Disclaimer: I own nothing

Author's Note: Thank you for the reviews. They encouraged me a lot

Chapter 2

It's obvious what caused her amnesia. The hard thing was how she could regain her memories or if she would even have a chance to regain them. That's the question Sasuke had tried to ask the doctor but received no answer. He shouldn't be surprised though. This was just a small local hospital with average-skilled doctors. Hinata was lucky that she was even alive with how much blood her head had lost.

"At least she's still alive." The doctor comforted him. "That's all we could do. You could take her to the big hospital in the city for better treatment. In the meantime, you could try telling her about her past as that might evoke her memories. I read that in a book."

That was a good idea, but not a possible one because he didn't even know who she was. They only met 3 weeks ago when he saved her from drowning in the sea. And secondly, how could he take her to the big hospital in the city? Who was going to pay for her medical bills? Certainly not him. He was not that rich. His savings was for college, not for a strange girl he just met.

Besides, Hinata seemed fine. She took the news of her amnesia quite well. She didn't seem sad, depressed, or even curious about her past. She didn't even try to get her memories back. She never asked about it.

Her recovery was going well. She was strong enough to walk a fair distance, do her routine, and hold a proper conversation without feeling tired too soon. Basically, she was able to function like a healthy person.

The only issue was her headaches. She often had headaches upon waking up in the morning. They had lessened now but were still hard to bear.

At this rate, she would be discharged from the hospital soon and Hinata seemed to look forward to it. But the question was, where was she going to stay?

"She could stay with me," Sakura suggested as they were having lunch at a local ramen stand - Naruto's favorite place to eat. He could literally eat ramen all day, seven days a week.

"Or she could stay with me," Naruto said with a mouthful of ramen. This was already his third bowl.

"If she likes," Sakura agreed. She didn't mind Hinata staying with Naruto, as long as she wasn't staying at Sasuke's place. She glanced at her dark-haired friend, gauging his reaction but got nothing.

Sasuke had already finished his ramen and was looking for some money in his wallet. "Your place is messy. If Hinata were to stay with you, make sure to clean your apartment first." And with that, he left.

"Hey, it's not that messy," Naruto exclaimed but didn't bother to argue more because his friend had already left and more importantly, his ramen was getting cold. He needed to finish this bowl before he could order another bowl.

"Sasuke, wait!" Sakura quickly followed Sasuke, her ramen half eaten. He was walking fast and she had to run a little to catch up with him. Her fingers brushed her pink hair to get the strands into their place as she asked. "Where are you going?"

"The hospital," Sasuke replied, didn't bother to look at her.

"I'm going with you," Sakura said. Knowing it was not a question, Sasuke didn't say anything more, just let her do whatever she wanted.

They had always been like this. Sakura would try to follow him around, wanting to spend time with him and Sasuke, though was not very interested, wouldn't reject her. To him, having or not having her around was just the same.

He, Naruto, and Sakura were childhood friends. They practically grew up together. He and Naruto were orphan while Sakura came from an ordinary family with loving parents.

Sasuke wouldn't hesitate to say that Naruto was what connected them. With time, he had started to consider her his friend, but if it weren't for Naruto, he wouldn't bother to look at her. But Sakura wanted more, that he couldn't give.

Sakura loved him. That's a fact. But Sasuke didn't think he was capable of such a feeling. He didn't know that feeling. Was it the feeling of always wanting to look pretty in front of that person, or wanting to spend time with them, or to get close to them, to touch them in such an intimate way? If that was love then he certainly didn't love her. He just didn't care.

He didn't love her but he didn't reject her either because that would change the dynamic in their relationship forever. And again, it's for Naruto because he knew how much he valued their friendship.

They came to Hinata's room to find she was sleeping. She looked peaceful but Sasuke knew her peaceful expression would only last until she woke up. Hinata often had headaches when she woke up from sleeping. The doctors had examined her several times but couldn't find anything wrong except her anemias, of course.

"She's sleeping. Maybe we could come back later." Sakura suggested, nearly whispering because she didn't want to wake Hinata up.

Sasuke was inclined to agree with her because he didn't want to disturb her peaceful sleep, but when he was about to leave, pale eyes opened to look at him. He wasn't surprised because, in addition to headaches, Hinata was very sensitive to noises. Just a little noise was enough to wake her up. She must have heard them enter earlier. Just as expected, her eyebrows furrowed with an approaching headache.

"Headache again?" Sasuke asked as he sat on the chair beside her bed. The question seemed unnecessary but he just wanted to say something.

Hinata nodded her head, hand gently touching her temple. Her headaches usually didn't last long and weren't too severe but still uncomfortable to have.

Concern fluttered across his face as he watched her suffer the headache. It was unsettling to see her like this. He didn't know if this was normal for patients with amnesia or if they were symptoms of something more serious. He also didn't know if the headaches would slowly disappear with time or if they would persist for the rest of her life. The only thing he knew was that Hinata needed better treatment.

"You're going to be discharged from the hospital next week," Sasuke announced with a calm face, any concern for her condition hidden away in a safe corner.

"And you're going to stay with Naruto. Isn't that great?" Sakura exclaimed, clapping her hands together. She seemed unusually excited. "Naruto is a great guy. You're going to like him."

"Uhm, I…" Hinata started, and her headache suddenly became worse for no apparent reason.

"Oh, it's good to see you two here," A female voice interrupted whatever Hinata was about to say. A nurse came into her room, smiling politely at them. Their local hospital might not have the most skilled doctors and nurses but they made sure the patients were treated with utmost care. "Since Hinata's going to be discharged next week, I need you two to fill in some paperwork. Actually, I only need one of you, the other can stay here with her."

"Sakura, you go," Sasuke said, already deciding he would stay.

"Me? But I don't…" Sakura wanted to protest but Sasuke stopped her.

"Aren't you going to a Medical College in 6 months? I'm sure this can help your experience."

"Oh, you're going to a Medical College?" The nurse couldn't smile bigger. She felt like a senior meeting a junior and couldn't wait to share her college experience with her. "Follow me." The nurse said and quickly left the room, expecting the pink-haired girl to follow her immediately. Sakura was hesitant but soon realized she didn't have a choice. Besides, the quicker she could get this done, the sooner she could return to Sasuke.

Sasuke sighed once they left. Really, he needed some peaceful moments where Sakura didn't try to get him on a date.

Turning to Hinata, he noticed she looked more comfortable. "Better?" He asked.

She nodded her head, sitting up and folding her hands neatly in her lap. "I like Naruto." She suddenly said. She didn't look at him when she said that because if she did, she would have noticed his scowl. "He seems like a nice guy."

"He is, but he can also be loud sometimes." He said, now reconsidering the idea of Hinata staying with Naruto. Wasn't she sensitive to noises? If she were to stay with Naruto, he doubted she could even have a peaceful night.

"I've never met someone so bright."

"You said it as if you knew anything about your life before." Sasuke countered. How could she know she had never met someone like Naruto when she didn't even know who she had met?

"You're right, but whenever he comes here, his presence alone lights up the room." She tried to explain herself, getting a little embarrassed.

I'm the one who saved you, not Naruto. Sasuke was tempted to say that but decided not to. Letting out an exasperated sigh, he crossed his arms over his chest and looked to the side. "I should have taken Naruto with me to the hospital but he was busy stuffing his face with ramen when Sakura and I decided to come to visit you."

Naruto stuffing his face with ramen was a fun scene to imagine and Hinata actually let out a small laugh. "I can imagine. Since the first time he came here all he could talk about is ramen and how much he loves it."

It was getting overbearing and Sasuke actually wanted to leave. If he knew all she could talk about was Naruto he would have followed the nurse and let Sakura stay here. Too deep in his thoughts, he didn't notice her laugh had died out and now she was looking at him seriously.

"But can I stay with you instead?" She said with a soft voice. And when his dark eyes turned to look at her with a little suspicion, she quickly explained. "I like Naruto, and he's very kind, but you're the one who saved me."

"Because I saved your life, you want to stay with me?"

"I want to repay you." She replied, her face starting to turn red. "I can cook, I can clean the house, and I can do your laundry, I can even get a job if you want money."

"Hinata, you're not a maid."

"I just don't want to forget you." Her voice was low when she said that. Instead of looking at him, she looked down at the hands on her lap, musing over what had happened since when she woke up. "If I can see you every day, I won't forget you."

Mustering all her courage, she looked up to hold his gaze, and wouldn't back down until she got his answer. She didn't know if it was a good enough reason for him to let her stay with him but she hoped it at least made sense to him. Since waking up, she had always been afraid of forgetting things. She had lost all her memories about her past, she wouldn't want to lose any of her newly-made memories with people she now considered her friends. So she tried to remember everything: Naruto's bright smile, his blue eyes that were like the sky on a cloudless day, Sakura's pink hair that smelled like fresh roses, the way it bounced so beautifully when she walked, and Sasuke's face and name.

She didn't know if her amnesia would affect her in the long term or if she would someday lose these memories too, so she tried to remember everything she could.

"Don't you want to get your memories back?" Sasuke asked the one question that he had always wanted to know. For someone who had just lost all her memories, she seemed strangely calm.

"I do. I want to know my past but this presence, it's also beautiful." Hinata smiled softly, thinking how lucky she was to be saved by him, to meet him, and to know all of those wonderful people who she now considered her friends. Hinata couldn't be more grateful.

"Then you can stay with me." Sasuke felt something warm bloom inside his chest when she gave him her brightest smile. She might not know it but just like Naruto, her presence lighted up his dull life.

What he didn't know was that her headache had disappeared when he told her she could stay with him.

"What? You can't tell me Hinata's staying with you. Wasn't she supposed to stay with Naruto?" Sakura nearly screamed. They were doing some shopping at a local grocery store when Sasuke just casually told his friends Hinata was going to stay with him. Sasuke didn't even know why Sakura was here with him, probably because of Naruto again.

"Hey, Sakura, it's fine. I don't mind." Naruto said, trying to calm her down. Sakura was scary when she got angry.

"It's not about you." She snapped at him, then turned to Sasuke, urging him to answer her. "Why is she staying with you? Because that's what she wants?" Sakura knew it. Something must have happened when she was with the nurse, filling out the stupid paperwork. She should have never left in the first place. The annoying nurse wouldn't stop talking about her days at the Medical College. Normally, she would love to listen to it but when the man she loved was alone with another girl, she definitely was not in the mood.

"Are there any problems with that?" Sasuke asked, didn't even bother to look at her.

"What if she already has a husband and he's looking for her?"

Sasuke flinched at her words. It showed in the way his hand paused mid-air when he reached for a can of milk on the shelf. It only lasted for a moment but Sakura saw it and that encouraged her to continue with her tactic. "She might even have children."

"Sakura, she's about our age. It's unlikely she's married." Naruto opposed. "She doesn't wear a ring."

"That doesn't mean she's single." Sakura snapped. Instead of getting Sasuke to answer her, Naruto kept interrupting them.

"You didn't have this problem when Naruto suggested for Hinata to stay with him." Sasuke was avoiding her questions by changing the subject.

"Or she could just stay with me so we wouldn't have to worry about if she's married or not."

"You said it as if we would fuck."

Sakura's gasp was loud. She was speechless and even that would be an understatement because she was so shocked her brain couldn't function for a moment. She couldn't believe what he just said. She wanted to tell him that's ridiculous but words wouldn't come out so she was left standing there with a gaping mouth and no words at all.

Did he have to say that? If he had said that, wouldn't it mean he would consider it? No, she couldn't allow it. She loved him, she was the girl from his childhood, the only girl that he had ever allowed to be his friend.

"Wouldn't you?" Unlike Sakura, who was still in a state of shock, Naruto's thick head made him immune to these kinds of situations. It was almost impossible to embarrass him.

That was the last straw before Sakura screamed and slapped Naruto's back with all of her strength. She tended to hit him whenever she was angry with him because sometimes she couldn't bear his idiocy. "Naruto, you idiot!"

"OUCH!" Naruto cried out. "Why did you hit me?"

"Because you're an idiot… Huh? Sasuke? Where's Sasuke?" She was about to hit Naruto again when she realized Sasuke had disappeared. She looked around, trying to find him but the man was nowhere to be seen. He must have left when she and Naruto were busy bickering with each other.

Leaving Naruto behind, Sakura quickly ran to the parking lot, just in time to see Sasuke get into his car. Even at a fair distance, she could see his scowl and his pursed lips.

"Sasuke! Wait!" She called and ran toward his car but it was too late. He already left.

Sakura was left there, panting and catching her breath. Sasuke definitely was not happy but she didn't care. She needed to talk some sense to him because she just wanted the best for him.

He would need to treat Naruto with some ramen later because he had saved him this time. If it wasn't for Naruto, he could never escape Sakura and her ridiculous questions. Sometimes, Naruto's thick head could become very helpful.

He drove to the hospital. He had just left one hour ago and wasn't supposed to come back until tomorrow but there was something he needed to confirm.

Hinata couldn't hide her surprise to see Sasuke come back so soon. She was even more surprised when Sasuke, without a word, found her left hand under the blanket, holding it up and examining it closely.

"What's wrong, Sasuke?" She was almost afraid to ask because he seemed very serious.

After a few moments, he let go of her hand and stepped back. "Nothing." He replied, so casually as if he hadn't just barged into her room to examine her hand for no apparent reason.

"But you…" She wanted to ask more but he already walked out.

Before closing the door, he turned to look at her. "Sorry… and see you tomorrow."

Once outside, Sasuke let out a sigh. Leaning back against the door, he didn't even know he was smiling.

Her ring finger didn't have the mark which was typical for married people.

And what kind of boyfriend to let his girlfriend go swimming alone where it wasn't even a beach with safeguards? Unless he was busy cheating on her with another girl.

It was another sleepless night.

Neji was lying on his bed, eyes staring at the ceiling. The only way for him to sleep these days was to just stay up until tiredness took over.

It had been 3 weeks since Hinata's missing and they still couldn't find any trace of her, let alone actually find her. The police were useless in Neji's opinion. They told him they were trying their best but he would say they weren't trying enough, so he decided to take things into his own hands.

He drove everywhere he could to look for her, he hired the best private detective in the city, he promised a huge bonus if anyone could find her, but nothing worked.

She just disappeared the day he kissed Tenten. It definitely was not a coincidence. She must have thought he was cheating on her. She probably hated him gut now. Neji understood that and he would never blame her. It's all his fault. She could hate him, scream at him, even slap him across his face. She could do anything she wanted with him and he would gladly accept it because he knew he deserved it.

"Just don't disappear from my life." He mumbled as he turned to his side.

It made him wonder if she was taken or if she was purposely hiding from him to make him suffer. If it was the case then she definitely had got exactly what she wanted. These days were the worst of his life. But if she thought she could hide from him forever, she was seriously wrong. He would find her, he would bring her back whether she wanted or not, kicking and screaming for all he cared about.

And if she was taken by someone, for money or revenge on the Hyuga clan, that someone should be afraid for their fate because she was his and he would do everything to get her back, even if it meant he had to kill.

And that was a promise.

Note: If you want to know if Neji really cheated on Hinata or not, please keep following this story ;)