(a/n: Thanks heaps for the reviews! I really appreciated them. –bows- Anyways, this is chapter two!)

Pairings: SasuSaku

Disclaimer: Not mine. Belongs to dear Masashi Kishimoto-sensei!

Eternal Light

Chapter two: Memories

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"Orochimaru-sama!"

He turned around, giving the man a hateful look, with one wave; the man was lying on the ground, lifeless. Orochimaru got up from his bed, breathing deeply. My hands… My hands… He looked down at his shivering hands. He still couldn't use them, he felt useless without his hands jutsus Orochimaru missed the joy of killing, destroying people.

"Orochimaru." A figure stood beside the door, hands in his pockets, looking annoyed. Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, he dislike how he called him 'Orochimaru' instead of 'Orochimaru-sama' "What?" He snapped.

"Can I go out now?" Sasuke asked, impatient. "This is really stupid. All I do sit there all day."

"Sasuke-kun. Your teammates are looking for you." Orochimaru said; a smirk appeared on his features. Sasuke looked at him coldly. "I don't have teammates. If that is all you have to say. I'm going." He glared at him, and then turned around.

"Uzumaki Naruto… and Haruno Sakura." Orochimaru said, he staggered back to his bed. Sasuke stopped. "I do not know those people." He finally said, Orochimaru could tell the iciness in his tone. "We will be going in short while. Sasuke-kun." An evil smirk crept on his lips. This is going to be fun.

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"Sakura-chan!" Naruto said when Sakura finally dragged herself to the bridge. They were bags under her eyes. Her expression was unreadable. She looked up, and forced a smile. "Ohayo." She said dully. Naruto blinked. "Neh, let me carry your bag?" Sakura shook her head. "Arigatou. I'll carry them myself."

"Ano, Sakura-chan. Are you sure about going to this mission?" Naruto asked, giving a nervous glance at Sakura. She looked down, she felt herself getting impatient. "I'm sure. Uchiha Sasuke has nothing to do with me. He was once our teammate, but he betrayed Konoha, seeking power from Orochimaru. I will forgive him for doing that. He is dangerous to all of us. If we do kill him, he will kill us." She said firmly, her voice shook.

"I… see." Naruto said slowly, although he doesn't believe a word that Sakura said. He kept giving her anxious glances. She seemed to be fine. She had glared back at him with an annoyed expression. Her fierce, emerald eyes looking back at him, Naruto immediate tore his gaze away from her. Sakura frowned and narrowed her eyes. What's wrong with Naruto? She glanced down at her bag, as they jumped from tree to tree. She put her hand over her pocket and sighed with relieve; she was glad that she brought a lot of medicine with them. Sakura spent all night making medicines. Tsunade told them Orochimaru will be somewhere in Hidden Sand, she asked permission for them to go pass. It will take them three days. Sasuke-kun… Sometimes she had those horrible dreams of Uchiha Sasuke. She is fifteen, still, she couldn't forget about him. Nearly three years passed.

"…Sakura-chan!"

Sakura blinked, and looked at Naruto's anxious face. "Sorry, I wasn't listening. Yes, you were saying?" Naruto frowned. "Neh, what should we do if I see Sasuke?" He asked quietly. Sakura winced. "Do not speak his name as a friend!"

"Sakura-chan…"

"He's not longer our friend and teammate! He's nothing but a traitor! He is Uchiha Sasuke to you!"

"Sakura-chan, but you still call him Sasuke-kun…" Naruto mumbled. Sakura flinched, feeling herself shaking. "I-I do not!"

"Yes you do. Tsunade-baachan told me." Naruto said quietly.

"Shi-Shishou?" Sakura choked. "I'm not calling him Sasuke-kun anymore! He's nothing to me!" Silent tears rolled down her cheeks, as she lifts her head. "He's an enemy! He'll destroy us if we don't kill him!" Naruto looked down, and didn't say anything. You're a bad liar Sakura-chan… "Neh, what will we say to him when we see him?"

Sakura looked down, "I hate him."

Naruto's eyes widened. "You hate him? But why?"

"Drop it, will you?" Sakura snapped, turning her head away from Naruto. "When we see him, I will kill him." Naruto shook his head. "Will you really kill him Sakura-chan?"

"Yes." Sakura said quietly. "Yes, I will kill him with my own hands."

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After three days, they arrived in Hidden Sand safely. They spend a night trying to look for Sasuke and Orochimaru. Naruto frowned, and glanced at Sakura. Wouldn't this mission be too dangerous for them, Orochimaru is really strong; he could finish those two within five minutes. The thing he worried the most is Sakura. He swallowed, what would she do if she sees Sasuke? She did say he is their enemy and not their friend anymore. But Naruto believed that Sasuke wouldn't kill his teammates. Even though, few years back then, he tried to kill Naruto with his own hands. But now, Sakura has come for him, he wouldn't kill her. Sasuke was a kind of person that he keeps all his feelings inside a box. He won't let anyone approach or touch it. The box was chained; it can never be free. He never showed any emotions or feelings to anyone around him, Naruto found it hard trying to know what he was thinking.

They stopped to ask some information. Sakura smiled politely at the owner of the shop, bowing slightly. "Konnichiwa, I am wondering where I can find the Forbidden Forest…?" The lady gasped, staring at her, taking her shoulder by her hand and shook it lightly. "You cannot go! You are still young. The forest is too dangerous for you two." She took a quick glance at Naruto. "Many people died in the forest!"

Sakura smiled. "We're fine, Obaa-san. Please tell us where the forest is." The lady eyed her warily. "So beautiful… you shouldn't give your life away like that." Sakura shook her head. "We're here at a mission, it's important to us." The lady sighed. "Okay, if you say so." She pointed east. "You see that tower? It's in that direction. Please be careful." Sakura nodded, thanked her once again and took off.

"Izu, what's wrong?" An old man came out. The lady sighed deeply. "Two kids asked me where Forbidden Forest is. I told them it is dangerous. They told me it's some kind of important mission." The old man blinked. "Some dangerous criminal broke into the Forest couple of days ago!"

In the forest

"Neh… Sakura-chan, are you sure?" Naruto asked, looking around nervously. Sakura glared. "Of course." She snapped. She didn't get why they called this forest forbidden. It looked fine; it looked just like any other forests. "Orochimaru and Uchiha Sasuke could be here." Naruto sighed. "Hai, hai." Sakura clenched her fist. She took a look at her teammate, trailing beside her. She frowned deeply, his words echoed in her mind.

"What will you do if you see him?"

She shook her head fiercely. She cannot let him take advantage of her! He's no longer their teammate! Tsunade told them to take Sasuke back, and she will.

"So you are here…" A voice said behind them. Both with widened eyes, they halted, turning around startled. Sakura opened her mouth, but no words came out. It can't be! I… I didn't even sense him! Naruto stared, and kept silent. Sakura faced Orochimaru, who was smirking. Her eyes trailed beside him, a boy with the same age as her. "Orochimaru! Uchiha Sasuke!" She seethed.

"Sakura-san, you don't have to talk in that manner." Orochimaru smirked. Neither Naruto nor Sakura moved, or attacked him. They knew they would be killed if they make any sudden moves. "We are here to take Uchiha Sasuke back to Konoha. It is the Godaime's orders." Sakura said loudly, her voice shook. Orochimaru smiled broadly. "Heal my hands." Sakura blinked, not understanding what he was saying. Orochimaru nodded to Sasuke, who made a lazy movement, his hands stretched and took off Orochimaru's bandages. "Heal my hands." He repeated. Sakura stared. "This- Sandaime gave that to you, didn't he?"

Orochimaru smirked. "Yes, thanks to him, I cannot use my hands anymore. I need a special operation from a skilful medical ninja." Sakura clenched her fists. "Why me, you can ask someone else!"

"Tsunade once rejected me. Now I'm asking you. I believe she only passed that skill onto you and no one else!" Orochimaru continued to smile. Sakura looked up, startled. "How did you-"

"I have my ways." He said, flicking his hair backwards. Naruto punched the tree. "You're asking Sakura-chan to heal your hands! Well guess what-"

"Naruto! Shut up!"

He stared at her. "Sakura-chan…"

Orochimaru smirked. "Tsunade told the same thing to Shizune." Sakura's face darkened. "You're asking me to heal your hands…?"

"Of course I am, Sakura-san. Sasuke-kun can go back to Konoha." Orochimaru smirked, glancing down at Sasuke, who remained expressionless. Sakura looked up, tears gathering in her eyes. "You will destroy Konoha when I'm done! I won't allow you to do that! I don't care anymore…" She bends down, covering her face with her hands. Naruto looked anxiously at her. "Sakura-chan…"

"Sakura-san, Sakura-san. Don't you love him?" Orochimaru asked, smirking. Sakura shook her head furiously, her voice muffled.

"Now, now. Don't try to deny it." He said. "Heal my hands and I will return him to you." Sakura stood up, lifting her fist up. "Sakura-chan! No!" She ignored Naruto's desperate cries, without waiting, she aimed for his head. Orochimaru smiled then dodged it easily, and landed back beside Sasuke. "You bastard!" Sakura cursed.

"Your strength is nearly as good Tsunade's. I can still remember it clearly…"

"Don't speak Shishou's name as you're her friend!" Sakura spat. Orochimaru laughed. "What are saying? I am her friend. Now, do you deny the fact that you're still in love with Sasuke-kun?" Sakura put both of her hands over her ears. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Tears rolling down her face. "I'm not making any deals with you!" She turned to Sasuke. "Uchiha Sasuke!" He looked at her; her voice shook as she spoke his name. "He's just using you! You can't live long! It's nearly three years, he'll take over your body!"

Orochimaru released a laugh. "What are you saying Sakura-san? Now tell me if you want to heal my hands or not? I will return him to you." Sakura looked up. "I won't! I don't care about him anymore! I won't betray Konoha!" She jumped off, before he could ask anything else. She heard him say. "I will give you a week of time! Sasuke-kun will come looking for you."

I won't! I won't! He's nothing to me!

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She ran to a creek, bending down to her knees, tears fell down into the water. She stared at herself in the water. Why me…? Seeing him for the first time in three years made her want to look him more and more. He had grown taller, much taller, and more handsome. His hair is still the same. He was wearing all black when she saw him. She wished he wasn't with Orochimaru, she wished he is still in Konoha. I'm so confused… What should I do…? She covered her face with her hands.

"Stop crying." A voice ordered behind her. Sakura jumped up and turned around, facing Sasuke. "You!" She jumped away from him, pulling out a kunai from her pocket. "W-What are you doing here! Did Orochimaru tell you to kill me?" Sasuke smirked. "No, he didn't tell me anything."

"Then-"

"I just wanted to be here." Sasuke interrupted. Sakura looked away, she couldn't hold back her tears. I want to hate you… but I can't… It's so hard.

"All these years, I'm like a caged bird. He won't let me free. He won't even let me go out. He spends all day outside with two or more people looking after me. I was like a prisoner." Sasuke started, sitting down where Sakura was. "They deliver food to me. They were polite to me. But I didn't understand. Why is he doing this to me? I'm seeking for power. Whenever I ask him, he just smirked and told me I wasn't ready." Wind blow pass them. Sakura sat down one metre away from him. He glanced at her and smirked. "You still don't trust me."

"I do not."

"What can I do to make you trust me again?"

"Nothing." She mumbled. "I don't trust anyone anymore except for my friends. I don't dream anymore." She looked at the sky. "I learned to become a Medicine Specialist, Shishou taught me. I really like her." She didn't know why she was telling him this; he seemed to be listening to her, "Being a Medicine Specialist is not easy. I get jobs everyday, I like Konoha, I really like Konoha. So that's why I don't want anyone to destroy it. I am a Chuunin now, but would I pass it without anyone's help? It's not fair. I am still weak."

"Are you going to heal his hands?" He asked.

Sakura paused, unable to answer. "I… No."

"I heard hesitation." Sasuke said, twisting the twig.

"I didn't hesitate! Do you think I still love you!" She demanded, flushing. She got up, "I don't want to talk to you anymore!" Sasuke grabbed her wrist and pulled her down. "I don't want to go back there yet. It's too dull." Sakura looked at him, He… He didn't change… I didn't change either…

To be continued…

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Notes: You like it? Please review! Review replies will be on my LiveJournal. All you do is go to my profile and click on HomePage. Leave an anonymous comment if you like! –grins- (Mainly most of you aren't on LiveJournal T.T) Please review this time! Thank you heaps!