Author's Note: Okay, here's Part I of my new drabble collection story! I've always wanted to do one of these, since I don't want to upload so much separate one-shot stories.
Length, genre, couples, sometimes even rating (T-M) will vary with each story. Some will be crack, or angsty, or fluffy fluff fluff romantic, or even if I feel like writing passionately sexy – you'll know the rating for those types of stories time, I assure you, for those who don't want to read "certain things" and "accidentally" read on and read what they don't want to.
You'll know all details of the story below, and if you are interested from the details, then feel free to read on.
So to wrap this long Author's Note up, I hope you like this – and don't forget to review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, but every plotline is mine from my little head.
Title: Beautiful Disaster
Genre: Angst, Romance, Suspense
Rating: High Rated T.
Pairing(s): SasuSaku.
Summary: "Do you care for me now… Sakura?" Uchiha whispered menacingly, lowering his blade against her neck. "No." The blade slid against her neck, drawing little blood. "Now?" "…No." Sasuke raised his katana, holding it against his own neck. "…How about now?"
((SFX: Splat, splat, splat))
Rain pounded hard against the window, splashing the glass wetly with each thunderous drop. Each raindrop slid down the glass ever so slowly before slipping off the windowpane, falling on the expectant moist, cold ground below.
Twenty-one year old Haruno Sakura's body lay sprawled on the floor of her small apartment residence, propped up on her left elbow as her emerald eyes examined the contents of each thick medical books placed before her.
The studying kunoichi was clad in a loose, buttoned-up blouse with a few buttons on the top undone, exposing the little skin between the valley of her breasts. Along with her long-sleeved blouse, the sleeves halfway rolled up until it reached her elbows, she wore short pink boy shorts dotted with small, albino dots.
After all, she lived in a small dwelling alone and it was well a quarter past two o' clock in the morning at least, that much she was sure of. With the scorching heat of summer still burning even in the midnight hours of the morning, she wore minimal clothing in an effort to cool off her body, not to mention because she had no roommates, no one around her would feel proned or uncomfortable when around her somewhat half-nude form.
Not that she wasn't self-confident with her appearance – oh, quite the contrary. She was fine with the way she looked, accepted her womanly features that had well grown after years from becoming a genin. Puberty had been gracious on her – many of the men in the village of Konohagakure would agree at the sound of a heartbeat.
Sakura had kept short pink hair that had been cut roughly in the Chuunin exams, the years passing making her pastel pink tresses choppy yet with a feminine touch, reaching down to brush lightly against her shoulders. Her "oversized" forehead had settled into a reasonable size as curves shaped on her waist and hips. Her distinct jade eyes remained as they were, growing more fierce and determined with the passing years. She had nice cheekbones with full, scarlet red lips to match.
With the face of an angel – so proclaimed the male villagers and shinobi – and the brain of a rocket scientist, Haruno Sakura seemed like the ideal woman. Not to mention her iron fist that rivaled the strength of the Godaime herself. While some cowered at this fact, others found her to be even more appealing.
She was a Jounin-level shinobi now, who continued to work diligently hard under the apprenticeship of Tsunade.
Naruto remained as he was with his goofy, child-like nature, often asking her out on dates in natural good humor, as it was almost routine, to which she always answered, "No," explaining she was too focused on becoming a great kunoichi like Tsunade to bother with love.
But Naruto knew the real reason, and although her cause was mostly true, he knew she was denying a small fact. He knew that most of her feelings for his brother-like best friend had diminished in her heart, knowing she had forced them out herself (no matter how painful it was to do so), and yet, he could always sense some lingering love that remained in the deep recesses of her heart.
She was a compassionate person, Naruto knew this fact well, as he had grown to be like a brother to her, as she a sister to him. He knew that every time the name Uchiha Sasuke was mentioned she would carefully monitor each reaction and word she spoke, making sure nothing gave away what her mind was really thinking. And she was very convincing, he'll give her that – having even fooled himself a couple times with her superb acting skills.
But he knew there was still a little spark for the Uchiha in the depths of Sakura's heart, despite the fact that it had been six years since they had last seen Sasuke in the flesh. Sure, Naruto missed his best friend like no other – but he would never understand, let alone fully know, what had truly happened the night Sasuke had left, as Sakura never explained every detail, only the ones she allowed herself to voice aloud.
((SFX: Whistle!))
The screech signaling her instant ramen broth was ready immediately grabbed the interest of the pink-haired maiden. Pushing herself up with one hand, she carried her legs over to her kitchen. Her hand grabbed the ramen, her other hand grabbing a pair of nearby idle chopsticks as she placed them in her meal, swirling the noodles around as the steam rose into the air, the pungent scent of egg noodles floating in the air.
Returning to her workplace on the floor, she carefully set down her ramen broth near the small cups of sake. Yes, she knew Tsunade and Naruto were rubbing off on her. Sakura wasn't a heavy drinker, nor was she one that drank on a regular basis. She only drank sake every now and then, to ease the stress and muscles from her training or work at the hospital when she would have a long, busy day.
Emerald eyes flickered over to the clock hung on the wall. 2:38 am, it read. She shortly laughed silently to herself. It was getting late, but she still had much work to do.
I'll just make a remedy to help regain my sleep in the morning, the blossom-haired woman thought before going back to her studying. Her eyes squinted as they glazed over the material, making sure every little detail locked inside her photographic memory.
As she read, she reached over to her ramen broth without moving her head, taking the chopsticks that she had been fiddling with in her hand and dipping them inside the noodles, placing a hearty amount in her awaiting open mouth. After chewing then swallowing, all at leisure, unhurried pace, she placed her ramen a few feet beside her before grabbing her two small cups that held her sake.
Her nose wrinkled at the pungent aroma from the alcohol as she downed the liquid in the glass by tilting her head back, pouring the bitter taste down her throat. Glancing her head down at her thick medical books once more, she licked her lips, placing down the sake.
She then took her fine-pointed ink pencil, setting aside the few pages of notes she had taken previously as she took a new piece of paper, marking down key sentences and facts on the document.
She then jotted down a checkmark on her list of books and work she had completed.
Just a few more to go, thought Sakura, her eyelids drooping her eyes slightly as emerald pupils roamed over the long list she had made – all containing her work.
Not only did she have to read the thick, medical books, but she had to write a detailed report following the tomes as well.
Diligently she wrote, her neat handwriting blotting across the white lined paper.
((SFX: Swoosh!))
Her body lied in the middle of her living room, and immediately viridian eyes darted over to the windowpane hung on her wall. It was originally open, she noted, eyeing the swaying curtains from the gentle, humid breeze. Upon this awareness, her large sea green pupils narrowed vastly.
A burglar? thought Sakura, keeping her poise perfectly still. No… they would have been much more obvious. Whoever this is… it must be a shinobi.
Her eyes widened, sensing a familiar chakra behind her.
((SFX: Splat!))
Her ink pen dropped from her hand, blotches of dark stains marring across her report.
Upon seeing the shadowy form a few feet before her, shaky emerald eyes slowly rose –
…Only to meet the sight of a pair of distinct, azure eyes staring down at her.
Sakura's senses immediately calmed, heaving out the breath she didn't realize she had been holding. She shook her head for a few moments before looking back up at her intruder.
"Naruto! How many times do I have to tell you I have a front door?"
The Jinchuuriki grinned cheekily down at his pink-haired best friend. "Got to make sure your senses are still there, Sakura-chan!" Cerulean eyes flickered to the clock hung on the wall. "Jeez, it's like three in the morning, what are you still doing up?"
Sakura shook her head, a smile playing her lips. "I could be asking you the same thing."
Naruto dismissed the thought with a wave of his hand. "Came back from a mission, you know." His brow arched upon glancing over the kunoichi's shoulder, looking down at all the books and paper. "Oh, I get it." He sauntered over, crouching on his thighs as he picked up the heavy tome. "So you're up late doing all this? Ugh, Tsunade-baachan has you reading all this crap?" He shook his head, tossing the thick volume aside. "She's crazy! Why do you do all that shit, anyway, Sakura-chan?"
The said blossom-haired girl rolled her eyes, reaching over as she retrieved the book Naruto had so carelessly tossed aside, brushing it off with the back of her hand. "Because, I need all this for times when I have to use it." As the blond tilted his head at her statement, Sakura laughed briskly, giving him a flick on the nose as his eyes squinted, his nose wrinkling. "Like the times when I'm on missions with you and your impulsive nature makes you get hurt, silly. I'm always the one to patch you up, aren't I?"
Cobalt eyes blinked before closing as he beamed a wide, sheepish grin. "Only because you are the best, Sakura-chan!"
The woman smiled at the compliment before seeing Naruto unzip his Jounin vest, emerald orbs blinking curiously.
"Which reminds me," added Naruto, lifting his shirt revealing his tanned, taut abs on his stomach beneath the Jinchuuriki seal. Also plastered on the area was thick, dry blood, a deep gash marring his skin. "You think you could take care of this, Sakura-chan? I don't need Tsunade-baachan nagging me about this before I go over to give the mission report, you know?" He flashed her an impish grin.
Sakura sighed, medical chakra immediately seeping into her fingertips as her hand hovered over the large slash of his wound. "How did you get this?"
"Oh, a little ambush, that's all," Naruto commented back casually, wincing slightly as the gash slowly closed along his stomach. "Oi, that hurts, Sakura-chan!"
The medic nin rolled her eyes. "Of course it does, Naruto. You didn't apply any of the ointment I gave you, so now your injury's infected." As more verdant healing chakra flowed from her palm, she muttered to herself, "Why don't you ever listen?"
Finally, after gradual lessening pain, Naruto's wound came to a close. Sakura moved her hand back as the cerulean eyes peered down at his abdomen. "Oh, sweet! I have a large scar now!"
Sakura couldn't help but smile at his childish behavior. "It will heal in a couple weeks," she informed him.
"Oh, couple weeks, huh?" Naruto questioned before lowering his smooth jet-black shirt, scratching his blond hair. Then he beamed brightly. "Oh well, that's still plenty of time to show this off to Hinata-chan!"
The blossom-haired woman laughed behind the back of her hand. "All right, Naruto. You better get that report to Tsunade-shishou, you know how she doesn't like things late."
The Jinchuuriki scratched his temple with the tip of his index finger. "Heh, yeah, I know." He stood up, walking over to the windowpane as he crouched low, prepared to leap off. He then turned, smiling a friendly grin over his shoulder as he added, "Thanks for the healing, Sakura-chan!" She nodded in response as he vanished from sight.
An angelic smile formed on her porcelain features as the kunoichi glanced throughout her window, emerald eyes peering up at the star-lit sky. The bright moon reflected on her large sea green orbs before she turned her head, resuming her work as she took a few more notes. Thanks to Naruto, all her senses were wide and awake.
She had only written a few words when her breathing hitched in her throat. Another chakra signature – another presence. How could she not have noticed this? This existence… it was a powerful one.
A stalker, perhaps? After all, she was one of the most sought out women in Konoha, as she did have many suitors. It wouldn't be the first time someone had taken extreme measures just to be with her. No, she thought, correcting herself.
No one in Konoha could match this person's stealth… the charisma he gave off… the allure… the gratifying aura.
She could sense their looming shadow a few yards behind her. She continued writing, to make sure she didn't give off the outlook that she was now aware of the figure at the back of her.
Then, slowly, she let her ink pen slip gracefully through her fingers as it fell upon her blotched document.
((SFX: Tap…))
The tip of the pen hit against the paper before falling fully on its side. During this intervening time, Sakura had moved so swiftly that no naked eye could keep up with her speed. She had pinned down whomever her intruder was, her thighs tightly straddling the hips of the person, a sharpened kunai directly against the trespasser's neck.
Dark jade eyes glowed fiercely, her eyebrows knitted together in an intimidating scowl as the small dim of light she had from a mere candle flickered slightly, the wind from her great speed hitting against the flame as it toddled to the side.
As she continued scowling sternly down, her expression suddenly faltered. A strangled gasp choked out of her throat at what she saw.
Blood red Mangenkyou Sharingan narrowed back at her ominously, the Jewish star-shaped tomoes swirling madly as they stared back up at her stunned outlook. (See Chapter 402 bottom of Page 17 of the manga for reference.)
Then, unexpectedly, a wicked smirk played on his lips.
Sakura continued gawking down at the man she straddled beneath her thighs. The very person that was the epiphany of the nightmares she had been having the past few weeks. She hadn't seen him in six long, long years. And here he was suddenly, abruptly – pinned down beneath her. No longer did she see a boy, but a man.
His clothing had changed, yet his toned, lean physique clearly remained. His strikingly handsome good looks were always imbedded, always expected on the chiseled features of his face. His raven hair had grown longer, now sporting choppy bangs placed on his forehead – his jaw was sharper, his cheekbones finely carved, his mouth perfectly shaped, his eyes a shadowing murky, haunting scarlet.
"It's… it's you…" she breathed slowly, shakily.
Everything around her seemed perfectly still, completely forgetting she was straddling him in mere boy shorts and a slightly unbuttoned, long sleeves rolled up blouse.
He continued heinously leering at her.
"Sa… Sasuke…"
Emerald eyes shook vigorously as her lips murmured his name in a breathy whisper.
His malicious smirk never faltered on his face. "Perfect."
((SFX: Swoosh!))
Sakura felt a strong rush of air hit her before her shins came in contact with the ground, the man she had pinned beneath her suddenly vanishing. Sensing his dark chakra signature immediately, her body twisted instantaneously, her head whipping towards his direction.
He now stood a few yards from her, a malevolent aura surrounding him perilously.
She was everything the rumors had said she was – and more. Her skill, alleged to be rivaling that of the Godaime's, as well as her exceptional beauty that matched her intellectual wits. She was a sight to behold, flawless in ever aspect – the woman of every man's dreams.
After having heard all the rumors surrounding her name, he had to know for himself. To see with his own eyes if she lived up to the reputation she had unknowingly created. And so, he had come to the village, setting foot for the first time in the very place he had left nine years ago. This current night, he had found where her residence was easily, had been observing her, watching her work. Her sharp intellect was true, he noted, before smirking viciously at onyx eyes traced over what she wore. She was a sexy beauty, the sight confirmed. And her stealth of pinning him down – not to mention the fact that she actually noticed him, despite that it took her a while to do so – proved her skills.
She was perfect, suited for an Uchiha such as himself. All for himself. After all, he was a possessive man.
"What… what are you doing… here?" questioned Sakura in susurration; her sparkling emerald eyes holding vast amounts of disbelief. She remained on the floor where she had been previously straddling him, her body shaking lightly as she gawked at him.
This cannot be happening… she chanted over and over in her mind. But it was, she could not deny the truth.
"To see you."
His eventual answer came – blunt, poignant, yet his tone indifferent. His voice was deliciously low, rich… seductive.
Reality hit her like a tidal wave, and Sakura found her face twisting in a scowl. Yes, she had missed him, and her heart yearned for him, having skipped a beat upon his reason for why he was there, at three in the morning now no doubt, in her apartment of all places.
But she pushed those feelings aside, the longing for him shoved in the back of her mind. This was the very same man that had made her feel useless six years ago, and she did not want to remember the frail self she had been all that time ago, the very thought of it spiking up seething anger as her blood began to boil.
She was no longer weak, she assured herself. She was a new Haruno Sakura now – a Jounin that can well handle herself, even in front of the world's most dangerous missing nin.
And so, her body moved on the impulse of her anger, chakra immediately pumping through her veins to her fingers as her hand clenched tightly in a fist. She pushed herself off the hind of her legs, lunging towards him in incredible speed with her punch aimed squarely at his face.
((SFX: Smack!))
His hand encircled her fist, stopping her strike as Sakura grit her teeth at his evasive movement. Mangenkyou Sharingan stared back at her, her fist shaking in his vice grip.
For a normal shinobi, one would have 99.9 percent gotten struck with her powerful, deadly punch. But, not only interpreting her movements but also having the Sharingan predict her next move, the raven-haired male easily reacted to her movement.
At the feel of the strength in her chakra-enhanced fist, the corner of Sasuke's mouth quirked upwards.
"Perfect," he murmured once more. "What I expect from a future Uchiha matriarch."
Sakura narrowed her eyes immensely, but she could not hide the surprise that had etched across her face a moment earlier.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me," he replied brusquely, his voice husky and ever so enticing. Sakura couldn't help the shiver that went down her spine as the fingers encased over her fist tightened. "Be with me. Is that not what you want?"
Sakura stared at him with her mouth parted slightly, looking as though she was trying to formulate words that could not come out. Then she roughly shook her head, closing her mouth as she moved her leg, swinging the lethal kick aimed at his side.
With his other free hand, Sasuke caught the incoming blow with ease. He continued to stare seriously down at her, his own Mangenkyou never breaking its stare.
"Hmph, I see… No matter. Whether you like it or not, Sakura…"
His scarlet pupils swirled hazardously.
"You will be mine."
Sakura felt her breath knocked of her when suddenly a fist plunged deep into her stomach in an attempt to make her lose consciousness. As her body keeled over, the kunoichi staggered a few steps backwards, her hand over her throbbing abdomen. She fell on her rear on the floor, her legs beside her as she kept propped herself up with the palm of her left hand against the floor, her other hand in a fist still and held tightly against her chest. Her eyelids were drooping low, as the strike had Sasuke given her was to make her in a brief comatose. However, she refused to slip into unconsciousness, forcing her body away from the beckoning darkness calling her.
Sasuke chuckled almost inaudibly as he watched her, amused at her defiance to fall into oblivion.
"You told me to take you with me if I could not stay. You told me you loved me…"
Piercing, hauntingly dark crimson orbs stared back at her blazing emerald eyes, peering through silky raven bangs.
"Do you…? Do you still love me?"
Her mouth had gone dry almost instantly at his question. Her racing heartbeat would not calm itself. Here he was, the man she had longed yearned for, before her.
Yet, at the same time, he was not there.
His overbearing, conquering presence, his visual body – yes, his image before her. But, not the same boy she had fallen deeply in love with.
No, just by reading the blood, the lust clouding his eyes, she knew he wasn't there.
That boy was long gone, the minute he stepped out of the village of Konohagakure.
"I… don't," she replied slowly after a few minutes of lingering silence. Her voice was barely audible. She shut her eyes, squeezing them tightly as if to get rid of the image of something as she tilted her head downwards. Pastel pink bangs covered her sparkling emerald eyes. "I don't… love you, anymore…"
((SFX: Screech, scrape…))
His blade of Kusanagi grazed along its sheath as he slowly drew the sword out. The dim candlelight of the small room reflected magnificently against the sharpened edge of the weapon. He slowly walked towards her, leisurely, as widening emerald eyes stared back at him. Her body remained crumpled helplessly on the floor.
"What – What are you doing?" her voice asked, barely above a whisper. Slight fear and warning flickered in her dark jade orbs, her head angling upwards.
"Do you care for me now… Sakura?" the Uchiha whispered dangerously, menacingly, lowering his blade against her smooth, swan-like porcelain neck.
Her lower lip quivered before her teeth sunk into it, whisking her head away as cherry pink hair framed her face, hiding her expression.
"…No."
Mangenkyou tomoes swirled, flashing dangerously at her response as he growled lowly.
The blade slid against her neck, drawing little blood.
"Now?"
"No."
Sasuke raised his katana, holding it against his own neck, pressing the sharp edge against his pale skin.
"…How about now?"
Shocked emerald eyes slowly, shakily stared up at him. "What – What are you doing?" she gasped.
"You don't love me," he stated pointedly, monotonously. His expression was grave.
"…"
All she could do was stare up at him, her lips parted with the lower quivering as widened emerald pupils squinted.
"Orochimaru is dead, Itachi is dead…" he continued, drawling the words languidly. After having discovered the truth of his elder brother, he had been wandering aimlessly for six long, long years. "If I can't have you…"
He pushed his blade of Kusanagi into his skin –
"No…" Sakura whispered helplessly.
– blood began spilling out as he pressed deeper into his gash, sliding the blade across his neck deliberately slow.
"No, no…!" She pushed herself off the ends of her feet, springing towards him as she grabbed the sword, "STOP!"
She ripped the katana from his grasp, tossing the weapon towards the far end of the corner of the room. Her hand waved over the gash marring his neck, healing the wound instantly as Sasuke watched her, solemnly.
"What do you think you're doing?" whispered Sakura brashly to him upon finishing healing his wound. "Are you crazy?"
"Crazy for you."
A dashing smirk sent her way, scarlet orbs unreadable still, causing her breath to hitch in her throat.
At that moment, that's when she saw it, plain as can be in his eyes. He had lost it. He had gone over the edge, crossed the thin borderline he had been walking on into lunacy.
He had driven into mad insanity.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked in a breathy whisper, her hand absent-mindedly stroking the side of his face with the back of her fingers tenderly. She could feel the heat radiating off of his body from their extremely close proximity.
"You will be mine, Sakura." His ruby eyes stared down at her petrified verdant ones. "You stopped my blade – you still love me, then…"
She looked up from his mouth to his gaze. "I do…" she whispered sadly, her pretty face marring with a frown. "Gods help me, I do…"
That was all he needed to hear.
Without a second thought, Sasuke dipped his head down, roughly pressing his lips against hers. His mouth slanted over hers, crushing down on her lips with such force he could virtually feel them bruising. One hand pressed against the back of her skull, grasping handfuls of silky pink tresses as he pushed her head against him, angling her against him. He could feel her small hands clutching the front of his open shirt.
His tongue traced the outline of her strawberry tasting lips before biting her lower lip unexpectedly harshly, causing the blossom-haired woman to gasp. Pressing her taut against him even further, his tongue slipped between her parted mouth. He explored every crevice and crack once inside as if memorize every detail. As he kissed her heatedly, hungrily, his hearing caught the soft moan that escaped her throat. He smirked somewhat at this before pulling back, his lungs burning for air.
He rested his forehead against hers, Mangenkyou Sharingan now converting back to his original onyx hue. He gazed down at her flushed cheeks, her parted lips as she panted, her breath mingling with his own, then moved up to her distinct, large sea green eyes. He saw that she wasn't looking at him, instead, her stare lingered on the two small hands that clutched the front of his shirt in, to some extent, a desperate manner. He inhaled her scent through his nostrils, finding himself addicted to her cherry blossom fragrance.
"Come with me," he murmured to her.
He watched her eyes shut tightly, her face twisting in remorse. "I can't…"
He growled at her answer, scowling down at the petite blossom-haired woman. "You told me—"
"I do love you," she whispered in retort. "I do – my heart won't let me stop, no matter how much I've tried. But, I just… I just can't be with you…"
"Why not?" he demanded assertively through clenched teeth.
"Because," she replied, locking her emerald gaze with his own intense one, boring jade pupils into ebony. "You are not you. You are not the person I fell in love with – nor will you go back to being that person." She shut her eyes, her apologetic expression returning. "I love you – I always will, but – AHH!"
Swiftly, Sasuke had moved, pinning her against the wall as he hoisted her up slightly. Kunai were imbedded in the middle of both her hands, her arms spread out widely, blood trickling down the porcelain skin of her wrists. The sharp pain spread throughout her whole body as she cried out through her teeth.
Onyx orbs eyed her form, gazing from her lovely face to the cleavage exposed from her opened long-sleeved shirt before traveling down her lusciously long, creamy thighs. He smirked wickedly at the sight.
He truly was a devious, insane man.
"Sakura, Sakura, on the wall…" His index finger and thumb grasped her chin, tilting her hung head towards him. "Who do you love, most of all?"
No response.
"Silent, hm? Very well, then…"
He turned his back to her, sauntering towards the corner of the room. Emerald eyes watched helplessly as he bent over, taking hold of his katana of Kusanagi Sakura had tossed aside a while ago. He then reappeared before her.
He took his blade, aiming the sharp edge directly at the location of her heart. She stared at him with frightened viridian eyes. His head jerked upwards as he roughly kissed her bruised lips once more chastely.
"If I can't have you, my dear Sakura…"
He grinned wickedly at her terror-filled face. He jerked his arm back, then, swiftly plunged the sword deep in her heart.
((SFX: Splat!))
Thick, crimson fluid splashed across the floor, against his face, his hair, his neck and chest. Sasuke licked his bloodstained mouth, tasting the blood – her blood.
Her head hung low, her corpse dangled against the wall by the kunai still imbedded deep in the palms of her hands.
"If I can't have you…" he repeated with his succulently low, husky voice.
He watched the life of her emerald eyes fade out before they closed, never to be opened ever again.
"…then no one can."
Author's Note: Wow, this was really angsty, I think. I know it's not one of my strong points, and writing an insane, dark, twisted Sasuke was harder than I thought, hahaha.
Don't worry, most of the stories won't be as dark as this one.
On another little note, because this story will be compiled with just a series of one-shots, this story will only be updated if I ever come up with more one-shots or maybe even be two/three/or four-shots. And coming up with more could take me days, weeks, or even months, so don't expect immediate updates :P
By the way, this story clearly won't have a sequel or epilogue, and each story that follows are all separate and in no way relate to each other unless I put "To Be Continued." Just got to make sure that's clear.
Anyway, hope you liked, thanks for reading, and don't forget to review.