Hajimemashite and Konnichiwa, dearest reader-san! Apple Fairy here! .

Thank you for all your kind reviews. They all made me absolutly happy.

Thank you. kiiu thank you for the compliment! I like my penname too. And yay! A rabid fan! I never thought I'd get a rabid fan so soon...'gazes of into the distance'

And Silverstar871, thank you. I thought I was getting carried away with the descriptions of the sky and stars, but I guess I was just being poetic. 'embaressed blush'

And thank you for the cookie BewareMySpork!

(love the name, by the way.XD And I'm pretty sure you're a wonderful writer, dear.. )

'munches on cookie'

Sasuke: Can I have some?

Me:No! You get no cookie! You made Sakura cry! For that...Sasuke receives no cookies!

Sasuke: B-But...!

Me: Read the disclaimer so I can get through your love story!

Sasuke (while slightly blushing): Apple does not own Naruto, but a cookie I soully desire.

Memories

Story by Apple Fairy

She woke me up...

From evil's grip...

And sacrificed something dear...

To let me live...

The first time we hugged...

Wasn't exactly as planned...

But she saved me...

Because her touch is pure...

Sakura struggled awake as she sat in front of her dozing companions. She shook her head as the pink strands flew softly. To keep herself preoccupied she looked around the dense forest. It had been atleast a day since she agreed to enter the Chunnin exam. But she didn't expect any of this to happen.

First, her teammate was copied then a strange man bit Sasuke...

Her emerald eyes looked to the sleeping boy. His anguished scream still filled her mind.

She sat next to him as she looked upon his unconcious face. Without even thinking she touched his face with her hand softly.

Soft ebony hair, slightly milky-pale skin, and...if his eyes opened she would probably note how absolutly beautiful and midnight they were.

He seemed so peaceful as he slept...

Sakura hesitated. But on an impulse, she laid her head on his chest and listened to his soft heartbeat. She blushed as she got into a more comortable position and laid there. Sakura thought to herself about the boy. Ever since that fateful starry night she wasn't fond of being left alone with the boy.

She would act iffy and insecure if she was. She battled with herself why he would act that way to her.

It was probably, because he was tired. He didn't know what he was doing...She reassured herself, even though she knew better.

She knew things changed between the two from then on. He spoke much more softer to her then he did with anyone else, and he would protect her in every chance he got.

Like when that demon brother tried to attack me when I was protecting Tazuna...She recalled cooly. She rised from Sasuke's chest and looked at him thoughtfully with concerned emerald eyes.

"Please...heal soon...Sasuke..." She whispered worringly. Sakura soon heard a sound behind her and saw three suspicious ninja in camoflouge in front of her.

Sakura yiped as the girl named Kin took ahold of her long pink-rose hair.

"Lovely hair...So much more bounce and shine than mine has! What ninja-technique is that-the Art of Deep Conditioning? You're a disgrace to all shinobi...fussing with your looks when you should concentrate on your training!" Kin snarled.

She pulled on Sakura's hair harder as Sakura's face grimaced in pain.

"Zaku...Why don't you finish off Sasuke or one of her other fallen hearthrobs...right in front of this little lovesick pig? The least we can do is entertain her!" She offered in a poisonous tone.

"Hah! Good one!" The boy named Zaku agreed evilly. Sakura's frightened emerald eyes widened.

No! They wouldn't! she thought panicked. She thought to herself sadly as she sat there on her knees helpless.

She thought of how weak she could be...how helpless and how much a burden she was to the three boys that protected her.

Naruto...he wasn't the brightest person she knew...but he was still a good guy deep down.

Lee...he tended to scare her when they first met, but he still had determination and care that she appreciated.

Sasuke...

What could she say about Sasuke?

He was the boy who had opened up himself, even a little, to her. He scared her, but then made up for it by a simple whisper in the ear. He made her heart pound and her face warm. He...

was much more then an inspiration.

Sakura made up her mind as she pulled a kunai out.

I have to...even though it was for Sasuke...He would probably want me to do it...right?She reassured herself.

"Your tricks are useless against me, little girl." Kin commented as she Sakura pulled out the dagger. Sakura looked to her defiantly.

"You think so?" she noted smugly.

Sakura brought the kunai to her hair and threw the shell of her former weak self off as the dagger sliced.

Sakura sat there helpless as the person who was nothing like her teammate placed his sandaled foot on Zaku's back as he stood behind him. Sakura's eyes widened as the resounding pop was heard. Sakura looked to the possesed Sasuke and thought weakly

That was...too cruel...Who is this...? Who is this cruel demon who has taken Sasuke's mind?

Sasuke walked to the last Soundnin, Dosu.

"And then there was one. I hope you're more of a challenge." He threatened viciously. But something seemed to possess Sasuke. In his mind Sasuke was gazing upon his parent's courpses; overwhelmed with guilt.

You let them die a voice insited.

"No, it wasn't my fault..." Sasuke defied weakly.

You were too weak...the voice persisted.

"No, I was too young-!"

Excuses! You could of protected them!The voice hissed angerly.

Sasuke was at a loss of words as tears welled in his midnight eyes.

Now you live the life they could of had! You cling pathetically to life with no purpose or goal you can achieve!

Sasuke crumbled to the ground as he shook with sorrow. "It's all my fault..." He convinced himself.

Yes...if only you could get stronger Sasuke...The voice offered. Blackness began to consume Sasuke.

"If I was strong..." Sasuke repeated as the darkness consumed his body slowly.

Yes, what you need is strength...and nothing else...The voice assured toxicly.

"Nothing else..." Sasuke repeated as he slowly slipped into an unconcious state as the darkness nearly consumed his whole body.

"Stop!"

Sasuke's midnight eyes widened as a glimmer of light shone through the darkness. The darkness seemed to retreat itself from Sasuke.

Sakura gripped Sasuke's body softly as she cried upon his back.

"Please...Please stop..." She begged sadly. The lines and curves that traced Sasuke's body soon disspersed back to the original Curse Mark.

Sasuke soon snapped back to reality as he felt Sakura's arms around him. He felt his heart burst with happiness once again at her touch.

Although, his body shaked as he fell against her and onto the ground.

What...happened...?He thought weakly. He looked to the Soundnin as he spoke and gave them their Earth scroll.

Then the memories returned to Sasuke harshly. He remembered all of what he did in his possessed state. Sasuke looked to his twithching hand.

"What...happened to me...?" He asked frightened as he looked to his hand in pure terror. As if he was afraid what blood he might of stained while he was possessed. Sakura looked to him worried.

Without thinking, Sakura placed her hand on the hand he was looking at. He snapped his head around surprised.

Sakura looked into his frightened obsidion eyes thoughtfully. Her eyes spoke for her.

I'm here for you...

Sasuke grippped her hand tightly, but not too harsh. He looked at her gratefully.

"Sakura...your hair...why did you cut it off...?" He asked innocently. Sakura smiled at him warmly.

"It was to save you guys. I had to do it Sasuke...because, I didn't want to see any of you die..." She explained sweetly. Sasuke looked at her surprised as his face took a mild red color.

She's changed...she's much more stronger...He noted. And for some reason, even though Sakura was riddled with cuts and bruises, right then and there she looked absolutly gorgeous in Sasuke's eyes.

Sasuke brought Sakura's hand up to his lips and kissed it softly and silently.

Sakura's emerald eyes widened and her breath stopped again. When he parted he looked to her longingly as he still held her hand in his. Sakura averted her gaze and looked down as her face grew a deep cherry color.

"Sakura..." He whispered softly. She looked up to him.

"Thank you...for saving me from the darkness." He whispered silently as he let go of her hand. Sakura mearly nodded as she gripped her hand tenderly.

Soon the two heard their teammates loud voice and the moment was lost...but not forgotten.

The two never mentioned of it again. They once again began their lives as actors, although not as good as before.

Sasuke acted kinder to the girl and Sakura wasn't as afraid as she was with the thought of being alone with him.

Because one day, when left together they would finally see what they needed from the other.

But it seems we've run out of time. I'll tell the tale when I get another chance.

Well, that's the end of Chapter two! Thank you for reading once again :)

I know it isn't as well-written as the first chapter, but I wanted to fast-forward through the Forest of Death. I can't leave out the hug they shared so I had to write it. (Mind you, I didn't want to write about the forest of death.-.-;)

So please forgive me.-.-;

Anyway, thank you once again for reading! Ciao and I hope you have a wondeful day :)

-Apple Fairy