Forgotten Life

Chapter 3- RESTART

Part of Sakura wanted to bring up the past, yell at Sasuke for the man he once was, but she knew that was not the right thing to do. He still seemed oblivious to everything they'd been through which led Sakura to believe that Naruto had told him a semi-fake story of his past, telling of the good, but leaving out all the bad. He probably would not have told him that he had left his only family behind to pursue an ambition of revenge, no that was something they all needed to forget.

So, as she looked at this new Sasuke, who still stood looking at her with a warm smile on his face, she could only say happy things to him. "It's...uh, nice to have you back Sasuke-kun. I'm sure Naruto told you what happened to you, right? About your memory?" she prodded. She didn't want to say something to him that would contradict what Naruto had said.

"Yes, he told me about my special mission that I never returned from. He told me that they found me a few days ago injured, and that when I woke up I had no memory of what had happened," Sasuke stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

Sakura caught on quickly. This was the story Naruto had told him and that's what she would go with. "Okay well why don't the two of us go celebrate your long-awaited return from the mission, then?" she said, with a bubbly expression on her face.

"Sure thing,...Sakura-chan," Sasuke said in a velvety voice.

They arrived at Ichiraku's at around five o' clock. Sakura ordered her usual, and Sasuke, not knowing anything else to get, chose the same. It only took a couple minutes for their food to be cooked and soon they were both slurping down delectable chicken ramen noodles.

They only had a few minutes to enjoy their meal in peace however before a loud-mouthed blonde in Hokage robes, dragging a dark-haired female behind him appeared between them. He held a grin, as usual, but this one was different. It was immature, like something from his gennin days and Sakura tilted her head, asking for an explanation.

"Guys, I have to tell you something! Hinata just found out-" he yelled, almost making Sakura fall off of her stool. Sasuke winced at the sheer volume of his voice.

"Um, Naruto-kun, could you...um, try not to tell...like, everyone?" Hinata said shyly, looking down, a red blush clearly visible on her face.

"Oh, sorry Hinata-chan! I'll try to be quieter," Naruto said, his voice still loud enough that everyone near and in Ichiraku's could hear him. He continued, trying to be slightly quieter, "Hinata just found out that,..." He paused for dramatic effect. "We're going to be a family!"

Sakura smiled brightly and squealed before jumping off of her stool to hug Hinata and then Naruto in turn. "I'm so happy for you! Congratulations, soon-to-be father Naruto. You're gonna have a new title."

"I know right, I'm so excited. I want my kid to look just like it's beautiful mother!" Naruto said, hugging Hinata and rubbing his face on hers.

"Now, Naruto-kun. I beg to differ. I want it to look like you, but I just hope it's not as obsessed with ramen as you are," Hinata said as she made her way to the barstool and began to look at the menu.

"Haha, very funny. Just for that I'm going to make sure it loves ramen!" Naruto exclaimed, his eyes on his wife as he sat in the stool next to her and ordered five bowls of his favorite ramen.

No one seemed to notice that Sasuke had not spoken up about Hinata's pregnancy the entire time they'd been speaking. He was thinking about how it must feel to know that you had created life. Ninjas always took away lives, or at least that's how it seemed so far, but as a parent, he could give back lives, or make new ones at least.

Thinking about these things made him wish he had someone to mother his children, but who would he choose? In his new life, he knew no one. Then he looked to his left, where a pink-haired beauty sat beside him. He looked down at her perfectly flat stomach and imagined it round and bulging, a young child growing inside. He also imagined her hair long and flowing as Hinata's was. He imagined her smiling at him, her pink locks tickling his face as she leaned in to kiss him.

Suddenly he stopped. Something had changed with his body and it was something that he would not want the others noticing. He turned away from the sight of Sakura and continued eating his ramen, trying to drown the thoughts in frothy goodness.

The voices of the others slowly returned to him and he was soon indulged in the conversation. Once he did, the time seemed to fly by and soon it was dark on the streets behind him.

Hinata motioned for Naruto that she was ready to leave and he stood and followed her. They stopped outside Ichiraku's as Sakura began to walk in the opposite direction alone. Sasuke stood confused. He didn't know where home was.

"Sakura-chan, wait!" Naruto exclaimed, stopping her before she could get out of the light that came from Ichiraku's. She turned in response. "Sasuke needs a place to stay. You wouldn't possibly have an extra bedroom, would you?" he asked her, his intention clear.

"Well I have the guest bedroom, but-" Sakura started before realizing that she'd messed up. Naruto smiled at her and when she looked at Sasuke, he had a hopeful and innocent look on his face. "Come on..." she said to the Uchiha as she motioned for him to follow her.

If only she weren't so tired, she would have realized the trap before it was too late. Heck, Naruto and Hinata lived in an estate by themselves. The Hokage had the single best home in the entire village with more rooms than any two people could ever use. Sakura, on the other hand, lived in a small house that had two bedrooms, a master bedroom and a guest bedroom that she only used for storage nowadays.

Naruto was only trying to play matchmaker and so far he was winning.

With Sasuke by her side, Sakura arrived home without any encounters. It was common for thugs to eyeball her as she walked the streets alone and even more common for them to attack her at night. She always handled them swiftly but it still put fear in her heart to walk the dark streets alone.

Once inside her house, she walked to the guest bedroom and opened the door. It wasn't as bad as she'd thought, just a few boxes scattered about the floor. The bed was not made so she quickly grabbed some sheets and a blanket from the closet and made the bed quickly for Sasuke. She stood back and surveyed her work. The room was not the cleanest but Sasuke would have to either accept it or sleep on the couch.

"Who said I was ready to go to bed?" Sasuke asked in his smooth voice.

She turned around and Sasuke was there, his body so close to hers that she could hear his heart beating. She let out a gasp before realizing what she'd done and then covered her mouth.

"S-Sasuke, I-I didn't know...you were there. S-sorry," she stuttered, nervous as all get out that she had just been touching Sasuke.

"It's okay Sakura-chan. I kind of liked it anyways," Sasuke said with a smirk.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura exclaimed, a blush covering her entire face.

"What's the matter?"

"W-when do you become so...so bold?" she said, shocked that Sasuke was already making a move on her.

"The day I was born," he said sarcastically. He was referring to the beginning of his new life. To him, it was as if he had just been born.

"Funny, now just don't touch anything that's in the boxes and there is food in the fridge. The bathroom is down the hall on the right. I'll be right across the hall from you if you need me," Sakura said trying to ignore the bulge in Sasuke's pants that he made no effort to hide. "Goodnight," she added before rushing past Sasuke and into her bedroom.

Not trusting him to keep his distance, she locked the door behind her and instantly felt stupid. Sasuke was no rapist, he simply had been reborn a new man, a man that did not suffocate his emotions and desires. She suspected that it wouldn't take long for him to figure out how to please himself and that was fine with her.

In truth, she dreaded Naruto making her to take Sasuke with her because she still had not made up her mind about whether she wanted to try to love him again or not. Fear prevented her from making her decision swiftly but deep down her feelings for the Uchiha still fluttered in her heart. She knew that being this close to him, it was only a matter of time before she fell.

-End-