Reminiscence

Memory: Epilogue to Tragedy

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

-:-

The winter coldness had soon reached its peak, as more and more rare blizzards passed by peaceful Konoha. The death of Haruno Kiyami and her squad had been reached after weeks of their absence; ANBU squads had been sent out shortly to find them after there was no word sent back or any notice of them still being on track. After the tracking squads had returned with the frozen, bloodied bodies of Haruno Kiyami and her squad, Konoha, again, was clad in black.

When her mother's body was brought back frozen over and covered in blood, Sakura had gone into a silent state of depression. Slowly, she began to forget about the promise she had made to her mother when she was young; indeed, she had certainly begun to wear a mask to cover her depression. Her eyes had gone to a jaded grey that no longer shimmered in the sunlight; her smiles had turned forced and fake; her laughs held no emotion and just weighed down the air when they were released. Sasuke had noticed her mask when he had rushed over to her house after hearing of the news; her jaded grey eyes had given away everything.

-:-

Sakura sat by the frozen over pond, not feeling the numbing cold winds and snow brush against her skin; the cold emptiness of her heart had much more effect on her. She sat with her knees pulled to her upper body, hoping to bring warmth and comfort into her barred heart. As her eyes dully stared at the ice on the pond, they slowly wandered to the frozen lilies. Indeed, they were dead; it was obvious. She just couldn't forget the fact that they were still in the world, in the heart of the pond radiating their beauty, when they were simply dead.

It seemed like an eternity before any life had reached Sakura; for her, time had been frozen once her mother's body was brought back home. As her eyes slowly moved from one lily to the next, they slowly grew wider as she felt a blanket drape over her. A forced smile became present on her face, as she already knew what the warmth presence was beside her.

"You've been out here all day."

The bars around her heart began to rust away as she heard the rare concern evident in his voice.

"I know."

Her voice was raspy from her sobbing from earlier. His pale body grimaced in pain as he heard her voice. He despised seeing her like this; he hated seeing her in so much pain. Secretly, he wished that he could direct all the pain coming into her heart towards his; but everyone must experience the pain of living, it was an inevitable downfall to living.

"Sakura..."

Her pain was truly evident, as her gaze slowly drifted back to the frozen lilies on the pond, not realizing that he had called her name. Once again, his body grimaced in so much pain, and he got up and walked in front of her, forcing him to stare into the endless onyx skies found in his eyes.

"Sakura, I know the pain, I truly do. But please, toss your mask, please. I know what it feels like wanting to retreat into your mind and soul, forgetting about the world around you, and just wanting to freeze time and die forgotten. But Sakura...the world doesn't work that way. I know it hurts, Sakura, I know it's killing you inside. But it's killing me to see you like this. Sakura, life is valuable. You have to make the most of it."

The sound of his voice and advice was enough for her. The life in her jade eyes were soon flowing in from darkness, and he couldn't help but smile at her return. At last, her mask was tossed.

"Sasuke-kun...thank you..."

He merely nodded in reply, and was taken aback when she had collapsed on him and had begun to uncontrollably sob on his chest. He began to run his hand up and down her back in hopes to soothe her, and in a few, long minutes, she began to die down.

"I j-just...can't believe almost e-everything's gone...you know?"

He embraced her, and placed his head atop hers, and nodded into her pink locks.

"I...I j-just d-don't know...wh-what I'd do...if you had to l-leave m-me t-too..."

At this, he pulled her even closer (if it was possible).

"I won't leave you. Forever."

She nodded and placed her head in a comfortable position at the crook of his neck.

"Yes...forever."

Her eyes closed, and she began to softly doze. Sasuke, knowing the dangers of sleeping in the snow, gently picked her up bridal style, and began to bring her home where she would be warm; where the warmth would hopefully assuage some of her pain.

I know your pain, Sakura. I know how it feels to want to completely retreat into your own world, freeze time, and forget the world around you. But you see...I don't want you to end up like me.

Tbc.

I'm really sorry for the short chapter! It just seemed like a good place to end it. Next chapter will be longer, promise. Also, sorry for some Sasuke OOC.