Finally! Here's Chapter 2 in Drifting Memories. It's sorta like the original, but I added some details, so I think it might be better than the original. Also, still read it even if you read m original version because I can guarantee you that this one will be better!

Yours In Wonderland,

mu149

I couldn't remember being happier than the brief minutes when I was able to hold Naruto in my arms so closely, without anything to interrupt us. That was my original thought until he held my hand tightly. I could feel my heart soar with happiness that wasn't mine to own. And yet, I didn't care because I was finally going back to Konoha with Naruto by my side. I should've noticed when he started getting uneasy. It was too late when I finally noticed what he did. One moment, I was staring at his widened eyes, and then, I was falling, the darkness I'd become accustomed to taking hold of me again as a blood curdling scream shoots through the frigid night.

When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed, surrounded by a sobbing Sakura and a gloomy Kakashi. Then, a woman came in. "Sasuke Uchiha, the last survivor of the Uchiha clan. Possessor of the mangekyou sharingan, accused of numerous deaths and also found in contempt of the Hidden Leaf Village," she threw down the paper she was reading off of, "Is anything incorrect within my data?"

I stared at the woman, analyzing her with my sharingan. "You're Tsunade Godaime."

"Answer my question, brat. Give me a reason to not have you executed in treason of this village!"

"Where is Naruto?"

"You insolent little punk!"

I saw her herm tense before her fist rushed towards me. I didn't even blink as I easily dodged her petty attack. Grabbing her arm and twisting it behind her, I hear her curse violently as she growls at me, "Let me go!"

I step away from her, "Where. Is. Naruto?"

Her gaze softened for some unseen reason and with a single nod, she leaves the room. For a moment, I am confused, but I don't show it. "Sasuke…"

I turn to Sakura who had been gripping her shirt tightly, "Naruto has been hurt…"

My heart stopped and began racing as she continued softly, "He attacked that guy who got you. Sasuke… He… Naruto killed him…"

This time, I did registered shock. He killed someone for me? "He had lost it. He was glowing red and… Kakashi sensei had to stop him, but something went wrong… Sasuke, he's not waking up. Oh my god, Sasuke!"

She broke down crying and I breathed deeply, turning to Kakashi, "What room is he in?"

"The one right next to this one."

I walked out and immediately turned right, ignoring the stairs from a few familiar people from my forgotten childhood. Instead, I focused entirely on the blond man I was looking for. When I glanced into the room, I saw a few people standing around in the room, one standing right next to him, holding his hand. I glared only momentarily at him and immediately, he moved away, staring at me in astonishment. I glanced down to see the only sunshine in my life. He was pale and had a thin sheen of sweat covering his forehead. I felt myself falling into a black abyss that I hadn't felt for a long time. I didn't even notice when Kakashi ordered the rest of the shinobi out of the room. All I was focused on was the still form of the only light within my life. He seemed almost lifeless; if it wasn't for the small movement that came from his chest rising and falling, it would be impossible to tell that he wasn't already dead. "Naruto…"

The number one knuckle-headed ninja of the leaf village was no longer smiling, no laughing carelessly, and no longer making an idiot out of himself. I lean slowly towards him and very softly, kiss him. A warmth rushes to my cheeks and I ignore it, an even deeper sadness already grabbing hold of my heart. I brush his bangs out of his eyes, wishing that I could see the bright cerulean eyes once more. His eyes suddenly flutters open and I'm surprised by the deep blue eyes that I stare into and suddenly, an overwhelming feeling of happiness grabs hold of me and I hug him, "Naruto… Naruto…"

"Who…who are you?"

I tense as he calls out, clearly, the words I have only heard in my deepest nightmares. I lift my head to look through his deep, blue eyes, "N-Naruto?"

The puzzled look that I get in return was heartbreaking as I pulled away from him. It only deepened as my eyes hardened.

Something was wrong.

But, I didn't want to believe it.

Not after all we had been through.

"Naruto?"

He cocks his head questioningly before he looks around, clearly amazed by his surroundings.

'He isn't Naruto…'

I turn and pull open the closed door forcefully and to find Shikamaru and Ino waiting right outside. "He's awake," I mutter.

A brief look of disbelief runs across their faces before Ino turns and charges down the hallway, while Shikamaru turns into the hospital room and stares at Naruto who was sitting up in his bed now. He whistles softly before stepping into the room with a soft smirk on his lips, "You had us scared for a while."

He threw another confused look at him and it hardens my heart even more.

"Forgive me for the intrusion, but could you two enlighten me on who you are?"

Shikamaru froze, his usually dull, lazy eyes widening, "What did you just say, Naruto?"

He shakes his head, his angelic blond hair framing his face perfectly, giving off a look of pure innocence; my heart stops beating.

"Is that my name? Naruto? That's what that man was calling me."

Shikamaru looked at me as he indicates me with a nod. His eyes were no longer surprised, but had a closed and calculating look on them. "Was he already like this?"

I nodded stiffly, Shikamaru turned back to Naruto as Tsunade, and Sakura came in. Sakura was about to run to him, but Shikamaru grabbed her arm to stop her. He turned to Tsunade as I stood, wishing I could disappear, "It seems that Naruto has sustained more damage than we thought, Lady Hokage."

Tsunade glanced at Naruto quickly, coming up beside him, giving him a once over. He stares back at her with innocent blue eyes, but they no longer held the childish flare they had once obtained.

Tsunade shook her head before she glanced back at Shikamaru, "His physical injuries have all been completely healed. I don't see what-"

"Excuse me?"

Tsunade looked at Naruto a little annoyed expecting something smart from him, "What do you want, Naruto?"

"Is something wrong with me, Hokage-sama?"

The room grew still as Tsunade cocked her head, "What did you call me?"

He looked surprised and quickly averted his eyes, glancing around the room, "It was just… everyone seems to know me and yet… I do not know anyone within this room. I apologize if I offended you."

Tsunade laid her hand on Naruto's forehead and after a few seconds took it back, "He doesn't have a fever…"

Shikamaru nodded, "This is what I'm talking about."

She glances back at Sakura before she walks out of the room, just as Ino walks in with Choji walking behind her. They bow to the Hokage before they run in, looking at Naruto excitedly. "How you feeling, hot shot?" Ino asks; her arms crossed.

Another look of confusion plays quickly across his face before he tilts his head in deep thought, "I think I might want to get up. Or I just don't wish to continue lying down, or rather sitting down."

She smiled at his unusual answer to her question. He pushes off the bed and tries to shift his weight onto his feet, but he stumbles and I come forward to catch him before he can stumble to the floor. "Be careful, dobe."

He grins at me, almost like the normal one's he usually does, but this one, I noticed, was forced, as he flinched noticeably. My eyes narrowed as I lay him back on the bed, "What hurts?"

He looks at me before muttering, "I'm fine."

I loom closer to him, staring him in the eye, "You wouldn't lie to me?"

He looks at me and gasps before looking away, clutching his chest, "Nothing is wrong!"

Sakura walked up to him at that time and held her hands on either side of his head. I could see chakra flow from her hands as Naruto's gaze grew cloudy and quickly seemed lost. I watched as Sakura flinched and pulled her hands back quickly. Naruto nodded as if he were waking up from a deep sleep as a single tear manages to escape Sakura's eyes. 'Dammit! If she is crying then this cannot be good.'

She shook her head and ran out of the room, more tears running down her face. Ino turned to follow her out of the room, trying to catch her before she made it to the door, but failing and having to run after her. Choji poked his head out the door for a moment and then left. I turned to Naruto who was sill staring dreamingly out into nothing. "Naruto…?"

He turned his head slowly to me, the bright blue of his eyes seeming almost empty. His expression was lost and had nothing that resembled the Naruto that I remembered.

The Naruto I loved.

I run.

Passing Sakura, who was still crying at the end of the hall with Ino and Choji trying to calm her, I try not to hear anything that she mutters through her tears, but I still manage to hear a single word. "…gone…"

I couldn't stop as my chest ached increasingly and the pain was so intense, I didn't care how much trouble I would get in for running around the village. Shikamaru was close behind me. Everything blurred around me and a irritating burn stung my eyes. I'd never cried before and this one guy was sending me over the edge. I still didn't stop. I sprinted through the village blind and even left out the front gate before I collapsed on the ground, gasping for air. I brushed away the stinging in my eyes. I wouldn't cry. No; that was a form of weakness that I would never show. Not even because of Naruto. Instead, my eyes burned persistently and my chest ached.

'Damn that Usuratonkachi!'

All I could see was his face. Smiling at me, laughing hurt, annoyed…

And now, lost and empty.

The burning in my eyes continues as I try to calm the over-bearing feeling of depression that threatened to take over me. 'But, I can't give in now. Not when I finally get to stay with Naruto.'

When I had finally calmed down, I looked up and realized where I was.

It was the Final Valley.

I had fought Naruto, almost killing him, and ran away from the leaf village, leaving him behind.

But, I could never forget about him.

Not like he would let me, the dobe chasing me around the world the entire time. 'How far had I run to escape him?'

I glanced around to see something that hadn't been there before. Sunflowers sprang up a few meters from the bank, looking out to the scene of our fight so many years ago. Naruto loved sunflowers, I remembered. I ignored the nagging pain in my chest that accompanied the thought of him. I brushed one of the flowers, trying to remain uncaring as Shikamaru finally shows up. I turn to him only moments before he emerges from the wooded area, panting vigorously. He glanced at me, covering his eyes from the blazing sun, "Why the hell did you sprint like that?"

I glanced back at the sunflowers before I turn back to him, "Let's go back."

He stared at me in awe before shaking his head and standing straight, "This is such a drag."

Poor Sasuke! I wanted him to seem like the tough guy with a weak spot. I like the thought of sweet Sasuke, though it's kinda sad that I have to keep breaking his heart throughout this story… ***sigh***

Yours In Wonderland,

mu149