Chapter Nine: Everything Turns Unwell…  L

"Training?" Sakura asked as she threw Sasuke a towel. It is the 4th day that Sasuke woke up from his 2 day sleep and in fact lost some of his memories.

"Yeah, isn't it that obvious?" he caught it with his right hand.

"Sarcastic, you must do things to regain your long lost soul,"

"Just like?"

"I don't know…" she sighed and looked up the skies. "Look, in case you won't go back--- how about _us_?"

"I know." He said. "Now I am trying my very best. By the way, where are the rest? Everything seems so silent now."

"The two pairs of love birds go on separate dates today."

Sasuke threw away the kunai he's holding. "Add us up, we'll eat outside."

"Really?"

"I say so, I will bet," he said "you'll kiss me if we don't."

"Is that so?" she said "practically you'll really take me out, kuso…" she replied and pulled his arm.

"Ikou yo!"

Sakura wore her fancy mini skirt and headed outside with Sasuke. They denied to use the Limousine, and proceed by walking together. Sasuke was essentially attracted by her outfit, which seems really pretty for her. Her thin legs that are creamy is quite shown, which makes Sasuke conscious about every guy passing their way.

"Sniffing danger?"

"Nope, sniffing perverts." He answered quickly.

Sakura felt the blossoms falling as they walk. She loves spring, it's the most beautiful season. And it means hope: that someday things might go well moreover as you want. She recalled when Sasuke's hair is full of cherry blossoms, just like now. He eliminates it one by one and seems to be entertained by them. They continued to fall, and he sought after to catch every blossom coming down. Later on with his quick moves, he draws a crowd, and they abruptly left. It was an unusual speed he showed.

His silence remained typically. She has no exceptions about it, and that never changed. But he becomes more of the he that she met, getting softer to anyone especially with her. He tries his best even to delete his truce. But he just can't speak till she does-- afraid on how she'll react to his words. Deafening silence is always present. That is how he is. The essence of being a Sasuke Uchiha. Chatting might not be appropriate for his personality, as he thinks. He lives by that. So what as he'll say. As long as he haves her. Have?! As if he owns her. But not that fast… for something happened.

"It's now maybe time  for me to get you back, my darling…"

"Rock Lee????!!!!" Sakura screamed.

"So you kidnapped her, you are quite too young… hmmm," Lee said as he looks at every side of him.

"I didn't."

"What's the meaning of her being lost for a week?"

"I said it, deaf."

"What?!"

"Stop it!" she shrieked. "Okay, Lee. I'm going home."

"Not as fast as that," Sasuke said, assaulting Lee. Lee quickly used his Taijutsu which Sasuke hadn't seen with his Sharingan, and beat him that fast.

"Sasuke-kun!"

He stood up, regaining posture through her call.

"You can't take her away from me."

"Oh yeah?"

Rock Lee attacks, using his bandages to capture Sasuke. He does Initial Lotus, to send both he and Sasuke crashing to the ground, but Sasuke was saved by Sakura as Lee jumps out of the way. Sasuke's exhausted body requires him to take defense for a while. Lee uses the opportunity to use a Shinobi to offset Sasuke's equilibrium. As Lee comes closer to defeat Sasuke, Sakura becomes more and more concerned.

"Yameru!" she exclaimed "I'm going! I'm going! Just please, don't hurt my Sasuke-kun! He has partial memories lost that lead him in forgetting his jutsus--- but beware once he had it back!"

"Sakura! You can't leave me!!!" he bellowed.

She came to him and as he stood up. She smiled faintly. Then looked at him directly.

"Kiite, I want to save you first, but promises are true. You promised to be my ninja… and do it once you're back. I won't ever forget you. Aishiteru…"

She kissed him on the lips before they finally left. Her warm lips that touched his- that moment, is the most unforgettable scene in Sasuke's life. He was more unwavering now. As Sakura departs, she continues crying for their parting… as Sasuke values all he lost…

"Sakura I promise you'll be back to me again…" he stormed off and took his lunch. He passed by Kakashi and Anko who are sweet. He apparently snobs them and continues his walk, but the couple ran after his seething presence.

"Sasuke-kun!!!!" they called. He looked back and loneliness stayed in his eyes.

"Nani?"

"She-- she had just left me…" he said softly.

Two blank looks stared at him…

"Stop crying my darling--- soon you'll be happy in my arms. How about a warm-up kiss before we go on? C'mon, I want to be the first one---" Lee tried to comfort her.

"Iie… my lips are kissed by someone else already." She was blushing, remembering the incident.

"Nani?!" he exclaimed "But how about that old custom!"

"Simply disregard… should I say?" she said "what can I help if it's really that guy who has rights?"

"Give me his name… I'll kill him!"

"Iie!" she continued crying and then rushed to the temple at their garden… it's been long since she last prayed to Kami-sama…

"I wish you'd stop my agony already!" she cried out. "You've brought lots of it now, Kami-sama. I got enough now!"

Sakura stared sadly at the white teddy bear she always kept with her, the one Sasuke gave to her.

"I really love you…"

Sakura's stuff is all expelled from Sasuke's mansion. Sasuke looked carefully at the kimono when it was being packed, and some memories went flashing by. He remembered the same time he stared at it when it's displayed…

Sasuke didn't avert his sight on a green and white kimono displayed on the rear corner, hanged there properly and still. Sakura calls him for another she has chosen [as if he is a _fashionist_] and noticed that he still looks at the kimono.

"What's in there?" she asked "whoa, Sasuke! You're really a _fashion-genius_!"

Sakura ran to the kimono.

"I would want to be called genius-NINJA than FASHION," he thought to himself.

"This is it!" she exclaimed. "Ms, I want this!"

Then she pointed out to the kimono.

He even laughed out suddenly, but then he stopped. He remembers every effort she does for his memory to come back, and now he must return the favor. He opted to keep his emotions flurrying in his heart. He kept on thinking about her as in all he sees is her face. He knew it will be the hardest thing in his life. But later on he realizes there's much worth of the worry: he needs to remember everything ASAP before she parts her life as a lady.

So instead of training he went back to the places they've been, hoping to recall something. First he went to the Jamboree which is closed, he found a way to enter it. Then he looked at every place--- the trees, the empty stalls. Nothing did he remember. But then under the bright sun, it suddenly rained, and the droplets fall on him subsequently and unstoppable.

But something flashed in his mind…

Just right after the fireworks display, it suddenly rained. The two of them got down already and went to the tent. The relentless rain didn't stop that easily, and caused some people to stay longer in the tent. Others have their umbrellas and abruptly left the area for home. In Sasuke and Sakura's case, the place is _far_ and muddy is the path to take. Grimly, Sasuke sighed, looking up the dark sky.

"Did someone wished to rain?" he whispered sarcastically…

The rain continued, getting heavier and the drops seem to get bigger. Some people decided to leave before it gets worst.

"I think we should also leave," Sakura said.

He nodded, but before she got her feet outside the tent, he moved to carry her. He quickly grabbed the girl by the waist, hoisting her up over his shoulder. Sakura's face glowed red with embarrassment, she too shocked to move. Sasuke quietly carried her away from the tent, not giving her a single glance. Seconds passed by, then minutes, neither one saying anything. Sakura turned and stared at Sasuke, her face merely inches away from his. She was too nervous to fight his decision, her limbs practically paralyzed from the shock of what was happening.

"That-- one thing…!" he exclaimed. Then he decided to rush in the Onsen Inn… and while still on the lobby, he was unstoppably burned with flashbacks:

"Are they around… Sasuke-kun?"

"Iie…" he whispered.

"Ja ne…" they told the attendant who helped them in dining.

"You'll leave now, sir?"

"Hai… it's been 3 days already--- you know, we have these _pets_ and everything…" Sasuke answered.

He remembered few, but that one week seems to be a lifetime for him already. Anger rolled over his feelings and resentment. If only…

Going back to Sakura, she's already beside her dad that afternoon.

"Why do your eyes show loneliness? Don't you want to see your dad?"

"I want to," she said "but…"

"So where my princess has went? You made us all worry." He said. "I understand your sudden reaction and I know it would be hard for you. But you see, an emperor never claims back his decrees. I can partly change it if your reason is right."

"As or now I have no proof of it," she said. "I'm sorry if I failed you. I am such a bad daughter. I knew you've given me everything: but what did I gave you? Bad health in return…!"

Her tears began to flow in her pale face.

"I guess you learned how to love truly…" he said and smiled. "Don't cry my child. Day will come and Kami-sama blesses you. Remember that."

"H-hai…" she answered softly, wiping her tears away. She told him the things she and Sasuke had gone over the whole week with her mother, how she tasted the Ramen and until she bathed in a Hot spring bath. And also on how they did their first mission--- and how she actually lost him.

"That lad you're telling is an Uchiha?"

"Hai." She said.

"Their clan served our clan for centuries ago. But there was a brutal incident. There's one Uchiha who is a Jounin that slain everyone in his family--- but except his very own brother…" her dad narrated.

"It's Sasuke-kun…"

"But what they are really trying to know is why he didn't killed him. The boy went into the hands of Kakashi when he is seven years old, and then all of their riches were claimed by their far relatives."

"He got it once more. Kakashi-sensei revived it as told by the Hokage." She answered. "And Sasuke-kun will be a Hokage too!"

Her mother noticed the gleeful smile whenever she mentions his name and the blush in her face. Then that made her doubt about their relationship.

"Sakura, is the Uchiha… the one you admired?" her mom asked immediately.

"What made you think of that?" she was flushed by her words. "Okaasan… I--- "

"Very well said in a denying manner. But in few days you'll be married. You better forget that crush dear,"

"It's not just a mere schoolgirl crush!" she insisted to herself, and is going into a wild commotion in front of her mom. "It's just--- love, okaasan. I love him--- I hate to say this but he will be the first and last guy of my life, whether I got married or not!"

She ran away the room, and with that, her mom shrugged. She didn't hear all her words she kept in her heart.

"She turns into a real woman now,"

"It's not always Daijoubu I've learned… it's not just a Ki Ni shinai… but---" Sakura thought. "Sasuke-kun! Come back to me now! Return of who you are!!!!!"

A/N: Did I made Rock Lee too brutal? He's lovesick of Sakura anyway… but I know he's not that bad. He wants everything to protect Sakura… but I REALLY want Sasuke to be with her!!!! So sorry, again if Rock Lee has fans here… and last thing: REVIEWS!!!!