"Leaving already, chit?"

Folding her lab coat and placing it neatly on her chair, Sakura looked up at Doctor Gotrus with a tired smile. "Is there anything else you need me for, Doctor Gotrus? I can stay for a little while longer."

Picking up his messenger bag, the man stood from his chair and motioned for her to follow. "I need you to help me with something. Come along, we'll walk there."

Tomorrow's your day off, Saki. Yes, stay focused on that. Day off, lots of sleep. Day off, lots of sleep.

"Of course," she said, and immediately joined him, walking with her shoulders slightly slumped from exhaustion.

It was well past curfew, so the halls of Night Raven College were empty, the moonlight slipping through the large windows bathing their surroundings in its eerie, silver light. Even after a whole year of walking these halls, Sakura still felt uneasy. There was something about Night Raven College after dark, a profound sense of otherworldliness that seemed to always linger in the air, that made her shiver. She was by no means afraid, but it still made her keep her guard up. And that spoke volumes considering she lived in a dorm infested with trickster ghosts.

They walked in silence, the tap of their feet echoing around them and making Sakura glance at every fleeting shadow. She fiddled with the hem of her light blue shirt, tucking it neatly into her pencil skirt just to keep her mind occupied.

"We're here."

Doctor Gotrus' announcement made her look up and she found herself staring at the door of the Teachers' Lounge. She furrowed her brow in confusion.

"The Teachers' Lounge? Are we moving anything from here to the infirmary?"

She'd seen the inside of this room a handful of times, mostly when she needed to fetch Doctor Gotrus for one thing and another, but she was not a frequent visitor. After all, she was not actually a teacher.

The older man chuckled, turning the doorknob. "You ask too many questions, chit. Come along now."

The room was dark but the moment Sakura stepped one foot inside, she immediately picked up on the distinct feeling of foreign chakra signatures hiding in the shadows. Pulling out the kunai she kept strapped to her inner thigh at all times, she jumped in front of the man, falling into a battle stance.

"Stay back, Doctor Gotrus! Someone is-"

She was momentarily blinded by bright light, and she found herself gasping the moment her eyes finally adjusted. She stared dumbfounded at the professors, all of which were looking at her with varying degrees of amusement on their faces. Two long tables with food platters, refreshments and alcoholic beverages were pushed against the wall. A "Happy Birthday, Sakura" banner hung above it, decorated with magically blooming flowers and golden sparkles.

Scrambling to collect herself and fix her clothes, she hid the kunai behind her back, blushing heavily. A hand landed on her shoulder and she turned to look up at Doctor Gotrus who was looking at her with a lopsided smile splitting his lips.

"Happy birthday, chit."

Forgetting her embarrassment for just a moment, she tilted her head to the side curiously. "But my birthday was last month, Doctor Gotrus. You've already given me your wishes, don't you remember?"

He shrugged. "Your friends threw you a party last month, but we didn't. Like it or not, you're a member of the faculty and of Night Raven College as a whole, chit. We take care of our own." He winked at her. "After all, today is the anniversary of your arrival here. What, have you forgotten?"

Sakura's eyes widened as realization hit her. "It..it is?"

Doctor Gotrus patted her head. "Am I overworking you that much that you've completely lost track of time?" he said teasingly. "Enjoy your party, chit. You deserve it."

"Sakura, the woman of the hour!"

Crowley's cheerful voice broke her out of her thoughts, and she turned just as the man threw his arm around her shoulder.

"Headmaster."

"Isn't this so exciting? A whole year as Gotrus' assistant and a permanent resident here. It's not quite as bad as you thought it'd be that very first day, is it?"

Chuckling, Sakura offered him a small smile. "I suppose it isn't. It could have been way worse, that's for certain."

"Oh? How so?"

She smirked up at him, not missing the glint in his golden pupils. "For example, I could have ended up working as your assistant."

Loud laughter reached her ears and she turned to see Ashton Vargas approaching them. "The lass got you good, Headmaster. Your tongue is almost as sharp as your reflexes, Miss Haruno."

Feeling more at ease by the minute, Sakura grinned. "I assure you, Professor Vargas, my tongue is sharper than a newly whetted sword. And please, call me Sakura."

"Of course she has a sharp tongue, Ashton. Would you expect anything less from my assistant? I teach them well."

"Another you is not what this school needs, Gotrus."

"What it needs is brains. Something that many of the students that attend your class seem to sorely lack."

Their bickering was so reminiscent of her own teasing conversations with Ino that she couldn't help but chuckle, feeling a pang of homesickness in her chest.

Excusing herself, she approached the tables and poured herself a cup of sake, taking a large swing of the clear liquid. Feeling it burn its way down her throat, she sighed deeply, wondering if things in Konoha had gone back to normal. Were her friends still looking for her? Would they ever stop? Once it became clear that she wasn't coming back, would they write her name on the memorial stone, mourning her while she was still alive?

What a silly question. Of course they are looking for me. Naruto will turn the world upside down to find me.

It was depressing to think about. Though it was not her own fault, she was unwillingly putting her precious people through torment. She could only imagine what kind of state her friends were in. She hated the idea that Kakashi and Sasuke were losing someone they cared about all over again. And Naruto…She was absolutely certain that Naruto was burning in the fires of hell. The same fires he'd walk through willingly to get to her. Knowing him, he had probably found a way to blame himself for her 'loss'.

She took another large gulp of sake, hoping that the alcohol would numb the guilt.

"Now, that is not quite the expression that belongs on a face as delicate as yours, and certainly not during your own birthday party."

Sakura's breathing hitched as a velvety voice traveled to her ears, making heat rush to her face. Forcing her heart to slow down, she turned around to meet the silvery blue eyes of Divus Crewel.

"Professor Crewel."

He smiled charmingly, taking her hand in his and pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "Divus, please. We are colleagues, are we not? No need for the formalities."

Certain that she was blushing to the roots of her hair, Sakura tilted her head to the side. "Divus then."

His eyes glinted with interest as he regarded her. "Ah, much better. If I may be so bold, you seem a bit upset."

Sipping from her cup, Sakura smiled at him, her eyes lingering on the broad slopes of his shoulders. She'd never seen him without his stripped fur coat, and it'd be a lie to say that she wasn't impressed. Tall and strikingly handsome, Divus was an imposing presence even on his bad days, though she couldn't imagine him having even a single one of those. Without the large coat hiding his tasteful dress pants and impeccably tailored waistcoat, he cut a dashing figure.

"I'm just a little homesick. It's been a year since I arrived here, and this is the first time I'm spending my birthday away from home. I suppose I hadn't really realized it until now."

Divus hummed, holding a glass of red wine between his gloved fingers. "As sad as that must be, I trust your stay here has been pleasant, no? Gotrus' sour mood aside, of course."

Sakura found herself chuckling, strangely relaxed. Divus' presence usually made her feel rather self-conscious, but she welcomed the change. She doubted she'd get to talk to him in such a casual setting again in the near future, so she intended to enjoy having his attention, even for a little while.

"Doctor Gotrus is not that bad. One would say he's an acquired taste, but he reminds me a lot of my old mentor, so I do enjoy his quirks."

The man's shoulders shook as he laughed. "Oh my! You enjoy his quirks? I believe we have an emergency here. And though I am no doctor," he said, picking up an expensive looking bottle of wine, "I think we need to prescribe the proper medicine to help you unwind. May I pour the lady a drink?"

Feeling her smile widen, she held out her empty cup. Titling her head to the side, she nodded at him, certain that her cheeks were flushed and not due to the alcohol.

"Please do."

XxxxX

Ugh…I'm never drinking again. Ever.

Sakura groaned, forcing her eyes to open. She blinked, trying to get rid of the blurriness, but even through the fog of sleep still clinging to her mind, it was glaringly obvious that she was not in her room.

W-What…?

She observed her surroundings, taking in the grey curtains, and the large, black leather chair placed right beside a coffee table made of dark, lacquered wood. A desk was pushed up against the opposite wall, organized neatly and looking spotless. From top to bottom, half of the wall was taken up by a sizable wooden bookshelf, filled with tomes of all shapes and sizes.

Where…Where am I?

Sakura sat up in the bed, rubbing her eyes, dreading the hangover she'd have to deal with even for a little while. Feeling movement beside her, she glanced to her right only to do a double take at the sight that greeted her.

Sleeping soundly, with his arms hugging his pillow, and his unique hair ruffled, was none other than Divus Crewel. He was also very naked, with only a thin black and white spotted blanket covering his backside.

Sakura pressed her hand to her mouth to stifle a yelp of shock. Looking down at herself, she found that she too was in her birthday suit and oh Gods, what in the world were those?

Her inner thighs were a mosaic of bite marks and bruises that she was pretty sure were hickeys. She flushed at the implications of that, hiding her burning face in her hands.

What…What did I do last night?

She was by no means a stranger to the pleasures of physical intimacy with a man, and if there was one man in that whole school she'd wanted to roll between the sheets with, that was Divus Crewel. Gods knew how many times she'd fantasized about sharing the devastatingly handsome professor's bed. If anything, she was more disappointed that she couldn't quite remember what they'd done so she could reclaim a taste of the pleasure her sore muscles were indicative of.

Hazy as her mind was, she forced herself to focus, trying to piece together the events of the previous night.

The professors threw me a party. And then I had a few drinks with Divus. Then-

Images flashed before her eyes. Images of her and Divus-

…She threw her head back against the mattress, heat pulsing through her blood from the point where his tongue was driving her mad. Her leg flexed against his back, urging him closer, her hands cupping his head to hold him still as she rocked into him. Feeling the rough satin strands of his hair against her sensitive inner thighs was its own provocation, heightening her awareness of everything around her…

She felt heat rush to her face like a torrent as more and more memories flooded her mind.

…On her knees and elbows, she bit her lip to contain her screams as he thrust inside her, his fingers gripping her hips tightly.

"Divus!" she moaned his name, rocking her body backwards to meet his movements, desperate to feel as much of him as she could.

She closed her eyes, feeling his lips on the back of her neck, his taut arm wrapping around her middle to pull her to his chest. His mouth found her shoulder and he bit down, making her gasp and tremble.

"Divus!"

He guided his lips to her ear, his voice a seductive spell that made everything around her hazy. "Scream for me," he whispered, the rhythm of his hips quickening…

She hid her face in her hands, torn between profound embarrassment and the contentment of a woman who had been thoroughly ravished by the man she was attracted to.

Oh God…What do I do now-

A strong arm wrapped around her middle and pulled her down, interrupting her thoughts. She yelped in surprise as she fell backwards, immediately finding herself held tightly against Divus' warm chest.

"Good morning," he said, leaning down to snatch a taste of her lips. "Did you sleep well? How are you feeling?"

"I feel…great," she replied breathlessly, glancing up at him shyly, affected by the sight of his half-lidded blue eyes. "Just a little dazed."

Divus hummed, tangling his fingers in her hair, and pulling her head back gently to gain access to her neck.

"I will take that as a compliment, though your mere presence in my bed is an honor in itself."

His lips latched onto her skin, biting, and eliciting soft coos of delight from her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and started playing with his disheveled hair.

Her body arched into his when he bit a particularly sensitive spot, her nails digging in the muscle of his shoulders. "Divus…"

He stopped, his breathing hot on her skin, and Sakura had to fight down a shiver of excitement when his eyes met hers.

"That's how you said my name last night, and you know what followed."

"I…I don't," she whispered, her voice faltering as his fingers started rubbing slow circles on her thigh. "I don't remember a lot of last night."

Divus raised an eyebrow before a devilish smirk spread across his elegant face, making Sakura's belly tighten pleasantly.

"Now, that just won't do. Every time I take you, I want you to remember it. Every kiss. Every touch. Every word. I want every moment to remain engraved in your mind, as it will in mine," he said, climbing on top of her, his hand guiding her leg around his waist.

He caught her chin between his fingers, his thumb settling on her wet lower lip. "Now, my lady, allow me to freshen your memory."

TBC

I just couldn't resist. And since this is Divus freaking Crewel we're talking about, this couldn't have been anything other than M-rated. This villain is too attractive for his own good. XD

I hope you enjoyed this!

I'm not entirely sure which NRC man will be next so that remains to be seen. Stay tuned!

Reading your thoughts always makes my day so drop me a review if you have a minute to spare.

Until next time,

Lots of love!