Author's Note: I love the reviews you guys gave me! Especially all those recommendations, makes me feel all fuzzy inside! Lol, anyways…I know the last chapter was a bit…dramatic, side…turn in events…suspense, but! There's always a 'happy ever after' in the end…right? I know this story won't end in awhile, but my goal is reach over 100 reviews within' a few chapters…please help me accomplish that goal; all you SasuSaku Fans!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters.
The Story of Sasuke and Sakura
Episode Four: Something behind that Smile
"Um…Sasuke…I want to know more about myself."
The question had come out of no where, so the boy was caught off-guard. He stared at her for a moment, and then looked back at the sakura blossoms. He didn't know what to really say to her…he didn't know very much about her in the first place. Two years ago, he had thought she was annoying…spoiled…weak. But now…what did he know about her? Was she the same…? No…Sakura had changed when he had come back. But how could he now register all of her new capability, personality, maturity in his mind when he had only met her a week ago?
"I…"
"Un?" Sakura tilted her head, blinking. "Was I…a bad person…?"
"Of course not…" Sasuke coughed, "It's just…I…"
"I just want to know how I acted…how's my parents…like, who they are…who are my friends…am I a ninja? Simple things like that…"
'Simple for you to say…' the raven-haired boy sighed. "I just don't-,"
"Sakura-chan! I finally found you!" A boy yelled and a flash of yellow was seen as it rushed towards the frail girl. "I'm glad that you're finally awake! I was going to visit you earlier…but…I got hungry. Please forgive me Sakura-chan!"
Blinking a few times again, the pink shinobi sweat dropped. "I forgive you! I think…but who are you…?"
"Hehe…" Naruto grinned and flashed a peace-sign. "I am…Uzumaki Naruto! The soon-to-be Hokage!"
"Riight…" Sasuke mumbled and closed his eyes, "You still have that dream of yours…"
"Oh shut up Sasuke-bastard!" The fox-boy stuck out his tongue and hugged his dear friend; 'Time to give her a good impression of me…and a bad impression of Sasuke!' "Hey Sakura-chan, you do know that we've been good friends, right?" The boy smothered himself against the female shinobi affectionately, "How 'bout you and me hang 'n eat Ramen, 'kay?"
Sasuke twitched and frowned, "I wouldn't trust that dobe."
Naruto sneered at Sasuke, "Well, me and Sakura should catch up on ol' times…she has the right to remember me! She can't forget a friend like me…! Right Sakura-chan? I was always here for you, more then that Sasuke-bastard has!"
"Oh shut up, dobe;" the Uchiha boy growled lowly, and walked away. "Hang with him all you want then Sakura…if you need me, I trust that you'll be able to find me."
"I trust that you'll be able to find me."
"But…Sasuke…" Sakura held out her hand towards him, but he didn't notice as he walked away. The boy snuggling against her frowned and rolled his eyes. "Oh c'mon Sakura, ignore Sasuke. He's always been that way since forever…don't let yourself fall for him again. He's just gonna hurt your feelings…"
'Fall for him…again…?' The kunoichi blinked and glanced at her so-called friend. "What…do you mean…Naruto?"
'Oh shit,' he smacked himself. "N-nothing, just talking to myself…anyways! Still wanna eat ramen Sakura-chan…?"
---
'Damn…' Sasuke closed his eyes as he had departed Sakura along with that stupid dobe, Naruto. Was it a good idea…? What if that Naruto would say something really stupid? Something that might might've given Sakura a wrong impression of him? 'Why am I thinking about this…?' Sasuke pinched his skin and sighed, it became a habit for him to come back to realization. "I just…don't feel comfortable leaving her there…but when I'm with her now…it doesn't feel right…"
"Because you don't know what to tell her…you have no memories of her in that head of yours, am I correct?"
Sasuke halted in his path and looked up the tree. It was his Sensei; Kakashi.
"I thought you were busy…Sensei…"
"Well, I just got back…you know how Tsunade-sama likes to keep her meetings nice and short. I was just looking for you…I see you're having difficulties as well trying to remember. I can see that's causing our sharigan boy some stress."
"Shut up…" The boy muttered, his forehead wrinkling a bit. "I don't want to think about it."
"It's not that you don't want to think about it…you're just worried that she won't be able to accept you now that she doesn't have her old memories…right?"
Damn…why was his teacher some how able to tell? Wasn't Kakashi-sensei some old pervert who loved to read perverted books? When did he become so considerate about other people's lives…? "It's not that I'm really worried about that…" Sasuke admitted, "I'm just…she will recover her memories again…"
"Oh c'mon Sasuke-kun, don't tell me the thought of her giving you a second-thought haven't occurred in your mind. Even though she may have lost her memory now, the things that are happening at this moment will still remain in her head. You already know that Naruto and Lee are trying to take your place in her heart…so will she really have a change-of-heart when her amnesia is over?" The teacher chuckled, "I wonder…"
"…"
The cold wind brushed against Sasuke's face…blowing his dark blue hair in the air. Emotions began to whirl in him as he settled a calm outer-expression. The shinobi didn't know what to think at the moment…as his mind dragged him to the thought that right now Sakura was probably listening to his and her terrible relationship by Naruto.
"You know Sasuke…you should really tell her the truth…it seems like when you're brought up in a conversation…or you talk to her…she seems to regain a part of her delicate memory."
"I just…" His fingers bit against the palm of his hand.
The Jounin laughed slightly, leaping off the tree branch. A thud was heard as the older man walked next to the fourteen-year old. "Are you scared that she might suffer the pain she had before…?"
'Damn Kakashi again…what's up with him…? He seems to be reading my mind some how…' Sasuke sighed and continued walking forward. "You can say that…but I wouldn't put it scared."
Silence after Sasuke's words had slipped out of his mouth.
"Look. How long are you going to continue to act like a 'touch-little-boy' Sasuke?" The teacher was running out of patient as he pushed his student against the tree trunk, gripping on the boy's shirt collar with irritation. "Give it up Uchiha, you should know better that Itachi is dead, Sakura is in a serious position right now with her memories hidden. I thought you would change – for her."
The student stared at his sensei with cold onyx eyes, only revealing his grim face. "Oh? You think I want to be like this? Do you think I can change?!" The leaves began to drop around them as they resumed staring at each other. "I'm sorry…Kakashi-sensei…but, I can't change. No matter what…even if my brother – is dead! Or anything else! I can't help but feel like something's not right…I've lived my life only thinking and acting about avenging my brother. For years! In those years…I have never thought of anything else. What do you expect from me? To instantly forget about my past and move on?!"
The grip Kakashi had on Sasuke slowly loosened up a bit…but he didn't let go. "Sasuke…I can understand that this is hard on you. But the past is the past…"
"You should forget about Sasuke, Sakura…"
"It's like…" the aged man thought of an example: "Sakura's love for you."
"Please Sensei…not now…"
"Yes now…you should understand very well that Sakura is the only damn girl in this village…hell, the whole world who would love you truly! Staying by your side even though you pushed her away…crying even though you were never there to have a reason for her to cry…always thinking about you…and sacrificing her life just to show you how much she loves you…" Yes, all of these he knew too well. Because like Naruto, he was always there for her…while she was worrying over Sasuke…they were worrying over her. The boy had left her, shunned her away. But yet, she still remained…hoping, with a single hope that he would return to her…even when all those other girls simply gave up on him slowly one-by-one.
"I…know Sensei, I know!" Suddenly, the pupil pushed Kakashi backwards as he was able to escape the man's grip. Shoving his hands in his pockets, the young boy looked down at the ground. "I can understand how Sakura feels…but, I just don't know what to really do. If Sakura had her memories…it would've been easier for me to act myself around her. But now, she knows nothing about me. She doesn't even know my sins and her feelings for me."
Silver hair flowed freely down the sensei's face as the teacher smiled. "…and you just won't admit that you don't know how to approach a girl. Are you feeling…how can I put this gently…jealous?"
'Just forget that I thought this guy had changed,' Sasuke rubbed his forehead and walked off without saying a word.
---
"Ah…Sakura-chan! Sorry about back in the hospital…" Ino apologized sheepishly… "If this dope didn't start an argument with me then we would've spent more time together! But I guess fate was kind enough to have us meet here! And with…Naruto!" Ino clapped her hands, '…though I wonder where Sasuke-kun is…'
Shikamaru was seated beside the blonde kunoichi, eating down his ramen. "So you finally made it…any memories brought back when you look at this place again?"
The Haruno girl scanned her eyes at the crowded tables and then at the kitchen behind the counter. "Well…"
"Ahhh…eww Naruto…you ate that much already??" The young girl's eyes widened, counting each of the ramen bowl her comrade had ordered – and finished. "…holy shit, 12!"
The blonde stuffed the last egg-noodles in his mouth and raised his hand, holding the pair of chop sticks. "One more order of Miso Ramen please!"
Sakura sighed, "…and here goes my allowance…"
"I…I can remember a bit."
"Really? What do you remember Sakura-chan?" Naruto jumped up on his regular seat, enthusiastic.
"Um…I can remember that every time you come here…you eat more then 10 bowls…" she tapped her finger against the side of her head, trying to recall more as Shikamaru and Ino joined together in laughter. "Omigod Sakura…I can't believe you can remember THAT!" The other female shook her head, "well…I'm glad you can remember something though! That means your at least getting your memories back."
"Yeah…" the cherry blossom smiled and looked at the menu. "I'll have…um…seafood ramen special."
"Alright!" The chief smiled with gratitude and scribbled her order down on a notebook. Seafood special comin' up!"
"Mmm…" Ino bit the end of her chopsticks, "can I ask you something Sakura-chan…?" 'I know it's improper to ask her now…but I can't help but be curious.'
"Yes…?"
"Where did Sasuke-kun go?" The shinobi girl asked blankly. Naruto had just put in the first spoonful of ramen in his mouth as he choked. 'Damn that Ino…why ask NOW??'
"Oh…uh…" Sakura fidgeted with her fingers, "I'm not sure myself…Naruto came and he just left…and told me if I was going to look for him then I would be able to find him…" The girl didn't know why Sasuke had really left…though she could tell that he and Naruto didn't go well together. Something must've happened…but she couldn't really pinpoint the reason.
"Here's your meal ma'am," a cheerful waitress appeared and lowered the bowl of steaming noodles down to the table. "Enjoy your meal!" As the waiter girl left, Sakura just stared at the ramen.
'I guess that the topic got to her…' Sakura's best-friend nudged her boyfriend and sighed. "I was just…wondering Sakura. Now – eat your ramen before it gets cold!" She demanded, handing Sakura a pair of chopsticks. "Shikamaru and I have a whole schedule picked out for us today! It'll bring back your memories in no time!"
"Eh?" The shadow-specialist leaned back with a questionable look. "And when did we-," "-right before Sakura-chan had came!" Ino pinched him and smiled innocently. "First, we're gonna visit the Hyuuga's; Hinata was worried sick about you! And then we'll give your parents a call…probably after that, we can hold a party!"
"…Hyuuga's…" The surname was familiar, just like the rest of the names that were told. Unlike the others, the Hyuuga's were easily memorized back in her mind. She knew that she didn't know them very well, but the image of a boy and girl appeared in her head. Silver…pupil-less eyes. Yes…she remembered them.
"H…Hinata and Neji…right?"
"So you remember them! But that's not fair!" Ino pouted, "How come you don't remember me then?"
"I guess because you guys have been enemies for so long," Shikamaru suggested, and that earned him with a smack.
"Enemies…?"
"Not particularly enemies…" Yamanaka Ino glared at her boyfriend.
"Actually rivals -," He butted in again and Ino just sighed. "Shika-kun is trying to be a smartass again."
"I'm just trying to help her get back her memories…like everyone is. So I'm not really a bad person," the boy defended himself. "Anyways, she's going to get her memories back anyways so why would it matter? Like I said back in the hospital, she could've just lied in bed and waited for her memories to recover naturally.
Ino's blue eyes rolled as she stood up, "I'm going to pay for the food. Don't cause too much trouble Shikamaru."
"…but it's not like I'm still a kid Ino."
"Well I don't trust you."
And there they went again. It was hard to believe that they were actually in love with each other. Weird enough, be together like this for so long…possibly a year already? Sakura couldn't actually think about how they could just live a day arguing each other like that…was that really love…?
"You have to be kidding…" A voice was heard…
"No, I'm serious!" A girl's laughed. "I really…like him! Maybe love him too! I didn't realize it until now…but I know it's not too late to tell him. Don't you think?" There they were…standing in a room. The room looked…familiar…like she was there before. Was this a memory…? Another flashback or something?
Sakura could see herself and Ino lying on the bed, staring straight at the mirror in front of a futon. They were playing with each other's hair…for some reason; both of them had short hair. Not that Sakura didn't change her hairstyle…she still kept the short hair above her shoulder. The only difference was that her bangs were longer...and Ino presently kept her hair longer, back to its waist-long length.
Both of the girls were giggling, both holding a comb. "Nope…it's cute that you like him! But who would've known? You guys argue like…24/7! If I didn't know better…I'd think you guys are soul-enemies." The pink-haired shinobi teased, "But I'm sure love shows in different colors."
"You got that right! So you should be happy now that I've found myself a guy. You should too…you know…" Ino shifted, combing her friend's pink silky hair. "…who knows where Sasuke-kun has been. You don't even know if he's dead or alive…or if he's really going to come back. I mean it Sakura-chan…you should really move on."
'Sasuke…kun?'
"I…know…" Sakura sighed. "…but for some reason, when I try and not think about him…my heart just begins to ache. I can't help but think that he's still alive…and that maybe he might come back…someday." It was hard to tell if she had really said the last word…it seemed to come out barely a whisper.
"But…say he might come back. Do you think he would love you? Do you think he might consider you…or even know who you are? You know how Sasuke is…he might just brush you aside or ignore you! He's been gone for a few months now…and yet no sign of him. You have no idea where he is…" the kunoichi paused a bit, her eyes dimmed. "And…he's empty…will you be important enough to him that you will be able to change him…?"
"I…"
"Sakura…chan?" She felt someone call her name, and the girl blinked a few times. "Huh?"
"Are you alright?" Naruto had finished his 5th bowl of ramen and he had stopped to ask if she was okay. Giving him a reassuring smile, Sakura nodded: "Yeah…something just popped up."
Shikamaru raised his eyebrow, "Oh? You seemed to really be in a trance. A memory?"
'He seems to know everything…' Sakura stared at Ino's boyfriend; "Y-yeah…a strange memory."
"Well…old memories will resurface through the trial of amnesia…so that won't be a surprise. I guess coming here was a good idea after all…though to my disliking really…" the lazy boy made a face, "now this place smells like Naruto…or…Naruto already smells like this place."
"Hey!" The fox-demon made an offended face but went back to eat the last portion of his ramen.
Ino had then returned with a smile, "Hey guys! Look who I just met!"
Sasuke appeared behind Ino, muttering a "yo" and a slight wave-gesture.
To be Continued…
Author's Note: Another slight ShikaIno but I made sure to fill in some SasuSaku. Poor Sakura…I can feel something weird going to happen…probably some more sad stuff. I guess it might really turn angst…but yeah, that was the whole intention of the idea. Christmas is here…or almost. Also, final Report card of the semester too! I promise I will try and update 1 chapter a week…probably a bit later…but I can't really do anything about it. My fingers are cold too! Just wanted to say that, thank you everyone for reading this far! I really appreciate it…my mind has been a bit slow.
Chapter Preview: For some reason she didn't say she had visited him too. The Uchiha boy seemed disappointed, but he thought probably she didn't get her memories back 100 yet. It might take some time…and the way she responded to him at first with 'Sasuke' still meant she didn't remember him either.