(Author's Notes: Hey guys!! It's been a while. I am so so so sorry for all my delays!! I am in chapter 5 and we are still uncovering Sakura's past. Yes, I know that it's taking so long but hey, the real action will soon come. I hope that you will all like this chapter. We return to find our heroine in the arms of her guardian, which to me isn't a very good sight to see. Anyways, let's go!!! ENJOY!!!! -chibiabi)

CHAPTER 5: HER STORY

"What the heck?!" Naruto exclaimed. His face was a complete mixture of shock and disgust and the flowers he was holding in his hand started to crumple. Everybody who had just arrived stared dumbfounded at the scene that lay before them…

"I never thought I'd see you again…" Sakura whispered as she buried her face deep in Taiku's chest. She did not hear Naruto's exclamation. Everybody gaped at them, wondering at the words she said. "I was scared that I wouldn't wake up… But part of me wanted to stay asleep… I wanted so much to be with you…"

'Ok… This has just gotten a whole lot weirder… Sakura is going crazy!' they simultaneously thought to themselves as they watched Sakura. They could not think properly. 'She said that as if she loves the guy, as in, romantically and not brotherly…'

So, they just stared… And before anyone could think of anything good to say and before anyone could clearly react, they heard a very familiar voice call out in the hallway, "Hey guys! Have you seen Mistress Sakura? Kakashi-san told me that she was confined here…"

They looked towards the hallway and saw Taiku, yes, Taiku, in his usual house kimono, running towards them, flying hair and all that. Why the heck were there two Taikus??

"Holy crap! What the hell is going on here??" a loud and unladylike sentence spewed out of none other than Hinata's mouth. Everyone now stared at her with a look that clearly implied, 'what?! You too?!' And of course, being as clueless as she is, she shrugged and asked, "What?"

So they all turned back to the room, gazed at the Taiku holding Sakura in his arms with a lovey-dovey look in his eyes, and looked back at the Taiku who was still in the hallway… Running... Finally, the running Taiku stopped, saw, and gaped at the scene too…

"Ok, somebody clearly has to say something right now…" Naruto threatened as he looked around the room. Nobody said anything. A huge sweat drop formed at the top of his forehead. Suddenly, the Taiku near the door kneeled in front of the Taiku who was holding Sakura, who had fallen asleep yet again. "This is getting weirder by the second."

"Master… I am so glad that you have found us at last. Mistress has been waiting so long. She wanted to know if you were dead or alive…" the kneeling Taiku whispered as he looked up at his so-called master's face. Continuing with his head bowed, "They told me that you were to arrive this day. So I waited for you. However, Kakashi-san hurried me here to see the mistress. It's good that you found her… I have done what you wanted me to do…Please, let me go back."

"Hmm… So, that is what you want, eh? I thought you would like being human… Nevertheless, you have served me well…" the so-called master replied as he gently shook Sakura, waking her in the process. "Sara… Sara… Wake up, there's something I want to show you…"

"Demo… I'm so tired… Five more minutes please, onii-chan…" she grumbled as she arose. She wiped her eyes and saw her friends staring at her. She instantly grabbed her head, "Ooowww… My head. It hurts… Wait. What am I doing here? Guys?! What are you doing here?"

"Isn't this just dandy?! We come here and find our friend in the arms of whom? Taiku! Of all people…" Failing to control his temper, Neji burst out, unable to understand the things going on around him. "There's going to be one hell of an explanation here!"

"Neji-kun… This is not Taiku… He's… My brother…" Sakura whispered as she looked at her brother. (A/N: Haha! Now we see things in a new light! Pretty complicated story, ne?) All of the people in the room, gasped. "Okay, you guys, no need to exaggerate. But isn't this just great? I mean, my brother's alive!"

"Sara… About that something that I have to show you?" her brother interjected. She stared at him, a hint of curiosity playing within her emerald eyes. She did not talk, so she won't interrupt him. Taking his position, her brother stood before the kneeling Taiku and held his hand over Taiku's head. "Watch closely…"

All at once, a faint yellow light emerged from Sakura's brother's hand and begun to fill the entire room. Only the shadows of the two men were implanted in their minds as the light grew brighter until they had to shield their eyes. In a few seconds, the light faded completely and in the kneeling Taiku's place sat-ehem- a dog…

"AAAwwww… Such a cute doggie!" Naruto, unable to control himself, immediately ran towards the dog. He crouched over and sat on his heels, playing and patting the dog…

"Taiku!!" Sakura gasped as she stepped out of her bed and stood beside it. It was her puppy. Her puppy that she thought had died when her parents died. She held her arms out to him, and the dog ran her. "Taiku…My cute little doggie! Look at you! You've grown so much!"

"Well, yes, you see it has been 11 years. So I'm not that puppy anymore." The dog spoke to her, his bright blue eyes shining with happiness. He had dark blue fur and a white patch in his forehead in which a yellow crystal was embedded in. Naruto froze as he heard the dog speak. The dog turned to him and apologized, "I am indeed sorry, Naruto-san."

"Now, you guys might think I'm crazy but, my dog can talk… Hehe!" Sakura grinned sheepishly as she stood up. She sat on the bed and smiled a nervous smile at all of them. Taking a deep breath, whispered, "So, I guess, I have to explain everything now. Okay… Here goes…"

"Wait! Uum, excuse me, Mr. Sakura's brother…" Hinata suddenly interrupted the usual tint of crimson on her cheeks again. She looked up at him and sort of smiled inquiringly, "What's your name?..."

"Oh! Haha! How could I forget?" the tall man laughed and scratched the back of his head. Taking a slight bow, he formally introduced himself. "I am Haruno Yuuhi, older than Sakura by 4 years. Nice to meet you all."

"Well, it's nice to meet you too. I am Hyuuga Neji. The girl who spoke to you is my cousin Hinata. The fox dude is Uzumaki Naruto and the blonde girl is Yamanaka Ino. Um, the froggie suited guy is Rock Lee and beside Ino is Nara Shikamaru. Oh yeah, last but not least is the guy by the door, Uchiha Sasuke." Neji stated. They all nodded as their names were called. Hearing the Uchiha surname, Yuuhi's eyes sparked recognition…

Sakura grinned happily. But just then, she scrunched up her face in confusion…

"Onii-chan, there's something wrong with me. I-I can't remember the past. I-I don't know Mom and Dad's name… Onii-chan!" Sakura stammered as her eyes widened in fear. She looked at him and asked, "What's wrong with me? I-I can't remember what happened before I went to Konoha…"

"Mistress, let me explain." The dog spoke once more. His eyes shadowed by his hung head. "You put a memory lock on yourself when you were 10. Your grandparents approved seeing as how pained you were after everything that happened. So, this is the result of that memory lock."

"I see… I could unlock that but I don't think that you can take it. It will cause you to remember every single thing. And I mean everything." Yuuhi explained as he sat on her bed. He ruffled her hair and smiled encouragingly, "Well, I'll do it when the time is right. I think that I should explain my part first."

Sakura nodded her face emotionless. So that was the reason she did not remember the people in her dreams, the faces that popped out of nowhere. It haunted her… Then, looking up she signaled her brother to go on.

"Okay. Let me begin. The day our parents died, I really didn't disappear. Our grandparents were there. They took me and kept me almost this entire time in a house somewhere in the Mist country. Actually, it was our grandparents' servants who took care of me and trained me." He told them. He stared at the ceiling. "I knew that you were alive and I was glad. Several times I tried to escape and go look for you but to no avail. I was kept under strict surveillance since Grandmother knew what I was capable of. So, in consolation, they sent me pictures and stuff. The only reason they kept us apart is so we could grow up independent and strong."

"Oh… I was kind of expecting that. That's what Grandpa told me. He wanted me to grow up strong." Sakura whispered as she sat down the bed and stared at her lap. Tears started to fall from her eyes as she continued, "I don't know if I want to remember what happened. I-I don't think I c-can take it. Even now, my past is such a blur. Things I want to remember aren't here…"

"Sakura…" Ino said as she stood up and went to her side. Putting here arm around her friend, she told her, "I do know something of your past. I went inside your head, into the deepest darkest place in your mind."

"But I don't remember anything." She looked up, her eyes and cheeks red from crying. She rubbed her eyes and sniffled, "I want to know what you saw. But maybe in another time."

"But if Sakura can't remember her past…" Neji started, thoughtfully. His gaze fell upon Sakura's brother. "Who will explain everything?"

"I will… I can still remember a few things." Sakura said as she looked around the room. All the faces were turned to her. Taking a deep breath, she told her story…

"I don't remember where I was born but I know that we did have a big house. Taiku, my dog, was given to me when I was 7. That was the day my parents died." She took long deep breaths as if what she was talking about caused her pain. She clutched her head. Whispering, she continued, "My father was… was… I think he was a swordsman. Some sort of ninja samurai. My mother- she-she was the housewife. She taught me all the things I needed to know, even while I was still in my toddler years. And of course, my brother… Yuuhi."

Sakura looked up and smiled at him. He nodded to her, signaling her to continue. She nodded back. She looked at Ino and took another deep breath…

"I-I don't clearly remember the day my grandparents brought me here. All I can see is a house. A house burning with blood everywhere. My dreams show me people dying and a man laughing wickedly. I don't know what happened next, and all I remember is my training with Kakashi-sensei. Also my meeting with you guys and Taiku's presence in the house." She clasped her hands together, her hair falling all over her face. Ino just put her hand on top of Sakura's clasped hands, causing the girl to look up at her. Ino smiled encouragingly. "That's all I can remember… I-I'm so s-sorry…"

They all took the explanation in silence. Even Naruto, who was usually the loud mouth, was silent. Everybody looked somewhere else. Then, laughter erupted from the most unexpected person-Sakura!

"Goodness, you guys! How can you be so quiet? It's so unlike you!" She erupted again in peals of laughter. Everybody looked at her as if she had gone completely insane or something. So, she just went around looking for someone to bother. Seeing Sasuke standing by himself by the doorframe, she sauntered to where he was. She looked him straight in the eye and laughed once more…

"What's so funny?" he asked her in a steel-cold voice. He so didn't like being laughed at, much less by a girl. This caused her to look at him, so intently that he felt his cheeks burning. She started to laugh, and he figured it was the medicine she had taken. With lightning fast moves, he held her wrists and whispered, "Tell me."

"Hahaha!!" her laughter was heard throughout the room. Ino and Hinata looked at her worriedly. Neji started grumbling about all the things in the world. She looked up at him, and in a straight face, told him, "You don't know it, Sasuke-kun, but your face is red!"

Hearing the "kun" added to his name, he felt himself grow a few degrees warmer. No girl had ever called him "Sasuke-kun" except one girl…

FLASHBACK (A/N: I just love flashbacks!!! )

Sasuke sat at the foot of a gigantic Sakura tree, sighing. He couldn't believe his five-year old self that his parents sent him off to play rather than train. He made deep etches with his kunai on the ground beside him and looked up at the pink blossoms above him…

"I can't believe it…" he sighed annoyingly. He ran his small hand through his ebony hair. "How can I ever be like my brother if they don't want me to train?"

He did not see the shadow coming up behind him as he was busy minding his own thoughts. Finally, he turned around and heard slight shuffling. He jumped up and looked around the tree trunk…

"Hello…" a small female voice interrupted his "stalking." He turned his head and saw a little girl standing where he was seated just a few minutes ago. She was wearing a child's kimono (A/N: The one that just goes a bit above the knee) and had a holster on her right hip. "Can I play with you?"

"Ha! I have to train! I have no time to play! Besides, if you play with me, you just might cry. So, there. Oh yeah, I am Uchiha Sasuke, the soon to be greatest ninja of all time!" Sasuke smirked proudly as he took in the features of the girl. She had her head bowed, her eyes shadowed by the bandana that she was wearing, which was covering her entire head. He couldn't see a single wisp of her hair. Sighing impatiently, he asked her, "Well, aren't you going to introduce yourself?"

The girl just stood there, her head bowed, a soft smile playing at her lips. Several moments passed and Sasuke saw those small lips move as she whispered, "I like your name… Sasuke-kun…"

END OF FLASHBACK

He blinked. He was surprised at himself at how he could not remember the girl's name or face. But she was just there, hidden, deep in his mind…

"Fine… Don't talk to me." Sakura said pouting. She looked around the room and found every one back to their normal selves. She grinned and exclaimed, "So! Where shall we eat?"

Everyone could feel huge sweat drops forming at the back of their foreheads. But still, they were glad that Sakura was back to normal. Yuuhi stood up and called for the nurse and told her that Sakura was fine and that she wanted to go home. The nurse nodded and sighed, relieved that the screaming girl they took in yesterday was okay. They all took their stuff and trekked towards the Ichiraku…

Inside, they ordered their own ramens and sat together in three of the booths. They all talked and laughed as if nothing had really happened. They were all interested in Sakura's brother since this was the first time that they had really seen him…

"Yuuhi-san, did you take any of the ninja exams or something?" Hinata asked him. He shook his head. "Oh."

"Hey guys! Look at what I saw!" Ino shouted as she stared at a poster on the wall. They all crowded around it and Ino read it aloud, "People of the Fire Country! Our Spring Festival a.k.a. the Cherry Blossom Festival is just around the corner. Be sure to bring that certain someone that you would like to be with in this celebration. We hope that you would all come to the Konoha Festival Square to enjoy with us this wonderful event!"

"Wow." Lee whistled under his breath. Everybody nodded in agreement. "I can't believe that the festival is coming soon! We need to find someone to go with!"

"Oh yeah! Cool!" they all exclaimed as the "partner" part dawned on them. Sakura stared at the poster, thoughts of certain things dwelt inside her head…

"So…" she began. They looked at her and waited. She sort of turned red and smiled nervously yet again. "Um, who goes with whom?"

Just then, people outside could hear shouts and exclamations of someone being the date of another coming from inside the Ichiraku…

(Author's Note: Hey guys! I'm really sorry that I wasn't able to update for the longest time. School is just too harsh and graduation here in the Philippines is this March. So, I can't have all the time in the world to do this. I hope that I can give you a special chappie. It's about the Spring Festival and I want it to be for Christmas!! Hehehe! So I hope you liked this chapter! Take care, you guys! And thanks to all those who reviewed! –chibiabi)