Disclaimer: We do not own Naruto, but we surely enjoy writing about these characters.

Summary: After a fatal car accident, police officer Sasuke Uchiha loses his memory. Now he is stuck with trying to recover the last few years of his life, while at he same time, move on with his future. Yet there were so many people around him trying to fill in memory gaps, one of them being his persistent Father. But there was one person that not once tried to tell him some sort of story from his past, and he wondered why she kept her distance from him. He was sure he knew her. And despite every other memory, it was the memories of her that he so desperately wanted to get back.

Rated T: for language and kissing and ...yeah... :)

Remember Me

By DreamDevourer and TiKanis

Chapter One
Break up

Sakura Haruno was never the sort to get drunk. She was patient, and smart, and always reasonable. She was well aware that alcohol never solved any problems. She was well aware that after drinking, she will be left with a major headache and nauseous feeling. But what she was also one hundred percent aware of was that she wasn't courageous enough to tell her boyfriend she wanted to breakup while sober.

So she drank, and looked at the clock, and drank some more.

It was 1:00 a.m., and she was in her apartment, still dressed in her elegant emerald gown. Her hair no longer was styled up; she had removed the hair clips long ago, allowing her long hair to fall loosely against her back.

She was supposed to have been at her family's Christmas Eve holiday party, but no, she was stuck here, waiting for her boyfriend to come home from work.

Sakura took another gulp of the red wine that was supposed to have been a gift to her father. She looked at the clock once more; 1:06 am. She heard the jingling of keys and the door knob twisted. Great, he was finally home. Drinking the last content of her wine, she stood up to greet him.

He had small white specks on his dark hair and on his police uniform. At least one of her wishes came true; they were going to have a white Christmas. As for her other wish—no, Sasuke Uchiha was never going to change. He was never going to pick her over his job. She officially had enough of it.

"Sakura? I thought you went to the party," Sasuke said, a bit surprised to see his girlfriend at home right now, instead of her parent's house.

"Oh, I've gone to soooo many parties alone, figured not going at all wouldn't make much of a difference," she replied, folding her arms over her chest. She had to resist the urge to wrap her arms around him and kiss him. It's what she always did when he would come home. It gave her a sort of relief feeling that he was alive.

Sasuke, being the detective that he was, didn't skip a beat. He noticed the empty wine bottle, her shoes thrown uncaringly in the different parts of the room, her makeup was messy, and her eyes were a little red. Oh god, had she been crying? He had sincerely apologized over the phone that he couldn't make it to the party. He insisted she go on without him, and that he would make it up to her. She had said that everything was fine, and that he needn't worry.

She stood there, watching him as he studied her. Why did he always break her heart one day, and make it whole the next day? Why couldn't he just commit to her as much as he committed to his job? After three years together, by now, something should've changed, right? Was she so wrong to ask more from him? She shouldn't have to worry sick about him every time he was late to come home, or every time he didn't respond to her phone call.

But worry was all that she could do. On some nights, when she would get emergency phone calls from the hospital about him, she could feel her heart break, little by little.

No, she shouldn't have to put up with this anymore. She thought she could and she was willing to try because she loved him. But after three long years of worry and heartache, she was done. If he was to remain oblivious of the pain he inflicted on her every time he canceled a date, or every time he said he would be home late—then why should she punish herself any further? Why should she continue to try?

"Don't come any closer, Sasuke," Sakura said as he took a few steps toward her. "I can think better when you are a further distance from me. And I've done a whole lot of thinking, and…"

He stopped, confused. Sakura was never one to get drunk. She never cried. But most importantly: she never, ever, looked at him with such a chilling dark look. His heartbeat quickened. Somehow, deep inside, he had a feeling he knew what she was going to say.

"…I think we should break up," Sakura finished without even blinking. She watched his face, waiting for some sort of emotion, some sort of sign that what she said meant something to him. But nothing. He still had his stoic expression on, the one he uses to interrogate criminals.

Seconds turned into minutes and minutes seemed like eternity to Sakura. She had half the mind to throw the empty wine bottle at his head; see if that caused any emotion to appear.

"You're drunk, Sakura," Sasuke concluded with a deep sigh. In three long strides, he was standing in front of her. He placed his cold hands on her bare shoulders, and she quickly gasped at the cold contact. "Sorry, it's snowing outside, it's pretty cold," he apologized, but didn't remove his hands. The warmth from her body was already heating him up, as it always did.

Sakura was biting her lower lip, even after drinking; she still couldn't muster up her full courage to leave him. But she had to stand her ground. She couldn't live like this anymore. Either he changed, or she was gone. Clearly he wasn't going to change—he will always be committed to his job—so it was her that had to go. Oh god, she really didn't want to. She loved him so much. But she was drowning in her misery and no matter what he said or did; it wasn't going to help this time.

She shrugged his arms away and took a few steps backwards. Distance. Distance is what she needed from him. After three years of always being with him, thinking of him, worrying about him—she was suffocating. Maybe after a breakup, they could both think clearer.

"I want to breakup, Sasuke," she repeated more sternly, keeping her green eyes locked to his dark ones. Why was he so tall? She felt like a timid mouse standing up against a roaring lion.

Sasuke combed one hand through his untamed hair, unsure of how to feel. This wasn't what he had expected. She loved him, and he loved her. They were happy together, weren't they? Did he miss something along the years that they've been together? She never showed signs of hating him, or falling out of love with him, or wanting to leave him before. She was always there for him, so why now?

"Why?" he asked plainly. He towered over her, his hands now folded across his chest. He loomed over her like a dark statue.

"Why? Why?" Sakura scoffed, how dare he? He actually looked confused. Fine, she would explain, after all, it's why she drank; hoping she could muster up everything she had to tell him exactly how she felt. "Because I'm sick and tired of being a second choice to you when it comes to everything you do!"

"Sakura, you've never been second—"

"Just let me finish, okay?" Sakura said abruptly as she backed further away from him. She needed some room to breathe. She needed a safe distance from him. She lightly tripped on her gown because she wasn't wearing shoes.

Sasuke stood in the same statue-like position, not moving an inch. Not sure where to go. He honestly felt like he was cornered. Had he known he would come home to this tonight, he would've waited longer at the station, until she had fallen asleep. He had entirely different plans for Christmas with her, and breaking up was not one of them.

"How many times have I've waited in restaurants for you to show up? How many times did I watch a movie alone at the theatres, or went to a party alone?"

"Sakura…"

He said her name in that husky voice, one that she would always give in to. But not this time. He was going to get a taste of his own medicine. "No, Sasuke, not this time. You've stood me up at least twice a week. And I've always let it go, because I knew how important your job was. And I've kept silent, thinking that my love for you was enough. Who needs to go out to some fancy restaurant, right? I was just always grateful you would safely come home to me." Her lips trembled, could she possibly do this? She loved him so much. Could she possibly live without him? She was so used to waking up in his arms every morning, that it scared her to think she would never be able to do that again.

Sasuke's arms fell to his side, and his gaze lowered. He couldn't look at her directly. She was shaking with emotion. He was scared he wouldn't know what to do if she cried. He wasn't good at comforting people. He was good at questioning them, getting answers, and beating people up. But comforting? That was a different language to him. Sakura was always so tough, which was one thing he loved about her. She never cried; she was always smiling and happy, which in turn would make him happy. He didn't know she had so much hatred towards him.

He felt guilty for being so blind and oblivious. He was always so caught up with his police duty, that when he came home, he just wanted to hold her, and fall asleep with her. He felt happy knowing that she was always safe in his arms. He never questioned how she felt all those times he called or texted to cancel a date, because she would always tell him she understood, and that it was okay. Why hadn't she said something long ago? He could've tried to be better for her, if he had known. He didn't want to lose her because of this miscommunication. He couldn't lose her.

His statue-like posture slowly began to fade. His shoulders hunched, and his gaze lowered to the grown. He felt helpless as she stood far away from him. She looked so beautiful in that dress, and her long hair was luscious. He wanted to hold her. He wanted to kiss her pain away. But he wouldn't dare try now.

"Sakura, I didn't know…you've never—"he managed to stumble some words out, but she cut in again.

"Why I never complained about any of this before? Is that what you're confused about?" She snarled. "God, Sasuke, for a brilliant police officer, your detective skills pretty much suck when it comes to me." She laughed with sarcasm. "I've tried very hard to put aside all those times you left me, Sasuke. I kept reasoning with myself, that in the hour that we are eating dinner, you could be somewhere else, saving someone's life. So it was okay that you left me, because people needed good cops like you. And I was lucky to just have you home. But you know what Sasuke? When you really look at our relationship history, the only times we are together is when we are having sex."

There, she said it. She said what had been in her mind for days, weeks, and months. She wished it wasn't like that, but at the end of the night, their relationship really only summed up to sex.

Sasuke's hands turned into fists as he looked into her eyes. Was that what she thought? That he was only here for sex? Sure, he was always on duty, and rarely spent time with her as a normal boyfriend would, but that didn't mean he cared for her any less. He was with her because he cared for her. And he made love to her as much as possible to show her that. It must be the wine, she was drunk. That could only explain why she was saying stuff like that.

"Sakura, we should talk about this tomorrow morning, when you're in a better state of mind," Sasuke said in a cautious tone. One thing he learned was to never patronize a person when they're drunk.

"Don't you dare talk to me in that tone!" she yelled at him. "I'm not some suspect you can smooth talk to. I know what I'm saying, believe me. I've practiced all this in my head over and over. I just never had the guts to say it to you, because I never, ever, wanted to hurt you in anyway. I love you, Sasuke. But you seem to have taken me for granted—"

"I've never taken you for granted, Sakura. Please, let's just talk tomorrow." Sasuke wasn't one to plead with anyone, but he really would rather discuss this when she was more level headed, not when she looked like she wanted to hurl something at him.

"You're not listening to a word I'm saying, are you? Sasuke, I'm done, okay? I don't want to be some trophy girlfriend you get to show around to your friends when you feel like it. I don't want to be some girl you come home to just to sleep with. I don't want to come second or third to your other duties. And I don't want to be left alone anymore!" She took a few deep breaths to calm herself a little or else she would throw the lamp at his stoic face.

Sasuke ran his hand through his hair again, frustrated. He could confront a criminal with a gun aimed at him, but he couldn't face his girlfriend.

"Fine, Sakura, what do you want?" he managed to ask. His voice was so soft, so helpless.

Sakura let out a small laugh, what did she want?

"I want to be loved and to be someone's first choice. Is that too selfish of me?" she replied with a sigh.

It was quiet then. She looked at him and he looked at her. They were both trying to read each other's mind, but they were both too good at hiding their true thoughts. Maybe that was their problem. They've always just assumed things about each other, that they never really asked each other what the problem was.

"Sakura…I've always loved—"he was abruptly cut off by the ring of his cellphone. Damn, he thought, this was not a good time.

How she hated that phone of his. Now was the moment that summed up everything she was trying to say to him.

She picked up the hem of her gown and walked towards him, stopping a foot away. The phone stopped ringing just when he took it out of his pocket. "Well, Sasuke, I guess this is it, huh?" she said, looking up at him. Her tears were threatening to fall down.

Sasuke looked at the black cellphone on his hand and then at her. The phone started ringing again, it was his Lieutenant. It could be an emergency, he had to go. But he knew if he answered that phone call and left, he would never see Sakura again. The phone stopped ringing. Sasuke never missed a phone call. He was very punctual and very responsible when it came to his job. But what was more important to him?

This wasn't fair. How could he choose between the girl he loved and the duty he was pledged to? And then it hit him. This was what she was saying to him all along. He always chose his job over her. Never once had he ever said no to his Lieutenant, nor had he ever turned down a new case. But in doing so, he left Sakura alone and neglected. Yet she never complained. She had been trying her best to be supportive of him all these years. He could only blame himself for her pain.

She was standing in front of him, waiting for an answer.

His phone beeped, a text message was sent. It only said the word "Urgent." This was his job. It was what he was good at. It was all he knew. But Sakura was the one that kept him sane. She was the one that loved him and made him happy. She was the light in his dark world. And right now, she was asking him to choose what was most important to him.

He put his left hand in his pocket and took out a small velvet box. He held it in a tight fist. He had been carrying around the small box for over two weeks now, planning to propose to her on New Years Eve, but maybe this could be a good Christmas gift instead. This could be a good way to prove to her that he loved her and wanted to commit to her. This would prove that he was willing to try to be better, right? He couldn't lose her, not now, not ever.

The phone rang for the third time. He furrowed his brows as he looked from his phone and hesistantly back to her. She shook her head slowly at him and with a trembling lower lip, she said, "Just go, okay?"

"Sakura, please, I want—"

"Did you not hear me? I said go! Alright? I'm tired of all of this!" She waved her hand at his phone. "I don't want to be with you anymore. I'm done!"

Sasuke put his phone in his pocket. He made his choice. He chose her. He reached out for her but she slapped his hand away. His heart shattered as he saw tears flow down her face. How had he not known how much suffering he had caused her?

"Go, God dammit!" she yelled again while pointing at the door.

Sasuke made one more attempt to reach out for her, she moved backwards, out of his reach.

"I hate you, Sasuke!" she said with such venom. It took him by surprise. She had never said that to him. They had their small arguments before, as all couples did, but they would always end up in bed and happy. There was never any hatred…until now. "I don't want to see you anymore. You can keep your job and you can go find someone else who doesn't care if she's repeatedly stood up."

Every part of him wanted to just yell at her and make her listen to what he had to say, but it was clear that she already made the decision for him. She no longer wanted any part of him.

So this was it, huh? This was how it felt for a heart to break by someone you loved.

His phone rang once more, and she glared daggers him. "Why are you still standing there? Get out of here! Just fucking go!"

His lips were pressed into a thin line as he nodded slowly and walked away from her.

As soon as she heard the door close, she fell down to her knees and cried.

A loud, obnoxious ringing woke Sakura up from her unpleasant dream. How long had she been asleep? She looked at the clock on the wall, it was 2:46am. She had only been asleep for a little over an hour, but it sure felt longer. The ringing stopped and in seconds it started again. She wondered who could be calling her at this time of the night, but ever so quickly, her heartbeat started to increase in pace.

The last time she had a phone call so late at night; it was because Sasuke had been in the emergency room, having a bullet removed from his shoulder.

Gathering the bottom of her dress into her hand, she quickly got off the couch, and ran to the phone that was attached to the wall.

"Hello?"

"Is this Sakura Haruno?" a female voice asked.

"Yes, I'm Sakura," she replied, already the feeling of dread was surrounding her. Oh god, please don't let it be about Sasuke, she thought, helplessly.

"There's been a terrible car accident and since you were the first person listed under Officer Uchiha's emergency contact list, I've been asked to call you and inform you that Officer Uchiha is in a coma—"

Sakura immediately hung up. That wasn't possible. This had to be a dream.

The phone rang again. But she didn't answer. She sat on the cold wooden floor and rested her back against the wall. It had to be a dream.

The phone rang again, and she still didn't answer.

The third time it rang, Sakura raised her hand and tugged on the phone wire, causing the phone to fall on her lap.

"Hello, hello? Sakura?"

She knew that voice. It belonged to Naruto, Sasuke's partner.

"Naruto…" she weakly said into the phone.

"Sakura! I've been trying to reach you…it's Sasuke, Sakura, he's in really bad shape. You have to come to the hospital," his voice had traces of panic and worry.

It had to be a dream. I'm still asleep. It's just an awful dream, she kept repeating in her mind.

"Sakura, are you there? Did you hear me? There was a car chase, and the road was icy. Sasuke…Sasuke lost control of the car, it's really bad, Sakura, please hurry. I don't trust these doctors. They're saying he's in a coma and who knows if he will wake up…but you can fix him, because you're the best doctor there is, so please Sakura, hurry up."

She let go of the phone halfway through Naruto's response.

Her body felt so heavy, she couldn't move.

"Sakura, hello? Are you there? Sakura!"

"I'll be there, Naruto." Sakura replied with a shaken voice. She heard the dial tone from the phone. Naruto had hung up.

I'm so sorry, Sasuke, she thought as she wrapped her arms around her legs. I'm so sorry.

Sakura had never felt so alone as she did right then.

To be continued...