Only When I Am Asleep

by rockleah18

Sakura must deal with problems that occur in only a few months of her life. After her dad is killed in a car accident, she has to deal with a new stepfather that she doesn't like or feel comfortable around. She loves dreaming, & has one weird reoccurring dream. Who is this mysterious boy in her dreams & why does he seem so familiar? What is it she can't remember?

14. Can I Remember

Only When I Am Asleep…

Chapter 14: …Can I Remember

Where am I? The forest again? No, this place was different. So many trees…

"There you are child…" a woman said.

I realized I was laying down, and I sat up to see the woman who spoke. She had blond hair and golden brown eyes. Her chest was…so big. Who is she?

I said nothing, and stood up.

"Your parents are waiting. We mustn't keep them long,"

I followed wordlessly as I stepped into the house. What a beautiful house! It was huge, with about three stories, simple wallpaper, high ceilings; it looked a bit like a country house. Who knows how many rooms there were?

"We have to go now Sakura," I saw my mother and she took my hand, "say goodbye to your auntie and her friends,"

"Bye," I murmured in a small voice, hiding behind my mother's leg, turning to the blond woman, a white haired man, and…Orochimaru?

Orochimaru!

He began to hiss like a snake and began transforming into one, and began to approach my mother, father, and I…

"Ssss-Sakura…"

"Sakura!"

I awoke with a start, lunging upright in bed, breathless. These dreams were really getting on my nerves. I looked at the clock to realize it was 9:30 on Saturday morning. I was supposed to do something today…

"Sakura! Are you awake yet?" my mother yelled from downstairs.

I yawned, stretched and made my way downstairs in my pajamas. I was wearing matching short-shorts and tank top (finally able to wear them with him out of the house). I began to yawn again and rub my eyes.

"I had the weirdest dream, mom. It was about-"

"Good morning, Sakura,"

I felt my cheeks grow red. I had completely forgotten. Next to my mother stood Hinata and Ino.

"Don't tell me you forgot! We're having girl time remember?" Ino pouted.

"She obviously forgot, but that's okay. She did just move back into her own house," Hinata smiled.

"Thanks Hinata," I said in my groggy morning voice, "let me just take a quick shower and we'll leave,"

/

I was never a huge fan of shopping, but being with Ino and Hinata, it was extremely fun. We walked to the mall and saw a horrible horror movie at the cheap mall theater, sneaking in the food from the food court not to pay for the overpriced snacks. We predicted who was going to die first and laughed when we were right. We giggled and held in laughter during intense parts. We got dirty looks from people in the theater, but it was so worth it.

Eventually we got to the shopping part of the trip, browsing clothes, shoes, etc.

"Oh let's go to Forever 21! There was these pairs of shoes I really like," Ino began walking in the direction of the store and Hinata and I followed.

Once we entered the store, I could see Ino rushing around, looking at things and looking for the shoes she was talking about. I browsed around, looking at this and that with Hinata, talking about what was awful and what was cute. The only problem was the music was so loud (not to mention awful) I was starting to get a headache.

"Ino, how do you deal with the music?" I asked, messaging my temples.

"What? I don't care about the music, I care about the fashion,"

Should've figured as much.

When we finally left that horrible music (because I couldn't concentrate on anything else after a while) we went to this jewelry store that Ino loved and found a three way "Best Friends Forever" necklace. It was a huge heart when put together, and each separate piece had one of the words on it.

"This. Is. Perfect!" Ino nearly squealed, "I call dibs on the Friends piece!"

"Why? You want to be the middle?" I asked

"Why yes I do," she stuck out her tongue.

"I'll take best, because I'm the best," I teased, sticking out my tongue back at Ino.

"I'm fine with forever then," Hinata giggled at Ino and I and our little competitions we usually have.

"Okay, let's buy these babies and put them on!" Ino rushed and we all chipped in some money to buy the necklaces.

We put on our claimed piece and then put them together. "Best Friends Forever!" we said in unison and then laughed.

"We need to do this more often," I stated, plainly as fact that everyone agreed.

We began to walk home, and it seemed almost too soon that we got to my block. I had so much fun with just the girls and I was actually sad when it ended and we were walking home.

"Well, it looks like we'll see each other Monday," Ino shrugged.

"Finals are after this week, can you believe it?" Hinata said, which reminded me how fast this year went by.

"It's almost summer," I murmured, mostly to myself.

"I know right? How times fly!" Ino said in a sing-song voice.

"Man, we're at my house already?" I sighed.

"Bye Sakura! See ya," Ino waved.

"Bye Sakura," Hinata waved.

"Bye guys, see ya soon," I waved back as I walked up to my porch, I found a single rose.

"Ooh, Sakura got a rose~" Ino teased.

"Wow, Naruto's never got me a rose," Hinata commented.

"Yeah, Sai's never got me a rose," Ino pouted.

I was speechless. My heart just kept fluttering as I looked at the beautiful flower and smelled it. I began to remember the "language of flowers" lesson we had in Biology: "It means love,"

"Is there a card?" Hinata asked.

There is a card. My heart skipped another beat. "Yes,"

"Read it!" Ino exclaimed, eyes gleaming, digging for information.

Hinata seemed to be interested too, but she had the best poker face. The best.

I opened the beautiful soft pink envelope (as best as I could), took out the letter, and began reading aloud:

Sakura:

I'm sorry to tell you that I'll be leaving town for a week. Something came up and I'm going with Itachi to meet with extended family up north. I didn't want to skip the review week, but it seems I have to. I'm really sorry. I'm going to miss you. See you next Saturday, where we'll have the best date ever, I promise. Don't forget to call me!

-Sasuke

P.S. I guess I'm not gonna make it to Karin's party after all. Please promise me you won't go, at least to yourself. I don't want anything bad to happen the day before we meet again.

I nearly felt my heart stop. He left without saying goodbye in person. I wasn't mad, but sad more than anything. Distressed almost. I shouldn't be, I mean, it's only for a week.

"I'm so sorry Sakura," Hinata sighed in a small voice, smaller than usual.

"That's so sad," Ino added.

"It'll be fine, it's only a week right?" I smiled weakly, and they obviously saw through it. I was fighting the tears so hard.

Hinata and Ino ran up and hugged me, and I just broke down. I couldn't hold it anymore. I was being a baby, I would see him again. Then again, I just stopped seeing him every day and I just moved out of his house. He was my constant companion.

"Thanks guys, but you should be getting home, I'll be fine. I better put the rose in some water,"

"Are you sure?" Ino was skeptical.

"If you insist,"

"Hinata!"

"Ino, she needs some time for herself," she whispered.

"Fine, bye Sakura. See you Monday,"

"Bye Sakura,"

"Bye girls," I never felt better than when I had the house to myself. My mother was working and I just walked around the house, moping and sulking, cleaning because that's what I do when I'm distressed. After my tipping point, I lay down on my bed and cried myself into a nap.

I was in that beautiful house again with my mother and the big-busted blond woman, I think we're in a kitchen.

"You can stay here for a while, as long as it's necessary Ayume,"

"Thank you Tsunade, my daughter claims some abuse, and Kairi is trying to figure things out. I don't know what's going on,"

"Don't worry, Orochimaru and Jiraiya will help out. They are my closest friends,"

What? Dad's trying to find out something about me being abused and he's talking to Orochimaru? Abused! What is going on? This seems so real…is it a memory?

"Thank you Auntie Tsunade!" I hugged the blond woman, named Tsunade.

"Aww, of course Sakura. Anything for my favorite niece," she gave me a smile and patted my head as she embraced me.

"Now go on and play outside while we make some lunch. We'll watch you from here," my mother opened the sliding glass door in the kitchen and let me outside, where there were a great number of children's toys. A small play kitchen, a bunch of play babies, a play stroller, a dollhouse…It was a little girls paradise!

I looked over only to see my mother talking intensely with Tsunade as they were making lunch. I knew exactly what they were doing now that I'm older. The grown-ups were talking, so they sent me out to play. Why hasn't my mother ever told me about this?

SLAM!

I awoke to the sound of my mother coming home. It was time to ask her some questions. I looked at the time, it was really strange that my mother would come home at midnight. I slowly crept downstairs and hid to see my mother, obviously tipsy, talking to a man. She was telling him goodnight. I couldn't see from where I was crouched, so I stood up a little to see…to see…

"I'll see you later Ren," my mother kissed him goodnight.

Why was my mother seeing him again? Why would my mother see him again! I thought she went to the police! I thought he would be locked up in jail, she told me that he was gone! She lied to me!

My mother closed the door only to turn and face an angry me.

"Oh Sakura, you should be in bed! It's late," her words were a bit shaky, she smelled of expensive wine.

"How dare you see him!"

"Oh Sakura, it's complicated,"

"Why isn't he in jail? He should be in jail for what he did to me! You told me you sent in the evidence and-"

She started laughing, disgusting laughing from her stupor, "Sent the evidence in? I destroyed the evidence Sakura!"

I was shocked, "Why? Why would you do this?" I began to break down in tears.

"There is so much you don't know Sakura, so much you shouldn't be able to remember…" she trailed off.

"But I do remember! I remember Auntie Tsunade!"

Her face completely went white, "T-Tsunade? How much do you remember?"

"I remember her house, Jiraiya and Orochimaru, and that I was apparently abused. Do you know anything about this mother?"

"I know everything, and I'm going to tell you,"

She was totally drunk, not tipsy like I thought. I guess it was lucky, because I've heard from relatives that I see on holidays that she acts like she's the best of the best and better than everyone when she's drunk. My mother always denied it, said that they were silly, when it's actually true. She was exactly as they described.

"Now Sakura, this is an achievement of mine and how well I can lie to you. Oh how you believe me! I guess it's a daughter's job to trust her mother, to honor her mother, and help her mother."

I sat there, in shock as my mother began to reveal the most kept secret of hers and was bragging about it. I quickly took out my cellphone that was still in my clothes I slept in and began to record her audio, just for safe keeping.

"How you believed me! How everyone believed me, my 'mother in distress' act was perfect! Everything went as planned. I guess I should enlighten you to the plan, right Sakura? I can finally show someone how amazingly manipulative and intelligent I can be. Everyone doubted me, yes they did! They all told me 'Ayume, you're such a ditz!' or 'Ayume, you're so plain!' But I showed them all. I got the cutest and smartest boyfriend in high school who told everyone that he was with me because I was very smart and funny. Oh how the girls were jealous! I ate it up and felt power through my body. Yes, this boyfriend was Ren, the 'him' you always fondly refer to, you stupid whore,"

I couldn't believe how different my mother sounded drunk. I felt a stab through me as my mother called me a stupid whore because she loved him. Loved him more than me or my well-being to allow him to stay out of jail. I wanted to cry so badly, but I held my tears. I braced myself for the worst. Most of all, I held my tongue to allow my mother to just talk until she told it all, not to distract her or make her change her mind. Before mother realizes she's revealing the biggest secret in her life that is only between him and her.

The truth comes out! Dun-dun-DUNNN! XD

Sorry for the cliff-hanger, but I had to so everyone would be excited! I'm excited to continue! Goodness Sakura's mother turned evil quickly! O_O Ahaha

Thanks for reading, sorry it took so long ^.^' but the next one will come fast, I promise! :)

Please review? LOL I'm not one to say these things, but please? xD

~Rock Leah