Amnesia

Chapter 16: The Boy on His Own

If there was one positive to having amnesia, it was reliving all sorts of 'first experiences' for a second time. Over the past couple of days, Naruto had been taking her out and about around Konoha, as well as to some places nearby, just outside the gates. It was like looking at her home from an outsider's perspective and she was learning to appreciate everything around her, things she likely used to take for granted. If she ever got her memories back, she would ensure she'd thank all the people that made this place tick, her friends especially. Konoha was a great place to live.

Although it might just be a lot more fun because of her over-enthusiastic, idiotic tour guide. This time around, Naruto hadn't been explaining their past memories together at every new place they ventured, he'd let her experience it all afresh. As much as she wanted to know, she was enjoying herself a lot more from a new point of view. Hopefully Naruto wasn't getting too bored from going to the same places that he'd likely been to hundreds of times – places she'd likely been to hundreds of times too.

"The Academy!" Naruto announced, pointing at a large building before walking straight past it. "Next up, we have-"

"Wait." She stopped him, grabbing onto his arm. "Can't we go in or something? We've not stopped at any of the other places for such a short amount of time."

Naruto looked back at her and pouted. "Iruka-sensei will likely be teaching classes, we shouldn't disturb him."

Sakura studied her friend closely and raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with this place, really?"

Naruto leant a little closer to her, as if telling her a secret, he murmured, "They try to teach you things."

She laughed. "Go figure. Not a fan of education then?"

"Oh, the horrors of school!" he shouted loudly as if in severe distress.

She shook her head, still smiling. She then looked about the area where they were, spotting a tree with a swing close-by. She started walking towards it. "OK, we won't go in for a lesson, but can we take a break here?"

Naruto shrugged and followed her, just happy they wouldn't go into the dreaded academy building. "Sure."

She sat down on the swing and smiled, like everywhere in Konoha, this was also a pretty place to be.

Naruto walked behind her and grabbed the rope of the swing in each of his hands before pulling it backwards.

She laughed as her feet came off the ground, before he pushed her forwards so she flew through the air, until gravity let her drop again. This was fun, even taking out the years she couldn't remember, it had been a very long time since she'd been pushed on a swing set.

"I used to sit on this all the time," he told her, pushing her into the air again.

"Oh?" She smiled at him over her shoulder. "Who used to push you?"

"Nobody," he answered plainly.

"Nobody?" she repeated, a bit confused.

"I just sat on it."

As she next came down to ground level, she placed her feet on the floor, bringing herself to a stop.

Naruto caught the ropes but didn't push her again. "Sakura-chan?"

Why did nobody ever push Naruto on the swing? Was he sat over here on his own all the time? Standing up, she turned around and smiled at him. "Your turn," she told him.

"My turn?" He raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You don't have to push me, Sakura-chan."

"Well I want to. Sit."

Nodding, he walked around the swing and sat down.

She pulled back the ropes before pushing him into the air. He didn't seem all that cheerful anymore. "Don't worry," she broke the small silence. "You're not that heavy."

A small, light laugh escaped his throat, although it didn't last long. She wasn't too sure what was upsetting him, but she decided that she hated seeing him sad. She'd be a little worried if it was actually the thought of being so close to school that made him upset, but he just seemed so...serious? It didn't look like he was going to tell her either.

"You're not afraid of being pushed on swings or something else that I don't know about, are you?" Sakura questioned.

"No, why?" Naruto replied.

He'd usually laugh at something like that...

"You don't seem too happy," she said softly.

"I'm always happy when I'm with you," he answered.

"Oh yes, I can hear the joy in your voice," she added sarcastically. She didn't push Naruto when he came back down again, instead she walked around until she was stood in front of him. He stopped himself with his feet. He didn't look as happy as usual either, she noted. "What's wrong?" Sakura asked.

"Nothing." Naruto smiled weakly.

"I feel like I've done something to upset you," she added quietly, letting out a small sigh.

"No!" His eyes widened. "I...I was just thinking."

"About?"

"The past."

"My past?" Sakura raised an eyebrow.

"No, mine."

She nodded, unsure of whether she should push for more or not. If he didn't want to tell her...

"You said you liked me as a child, did you really?" he asked suddenly.

She choked, she wasn't prepared for that, nor did she know what to say. Walking passed him again, she sat on the grass nearby. He looked around and she tapped the ground next to her. Naruto got up and walked over also, leaving the swing swaying behind him, he sat by her side.

"Let's see..." she began slowly, looking at him in thought. "What did I think of little Naruto..."

Naruto watched her closely.

"I guess, I was curious."

"Curious?" he mumbled. "Why?"

"I saw you about a lot," she said quietly before adding, "you were always the boy on his own."

He nodded.

She thought back to all her early memories of Naruto: in the fields, alone, in the streets, alone, even amongst throngs of people he had always be on his own.

"For a while, I was on my own too." Sakura gave him a small, weak smile. "If I had been more confident, then maybe I would have had the courage to come and talk to you - that and eventually, Ino came and adopted me as her friend... But you...my mother said she wouldn't let me talk to you anyway. I don't know why."

Naruto's breath hitched and he lowered his head. "I do."

"Why's that?" she asked curiously.

"It was for your own safety," he mumbled.

Sakura raised a sceptical eyebrow. "Yes, because I'm sure a four or five year old boy is extremely dangerous."

Naruto raised his head again to look her in the eyes. Her own eyes widened, he was so serious, she didn't understand.

"When I was a baby," Naruto placed a hand over his stomach, "I had a demon fox sealed away inside of me."

Sakura stared at him blankly, was this a 'believe your friends even if what they were saying seemed completely unrealistic' moment? "Huh?"

"The village was attacked, my father saved Konoha by sealing Kurama inside of me," he reiterated.

Sakura frowned slightly. "That's barbaric."

"It had to be done," Naruto pointed out.

"Not that." She shook her head. "That everyone treated you so badly afterwards, the way people looked at you, you were just a child."

Naruto shrugged. "People were scared that the seal would break and I'd lose control."

"Still, it was very unfair." Her frown increased.

He smiled. "It's okay now, I am in control and people trust me."

Sakura nodded. "Yes, I still completely trust you... That fox demon must be really small though, to fit inside of you."

Naruto's smile widened and he looked amused. "He's gigantic."

"I'm sure you wouldn't let this fox hurt anybody from Konoha anyway," she added.

Naruto's smile fell again and he lowered his head. "I have done."

Her eyes widened.

"I hurt you," he closed his eyes, his voiced pained, "when we were on a mission, searching for Sasuke, I...lost control."

Sakura looked up at the sky and hummed. "Now why do I have more difficulty believing that, than believing the fact you're the home to a giant fox?"

He shrugged and she looked back at him. Now he was upset again and more so than before - what made it worse was that it was involving her but she couldn't remember the event, so she couldn't console him. "What happened?" she asked softly.

"I hit you, messed up your arm," he mumbled.

"It could have been worse," she said softly.

He grimaced.

"I do forgive you... How long ago was it?"

"A couple of years," Naruto said quietly. "But I'll never forgive myself for hurting you."

"I forgive you," she repeated.

"You don't remember it," he pointed out.

"That doesn't matter." She shook her head. "I know you. Why do I feel like it wasn't your fault?"

Naruto shook his head.

"It wasn't your fault," she said with confidence. "I know it."

He smiled weakly.

"OK, how about you make it up to me?" She pushed herself up off the ground and held out her hand towards him.

"How?" He looked up at her, his eyes wide, he reached up and took her hand.

Sakura pulled him up and grinned. Linking her arm with his, she began to pull him away. "Take me out for lunch."

"I don't think that quite makes up for it," he replied with a small smile.

"Fine." Sakura shrugged. "You can take me out for lunch twice."

Naruto shook his head, but his smile widened.

"No? You don't want to?" She snorted and unlinked her arm from his.

"No! Sakura-chan!" Naruto pouted, reaching out his hand towards her as she walked away. "I do! Twice!"

Sakura looked over her shoulder to give him a teasing smile. "Good because I don't have any money with me."

Naruto laughed and jogged to catch up with her. "What if I don't either?"

"You might have to wash up then."

Naruto grinned. "If that is the price for taking you out for lunch, Sakura-chan, I'll wash up a million times."

She smiled and re-linked her arm with his. It seemed like she'd succeeded in lifting his mood again and in doing so, her own happier mood returned. She'd probably think a lot more about this darker conversation later on, but for now, it was lunchtime.

Sakura and Naruto were sat enjoying their ramen lunch at Ichiraku's, when a male voice sounded behind them. "I heard you two were outside the academy earlier on."

Naruto turned around and gave the man a sheepish smile. "We were just passing by, Iruka-sensei."

"Could you not have dropped in to say hello?" He raised an eyebrow and sat down by Naruto, looking around the boy to nod in greeting to Sakura. "Hello, Sakura, how are you feeling?"

"Hi Iruka-sensei." Sakura smiled politely in reply. "I'm well thank you. I did want to come in and see you, but Naruto wasn't so keen on the idea."

"Who doesn't want to come and visit their old teacher?" Iruka questioned, a little hurt.

"I think he was more worried he'd have to stay for a lesson," she added, grinning.

Iruka laughed. "Like I could ever get him to do that."

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Hey, Iruka-sensei, with my memory being a bit fuzzy and all, will you tell me a few things about the academy days?"

"I don't see why not." Iruka shrugged. "About you?"

"No." Sakura grinned. "About Naruto."

Iruka smirked. "Gladly."

"Worst student ever," Iruka continued his amusing, semi-rant about Naruto's academy days. "So many times I turned my back and he was out the window. Terrible he was, loud, disrespectful, all the time…"

Sakura laughed, she was finding this hilarious. Naruto, however, was sulking in-between them.

"Nothing has obviously changed, he wouldn't even come and say hello to me!" Iruka shook his head. "Now you, Sakura, you were a good student. You were very clever, always revised, passed all your tests with flying colours. I don't think Naruto passed one written exam."

She laughed again.

"I did too!" Naruto whined. "I passed one."

"Really?" Iruka questioned, not believing it.

"Yes." Naruto nodded. "You got Sakura-chan up to the board to explain some hand seals, then we did a test on it the lesson after. I got them all right! I remembered what she said."

"Ah…I just thought you cheated." Iruka smiled affectionately at him.

Naruto lowered his head and Sakura looked at him sympathetically, but she still couldn't hide her amusement.

"I could never quite prevent you from trying to impress Sakura," he said, shaking his head. "She did quite a good job of that herself actually."

Sakura raised an eyebrow.

"I could try the 'Sakura approach' but I'd probably get done for child abuse," Iruka added teasingly.

Sakura lowered her head. Was she really that harsh to Naruto as a child? Hadn't he gone through enough without her adding to his troubles?

Naruto noticed her shift in mood and nudged his old teacher. "You know, Iruka-sensei, I need your help."

"Oh?" The man raised an eyebrow.

"I may end up paying for this date by washing up."

"Date?" Iruka grinned.

Sakura looked up at her 'date' and raised an eyebrow.

Naruto swallowed nervously, hoping she wouldn't hit him.

Iruka smiled at her. "I guess I could offer to pay for two of my old students-"

"Thanks, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto called out before standing up and pulling her by the arm, running off as quickly as possible.

"Wait, I didn't…" Iruka sighed and shook his head. He signalled for the bill, smiling to himself. Kids. However, when he received the bill, his mouth dropped open – had the prices gone up or had Naruto managed to eat twice as much ramen as he used to? It was likely the latter. He might end up washing up too.

After Sakura and Naruto's speedy getaway from Ichiraku's, they had run into Ino, Shikamaru and Choji. Her female friend was quick to ask them out for a drink or three and since they had nothing else to do, they joined the three ninja in a bar.

"Naruto was terrible," Sakura told the people around their table. "He just fogged off our bill onto Iruka-sensei and you should've seen how much he ate."

"Oh, he should be used to it." Ino waved her hand dismissively. "He always used to buy Naruto ramen."

"That's nice of him." Sakura smiled. "From what he was saying though, it didn't sound like he was all too fond of Naruto."

"He was an awful student to have." Ino laughed.

Sakura hummed, it certainly sounded like that.

"You were such a goodie-goodie though, Forehead." Ino rolled her eyes.

Sakura frowned, it did sound like that too…

"You used to go after school for one-on-one private study sessions," the blonde added.

What? Now it didn't sound like she was that bad. Everyone was silent as they watched Sakura stare at Ino for a few moments.

"You're lying," Sakura concluded.

"Way!" Ino cheered. "We're getting the old Sakura back, you're getting good."

"You know, Ino," Sakura snorted. "I shouldn't have to work out if you're teasing me or not all the time, you could just tell me the truth."

"Where's the fun in that?" Ino laughed. "It's hilarious when you go along with something for ages before figuring out it was a joke, although it backfires sometimes..."

"Usually against me," Naruto mumbled.

Ino shrugged.

"You know, I wasn't the only one sneaking out of windows, Sakura-chan," Naruto informed her before pointing at the other two males on the table.

"You two did too huh?" Sakura asked.

"Not as much as Naruto," Choji said, smiling.

"It was rare, but occasionally I would," Shikamaru added.

"Yeah it was rare because you were just too lazy to try," Ino said to her friend. "You got caught sleeping all the time though."

Sakura laughed. The 'good old days' sure did sound entertaining. Everyone had come a long way, from childish boys sneaking out the back of the classroom, to the successful ninja sat around the table today. Even without remembering all these events, she could certainly enjoy her time with her friends.

She looked at Naruto, he really had come a long, long way from the boy on his own to a 'village hero' she'd heard. He really had matured.

"Since you already skipped out on one bill today, I think you could get this one," Shikamaru suggested to the blond.

"No way, Shika!" Naruto shot back. "You're the highest rank here! You pay!"

Or semi-matured. Sort of.

"Are you not going to offer to pay for, Sakura?" Ino asked him.

Naruto frowned. "Of course, but not-"

"Great." Shikamaru clapped his hands and stood up. He smiled at her before turning around and smartly leaving the bar.

"Thanks, Naruto," Choji added as he followed his friend out.

"I'll see you soon, Sakura, my house, remember?" Ino told her before turning and waving over her shoulder. "Have fun, you may as well make this into a date now!"

Sakura shook her head before glancing at Naruto. "I guess we got beaten at our own game."

Naruto shrugged. "We really will be washing up."

She laughed. "I could run home and get some money. I don't know why I didn't think to bring any."

Naruto smile at her. "No, Sakura-chan, I've got it, I can afford to pay."

"Ino likes the expensive drinks," she informed him.

Naruto raised an eyebrow before looking at the drinks menu on the table, searching for the drink the loud medic had consumed. He grimaced before smiling again. "I can afford it, just."

"Why are you so low on money?" Sakura raised an eyebrow.

Naruto shrugged. "I've not had many missions lately."

"Is that because you've been spending all your time with me?"

Naruto grinned. "I don't know, but it's been worth it."

She smiled before suggesting, "Or maybe it's because you eat out all the time, you eat a lot of ramen, that's got to add up over time."

"That's also worth it," he added.

She laughed. "I'd offer for you to come over to mine more, but you know what my cooking is like."

"Also worth it," he repeated.

Sakura looked up at him and she held his gaze. They sat there for a while, content.

"You know," she began. "For all you went through as a child and for how…cheeky you used to act, you really turned out well."

Naruto grinned. "Thanks, Sakura-chan."

"I mean it," she continued. "You're great."

"Are you trying to distract me so you can run out the door when I turn to pay?" He laughed.

Frowning slightly, she hit him on the arm. "No, I was being serious, idiot."

He continued to grin at her. "I always knew you'd turn out great."

She bit her lip to stop herself smiling. "Well, for how great we both are, we're not very rich."

Naruto laughed again. "True, we should have been mastermind criminals instead."

"Evil doesn't suit you," she replied with a shrug. "I think I could be scary though."

Naruto hummed in agreement and when she raised an eyebrow at him his eyes widened. "You're not scary, Sakura-chan!"

"Well that's debatable, she can be very scary depending on how you behave, Naruto," Yamato joined in their conversation. He smiled at them and sat down at the table with them, his own drink in hand.

Sakura shrugged before smiling politely at her teacher. "Hey, Captain Yamato..."

Yamato wasn't that surprised when both Sakura and Naruto suddenly ran for the door. What did surprise him, when he went to pay for his two teammates, was the fact that they seemed to have managed to consume about twenty alcoholic drinks between them - neither of them had appeared to be drunk. Sighing, he pulled out his wallet. Good job ANBU paid well.

Sakura laughed as they exited the pub. "We're terrible, I feel so bad."

"Nonsense, Sakura-chan!" Naruto grinned. "Our team owe you, the amount of time you've spent healing us all, they should be offering to buy you food."

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you skipping out on paying also?"

Naruto cleared his throat. "Well, I'm with you…"

"That makes it OK then?"

"…Yes."

She smiled at him and linked her arm with his as they walked down the road. "Who are we inviting out for dinner then?"

Naruto thought about it. "Maybe Kakashi! No, he's never paid for us before… Lee! No, he's still trying to give us green spandex suits, uhh, Sai! No…"

Sakura listened to the boy babble on, smiling to herself. Today, she'd learnt a lot about her teammate. A lot of it she'd never imagined to be true (and quite a lot of it, she could have guessed) but overall, her opinion of him hadn't changed a bit. If anything, she was only more proud of him and glad they were so close.

Over the past few months, she hadn't been sure of many things, her word may no longer be as credible as it used to be - but there was one thing she was certain of:

She wasn't going anywhere. The boy on his own, would never be on his own ever again.

Author Notes:

Hello! It's Christmas! It was a push just to get this up – but I did it! You all deserved it :D. This is my Christmas present to you, sorry it's so short and…meh, I could have sent you all socks or something instead. I do have a lot more ideas for this now, but if I'd written any more it wouldn't have had such a nice place to end it. It's potentially going to get more dramatic and I wanted to end it on a happy high.

My computer has recently been fixed after it broke a couple of months ago, which contained a document with all my ideas for Amnesia, as well as now, some pre-written parts for me to write around. I wrote this on my laptop last night and then went to bed and continued writing it on my iPhone and then this morning and this afternoon I finished it on my laptop. It's crazy how long it can take to write something so short.

I've been very, very busy recently and I'm working tomorrow, hopefully I'll get to go home earlier, it's Christmas Eve after all! Then I'm off until the 2nd of January, so just over a week's holiday :D I'll hopefully be able to get some writing done then.

Thank you very much for 101 follows and 70 favourites. Your support is always appreciated :). I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, or to be more universal, Happy Holidays! I look forward to uploading a lot more for you in 2013.

Thanks for reading!