A/N: Heh, so I've gone and made another oneshot. (grins sheepishly)

This idea came to me after reading the latest manga chapters; a tiny, irritating 'what if' started nagging my head. And this is what popped out. (smirks)

WARNINGS: SOME SPOILERS TO THE LATEST MANGA CHAPTERS, mentions of violence, a hint of language… (smirks cheekily) Well, this is my fic. What else did you expect?

DISCLAIMER: Me, OWN?! (starts laughing hysterically) Yeah, right… Just like there's a Santa with his little elves. (That'd be so cool, though!) (sighs dreamily)

Awkay, before you'll start throwing stuff at me for stalling, let's go! (gulps somewhat nervously) I really hope ya guys will enjoy the ride!

My Memories of You

It was dark, Naruto mused while sitting on the roof of a randomly selected house. Unusually dark for a day of early summer. Cold was also creeping in; he discovered that he was shivering.

To distract himself from the discomfort, he glanced downwards, to the village that was quietly preparing for the night to come. Some people sauntered on the streets on their way home, in one house a father was tucking his son to bed with a smiling mother observing by the doorway. Lights were on in several homes, like tiny stars that'd fallen down on earth. To those people this was just an evening amongst many others.

Everything… was perfectly normal – the world went on like nothing had happened, like nothing was missing. And somehow that angered him.

It'd been half a year, he reminded himself. That was a long time, wasn't it? He shouldn't have expected the whole world to stop although his had.

/ Sakura's cheeks were wet from still rolling tears as she entered the room. There was blood on her clothes, and the stench of it made him feel sick to his stomach.

His whole body turned inhumanly cold as he struggled to a sitting position in his bed, shaking his head furiously. "No!" The sound that came from him was primal, filled with despair. "Tell me you didn't do it – you couldn't have…!" His voice faded away although his lips kept moving.

He barely heard her words from the sob. "I… I'm sorry, Naruto. I'm so sorry." /

He grit his teeth so hard it hurt, and fought to hold back a sob.

His head falling, he saw Sasuke's headband in his hands. The metallic plate on it shone like silver in the moonlight, and the sudden, violent flash brought several memories to him. One of them filled his whole mind.

/ Moonlight hit Sasuke's bloodcaked sword, making it shine, as Sakura dropped it to the floor, her hands shaking. Metal made an unnaturally loud sound as it hit the wood. "He… He's at peace now, Naruto", she tried, although she could barely talk. "He doesn't have to fight anymore. Maybe… Maybe he's finally happy." /

His jaw tightened as he locked back a scream, and a sharp twinge of pain traveled all the way through him.

It was so damn hard to believe that it was really all over, that Sasuke was really gone – that there was no hope left anymore. He'd fought so long and hard, and now his most precious person was gone.

Even without closing his eyes, he could see Sasuke's face so clearly it hurt. He could still recall every single detail. He remembered much more than he should've been able to.

Memories, at least, were something they'd never steal from him. He'd make damn sure of that. He'd never forget.

At least that much he could still do for Sasuke.

His eyes narrowed against the stinging sensation that filled them, and his throat released a frustrated, furious sound he couldn't identify. His balled fists shook and nails dug painfully into skin.

He'd been weeping too much already, and it obviously wasn't helping. So why couldn't he stop, even now after six months? What kind of a ninja did that make of him?

It was then he realized he wasn't alone. "Naruto?" Sakura's voice was tentative. There was a stretched silence. "Why… are you sitting out here? It's cold."

He grit his teeth for a moment, fighting to get his emotions and voice under control. "I needed to think." He looked towards the darkened sky. "I'm not cold or anything."

Sakura stopped a small distance away from him, he felt it although he didn't look. "You should try to get some rest", she pointed out. "We're heading for that mission tomorrow, remember?"

A flash passed him quickly. "Yeah, yeah. I remember."

Once again silence fell and spun around them like a vulture. In the end it became so heavy that it seemed to suffocate them.

After a while he couldn't take it anymore. He got up, his muscles stiff and sore from sitting in the cold too long. "I should get going", he muttered. "It's already getting late, right?" Not that he would've been looking forward to the night to come; he hadn't slept well since…

"Naruto." Sakura's voice carried so much that he had to stop. She hesitated for the longest moment. "Is this how it's always going to be from now? You can't even look at me anymore!"

He took a deep breath, although it stung like hell. "You killed him." His voice wasn't venomous or even angry anymore – he didn't have the energy and will for such emotions. Moist warmth traveled down his cheek. "It's… It's because of you he's gone." He felt like choking on his breath for a moment as his throat spasmed. "So… It's gonna take time, 'k? I need time." With that he kept moving, the cold air suddenly getting all the way to his bones. "See you tomorrow."

That night his dreams were once more of Sasuke – of the life they might've had, if only…

And while sleeping he smiled.

In the early hours of the morning, not much before she was supposed to head for a mission, Sakura's steps were heavy while she made her way through the forest. Pieces of memories spun around her head.

/ Her eyes widened to a dramatic extend as Sasuke's move finished off Danzo. The older man's blood spattered on her while her mouth opened for a soundless scream. /

Her eyes stung, and she stopped for a moment to wipe them. She wouldn't be able to go there like this.

In a moment or two she was composed enough to keep going.

/ Sasuke's eyes narrowed at her. "What the hell are you doing?"

She willed her fingers to keep on dancing although her eyes blurred with tears. "I… I really wish I had a choice, Sasuke." /

After a quick walk she was stood before a old, rather shabby hut. It took a deep breath before she managed to gather her courage for a knock.

The familiar, and at the same time achingly unfamiliar, voice came from behind the hut. "I'm here, Sakura."

Taking another deep breath, she forced herself to move. She indeed found him from the backyard, down on his knees and digging the ground, with a blissful expression that seemed badly out of place on his face.

This… This person had Sasuke's face, Sasuke's hair, even Sasuke's voice. But nonetheless she felt like she'd been staring at a total stranger.

That thought was barely finished before he turned to look towards her, his formerly so very angry and fierce black orbs now soft. He smiled. "Hey. I thought you wouldn't come today."

This was why she'd never told Naruto the truth, why she rather allowed him to believe the Uchiha was dead. Because facing this, was even more agonizing.

/ For the longest time Sakura had harbored hopes that maybe one day, Naruto would succeed in bringing Sasuke back – after all, Sasuke had been her first crush and a dear friend. But then she'd grown up. And that's when Tsunade had introduced her to a secret technique.

It'd wipe away one's memory completely – all of the past, including memories and ninja-skills. And it was flawless. Once taken away, the memory would never come back. The person would never be the same again.

It was the only way the Council would let Sasuke live, Tsunade had told her. And the only way to give Sasuke peace.

When she saw Sasuke kill Danzo, she realized that the time had come.

That day, when it was time to finish things, tears kept flowing and she was shaking, so badly that she could barely stand. "I'm sorry, Sasuke. I really am."

And then, just as Sasuke started his own move, the technique was finished.

She closed her eyes, then – just as he was stood by her – pressed her hands to both sides of his head. Immediately he screamed, and she grit her teeth to keep herself from doing the same. "I'm so sorry!" /

It was a miracle she managed to smile, even if just a little. "Hey." She gave a long look at what he was working on. "What are you doing?"

Sasuke shrugged, focusing on his work for a moment. She couldn't help noticing how uncharacteristically soft his motions were. Once again she was reminded of just how far gone the boy she'd once known was. "I… wanted tomatoes, so I decided to try some gardening with those seeds you gave me." He looked towards her with a tiny frown, like a child deep in thought. "Did I… like tomatoes, back then?"

She had hard time keeping her expression in check, to make sure that the smile plastered to her face didn't shudder. "Yeah", she breathed out. "Yeah, you did." Clearing her throat, she walked up to him, mostly to keep him from noticing how badly she was shaking. "You know, I have half an hour. Can I help you?"

The bright, innocent smile Sasuke gave her hurt – the Sasuke she'd known would've never given such. "Thank you." If possible those words and that tone were even more painful than the smile.

In silence they started working on Sasuke's tiny garden.

Owari.

A/N: (sighs heavily, and sobs once) Poor things… Bound to spend their lives apart, one of them not even remembering what he's missing. (winces)

So… (gulps) What do you guys think – was that any good, or something I should delete as soon as possible? PLEASE, do let me know – it'd meant the world to me! (gives puppy's eyes) Awww, c'mon! It's almost Christmas – I know you want to do something nice. And I've got some chocolate and cookies to pribe you with…

Awkay, I've really gotta start tuning out. Thank you so much for reading this!

Happy holidays to every single one of you! Be good!