Chapter Seven: Wish Granted; But One Departs!  J

[Before anything else, I just want to explain that Sakura never appeared here as a member of team seven, due to her royalty… Duh! It's weird, nee? PLEASE REVIEW THIS! And sorry for the long delay…]

Sakura hurriedly rushed to the hospital that early morning. Sasuke had been sleeping for 2 days, and she hadn't lose hope.

"Ohayou, Sasuke-kun!" she greeted happily.

As she approached the lad, she saw something unexpected… he opened his eyes. Finally! She rushed and called the doctor, but he wasn't that happy enough, looking at the girl directly.

"How long have you known him?"

"About-- a week, I mean…"

"Don't be shocked in what I will tell you, but he had a memory problem due to the hard hit on his head--- a partial memory loss…"

Sakura kept silent for a moment, and she gazed faintly at Sasuke. He is there, with eyes opened, conscious and groggily silent. His looks are noticeable, and another thing is that he's unusually fuming inside him… he doesn't really know where he is! She stood frozen, and the doctor left gravely. She doesn't seem to react wild… she's forgetting about her dad--- her mind focuses to the lost Sasuke-kun. And after he was gone, Kakashi and Naruto gamely entered with glad and happy faces. They didn't even appreciated Sakura's grave face--- and proceeded to the lad.

"Yo, Sasuke-bastard!" Naruto greeted. He slowly looked at Sakura who was silently sitting at the corner. He was shocked when she didn't reacted.

"Dobe…" he replied. "Why am I here?"

"You fought Haku once more, Sasuke! And in few days, you'll be Hokage!" Kakashi exclaimed, and shake his hands. "Congrats!"

He shows them a stunned look. "ME? Hokage?"

"Oh, bastard! You've been forgetful huh!" Naruto cried "you beat me, man! And I hate it!" then he hit his head lightly, then chuckled.

"Beat you? Oh yeah… you remained Chuunin," he said. "And I am now a Jounin."

"Iie!" Naruto cried "I'm a Jounin. You are turning Hokage. You are---" he paused. He had a speculation.

"Nee… how's going with you and Princess Sakura?" he continued.

"Who?"

Kakashi and Naruto looked directly at Sakura, and noticed her crying.

"He had lost _few_ memories, sensei…" she said softly.

"NANI?!" two idiot-like faces screamed.

"So… Sasuke probably---"

The doctor entered the scene. "He has his memories only until he's 15 years old…"

"Dakedo! Three years!" Kakashi shouted. "How about the attacks he's gained?! The jutsus, the rest--- everything! Even his love life!"

Kakashi stuck himself with his book.

"Argh!"

"And… Sakura hime-sama?" Naruto asked the girl who had just wiped her tears bitterly.

She smiled at them, and gave those blank looks and her forced smile…

"Don't worry about me--- I would be probably happy. At least, he's back… at least, 3 years have just been lost. At least I know he's alive--- I wish he'll remember me soon…"

"Hime-sama!" Naruto exclaimed. "But--- he---"

"YAMERU!"

She carried her feet grudgingly away them, looking at Sasuke directly. The lad stared at her blankly, and showed that he really doesn't know her. There, Sakura was more hurt, and she was devastated. And on her way out, Hinata was to come into the room. She noticed the tears streaking down her face. So she eventually followed the Princess, in case she can comfort her…

"Princess!!!!!" Hinata called "matte!"

She stopped at the hallway, and then faced Hinata with her crying emerald eyes…

"Hinata-chan…!" she said softly then burst out into tears.

"My Sasuke-kun is now lost--- he hasn't been found yet," she replied bitterly, wiping off her tears.

"Sakura hime-sama must be in commotion and angst right now…" Kakashi said. "AH! Sasuke-kun! If you hadn't lost that memory… you must be with her now!"

"Nani?" he asked him "me with a girl?"

"Yup, and that's what is fascinating about you and her…" Kakashi told him. "First, you went to Jamboree together, then stayed in an Onsen inn. Then you said he's your wife to everyone. Then… I knew you love her from the very start."

"Sasuke-bastard! You made the tough girl cry!" Naruto exclaimed. "And because of that, we will try our best to bring back your memories!"

Sasuke frowned by what he said. He made a girl cry. Deep inside him, his heart was pierced. He recalled the face of the said girl, crying. He felt pity for himself--- for losing that memory endeared and treasured by everyone. Did he mention endeared? Who will actually _love_ him as Kakashi-sensei said? Girls love him for his strong and his physical aspects. But what Kakashi-sensei means is that the girl loved him wholly. How he wish that damn memory returns so that he can feel the feeling of love and being loved.

"Argh! I can't remember!"

"Calm down…" Kakashi said "that will be soon. Just believe in yourself."

So starting that day, Sasuke was out of the hospital. Kakashi and Naruto wanted his memory back ASAP. They wanted to show him every place he had went: from the woods to his mansion. At first Sasuke found it common. The environment and everything. The places where his kunai stabbed the trees… with its mark, but one spot made him nuts--- the spot where he and Sakura first met. He can't understand that feeling and began to go mad… Kakashi and Naruto stabilized him, and made him rest. Afterwards they went back to Sasuke's mansion. They left him with Sakura, who wasn't really that alright yet.

Sasuke was led by Sakura to their room to rest first. After she left, Sasuke found the Kimono of Sakura and examined it… having a flashback of the Jamboree and the rain--- but not that clear. He wants to speak to Sakura--- but he simply can't have the courage to do so. He looked around. Everything looks fine. It lulls him to sleep… he closes his eyes…

Sakura called him:

"Sasuke-k…" she said and looked down… she knocked at the door and went in. she saw him sleeping.

"I wish that sleep might lead you to remember…" she uttered as she watches him silently.

That night, Sakura stayed at the pavement at the garden. Maybe that place will make her linger away all of the things that happen. She thought of her _sick_ dad… and she thinks that he can be able to overcome the sickness even she's away. He has her mother. But Sasuke--- has no parents at all; no family to be with. She can't leave him, though he forgot her…

"I don't want everything in my fairytale to end this tragic, Kami-sama… you're ironic! I made a wish to revive him, but what have you given me? A Sasuke which is not Sasuke-kun!" she sobbed afterwards…

"Gomen ne… I shouldn't have blamed you--- it's destiny, my fate…" she said "I think I'll be stuck with that Rock Lee forever… I just wish I won't have to be with him together in bed… never, never…"

Unknown to her, Sasuke was standing at the sidelines, listening to every word she cries out… he just noticed himself standing beside her. Sakura was shocked at the instant happening.

"I'm dreaming…" she muttered…

"No, Sakura." he said coldly. "Don't lose hope. We'll find the Sasuke-kun you've said. I know we can be able to find him, ne?"

She looked at him, and that's not the actual Sasuke she knew---the one in front of her is colder and he didn't include the usual -chan she liked him to call her… but anyway, she hugged him dearly. Sasuke just hugged her too, and felt the girl's warmth he's sharing. Sakura felt Sasuke's warm body besides the new cold attitude; and everything envelopes her right now. She slept by his cradle…

~*--

Alone for a while I've been searching through the dark,

For traces of the love you left inside my lonely heart.

To weave by picking up the pieces that remain.

Melodies of Life-Love's lost refrain.

Our paths they did cross, though I cannot say just why,

We met, we laughed, we held on fast, and then we said good-bye,

And who'll hear the echoes of stories never told?

Let them ring out loud till they unfold.

 

In my dearest memories, I see you reaching out to me.

Though you're gone, I still believe that you can call out my name.

A voice from the past, joining yours and mine.

Adding up the layers of harmony.

And so it goes, on and on.

Melodies of life.

To the sky beyond the flying birds-forever and beyond.

So far and away, see the bird as it flies,

Gliding through the shadows of the clouds up in the sky,

I've laid my memories, and dreams of endless wings;

Leave them now and see what tomorrow brings.

In your dearest memories, do you remember loving me?

Was it fate that brought us close and now leaves me behind? 

A voice from the past, joining yours and mine.

Adding up the layers of harmony.

And so it goes, on and on.

Melodies of life.

To the sky beyond the flying birds-forever and beyond.

If I should leave this lonely world behind.

Your voice will still remember our melody.

Now I know we'll carry on.

Melodies of Life.

Come circle round and grow deep in our hearts, as long as we remember.

~*--

The next thing Sakura knew was she's lying on the bed, and beside him is a figure, sleeping. It was Sasuke, so he probably brought her to their room. Tears fell on her cheeks, and the sound of crying can't be helped. Sasuke hears everything, and crumples the sheets covering him. He knew form his sensei that Sakura is his only treasure--- the one who'd loved him truly…

Once in my life, Id lost everything. . .

        Family, friends, feelings. Feelings, those were probably the major things that Id lost. Id lost the ability to get angry, sad, to love another individual. All I knew was hate. The one feeling that overpowered anything else that was inside me. And that was the only feeling that I thought would ever be inside my heart.

"You let them die...All you did was watch. If only you had the strength." He kept murmuring to himself…

Pain, bitterness and angst… they always remain and haunt him. In his mind he remembers his brother--- the one who caused this abnormality formed in him, and his words:

"You let them die. You just watched them die… now run! Go find me once you're strong to defeat me! Run, Sasuke…"

"Why those memories still linger in this mind? Why did this need to happen--- for all things happiness must be erased in me. The change everyone has waited. Why?! Bitterness must have been the one that's lost--- I hate it, I hate it!"

Nevertheless, everything must change and be something new. Sasuke found himself trying to smile his best. Sakura noticed his effort to do so, and then something reminded her and she laughed.

"Ano ne, what now?"

"I remembered when we bathed in the hot springs… You saw me naked! I guess your memory loss has something worth it too…" she said. "Anyway, you're the first lad who saw me like that. Good, anyway. I can't spell out your hysteric reaction when I threw out a dipper in madness…"

He stood emotionless. "Can't believe I did that,"

"Well you had! And then you got silly sick afterwards. You let the rain drown you with cold and fever. Because I can say you're stupid to do so. That's the other time I cried for you. You always do that to me!"

"Then sorry," he murmured silently, and a bit reluctant,

"Don't feel that bad for me, I know you would not care that much as of today." She said "and in case I left you just stay calm. I know you'd be able to recover."

"You're leaving?"

"Yup… I can feel they've tracked me. Many people saw my existence at the hospital. Baka… if only you've worked well with your fight, Hokage-sama… they finally got who I was going with!" she laughed falsely. He doubted it.

"You're not that happy."

"How did you say so?"

"In your eyes,"

"Watashi no me?" she asked. "Doushite! Doushite!" she knew she's now hitting him continuously. He accepts the bouts he's receiving. The pain he thought he's worthy of.

"…Sumimasen, I can't help but just cry… I am weak. Now they'll get me. I'll be married in one and a half week--- as it was destined to be."

"No. you won't unless you wanted it."

"Why decide for me? It's useless! You know, that dumb accident… caused many troubles. I hate Haku, my weakness, your injuries!"

"What would you do, run off the wedding?" he almost shouted at her.

"I hate running! Who knows I might met some other guy--- I might fall in love as well… I learned my lessons. Mothers know best. It was damn proved. So---"

He didn't hesitate to move at her forward, and he suddenly bent down and they did a forced kiss. Sakura did actually want it, but quickly broke it.

"Kiss me again when you've gotten back to the Sasuke-kun I want. It wasn't that perfect. It isn't romantic." She said, unable to look at him directly. She ran away him, pushing him slowly. "But don't worry, that was one I think worth remembering. I think I would need some fresh air. Ja, Hokage-sama."

Sasuke stood emotionless, standing at one spot.

"I guess he likes me when I have changed, baka…"

A/N: The song here is Final Fantasy IX's Melodies of Life by Emiko Shiratori--- I actually haven't finished the game yet. I was just doing FF VII, so I have no time. By the way, I have to put a trying moment here for Sasuke and Sakura--- to test their love… hehehe Please Review! Thanks!