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CHAPTER 10: KNIGHT
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''Surprised?'' she asked
''Very'' Sasuke admitted, still shocked by the revelation ''but… how? Why?''
''Think, Sasuke, for once in your life'' she mocked ''what was the beginning of all of Sakura's doom?''
Sasuke swallowed hard
''Well, I thought it was me, honestly''
Sakura nodded
''But Sakura never blamed you'' she bit her lower lip and clenched her fists in anger ''even when you abandoned her like this, she never blamed you. She blamed herself. For not being capable of making you stay''
Sasuke's eyes widened
''This didn't become a nightmare just because you left. It became a nightmare mostly because Sakura felt like she wasn't good enough to make you stay''
Sakura closed her eyes and ran a hand through her short hair
''And every single time she relived this memory or had a nightmare about it, she had a feeling of guilt, of uselessness, of not being good enough. Feelings are strong, Sasuke, and I was born out of them. I started to live this dream instead of the first Sakura you met here before, that useless little thing'' she hissed ''and the more Sakura dreamed about that the surer I was about one thing: everything in Sakura's life has always been about you. About Uchiha Sasuke, about trying to make you notice us, care for us, love us'' she spat the words ''our life was a waste because of you. Can you imagine how Sakura would've been had you never existed in her life? How great a shinobi she would have been? Or how much time wasted chasing you she could've spent training or investing on people who actually cared about her?''
Sasuke didn't say a word
''You are like a parasite'' she pointed a finger at him, her teeth gritted ''and you sucked most of Sakura's lifetime'' she then took a deep breath and tried to recompose herself ''I admit some of it was Sakura's own fault, for putting so much expectation on a jerk like you'' she said ''but that doesn't change the fact that most of Sakura's suffering happened because of you!'' she was angry for a second, but then she inhaled deeply and proceeded ''so I thought to myself: why not erase the problem? Nip the evil in the bud. If I managed to get access to Sakura's memories, I would be able to erase you from each and every memory you ever took part in, and that way Sakura would become a much stronger and more capable person''
''You speak of making Sakura stronger, but you are the one who was creating nightmares in her mind that frightened her'' Sasuke reasoned
Sakura brought a hand to her forehead and laughed
''Means to an end, my dear'' she said ''I was born from a nightmare after all, I feed on them. And I needed to grow if I wanted to be able to tear the chains that kept me in this one memory apart and reach the Dream World, where I would have access to every other memory. I never thanked you for making my way out of here much easier, did I?'' she smiled maliciously at him.
Sasuke crisped his lips
''But my plan didn't involve hurting Sakura, of course not! After all, I'm her'' she continued ''but after I managed to escape this place and change the memories, I would be able to create the Sakura she has always deserved to be. A Sakura that had never been poisoned by your venom'' she looked at him with disgust ''and then, I would be able to take over the Dream World and take that useless Sakura's place in living the dreams and taking care of the memories. Whoever has access to the Dream World has access to every memory of a person's. And, as you probably found out by now, memories are what make someone who they are, so I would be in control of Sakura forever!'' she started to laugh out loud ''and no one would ever use us or treat us like you did!''
''Where's the young Sakura? What did you do to her?''
Sakura looked back at him and smirked
''Young Sakura? Have you ever wondered why she's so young? Isn't Sakura 21?''
Sasuke halted. He had asked that himself many times.
Sakura sat on the bench and looked at him in expectation.
''Well?''
''I have no idea''
She smirked again
''Because inside of her mind, inner Sakura is a child. On the outside, she might play tough, but on the inside she's a frightened little girl who has many fears and can't solve her problems by herself because she never grew up. Because you made her like this. Because of you, Sakura has never stood out or tried her best to become someone stronger, all she could do was chase you and be stepped on by you, over and over''
Sasuke was taken aback. He had always known he had hurt Sakura in many ways, but never had he guessed his attitudes had had such an impact in her life
Sakura lowered her hand, one hand covering one eye, a few fingers separated so Sasuke could still see it behind the hair strands.
''You see, Sasuke, I'm not evil'' she started ''I just want Sakura to have the life she has always deserved, without you, without her biggest weakness'' Sakura grasped her hair with both her hands and her body started to shake in frustration ''but you had to ruin everything, didn't you? You couldn't just sit down like a good boy and wait for everything to happen like it should, could you?'' she started to laugh madly ''but it's okay, there's nothing you can do now. While I told you about my plan, the last of young Sakura's energy was being drained from her, and it will be mine soon enough, then I'll finally be able to take control over the Dream World and change Sakura forever!''
Sasuke wanted to do something, say something. But he couldn't. He wondered if what she was doing was indeed that bad. Erasing him from Sakura's memories would do her good? Then why not let it happen? Could he be selfish enough to say 'no, I want to be part of her life no matter how much harm my presence has caused her'? If it was for her own good, why not let it happen?
He felt defeated.
''Sakura, who did this to you?''
He opened his eyes widely
''Sakura, tell me, who injured you?!''
Sasuke's eyes started to be filled with tears and he lowered his head
''I am an avenger. - I can't forgive even you...if you take that away from me…''
Sasuke had always been terrible at expressing his feelings, but there was one thing he knew for sure
''Hey...Naruto. You have to save Sakura no matter what…''
He loved her too
"Take care of Sakura..."
He had always loved her, even though he never knew how to express it
''Sakura... Thank you... for everything...''
And he wasn't going to lose her because some shadow said so. He would make up for every harm he'd ever caused her and he would make sure she lived happily ever after with him, forever.
He had given her up once.
He would never, ever, do that again.
''You're wrong'' he said
Sakura turned to him slowly
''What…?''
''I was never Sakura's weakness'' he corrected her ''I'm her strength''
Sasuke took the crystals he had gathered through all his journey in the Dream World and put them all together in his hand.
''These crystals are part of you, aren't they?''
Sakura frowned and hesitantly nodded
''Then instead of filling them with hate and fears, I'll fill them with light''
Sakura's eyes widened in shock as Sasuke brought the crystals closer to his chest and suddenly they merged together and turned into the shape of a heart, going from red to white as Sasuke filled it with all the feelings he felt for his, his, Sakura.
''What are you doing?'' Sakura asked, alarmed, then when she tried to run away from him, he ran into her direction and placed the heart made of crystal where her heart should've been.
Sakura gasped
For the first time in her whole existence, she didn't feel guilty for not having prevented Sasuke from leaving that day. She felt like that was going to make her strong, so she would be good enough to bring him back. She felt like that was the start of something big. Of the story of Sasuke and Sakura.
She turned slowly to him and Sasuke hugged her tight, kissing her forehead.
''I'm sorry for everything I've caused you, Sakura'' he whispered ''I swear I'll be the best man for you from now on, and that I'll do my best never to hurt you again''
Sakura's eyes were filled with tears when she closed them for the last time, still hugging Sasuke back. Then she broke in thousands of pieces, but the heart itself remained on the floor.
Before Sasuke could lower himself to grab it, though, it got bigger and bigger until finally it cracked and broke, and the young Sakura emerged from it.
''Sasuke!'' she exclaimed, running to his arms
''You've been here all along!'' he exclaimed back
She was no longer a young girl, she looked exactly like the Sakura he knew and loved from his world.
''You've grown up'' he mentioned, taking a step back to take a better look at her.
She smiled and nodded
''You helped me overcome my fears. I'm no longer a fearsome girl on the inside''
Sasuke smiled and hugged her tight
''Everything will be alright now'' she said
Yes, yes it would.
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''Are you sure it's safe for me to come back to the real world?'' he asked her
''I'm not sure'' she smiled ''but there's nothing else for you to do here. I'll have to clean up all the mess that evil Sakura made, and that might take a while. You should leave now, Sakura's waking up soon, I can feel it'' she looked around, the world was starting to become blurred again ''I'm not worried. I know that for whatever problem we might face from now one we've got a knight in shining armor to save us'' she stuck her tongue out.
Sasuke smiled, relieved, and the world started to disappear around them as Sakura started to wake up.
Before they disappeared, though, he came closer to her and kissed her cheek lovingly.
''And, with a kiss, the princess woke up''
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Sasuke woke up to find Naruto, Kakashi and Tsunade in the room looking at him with expectation.
''Did everything go well?'' Tsunade asked before he even had time to reorient himself ''her electroencephalogram went crazy and we decided to stop the medication that was putting her into sleep just to make sure everything was alright'' she explained
Sasuke got up from the bed and looked at Sakura
''Everything should be fine now'' he smiled
After a short while, Sakura woke up. At first, she looked around in confusion, not sure of what was going on.
''Sakura-chan!'' Naruto shouted, jumping on the bed and hugging his friend tightly
''Naruto!'' Tsunade reprimanded, pulling him by the shirt ''she's not well yet, control yourself''
Naruto pouted, but agreed
''Tsunade-sama, Kakashi-sensei, Naruto'' she greeted them with one of her best smiles, then her head turned to Sasuke and she frowned.
''Sakura'' he called her
The way she was frowning at him told Sasuke something wasn't right
''Who are you?''
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Sasuke felt his heart stop inside his chest
''Sakura, it's me'' he said
Sakura wasn't trying to avoid him, though, she looked like she genuinely didn't have the slightest idea who he was.
''Perhaps we should leave them alone for a while'' Kakashi sensed the tension and quickly left the room, being followed by Tsunade and a reluctant Naruto, who wanted to stay in the room but was dragged outside by the Hokage.
When the door closed, Sasuke sat on the bed next to Sakura. He tried to remain calm.
''Are you sure you don't remember me?''
Sakura lowered her head
''I… I feel like there are some blank spaces in my memories, like there's something missing… But I can't tell what is, I'm so confused…''
He was silent for a moment, and before Sakura said something random to break the silence, he said:
''Would you let me share my memories with you?''
She widened her eyes, then hesitantly nodded in agreement.
Sasuke used his sharingan to do just like he had done when he fought himself on the bridge: he filled each gap in Sakura's memories, each blank space that had once been memories with him, until her memories were finally fully restored. Sakura might have thought those could be implanted memories he wanted her to have, but Naruto, Kakashi and Tsunade seemed to trust this handsome stranger, and somehow she felt like she could trust him too.
Suddenly, she started to remember things
The first time she ever saw him
''That's Sasuke-kun, isn't he handsome?''
''Who, the one looking this way?''
''Just hide!''
When they were chosen to be on Team 7
I'm Haruno Sakura. What I like… I mean, who I like is…
All their missions together
''...Sakura, you're heavy.''
How at first his look was cold towards everyone
''My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I hate a lot of things, and I don't particularly like anything.''
How with time he started to treat her in a warmer way
Only her
''Here, it's cold, it would be troublesome if you got sick''
She blushed
All the sad memories they shared together, but that made them grow to be who they were today
''You're annoying...''
The first time he said he liked her back - or attempted to
''I think I like you more than tomatoes sometimes''
How he had trouble at first saying he loved her
''I… uh… Sakura…''
''I LOVE YOU TOO, SASUKE-KUN!''
''Humph''
When they first kissed
''Sakura, are you okay? Sakura? Oh my God, someone help her, I think she passed out!''
When they started to date and everyone in town found them to be the most incompatible couple in town
He's too cold for you, Sakura-san! You should find someone more lively… like Naruto-san!
How they proved they were indeed very compatible, in all ways possible
''You know, Sakura, I think you're good for Sasuke. You make sure he stays in line''
When he asked her if she would move in with him
''I think this house could use a feminine touch''
''What do you mean?''
''You know what I mean''
She smiled
Breakfast in bed
''Don't get used to it, Sakura, it's just because it's your birthday''
Watching movies until late at night and talking nonsense
''This movie is nonsense''
''It's a romance!''
''Exactly''
''You don't like romances?''
''Only ours''
When she started to have nightmares again
And how he was always there with her to calm her down and tell her everything would be okay
''Sakura, hey, wake up, it's just a nightmare, you're okay, I'm right here with you''
Every single detail
Immortalized in memories
This time, there to stay.
Sasuke's right eye turned back into being onyx and he looked deeply into Sakura's green jades.
She remembered him
''Sasuke-kun!'' she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck
Sasuke wrapped his around her waist, digging his face on her neck. He had missed her so much
''Sasuke-kun, you won't believe what I dreamed about!'' she said, putting some distance between them to look at him in the eyes ''it was the weirdest dream of all, you were there and you were fighting my nightmares, but I wasn't myself, I was someone else'' she started to shake her arms as she explained, trying to convey meaning to the things she was babbling about, telling him about the wonderful and weird dream she'd had.
Sasuke smiled at her
''Sounds like a very interesting dream, I'd love to hear everything about it''
Sakura returned his smile and started to explain everything in details. Sasuke, on his side, could only pay attention to her bubbly expression and funny ways as she told him all about it. The young Sakura had been right: everything would be alright now.
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''You mean that wasn't a dream?!'' she uttered aloud, looking at them in shock.
Sakura, Sasuke, Naruto and Kakashi were at Ichiraku's celebrating Sakura leaving the hospital. Sasuke felt a wave of comfort as soon as he entered the restaurant and he decided that there were some things from the Dream World he would carry with him forever. He wondered if this would turn out to become a good memory in Sakura's mind, and he decided he would do his best to take part in each and every happy memory of Sakura's from now on.
''Of course not, Sakura-chan! You wouldn't believe how awkwardly you were behaving when you first woke up, I was so scared you would be like that forever'' Naruto then took conscious of his words and added ''But I'd still love you the same, Sakura-chan! No matter how evil you turned!''
Sakura threw her head back and laughed
''You're the best, Naruto!''
''Well, as much as I hate to say this, I'm not as good as your hero here'' Naruto poked Sasuke on the arm ''He's your savior''
Sakura giggled and gave Sasuke a small kiss on the cheek
''My knight in shining armor!'' she said, bubbly
Sasuke smiled back at her and touched their noses romantically
''Forever''
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''Are you ready to sleep?'' he asked her for the third time. This time, she looked at him, smiled, and then put away the book she was reading
''Fine, fine, if you insist!'' she said ''I can finish my book tomorrow''
She snuggled closer to him and he brought her closer to his body, inhaling the sweet aroma that came from her.
''Goodnight, Sakura''
''Goodnight, Sasuke-kun!''
After a while that she didn't fall asleep, though, Sasuke finally decided to ask:
''What's troubling you? Are you having trouble falling asleep?''
''Sasuke-kun'' she started ''I can't recall you ever saying you love me. I would hate to have forgotten something like this, can you say it again?''
Sasuke smiled and closed his eyes, kissing her forehead
''I love you, Sakura''
She giggled
''Good! I love you too, Sasuke-kun''
''Mhm''
''A lot''
''Hm''
''Like, a whole lot''
''I know, now sleep''
''I just want you to be sure! You're sure about that, right? I love you so so so so so muchhhhh!''
''I love you very much too, Sakura, now sleep''
''Alright''
''Goodnight''
''Goodnight, Sasuke-kun!''
That night, Sakura had only the best of dreams. Sometimes, a bad dream or two tried to make their way through her mind and make her scared, but whenever that happened, a handsome man with dark hair would show up and make everything alright. No nightmares would ever harm her again. Sakura smiled in her sleep as the she from her dreams looked straight at her and winked.
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THE END
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Thank you all for reading Knightmares! I had SO MUCH FUN writing this, I hope you had fun reading it!
I wrote this entire chapter yesterday, after posting the last one, so excited I was to write it! Hahahahaha I can't believe I've finally finished my first long-fic wow! It's all thanks to you guys, who showed me your support by writing me reviews, following and favoriting my fic! Thank you SO MUCH! You're the best!
AND THERE'S A BONUS:
There will most likely be an Epilogue, I'm 99% sure of that xD So stay tuned! Hahahahah
Thank you so much for all your support!
And now, replying to my amazing guests!
- monsuno power: C'mon how did you guess it was because she blamed herself? HAhahahha you're too smart! Hahahahaha Did you like this last chapter? I hope you did! I'll miss you! I'll try to post the epilogue before the end of the year, but in any case, Merry Christmas! Thank you for being such a great reader and for motivating me to keep writing! Big hugsssss!
- Bleach power: You and monsuno power are too smart, I can't deal with you two! Hahahaha I'm glad you liked the last chapter, I hope you like this one too! It was the last one, but there will be an epilogue too, so I hope to see you again! Thanks for being this awesome reader you are and for reviewing! It gave me the motivation to keep writing! Merry Christmas! I hope to see you around! Big hugsssss!
That's it, everyone! Thank you all very much for your support and I hope to see you again on the epilogue if/when I decide to write it hahaha
Big hugssss!
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Blackfan Diamond