Being the world-class procrastinator I am, I have decided to update instead of doing my homework. Luckily, I don't have much, so it's okay ^_^ I have my school swimming carnival tomorrow. They forcasted rain -_- Thank you so much to you absolutely beautiful people who reviewed :D I'm actually kinda curious to see if you could get me to 250 reviews before next chapter, but we'll see :)

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You guys are the absolute shizznit ^_^

Dedication: food. Because I'm hungry. Nomnomnomnomnom...

.:{}:.

I am small,

And needy,

Warm me up,

And breathe me.

- Sia, 'breathe me'.

.:{}:.

My hiding place was around Sakura's side of the house, barely a metre from her window. I'd reasoned that Akumu wouldn't be foolish enough to try anything on me, where neighbours could see or hear us. The pain medication had started to kick in, and the agony in my chest and crotch was reduced to nothing more than a dull, throbbing ache. I was sitting on a heat pack, with another pressed to my womb, hoping to relax the muscles and ease the ache for when the medication wore off.

I must have been sitting there for around an hour before I heard voices in Sakura's room. I identified one as the roseate herself, and the other as… Sasuke. It took me a moment, seeing as he very rarely spoke.

The Blood of Ivory

.:{}:.

Chapter 21

"… Dad got an emergency call from work. Said they needed some windows fitted urgently because one of the guy's wives went into labour this morning. Mum wanted to stay at the shops and look around. Knowing mum, she'll be a good hour or so."

"Where's Hinata?" That was Sasuke's voice.

"I'm not sure. She wasn't in the house or out the back. She might've gone for a walk or caught up with Gaara. They've been getting really close lately."

"Aa," Sasuke replied in his typical caveman language. "He likes her."

Sakura giggled. "I know! I hope they go out. They're so cute together. Hinata isn't so scared when he's around."

Another silence, in which I could only presume Sasuke had replied non-verbally. Then I realised what Sasuke had said. Gaara liked me?

No.

No, no, no, no, no. He didn't. He definitely didn't. There was nothing about me to like! I was a broken doll, barely able to stand looking at men, let alone being in close proximity to them. No, he definitely didn't like me. He might find me interesting, but nothing more.

"Do you know what's happened to her?" Sakura asked, her voice suddenly sad. "I get so worried about her sometimes. I wish she'd let me help her, but… it's like she doesn't want to be helped. Doesn't she know that that's what I'm here for? I know she's been through a lot, but that won't stop me from listening to her."

If you heard what I could tell you, you'd hate me, I answered in my head. Gods, you'd hate me.

"I don't know," Sasuke replied. "Whatever it is, it isn't good." There was a pause, before, "Can we not talk about that anymore?"

"Oh, sure. Sorry, I get carried away at times," Sakura apologised.

"I know." I could hear the smirk in his voice.

There was the creaking of a bed, and I felt that I should move. Like I was about to invade on something private. But I didn't know if I could move without making a sound. So, I stayed, hoping that my premonition was wrong.

"Happy one year," Sasuke said suddenly, and I heard Sakura giggle.

"I knew you hadn't forgotten!" She exclaimed happily, and I heard the sound of her kissing him. "What did you want to do?"

I could practically hear him shrug. "Dinner?" he suggested, and Sakura giggled again.

"You're so unimaginative, Sasuke," she teased, and I couldn't help but smile. There was so much care in both of their voices. It made me wish I could have someone like that.

A few more whispered words were exchanged, ones which I couldn't hear, before the sounds of a heated make-out session ensued. I was absolutely mortified. I wanted to move away from there, so that I didn't have to hear it, but at the same time I feared that moving would alert them to my presence. I did not want that to happen. Not in the slightest.

"Sakura, I… Did you want to…?" Sasuke said after a while, sounding – strangely enough – nervous.

"I… I, uh… y… yes," Sakura replied, sounding unsure and flustered.

"We don't have to if you don't want to," he said quickly, reassuringly, and I felt a chill creep through my bones. "We've done everything else, but I won't make you."

"Sasuke, I… I want to," Sakura replied, sounding more sure of herself. "We've been going out for a year and… I think I'm ready."

"Are you sure?"

There was a pause, in which I could only presume Sakura had nodded.

"As soon as you feel uncomfortable, say stop. Don't do this for me."

"I know," she whispered clearly, her voice sounding both scared and excited.

My face had flushed bright red, but I dared not move nor make a sound. What if they caught me? I would be in so much trouble. How could I look Sakura or Sasuke in the eye again after this?

There was the sound of clothes being removed, and lips constantly moving over the other. There was giggled and groans, and whispered "I love you"s, before Sasuke spoke again.

"Are you sure, Sakura? There's no going back after this." I could hear lust and love clashing in his voice.

"I'm sure," Sakura said confidently.

"This might hurt a little," Sasuke warned, before I heard Sakura gasp with shock and pain. I almost wanted to stand up and go there to rip him off her. How dare he hurt her?

"Are you alright?" I heard him whisper before I could so much as move a muscle.

"Y… Yeah," Sakura stuttered, her discomfort apparent. "Just… just give me a minute."

I heard the sound of another kiss, before he spoke again. "I'd give you eternity if you asked for it."

My heart broke with those words. So stupid, so corny, so sweet… How my heart ached. In that moment, I'd never wanted someone to hold me so much. I'd always known sex as a frightful, abhorrent thing, which was done when the male wanted to use the female's body as nothing more than a toy for his own pleasure. I'd never even considered that two people could both willingly partake in such an act, and that they could do it because they both loved each other and trusted each other more than words could describe. I sat there, not even listening to them, so caught up in my own thoughts. It wasn't until I heard Kasumi's car in the driveway that I realised a lot more time had passed than I first thought, and I made my way silently into the house.

.:{}:.

Dinner was a much happier affair that night. Well, for everyone else, that is. There was a certain glow about Sakura that hadn't been there before, a spark to her eyes, a smile on her lips, which had been missing previously. There was even something different about Sasuke. Occasionally, they'd look at each other. Sasuke would smirk… nicely, and Sakura would smile shyly, before turning away, a small blush adorning her cheeks. I merely watched, and stayed silent, pushing the food around my plate. I wasn't hungry at all.

I noticed Sasuke eyeing Akumu warily, and occasionally eyeing me, a fleeting look of sympathy and curiosity in his eyes.

When dinner was over, Sasuke and Sakura did the dishes, whilst Akumu and Kasumi went to the living room. As I passed the kitchen door, I heard Sasuke speaking to Sakura in cautious tones.

"Sakura," he said. "You trust me, right? You know I wouldn't say something unless I was sure about it."

"Of course I know. What's up?" Sakura questioned, her voice curious.

"Be careful of your dad," Sasuke advised bluntly.

"What are you talking about?"

Sasuke hesitated, as if trying to think of the right words. "Something's different about him," he eventually said. "I'm not sure what, I just have this feeling that he's changed somehow. And not in a good way. Just… just be careful, okay? I don't want you to be hurt."

From the tone of Sakura's voice, she took him seriously. "I… Alright. Are you sure? What's happened?"

"I'm sure. It's a gut feeling. I don't know what's happened, but something's up. Just be careful."

An hour later, he left, but not before seeking me out.

"I don't think I have to tell you to stay away from Akumu wherever possible, do I." It wasn't a question.

I didn't give him an answer, but he didn't need one.

Yes, I know that the majority of you hate SasuSaku, but you know what? I like them, so you're just going to have to deal. Besides, that was a little bit important. Now Hinata knows that there's such a thing as 'making love', which will really change her perspective on a lot of things, don't you agree? There won't be GaarHina action for another chapter or so, but I promise that it'll be worth the wait :) You've just gotta trust me :)

So, you see that little blue button down there? That's your own little personal Update Quicker Button, which must be utilised to ensure a faster update. There's a good 25 of you in my favourites whose name I don't recognise at all, and I'd really love to hear your thoughts and opinions. Please review?

Much love, SapphireRivulet xox