters will be posted on the website, ranawastory[dot]webs[dot]com first, so check there often to stay updated with the latest chapters and information!