You know. Now that I look at it, my last chapter -looks- pretty long ^_^ Yay for pretty spacing!

Vocab to know: Otousan- Dad_Oneechan- Big Sister.

Enjoy Chapter 15!~

Sakura stood in the corner of Sasuke's room while Kakashi sat by the boy's side.

"Sasuke. Get up. We have to go now," said Kakashi quietly. Sasuke didn't move. He just lay there with his eyes closed; pretending to be asleep.

"You have to see him at some point Sasuke."

It had been another four days since Kakashi had come to Sakura's house and told her. Naruto's memories were going to be erased that day because he wasn't showing signs of coming out of the Kyuubi state. The medics and the Hokage were concerned that leaving him any longer might have permanent effects. If what was keeping him there was something to with a certain moment or issue he couldn't get past in his mind, erasing his memories was their only chance to bring him out of it.

Sakura had cried and begged Kakashi not to do it. He told her he couldn't change his orders. Anger had come too and she had tried to throw things at him but he dodged them all and pinned her to his chest in a tight embrace. All Sakura's anger was melted away by the shock of the action and the safety that his arms provided. Kakashi sat and held her while she cried. Maybe he had cried too. She couldn't recall. He had then apologized to her and left without another word. When her mother asked if she was alright from the doorway she didn't answer. Everything was so unfair. Sakura hadn't seen her sensei or Sasuke since then either, even though the hospital had called to tell her Sasuke was awake.

A special technique, unique to the sharingan had been used on Naruto by Kakashi. Sakura couldn't even imagine how hard it must have been to be the one that would take away Naruto's memories. The jutsu forced the mind to suppress itself through suggestion. It was all through careful hinting that Naruto had locked away everything and forgotten. It left no room for doubt and convinced the mind that the only way was to erase everything in a act to protect itself against whatever was going on inside. An amazing jutsu. An amazing loss.

Apparently after the jutsu had been performed Naruto had come back to his senses and had been in hospital, unconscious for two days. The other two days he had been spending all his time with Iruka and Kakashi; trying to familiarize him with someone and create a bond that had been particularly strong and quick to form before he had lost his memories.

He must have been so scared, thought Sakura, biting her lip.

Today was the day they were going to be reintroduced to their team mate. According to Kakashi, Naruto was fine and after getting over the initial terror of not knowing who or where he was and latching on to his two old teachers for support, he was now finding the prospect of relearning everything pretty thrilling. That sounded just like Naruto. He was always curious about everything. Getting to know himself and everyone else again would probably be the most exciting game ever.

It was weird to think about. Not knowing who or where you were, having no memories. All the things that Naruto was relearning right now; the faces, the smells, the feelings, were just things Sakura had learnt as a child or as she grew up. She didn't even remember coming to know them. She just knew. It had been learnt so gradually throughout her life that she didn't even realize she had learnt it. Being told everything at once would be so strange. So frightening if it were her.

Would Naruto be the same? Without his memories to shape it would his personality be similar to the boy they knew? If an important memory that had really impacted on him was lost, would it change him completely?

"Sasuke. They're expecting us. Iruka told Naruto he'd be meeting his friends today. He really wants you to come."

After a long moment of silence, Sasuke opened his eyes. Sakura held her breath. It was the first time she had seen him with his eyes open since he'd woken up. He had just ignored everyone the whole time she and Kakashi had been there. There was something different in his face. Sakura watched him carefully as he slowly sat up and looked to Kakashi and then to her.

"Sasuke kun..." Tears filled her eyes as he looked her straight in the eye for a second before looking away.

It was there. It tainted the sharpness of his dark eyes; clouded them. It was there and Sakura could feel it radiate from him. Heartbreak.

"Oh Sasuke kun..." she whispered. He got up and glared at Kakashi. 'Get out' in Sasuke language. In the hospital gown he looked long and unusually skinny.

They left the room to stand in the corridor to wait. Sakura tried not to cry. For Sasuke and the heartbreak in his eyes. For Naruto and his lost memories.

"You shouldn't cry when we get there ok? He'll be confused," said Kakashi softly.

"Y-yeah," murmured Sakura back, wiping her eyes and taking a few deep breaths. "I'll do my best."

"That a girl." He smiled kindly at her from under his mask. Sakura smiled back.

I'll do my best. So Sasuke kun, try to hide the heartbreak in your eyes. Do your best.

…

They watched Naruto from the door way. He was on the other side of the long room with Kakashi who had entered ahead of them. Sakura cringed as Naruto's lips parted to form the ending 'san' on the end of Iruka and Kakashi's names. Iruka san. Kakashi san. That wasn't right. But he didn't remember them teaching him. He didn't remember the academy days with Iruka or the missions with Kakashi.

By her side, Sasuke was tense. Sakura chanced a glance at his face and wished she hadn't. He was very good. Better than she thought. A smooth, flawless mask; unnatural and completely perfect. Could he hold it? He did a little side step towards her and their elbows touched.

Not so perfect.

She moved closer to him and nearly fell, not realizing how unsteady her body was. He pressed against her without turning his head.

"It's ok," he whispered gruffly.

Was it? Was it really? How was he so calm?

There was another person in the room. A woman, blonde and beautiful but with a hard expression, her crème brulee brown eyes watching Naruto closely. Her hand moved fluidly, fingers wrapped around a pen as she took notes. Who was she? Sakura had never seen her in the village before. A medic? A specialist? There wasn't time to wonder any longer. Naruto looked up and saw them and Sakura couldn't breathe. She gasped and felt like she might throw up. Sasuke grabbed her wrist to steady her as she swayed and then slipped his hand into hers and squeezed a little.

"You're so annoying," he muttered and Sakura laughed breathily. She sounded delirious.

"Whatever you do, don't cry," he said.

"Yeah... You too..."

She felt him frown. They stepped into the room.

Naruto's eyes held no recognition and the urge to throw up grew stronger as he approached.

Where was he? Their baby? The baby of their family? Where was he? Where was that spark in him?

Sakura tried to calm herself. They were only just meeting. It'd come soon, right? He'd react the same to them, right? He was still Naruto. He was still going to be the same person. Right? Even if he had forgotten, the first impressions would be the same. He would still be rough with Sasuke and gentle with Sakura. Right?

Iruka's hand was on Naruto's shoulder and the teacher was smiling in their direction. The woman stood to the side without introduction. It didn't really matter. Everyone's attention was on Naruto. She wasn't important. Kakashi came to stand behind them and put his hands on their shoulders too. It was like being introduced by your parents to their friend's child.

"Naruto, these are your friends. Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke," said Iruka gently and lifted his hand. Naruto took a step forward and smiled, wide and warm.

"Nice to meet you, again I guess, Haruno san, Uchiha san."

Sasuke crushed her hand. Neither ninja could speak. Shock. Time stopped.

Naruto had taught her a lot about pain. The pain of loneliness, anger, frustration, love...

How to take it without giving back, how to hide it with a big smile and silliness, how to see it and know what to do, how to heal it, how to live through it...

He had taught her so much. And now, he was teaching her about a new kind of pain. The pain of unfamiliarity. His eyes; the different shade of blue they were when he looked at them. The tone of his voice; the way he said their names.

Haruno san. Uchiha san. That wasn't who they were to him. Since when was he that formal? That polite? Since now. Since there was no recollection of every meeting them, ever knowing them at all.

Haruno san. Uchiha san. Who was that? They were Sakura chan and Sasuke.
Kakashi sensei, Sakura chan, Sasuke.

Kakashi san, Haruno san, Uchiha san.

Fingernails dug into the back of her hand. The pads of Sasuke's fingers were pushing painfully between her tendons. Poor Sasuke kun. She didn't blink. Poor Sasuke kun. He needed saving and she couldn't do it. Poor Sasuke kun. Naruto's face was blank as they stared.

Naruto, what are you doing? Hurry up. Save him. Save him. Say something. Say it's all a joke. Complain about being in the hospital too long. Yell about training. Do something. Say something. Save him. Please save him. Save him with that smile of yours. Say... Say...

"Woah! Are my two closest friends are couple? That sucks!" exclaimed Naruto. Time started again and Sakura laughed a little.

Her and Sasuke? That's funny Naruto... But it's not what I wanted you to say.

"No," said Kakashi's voice behind them. Sakura looked up at him, breaking away from Naruto's eyes, from the horrible breathlessness that came every time he spoke.

"We're like a family. You're part of it too if that's still alright with you that is," continued Kakashi. His fingertips trembled on Sakura's shoulder when he spoke the word 'family'. Naruto was silent for a while. Iruka smiled and bent his head to Naruto to speak.

"What is it Naruto?"

"... I don't have family right?"

Sakura tensed.

"No. You don't. They were killed in an accident. I told you that already remember?"

How odd that must be. Knowing you've been alone all your life but not being able to recall anything about it. Guessing you must have been lonely. Assuming you had cried so many times. And yet... Feeling nothing.

Sakura was watching Naruto's face as it worked to try and come up with something related to the fact he had no real family when Kakashi spoke.

"Oneechan," he said and touched Sakura's head. Naruto looked up and his eyes lingered on her, on her face, trying to grab something from inside. Something about her.

"Otousan," continued Kakashi, and touched his own chest.

"Sasuke." His hand dropped into Sasuke's long dark hair.

"Naruto." He pointed to Naruto and Sakura smiled as Naruto smiled. Was Sasuke smiling? She didn't want to look away from Naruto to see. Big sis, Dad, and Sasuke. That's what they were. A family. That's how their bonds worked. Sasuke wasn't brother because of Sakura and Kakashi's theory. But they were always together. The closest people to each other. So, so important. Number ones. A family.

"This is your family, if you'll have us," said Kakashi and Naruto nodded and grinned. Sasuke's grip tightened and Sakura gasped and tried to flex her fingers but didn't pull away. The roles had switched. He wasn't holding hands for her. He was holding hands for himself. She was supporting him. It must be so horrible for him right now.

"I'm glad I've made such good friends," said Naruto. Something stirred in Sakura's chest.

"But do I really have to call you and Haruno san; Otousan and Oneechan? And how come Uchiha san doesn't have a position? Is he just Uchiha san?"

Everyone laughed at his comment except Sasuke. The laughter was thick and forced and then suddenly Sakura was in tears. She couldn't stop as her giggles turned to wrenched sobs.

Haruno san...

Kakashi san...

Uchiha san...

Uchiha san...

Who was that? How painful. Why was he still calling Sasuke that when everyone else in the room was addressing him by his first name?

Kakashi's hand was on her back and Sasuke had stepped in front of her. The tears wouldn't stop. She could feel everyone's eyes on her. She was breaking down in front of Iruka sensei, in front of the nameless blonde woman, in front of Naruto. Shame burnt her ears but she couldn't bring herself to care enough through the tears.

"Maybe you better go. That's enough for today," said Iruka quietly and Kakashi ushered her and Sasuke out of the room but stayed himself. The door shut with a loud click and Sakura stood for a moment with her hand over her mouth, gasping as her chest collapsed before she felt like the walls were going to close in on her. It was hot. Her body was hot. Air, air, air. Where was the air? She was choking on her own tears, her own sadness.

She ran. Sasuke followed. She pounded down the hallway and stumbled over the stairs until on the first floor; Sakura lost her footing and fell. Her body spun and she reached for Sasuke but he didn't try to catch her. He let her fall and she watched tiny droplets of her tears fly into the air before she hit the ground heavily and skidded on the smooth surface.

"You really are annoying," he said softly, staring down at her. His face was closed and she began to sob harder as she tried to get onto her hands and knees. Her throat burned with the salt from her tears.

Naruto, that idiot! How could he do this to them! To her! To Sasuke!

She sobbed loudly. So many emotions. Anger, sadness, terror... Above all, the shock of Naruto just having no idea who they were. How important he was. She was crying too much; she knew. She was making a scene, a mess of herself. But it didn't matter. She didn't care.

Several nurses passed by but none made a move towards them. Him and her. Her on her hands and knees, him standing by her side. Her, being selfish again. She wished Sasuke would cry. Why didn't he cry?

Because he was Sasuke.

"What are you crying so much for? Why do you look so hurt? He's not gonna annoy you anymore with his love anymore," said Sasuke tightly. Sakura could hit him. She had never felt something like this towards him. How could he say that? When he loved Naruto! When he was supposed to be the one who was the most upset, the one who should be crying, not her. But she couldn't do it. Even with her head down she couldn't yell or rise to him.

Because he was Sasuke.

"I'm crying for you..." she murmured wetly. She lifted her head to say something else but when she did something caught her eye. A certain something in Sasuke's eyes. Despite his cold expression it was there again. No matter how much he was trying to blow it off. To pretend it wasn't there. That he couldn't feel it. That all this meant nothing... Heartbreak. Again. She clenched her fist and then unclenched them and lifted herself unsteadily onto her two feet. Everything was so unfair. There was a dull throbbing in her hand where Sasuke's fingertips had been. Poor Sasuke kun.

"Sasuke kun..." she lifted her arms and took his face in her hands. His eyes widened. She didn't touch him. He never let her. She never really tried that hard.

'Why do you look so hurt?'

I'm not.

"Sasuke kun," she said again, gently. He was a child. He wasn't strong like his stance and words made him seem. His eyes betrayed him. She saw. She, who knew almost everything about him, she, the only one left who knew him; Uchiha Sasuke.

"The one who looks hurt is you... I'm so sad. And sorry," she said to him, watching his eyes cloud with emotion. Tears were making thick tracks on her face. She couldn't stop. She always cried when she needed to be strong.

"I'm so, so sad, because you love him so much, and he doesn't know it like he used to..."

He bolted. Ripping his face from her palms, he bolted. Straight out the hospital door and she slumped back to her knees.

Everything was so unfair.

Anger.

Sadness.

Terror.

Shock.

Poor Kakashi sensei. Poor Sakura chan. Poor, poor Sasuke.