Yes, I am still alive! And yes this is really an update. An apology probably wouldn't be able to make up for this late update but I'm still very sorry.

I'm glad to see that there are newer readers and people adding this story to their alerts.

However I'm a little upset over the lack of reviews. This chapter took me a while to type so hopefully you guys will spare just a few seconds of your time to tell me what you think. It honestly makes the biggest difference to my motivation and rate at which I upload.

Being at university has severely depleted the amount of free time I have and even more so the amount of free time I spend behind my computer. So any reviews will really inspire me to MAKE time and update quicker! I'm hoping you all are still enjoying the story and hope to hear from you once you've read the chapter!! Thanks again and take care!

M x

Chapter 21:

It was surprising how normal the following day felt. Sakura entered Leaf and began her usual routine of sorting any work she needed to finish. The headmaster didn't require any head of house meetings and with the most recent school prefect elections the number of prefects had increased such that Sakura and Namaka had less duties. Sakura smiled thinking of the extra time she'd now have to hang around with everyone at school.

Packing her bag a knock of the door caught her attention, "Come in." She called out. In stepped Kenji with a goofy grin.

Her breath caught in her throat but she expertly hid it. She had to make things go back to normal with Kenji. She'd be damned if she lost everything she had with him because of her hearts confusion.

"Hey you!" She called out and stood to hug him. He returned the hug with gentle arms and a truly happy smile on his face. He is over it…I'm glad, it makes things much easier. Sakura thought to herself.

Of course Kenji was still struggling internally but it was true that his heart was beginning to accept her decision.

"Gah! Sakura, how hard was that business studies case study!"

Stepping back she frowned, "What case study?"

"Oh you know, the one about that entertainment supplier!"

Her left eye twitched, "Oh, you mean the one that was due in a week ago?"

Kenji chuckled, "So you already handed it in did you?"

"Yeah I did." She laughed, "Kenji you idiot!"

"Hey!" He replied in protest. From behind Kenji Sakura saw Sasuke walk into the room.

Sasuke had just walked in to Leaf and saw Sakura's small office door open and he caught a glimpse of Kenji's back. Inside of himself he was suspicious, who wouldn't be? But he knew Sakura wouldn't appreciate anymore drama into her life so he'd promised to be as calm and non-idiotic, as she once put, as possible.

Stepping in he spoke, "Morning." He nodded to Sakura and then to Kenji who'd just turned around and acknowledged his presence.

"Hey Sasuke, you alright?"

"Yeah thanks not bad." He casually replied. Walking past him he stood beside Sakura and gave her a gentle gaze and softly stroked her hand. She smiled warmly back and lightly tugged at his fingers.

"Well I'll leave you lovebirds to it! I suspect Naruto will be-" Kenji was cut short to the sound of someone crying out and a large thud from the room next door.

"Seems like Naruto is already here…" Kenji concluded.

Everyone in the room chuckled and as Kenji was about to leave when Sasuke called out to him, asking to have a quick word.

Slightly surprised by his request Kenji mutely nodded and they stepped out. Giving a light glance to Sakura to assure her his intentions were calm and orderly, the two boys stepped out into the large common room.

Kenji wanted to say something, and yet the only thing he could think of doing was apologising. Before he could even speak Sasuke cut in.

"I know about what happened between you two."

"Sasuke…" Kenji was attempting to clarify that that episode was a one off and he was deep apologetic.

"No need Kenji. I can see in your eyes you love her. Its something I've got to accept." Although he had a certain 'air' to his tone Kenji knew he was still a little reluctant to the truth.

"Sasuke, I'd apologise but I think 'sorry' isn't good enough." He sighed, "You should know that Sakura stopped the whole thing, so don't think she willingly obliged to anything." Saying it out loud really hurt Kenji, he was totally unreasonable and his actions to Sakura should have been unforgivable. And yet, that young cherry blossom had forgiven him.

Of course Kenji would never speak of their most recent episode. He knew Sakura hadn't told Sasuke and he would never do so either. It was probably more lust rather than love. Or so I keep telling myself. It'll probably be one of those things I won't find out any time soon. But it was also something that would never leave his thoughts. Sakura wanted to kiss him and the look in her eyes that night told him that she deeply cared for him, possibly loved him.

He sighed, but she loves him more.

"I know that Kenji…which is why I don't need an apology from you. All I want is for us two to go back to how we used to be."

Kenji chuckled, "I couldn't have put it better myself."

Sasuke smirked and he turned to Kenji. Kenji stuck his palm out and without hesitation Sasuke firmly gripped his hand in a hand shake.

From the other side of the room a young pink haired girl smiled as her eyes glazed over with her heart full of joy.

A few moments later the two of them were happy discussing school life and the most recent away hockey match they were about to have against an all boys school called Walling High School. It was an important date in the school's sporting calendar and Sakura knew Kenji was looking forward to it. It really did preoccupy his mind; especially since today was the day he'd draw up the hockey squad.

Physics had actually passed by rather quickly for Sakura. The class had recently stopped their experiments and were being given time to revise over the most recent theory covered. Usually when the class are given 'revision' sessions then they all silently carry on with their own work, and today was no exception.

Sakura noticed at the start of the lesson that Claire was apparently not in school for whatever reasons they were. Sakura flipped open her phone subtly beneath her desk expecting some sort of text message from Claire saying why she was away. She inwardly shrugged when she saw no new messages.

As she casually slipped her phone back into her jacket pocket a bag plopped itself on the desk beside her. Looking up she saw Sasuke shrugging off his jacket and sitting beside her.

"Morning." He casually spoke as he took out some books from his bag and leaned back.

"Heya" She smiled to him. "I'm guessing you haven't seen Claire today."

He shook his head, "No, I usually see her when I'm walking back from Economics but not today."

Sakura looked away from him glancing at the round clock mounted on the wall above the whiteboard. "If she was in she'd be here by now…" She absent-mindedly said.

"You need something from her or something?"

She turned to Sasuke and quickly smiled, "No, just wondering where she could be."

"See I could take that as an insult."

She frowned slightly, "Eh? What do you mean?"

"Here you are with the chance to sit next to your boyfriend and you're thinking of your Physics partner."

She giggled and he smirked. Leaning forward towards him she spoke in a childish voice, "Aww, did I hurt Sasuke's wittle hweart?" She gently prodded his cheek and he swatted her hand away.

"You make me seem so unmanly." He replied with shut eyes. Now it was her turn to smirk and look away as their teacher finally arrived.

As the class listened to confirm the fact today was a revision lesson Sasuke glanced at Sakura.

She leaned down to her bag with one hand holding the desk as she stretched to reach her bag. Sitting back up with her pencil case in her left hand Sasuke boldly reached for her right hand and subtly dragged it beneath the desk to hold on to. He held on to her hand the whole way through the lesson but thoroughly avoided eye contact with her. Sakura couldn't help but giggle.

After Physics Sakura and Sasuke decided to head over to lunch were they sat with Naruto, Kenji and Namaka. As they chatted away Kenji seemed a little more preoccupied with the hockey team list he had to draft by the end of lunch.

After eating they all headed back to Leaf and Kenji rummaged round through his bag for a pen and piece of paper. It didn't really take him very long to draw up the list, he'd been thinking about it for a very long time. After writing the list he scanned it on to Sakura's computer and sent it round to all the other houses so any players who weren't in Leaf would know they made it on to the team.

Sasuke stood by Kenji as he pinned up the team and couldn't help his annoyance that Roddick and his right hand man Nick had made the team.

"I know what your thinking, but they are both excellent players and I can't not put them on the team just because they are the biggest prats in the school…no wait make that the entire universe."

Sasuke smirked, "Yeah well as long as they don't start anything them I'm fine with them being on the team.

"You and I both know that they will probably try to 'start something', it's whether or not you choose to react to it." Kenji knowingly said.

Sasuke sighed in a forceful acceptance but still couldn't convince himself that violence was not the answer in this case. Shrugging his shoulders he decided to head back to the common room with Kenji to hang around with Naruto, Sakura and Namaka.

The rest of the school day was fortunately uneventful to Sasuke's approval. Sakura and him were becoming closer and closer with every passing second leaving Sasuke with a slight problem. This incredible bond he has formed with Sakura could really only frighten him.

How is it that as humans we place locks and alarms in our homes or have emergency plans in case of a disaster all to protect our possessions and belongings, and yet when it comes to the greatest of our possessions, our hearts, we find it so easy to give away or so easy to be stolen.

Sasuke had been pondering over this ever since he got home and couldn't help but feel so at mercy over Sakura's actions. Did Sakura steal his heart or did he give it to her? With these two lovers it was rather hard to judge. But there was one thing which Sasuke knew. Sakura had such a tight hold over his heart that some days it hurt to even look at her with the overwhelming sensations she brought to him.

Sighing he rolled over in his bed trying desperately to sleep and be ready and energised for tomorrow morning's away game with Wallin High School. Problems weren't only with the competition's skill but rather with a certain few people on his very team.

Morning had come and the boys top hockey squad were sitting on the coach in silence…well most of the team anyway. Naruto was moaning and mumbling something along the lines of how 'the light burns', which earned a few jokes calling him a vampire. In truth he was quite simply not a morning person.

Kenji was standing outside waiting for three more player to show up, one of them including Sasuke. They weren't late, rather the others were a bit keen. That lead him to the impossible thoughts of trying to figure out just how Naruto had been, dare I say, early.

Sighing Kenji walked away from the coach and looked around the boys locker room and sports hall, just in case the remaining three thought they were meeting somewhere else. On the way to the sports hall he bumped into two of the players and told them to head to the coach parked outside school. The boys nodded and told Kenji that Sasuke was just saying a quick hello to Sakura and told them he'd catch up. Kenji nodded as the boys walked away.

A quick 'hello' ay? Chuckling he decided to walk back to the coach in fear of interrupting the lover's good morning 'conversation'.

Just on the other side of the sports hall Sasuke had arrived rather earlier to come and make sure he hadn't left anything he might need in his sports locker.

He wasn't expecting Sakura to turn up so early in the sports hall. How did she know I'd be here so early?

Grinning from across the hallway Sasuke dumped his sports bag on the floor as he briskly walked towards her standing form. They embraced whilst Sasuke spun Sakura around and she giggled in surprise. Setting her down they began to talk and slowly walk hand in hand in the dark and empty hallway, with Sakura's shoulder gently brushing the brilliant white wall. Wishing him the best of luck she moaned that she couldn't come with them on the match.

Sasuke chuckled, "You're head of Leaf House and you can't afford to miss your lessons."

"Oh? And what about your lessons? Hmm?"

Smirking he replied, "Oh well that's easy, I'll just come over to yours tonight and borrow your notes."

Raising her eyebrows and standing still so that she could strain their hand grip, "Oh? And what makes you think I'll let you borrow my notes?"

Raising one of his own eyebrows Sasuke stepped backwards towards her standing right in front of her, towering over her small form.

"Lets just say Sakura, things could get messy if you don't give me your notes." By now he had so subtly managed to move forward that Sakura's back was pressed against the wall with one of Sasuke's hands teasing her hip by gently stroking it.

"Messy?" She quietly repeated as her eyes were fixed on his and she felt her heart race.

Giving a gentle nod he dipped his head so his lips were just beside her ear with his breath caressing her neck.

"I may just lose control and start doing things that will make you give me your notes."

"Ugh…" She often found herself in a position where words would fail her around Sasuke. Although she could easily remember one or two times in her office when he was the one lost for words.

Giving his trademark smirk he decided to milk the situation as much as he could. Lifting both his hands his harshly gripped her waist and began to gently bite and lick her earlobe. Struggling in his grasp she began to press her hands upon his firm chest.

"That's right…things might just get out of control…and who knows what I might do to you…"

"You're sounding awfully kinky Sasuke…" She breathlessly replied right back in his ear which had the desired effect of his chest muscles tensing. Look whose turn it was to smirk now.

Pushing his body flush against her he harshly bit her ear, "I bet you'd like that, wouldn't you Sakura…" The way he said her name made such wicked thoughts appear in her mind. Glancing around the dimly lit hall Sakura thankfully saw nobody.

"Hah…you're one to talk…I bet you yourself are all for that kind of…stuff…"

"If it meant I could tie you to a bed then yeah, that's me all over."

Blushing ten fold at his statement Sakura turned her head to make sure he couldn't see her face. She loved thier 'dirty' talks but the truth of the matter was Sasuke and Sakura hadn't quite gone that far. Although there were occasions when they were very close to reaching it, however either one stopped saying it was too soon.

Right now however it felt like they couldn't do it soon enough.

Using a hand to pull her head back Sasuke slammed his lips onto hers in a punishing manner. Sakura let a muffled sound escape her throat as Sasuke kissed her.

His hands began to rub her sides up and down as Sakura slid her hands around his back and beneath his shirt. Her soft palms against his well built form was so contrasting that it felt so sensual for the both of them, mainly for Sasuke.

Pushing his tongue further into her mouth he was silently calling for her to keep going, or even go further. Sakura however was overwhelmed by the extent of how much of her mouth had been claimed by him. She was beginning to struggle for breath and wanted to let go for some air. But Sasuke's hold on her was too tight and he seemed so insatiable this morning, like he'd never let her go.

So Sakura tried to moan in a manner to get his attention. At first it only seemed to drive Sasuke further down this sensual road, but soon he drew back to take a look at her. As he pulled his head back Sakura took a huge gasp of air from her mouth. Tilting her head back to lean on the wall she heavily panted while Sasuke studied her stained cheeks.

Smirking he whispered, "Sorry, seems as though I was beginning to loose control."

Laughing slightly she herself added, "Please, no need to apologise, I just wasn't aware you were so damn horny in the mornings."

"Only around you." He placed his lips just beside her collarbone whilst using a hand to push more of her shirt aside.

Refraining herself from moaning she reminded Sasuke that he had a game to get to.

Catching his attention he pulled his left hand that currently resting on her hip to glance at his watch. Cursing slightly he pulled away from Sakura to go a get his bag which he'd dumped somewhere down the hall a few minutes ago.

Giggling at how clearly distracted he was she walked towards him and gently took a strand of his hair and played with it.

"Sorry Sasuke, I wasn't aware that you were so helpless around me. You might end up being late." Grinning like a wild cat she bumped her hips against his and began laughing.

Slinging his bag over his shoulder he headed out towards the car park with Sakura walking with him.

"Yeah, yeah laugh all you like. Only I seem to remember that somebody couldn't quite keep up with me back there."

With a shocked expression which miserably failed to show insult she equally replied, "Well at least I can get through one whole day without having to ravish somebody!"

"Touché"

"Thanks."

Stepping out of the sports hall they saw Kenji chatting to another player leaning against the coach. Looking at him Sakura couldn't help but notice just how damn good he looked in his sports uniform with his chestnut hair swaying slightly in the wind.

Shaking herself from her thoughts before Sasuke would notice her ogling she plastered on her typical smiling face, or so she hoped.

Noticing the couple heading towards the coach Kenji nodded towards the two, greeting them both.

After a quick conversation Sakura stepped on board the coach to wish the entire group good luck before stepping off and heading back to Leaf.

Funny thing is she could have sworn she heard a few wolf whistles and something along the lines of, 'nice one Sasuke'.

Giggling and shrugging she quickly headed towards Leaf to start her day.

Well? ? ?

I'm making a shameful plea but I'm quite upset with the lack of reviews for the recent chapters and I know some of you may feel a review wont make a difference but it does.

Review the story

Thank you.

M x