Amnesia

Chapter 3: Hillsides and Hospital Beds

The night was slowly swallowing up the day and as a result Konoha was brightened up with dozens of street lights and shop lights. As Naruto jumped across the roofs, Sakura marvelled at the beauty. She didn't remember her home being this pretty, but she hadn't seen it from this angle before, nor was she often allowed out so late.

It was quite exciting, speeding across the buildings, her arms wrapped around Naruto's front as he carried her. Although she hadn't known him long, she felt comfortingly safe with Naruto, she trusted him to do this. That and she finally got out of that damn hospital room. Her strange, original ease with the place was quickly replaced with boredom and irritation - she didn't want to just sit there and do nothing.

Naruto stopped moving, forcing her attention back to the boy carrying her. They came to a stop on top of a row of buildings, overlooking several open front shops.

"You want to know my favourite place in the world?" He grinned at her over his shoulder.

Sakura smiled back at him, he looked pretty happy. "Sure!"

"Ichiraku's Ramen shop!" he announced rather proudly, glancing in the direction of one of the shops below.

Sakura laughed. "Ramen?"

He nodded enthusiastically and she peered over at where he was looking. "Want to get some then?"

Naruto turned to her more fully. "Definitely...but I guess people shouldn't see you." His smile fell slowly as he realised this, his expression transforming into a pout.

She tried to stop smiling, but couldn't. "Well why don't you go and order some to take away?" she suggested.

He nodded, his grin returning. "Be back in a minute, Sakura-chan!"

Sakura watched as the blond jumped off of the roof and into the light of the street, she then sat down, watching the lights in the distance. She giggled to herself. Naruto's favourite place in the world was a ramen shop, for some reason, that wasn't at all surprising. When Naruto popped back up, she giggled again, he had such a ridiculously wide grin on his face. Handing her the ramen, he picked her up piggyback style once more.

"Where are we heading?" she asked curiously, examining ahead of them over his shoulder in the direction they were going, still gripping the carefully-wrapped bags of ramen in her hand.

While the view was incredibly appealing to the eye, it all looked similar, she honestly didn't know where they were. It was quite a lot to take in, but she should surely recognise some of the buildings. She didn't. It was at night time though, she reasoned with herself. In the daylight, it would probably come back to her. She couldn't begin to guess at where he was taking her though.

"You'll see," was all he said in reply, furthering her curiosity.

After a few minutes of jumping across rooftops, they reached a grassy area nearer what looked like the outskirts of Konoha. He easily climbed up a small hillside, they stopped at the top and he carefully put her down before he sat cross-legged on the ground. She sat by his side, placing the ramen in front of her, and then concentrated on their location.

"We came here once with our team," he told her, smiling at her as she took in the view.

"It's beautiful," she breathed, looking at the sights around her. Even in the dark, she could see the outline of the trees, the hills and flowers surrounding them.

Naruto laughed. "Well just look up."

As Sakura looked up, her eyes widened. Hundreds of thousands of stars filled the night sky - she lay on her back, taking in the beauty of the starry night. It was truly a sight to see. This place was so calming.

"We can stargaze after, Sakura-chan!" Naruto laughed again, pulling her attention back to him.

She sat back up and was presented with a bowl of ramen. She took it slowly, she hadn't expected for him to get some for her also. She hadn't tried it before.

He nodded at her. "Your favourite."

She looked at the contents of the bowl a little closer and raised a curious eyebrow.

He grinned. "Well you would never admit it, but I can tell you like that the most. You say you don't like it because it's fattening or whatever."

"What?" She frowned.

Naruto laughed. "Just taste it! You're too skinny, Sakura-chan. Don't say you were thinking about your weight at eight years old."

She stuck her tongue out at him. "Shut up," she murmured before having a mouthful of the ramen. Her eyes widened in surprise as she tasted it. "Wow. That is good."

"See!"

She laughed and hit him playfully. He lost his balanced and went barrelling backwards down the hill in a comedic display of idiocy. Her laughter increased as he toppled to the floor, ramen bowl on head.

When he looked at her and pouted, she laughed even harder - he looked hilariously cute and funny as he sat there. She wished she had a camera to take a picture.

He slowly made his way back up the hill. At first he looked like he could barely hold back a smile, but he sat beside her and pulled a face. His lip quivered up and down again as she stopped laughing and looked at him with a concerned expression.

Moving closer, she picked a strand of ramen out his hair. "Sorry, Naruto, I know ramen is your favourite."

He nodded glumly, looking down. She was still certain he was trying to hide a smile.

"Can I make it up to you?" she asked.

He looked up, pulling a mock thoughtful face before shrugging. "I don't know."

She moved closer to him. When she was only inches from his face, she heard his breathing hitch. She would admit that it looked like she might kiss him and that he looked completely shocked at that idea, but then she pulled away and said, "I'll buy you triple, I promise, now share mine with me."

He pouted and she smirked. He really thought she was going to kiss him as a way of apology. "You're so mean, Sakura-chan."

"Really, why's that?" she questioned, tilting her head at him.

Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Well, for a moment, I thought you were going to kiss me."

Her smirked increased. "Oh really? Would that make up for it?"

He nodded and she shrugged. "Sorry, Naruto, I didn't think about that stuff at eight years old."

He pouted again and she nudged her bowl closer to him.

He shook his head and held his hands up to deny the offer. "I can't eat yours, Sakura-chan. I had eaten most of mine anyway."

She smiled. "Ah but you see, I don't think a little person like me could eat all of this, you know I heard it's fattening."

He chuckled and she smiled, nudging it towards him again, she said, "Please, it's good, I promise."

He nodded and they ate the second bowl together.

When they had finished, Sakura looked up at the sky, marvelling at the clear night sky. "It really is beautiful, thank you, Naruto."

"It really is."

She glanced down to see him watching her. "You know, you're looking the wrong way."

He smiled back at her. "I'm good."

She looked at him and their eyes locked with each other. A small blush crept across her face. His stare was so intense... This whole thing felt like a date. She had been such a tease to him.

She smirked and stood up quickly. "Race you down the hill!" she shouted and charged down the grassy hillside without hesitation.

Not long after, he was by her side and she frowned. "Hey, you're a ninja, don't cheat!"

He chuckled as he overtook her. "So are you!"

Halfway down, she tripped. She closed her eyes, only to find herself rolling down the hill on another warm body.

He caught her.

They landed not far from the bottom of the hill, her on top of him. He smiled at her. Her heart began to race as she stared into his eyes again... Unthinking, she leant forward and closing her eyes, she placed her lips to his.

His eyes widened, but then bringing his hand up to cup her face, he kissed her back.

All time stopped. They were lost, kissing under the stars.

When she pulled away, she saw he looked confused, but she quickly stood up and brushed herself off. "You know, Naruto..." Running a few feet down to the very bottom of the hill, she turned around again. "I win!" she said proudly, raising her hands above her in tight fists, announcing herself victorious.

He laughed and walked to her side, smiling affectionately at her. "It was worth it."

She blushed but smiled back at him, lowering her hands again as she looked at him seriously. She wasn't sure what this meant to her, or him, or their relationship. She had woken up terrified. He made her feel safe. She kissed him.

"I'll take you back now, Sakura-chan, before you're missed." He seemed somewhat distant.

"OK," she replied, trying not to sound disappointed.

Picking her up again, they travelled back to the hospital. With his back towards her, he couldn't see the smile that was yet to leave her face.

They entered her room through the window, only then did she realise how tired she was. She wasn't aware of the time, but it had been dark for quite a while. It had been nice though. Fresh air, food...other things.

Climbing back into her bed and getting comfortable, she looked at Naruto and he stared back at her. "Thank you." She smiled at him before closing her eyes and drifting off into a deep, soothing sleep.

When morning came, Sakura awoke to a very angry blonde. The Hokage was waiting at the foot of the bed with a scowl on her face. "And where were you last night?" she questioned, her tone less than pleased.

Wow, she looked terrifying. Sakura swallowed. Quickly turning her head to see Naruto sleeping on the chair next to her, Sakura stammered, "I-uhh..."

Tsunade stomped over to Naruto and gripped him by the collar with both hands. She rudely shook him awake. "How dare you take Sakura out of this hospital!"

Sakura quickly jumped out of bed, defending the startled boy, who had frozen in his seat. "No! It wasn't his fault, I was feeling down and he just wanted to cheer me up. Blame me!"

Tsunade put down the now very awake blond and looked at her. "Where did you go then?"

"Around Konoha... We sat on a hill to watch the stars and then ate ramen," she explained.

Tsunade laughed. "I was going to say it was very romantic until you said ramen, oh Naruto, seriously." She looked at the blushing boy and smirked. "Looks like you spilt half of it down your front, that's very unlike you. What were you two doing?"

Sakura scratched the back of her head. "Umm, that was also my fault."

"Ah." Tsuande gave the young girl an all-knowing look.

Sakura quickly replied, "What do you mean ah? What's the look for! I pushed him and he fell down the hill is all."

Tsunade laughed again, she turned to Naruto and winked before heading out of the room.

Then the room was silent, but when Naruto turned to Sakura there was no humour in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Sakura."

She looked at him, confusion replacing her embarrassment. "What for?"

"Last night, the kiss, that wasn't fair on you," he spoke softly. He sounded hurt.

"What do you mean? I kissed you!" she argued.

He shook his head. "Exactly, I should not have let you. I was selfish, I'm sorry."

Before she had any chance to reply, he got up and walked out of the room.

She watched the door where he left. Upset and puzzled.

When Ino visited her friend, she quickly picked up on her dampened mood, as soon as entered. "What's wrong, Sakura?"

Sakura shrugged sadly. "Naruto."

Ino closed the door and moved to sit by the upset girl. "What did he do this time?"

She shook her head. "He just seemed all upset."

"Why?"

"Well last night he took me around Konoha and I...kissed him."

Ino grinned. "Way to go, Sakura!"

Sakura frowned. "But then this morning he apologised for it, said it wasn't fair on me, left the room all sad."

Ino placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder. "Leave it to me!"

Then she was gone.

Sakura was still sat in bed two hours later when Ino returned.

Business-like, Ino told her, "Naruto acted like that because he felt it wasn't fair on you. Since he didn't think you would have done it if you had your memories. So he felt guilty, it was your first kiss too."

Sakura looked down. "Will you fetch him for me please?"

"Sure thing."

"Thanks, Ino," she said quietly.

"No problem, your relationship with Naruto has always been of my concern." Ino winked.

Sakura smiled as Ino left in search of the wallowing Naruto. It looked like Ino would very happily help her sort this out. Sometimes having a nosy friend paid off.

This was something she needed to fix. She didn't know what her relationship with Naruto used to be like, but he was already important to her and she didn't want to mess it up. The kiss had been an unexpected surprise for both of them. She could apologise and they could forget it. Hopefully, they could still be friends.

It was quite late when Naruto entered her room. He smiled at her and walked over to the window to stand by it. He looked out the glass, seemingly unable to look at her.

"Naruto, don't stand by the window, come and sit by me, there's no escape," she told him seriously.

She'd had a few hours to mull over what she was going to say to the blond. Naruto sat by her, but kept his distance.

Sakura waited for him to raised his head and then looked him straight in the eye. "Listen, Naruto, you don't have to feel bad. I kissed you because I wanted to. I kissed you because it felt right. Memories or not, I would have been an idiot not to. Maybe I don't remember our past, but I'm still the same person, I have the same feelings and if I do remember, I'll tell you now I won't regret what I did. I promise you that."

He nodded slowly.

"So please, don't act differently or think differently of me because of it."

He smiled. "All right, Sakura."

She smiled back. "Can we go on another trip again tonight?"

He shook his head and she looked down. Maybe he still didn't trust her.

He leaned in towards her and tilted her chin up so she could look him in the eyes again. He kissed her on the forehead before he headed for the door. "Tsunade might kill me if I stole you two nights in a row. Tomorrow, I promise."

Sakura nodded and he left the room. Bringing a hand up to her heart, she breathed slowly, this boy had every emotion known to man coming from her.

Author Notes:

When I first uploaded this, I was fairly new to the website and this was my first uploaded multi-fic. I wouldn't say the story has hit its flow yet. The writing will improve. It very much becomes about the psychology of Sakura's amnesia and everything that makes the situation harder for her. While Naruto is prevalent in the plot, and there is fluff here and there throughout, this is not a heavy romance story.

Here are some of the old author notes:

'There is a small amount of darkness in the next chapter... I don't want to give it away but there will be that element of danger that I mentioned in the summary.

Saturday is the next upload! Likely late afternoon/evening for people in the UK, earlier on for Americans – I don't know any other time zones, but if there is a best suited chapter upload time for everyone I'd be glad to aim for it ^.^ (I personally read at night/early morning hours).

Once again, thanks for reading :).'