And that is how you get someone to update quicker ^_^ Wow... just... wow. 29 reviews? Uh, I think I just fell in love with all of you :D Okay, a little heads up. The end of this chapter might seem like the end of the story, but it isn't, trust me. In fact, there's still a little way to go. I can't actually tell you how excited I was to write this chapter. It's literally been in my head since I first started writing this story, and that was over six months ago :O Has it seriously been that long? That feels just nuts :P Now, I would've gotten this out even quicker, but my brain was like 'No! Not perfect! Re write! Now!' And oddly enough my fingers acquiesced. So, enough of my rambling. Thank you so much to all you wonderful people who reviewed, it seriously means so much to me :)

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I'll Never Say

.:{*}:.

Where You Belong

September 14th

Dearest diary.

I don't know what to say. My chest hurts. I feel broken, like I'm about to shatter into a thousand pieces. I feel like I've been betrayed by everyone around me. It wasn't meant to be like this! After I found out about my father, and how he was a spy for Otogakure all along. I don't understand what could have motivated him to turn traitor. Of course I saw changes in him, but I never attributed them that anything like that. How could he have done that?

Dearest diary, I love him so much. I don't think I want to leave anymore. The idea of being without him and leaving him to the likes of Karin, or whomever else may want to sink her claws in to him - It's more than I can bear! To never look into his eyes again. Feel his butterfly kisses, his gentle caresses on my skin, my name on his lips when we make love, well, have sex. I don't think we have ever made love, nor will we ever. He doesn't love me; he probably hates me. But still, it makes me want to vomit, knowing that he'll never do that again after tonight.

Does this make me a traitor? I was never supposed to love him. He was the enemy… He is the enemy! Gods above, he was plotting to kill my best friend! And yet, whenever I'm in his arms, whenever he holds me, whenever he kisses me – whenever he use to kiss me – I feel like I can see heaven. And I don't even know if he returns my feelings! I am so afraid that he doesn't. What if I'm merely a novelty to him? I don't want to say goodbye without telling him how I feel. But how can I say goodbye? He'll know that something is up.

Gods, all I've wanted was to go home. Now that I have the ability to, I don't want to. I want to stay here, with him, and love him. Wait for the day that he may love me in return, though I sincerely doubt that that will happen now. Not after Gaara. Not after Karin.

I hate her. She tried so hard to steal him from me, and she still tries. I know that she is plotting with those two – Kabuto and Orochimaru. I bet you anything that she's involved with Yue's death. She'd do anything to sink her claws into Sasuke. I wouldn't be surprised if she tries to kill me.

Dearest diary… What the hell is wrong with me?

The girl raised her gleaming emerald eyes, before softly closing the book. She stood, her gold coloured silk slip whispered around her body as she picked up a carefully folded note and tucked it into her bra. Surveying her room one last time, she sighed, before leaving.

Sasuke paced nervously about his room, indecision raging strongly within him. It had been over a week since his brother had confronted him, and since then Sasuke had started to get back on track with his duties, taking care of the kingdom beside Itachi. And yet, he still lacked the courage to go and see her.

Sakura. He must have passed Yue's room countless times in the past eight days, yet every time his courage died and he scampered away like a chastised hound. How could he dare even think to face her after all he'd said and done? All his shameful and regretful actions, those spiteful words thrown about like acid in a fit of rage he was unable to control… He wanted to make things right with her, but he had no idea how to even broach the subject, let alone confront the roseate and beg her to forgive him. The whole situation was so maddening; he was ready to tear his hair out!

A soft knock sounded at his door, and he turned his head to look at the immobile object. Surely most would not be out of bed at this time? It was nearing eleven at night. Only the guards should still be awake. Yet there was no denying it; someone had knocked at his door.

His mind immediately jumped to childish conclusions – he found it had been doing that a lot – and he dived beneath the covers of his bed, rearranging his body and the covers so that it looked as if he'd been fast asleep for a while now.

The door opened, and the soft patter of feet crept across his floor. His brow creased; it certainly wasn't Itachi, and none of the maids would dare disturb him at this time. So who could it be? The footsteps got closer and closer, stopped for a moment, then started to retreat. He turned around just in time to see a pink haired girl turning to leave his room.

.:{*}:.

The corridors were empty, as she expected that they would be at such an hour. The full moon was high in the sky, and where windows allowed, it spilled into the hallways, coating the darkness in a pearly sheen. The light reminded her of the colour of Hinata's eyes, and her resolve strengthened; she would leave this land tonight. She would see Hinata before the week was out.

Sakura regretted not being able to say farewell to Tenten before she left, but she'd hardly had the chance. A different girl had been bringing in her meals, and she was far too heartsore to leave her room and go seek out the girl herself. But she patted the letter where it was concealed in her breast and smiled, glad that she'd asked Sasuke to say goodbye and thank you to the brunette for her.

She jolted out of her thoughts when she realised that she had already reached Sasuke's room, and took a deep breath to calm her hyperactive nerves. Was Sasuke still awake? No, impossible. Unless his sex drive had gone ballistic, Sasuke rarely stayed awake that late. But just to be sure, she raised her fist and knocked softly upon the smooth mahogany door.

Not a sound exuded from the room, but Sakura waited a few moments just to be sure. Gathering her courage, she slowly opened the door, as if doing so too quickly would set off a deadly trap.

But, much to her delight, Sasuke was in bed, and appeared to have been sleeping for a while already. Careful not to wake him, though, she tip toed across the floorboards and reached in to her bra, drawing out the letter she'd written for him that night, folded over the letter that had fallen out of Karin's dress. Sasuke had the right to know that there was a plot against him and his brother, and be given the chance to fight back against it.

Not wasting any time to look at the man she loved, she hastily crept back out of his room, only at the last minute to hear movement behind her and a hand clamp down over her arm. Sakura let out a surprised yelp and instinctively tried to wrench said arm away as she turn to face the man who had a hold of her.

"Sasuke," she breathed, her eyes turning wide at the piercing look he was giving her. "I won't bother you any longer. Just let me go."

"You're not going anywhere," he said fiercely, only clenching her wrist tighter. "Not until you hear what I have to say."

"There's nothing to say anymore, Sasuke," Sakura countered quickly, wary of how much time was passing. Her cloak and necessities were by the dip in the wall, ready and waiting for her to join them and Naruto and escape. She was to meet him at midnight. Less than an hour left. "I'm sorry I hurt you; I was as shocked as you when Gaara proposed. But you no longer have to pretend to hold affection for me; I'll go back to my room and you needn't look at me again. Just let me go."

She quivered under his unblinking stare, and fruitlessly tugged her arm again, wondering why he hadn't let her go yet.

"You're not going anywhere," Sasuke repeated, and Sakura shot him a perplexed look.

"Don't you want me gone? I thought you'd tired of me. A whore, if I remember correctly. Those were your words, were they not?" she spat, resorting to taunts in hopes that he would let her go. He pulled her closer.

"Aye, they were my words," he admitted. "And I have questions for you too. What do you, sneaking into my room in the middle of the night, though by all logic you should be engaged – even married – and trying to give another man an heir? Why are you still in Otogakure, haunting me day and night with just your presence? Why did you not accept Gaara's proposal, though by all logical reasons you should have? It makes no sense to me, Sakura."

The way her name rolled off his tongue sent shivers down her spine, and she worked to stop her body from shuddering with desire. Somehow, luckily, she kept her composure.

"I have my reasons, Sasuke. They're not any business of yours. Now let me go." She pulled at her arm again, though the effort was futile. "Let me go you brute!"

"No." She glared at him, and he pulled her closer against him, close enough that he could feel her body heat through the thin slip. "I won't." Sasuke leaned down until his mouth was level with her ears. "I won't let you go until I have an answer, Sakura. Why would you refuse Gaara? It makes no sense."

"My answer does not concern you!" Sakura protested, and tried to yank herself back. Sasuke was quick to slip his other arm around her waist and pull her in closer – close enough to feel his length pressing against her. She shuddered with longing, knowing he could feel her reaction.

"See what you do to me? See why I won't let you go? Answer me this, Sakura, and you won't regret it."

She used her free arm as leverage and tried to push against his chiselled chest, though that did nothing to get him away either. "Damn you, Sasuke," she ground out between clenched teeth, feeling her resolve weaken.

"Tell me why, Sakura. I won't let you go 'til you do."

She felt her restraint snap, and angrily yelled, "Because I love you, you jerk!" She stilled, shocked that she'd allowed herself to admit that to him, then took a deep, wavering breath, and leaned her forehead against his chest, feeling that now her secret was out he may as well hear it all. "Because the idea of anyone else holding me or kissing me or touching me is repulsive. Because the idea of waking up to someone other than you makes my stomach turn. You are the most egotistical, rude, stubborn, and selfish man I have ever met, and though it kills me to acknowledge it, I can see it as nothing else but the truth. I am in love with you, not that you care anyway. You have Karin or some other noble lady to share your bed. So before I embarrass myself any further and do something else that you'll despise me for, please just let me go." Her voice was barely above a whisper once she'd finished, and this time she didn't try to pull away. She'd never get another moment such as this. Best savour it while she could.

"Sakura," Sasuke finally said. "You should know by now that I have a short temper and an even shorter emotional span. What I said – when I called you a whore, when I said I'd tired of you – it was the furthest thing from the truth. I've never feigned affection for you – why would I bother feigning affection in the first place? The notion would hardly benefit me. There is no one else but you. That girl was in my room, yes, but I never fucked her. I never even touched her. I haven't touched anyone since then. But can't you feel it, Sakura? Can't you feel me? My body aches for you. My hands, my mind, my very being screams for yours. These past couple of weeks have been agony. At first, when I had believed that you had gone to Gaara. When I thought that it was now his bed you shared, and his lips and his body you surrendered yourself to. Then, when Itachi told me you'd stayed, I thought I would go mad with indecision, wondering whether you hated me, whether it was worth begging you for forgiveness. Yes, begging. I would have reduced myself to that. Kami Sakura, don't you understand? I need you. I feel I can barely breathe without you."

Sakura hardly had any time to protest – not that she'd want to – when Sasuke leaned across and captured her lips with his. All thoughts of time fled her mind. There was nothing left. Nothing but Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke. He was all she could see, feel, taste, smell. Her senses were ensnared by him. Sakura immediately forfeited any resistance she would have otherwise given, throwing away her common sense (which was screaming at her to move) and her willpower. She'd turned to putty in his arms, could feel herself shaking with longing and desire.

His mouth released its hold on hers and trekked a course along her jaw and down the side of her neck, leaving a small glistening trail of saliva in its wake. She shuddered with longing and impatience and snaked her hands up his chest, behind his neck and into his hair, which she gripped like her life depended on it. His lips left a burning trail of fire down her neck and across her shoulder, and she vaguely registered his teeth tugging the sleeve of her slip off her shoulder. His hand was quick to flick the other off, and the thin garment landed in a golden puddle at her feet.

Sakura shivered as cold air assaulted her naked body, then groaned as his calloused palm enveloped one of her breasts, the other receiving attention from his mouth. Her fingers wove a tighter grip in his hair as a small knot of desire began to form in the pit of her belly, signalling a release her body was becoming desperate to find.

"Sasuke," she sighed when he switched breasts, bestowing an equal amount of attention on each until both her nipples had pursed and hardened in his hands.

She realised vaguely that his pants were still on, and it made an annoyed furrow crease her brow.

"Sasuke… pants…" she gasped, barely able to force out the words through her haze of desire. Sasuke merely grunted in answer, and began to push her towards the bed.

"Not yet," he managed to say as he gently lowered her onto the soft surface of the mattress. She shot him a confused, lust ridden look, but didn't say anything as his mouth began to kiss a trail back down to her breasts.

But he passed them, which shot a spark of uncertainty and heat through her body.

"S-Sasuke, what are y-you doing?" she stammered, though she received no reply.

His mouth descended past her navel, dipping in briefly, before going down, down, down.

"S-Sasuke," she growled as he placed his hands on her hips, keeping her from moving.

When his mouth began to kiss the inside of her thigh, she gasped, finally catching on to the game he was trying to play.

"Sasuke, no, I – oh…" Before she could so much as try and protest, she felt his tongue slide up between her slit and come to rest tracing circles around her clit. Her back arched clean off the bed as soon as he began to suck, and her eyes closed as a wave of pure, unadulterated pleasure crashed through her body, setting her nerves aflame and turning all sense into water.

"Oh Kami… Sasuke, I… oh Gods…" All thoughts of her escape with Naruto fled her mind. She couldn't think about anything; couldn't concentrate on anything except the wonders his tongue was working on her body. Vaguely, she became aware of his fingers massaging her opening, and she nearly forgot to breathe when he slipped two digits past her folds and deep inside her.

The pleasure was indescribable, and she could see stars dance in front of her eyes as heat twisted in her belly, the knot to signify her release growing tighter and tighter with each thrust, each curl of his fingers, each time his tongue circled her jewel.

"Sa… Sasu… Oh Gods I… Ngh uh…" She was barely able to form discernible words as the bliss increased. Her release was building constantly, until she could feel her body throbbing with anticipation, waiting for just one more curl, one more lick –

Sasuke immediately pulled away from her, his dark eyes shining with amusement and lust.

"You taste amazing," her purred, as he slunk over her body, undoing his breeches and kicking the off as he went. "You're so fucking addictive."

Sakura quivered and let out a loud whine, feeling her body desperately seeking a release Sasuke wasn't giving.

"Sa… Sasuke," she gasped, and bucked her hips futilely against him. "P… please." She was reduced to a pleading mess, her brain unable to grasp any concept such as dignity when release was so close.

He smirked at her, and some half sane part of her mind considered slapping him, but she quickly pushed the thought away as the head of his cock poked through her folds and slowly began to enter her.

He teased her, stopping himself from going any further, and instead leaned down to kiss her lightly, one hand holding her waist to prevent any chance of her forcing him deeper.

"Enjoying yourself, Sa-ku-ra?" he cooed, dipping his tongue briefly inside her mouth. The roseate groaned when she tasted herself upon his tongue. Under any other circumstances, she would have been disturbed and grossed out by such a disgusting play, but somehow, this time, it only seemed to heighten her desire and her wanting of him. It was dirty and vulgar and erotic, and she loved it.

Sasuke, too, was reaching his limit. Teasing her was one of the most enjoyable parts of having her, and he admitted that apart from the love making itself, it's what he most enjoyed. More than slowly undressing her, more than foreplay; her reactions made it all worthwhile. He wasn't sure why he'd had the sudden urge to taste her, straight from her core, but as soon as the idea had settled in his mind, he knew that there was no other option except doing that. From the first taste, he knew he was addicted. Only his arousal had stopped him from continuing, the need to be clenched outweighing his need to drink from her.

He shifted his weight, and slowly pushed deeper into her, fighting the want to pound the girl beneath him. Sakura's groans were like music to his ears, and he hooked her leg higher up his waist to create a better position with which to slide in to her. Her inner walls pulsed around his cock, alerting him as to just how close she was. One more thrust and she would reach her high, probably bringing him with her, if his dizzying state was any clue.

Finally, he was fully sheathed inside her, a fine layer of sweat coating his body and his teeth gritted as he tried to stay in control. Sakura was squirming beneath him, trying to force him into moving faster, but he would have none of it. He wanted a bit more pleasure first.

Slowly, he edged his way out, until he was barely inside, then pushed back in until he was sheathed again. He could feel his orgasm building, building, trying to take back control of his mind so as to slam into the girl beneath him, but he forced the onslaught of lust back.

Sakura could barely comprehend his agonisingly slow pace. Gods, she felt that if he didn't go harder soon, she would just about die! She begged him to go faster, the words falling off her tongue in broken, choked chords, but she couldn't help it. She needed him to give her her release!

"Sa… Sasuke… fas… faster… please, I… faster!" The tension would have been painful had it not felt so sinfully incredible.

"Say it again," Sasuke ordered her suddenly, completely halting his actions as he gazed down at her.

"S-Say what a… again?" she croaked, not truly caring but willing to answer as long as he'd just fuck her senseless as a reward.

He put his mouth next to her ear and growled, "Tell me you love me."

Sakura inhaled a shocked gasp of air, nearly forgetting her body's convulsions at his request. Didn't he realise just how hard it had been to say the first time? But her stubbornness was angrily pushed aside as her almost-release screamed at her to obey.

"I love you," she whispered, feeling her eyes beginning to water as she stared straight at his ceiling.

He shuddered, and pushed deeper. "Say it again," he ordered, and she complied.

"I love you."

She felt his lips curl into a smirk against her ear, before he pulled out and slammed back into her, finally allowing her to taste bliss with his harsh, erratic thrusting. It didn't take long before the tightly strung chord in the pit of her stomach snapped, giving way to the most powerful orgasm she'd ever been given. She didn't care whether the rest of the castle could hear her or not, she screamed out Sasuke's name, as if that could make her last longer.

Sakura's orgasm immediately set off his own, and they came together, Sasuke grunting with pleasure and continuing to pound the girl, completely emptying his seed inside her womb.

It took all he had to not collapse on top of her, and instead he rolled off shakily, his body still tingling with the remnants of his and her orgasm. No words were uttered for the longest time, instead just the sound of heavy breathing filling the room as they both desperately tried to regain their breath.

"That… that was…" Sakura eventually managed to say, though her mind came up blank as to how she was meant to finish her sentence.

"I know," Sasuke supplied, not truly giving an answer, but understanding what she was trying to describe. Having partially regained a little energy, he snagged the roseate about her waist and pulled her against him, wiping the hair from her eyes and softly placing his lips upon hers. "I'm not letting you go again," he told her, his voice a soft caress of air. "I don't care what I have to do, I'll figure something out. But I'm not ever going to be so foolish as to believe that I can part with you again."

Sakura's heart sunk upon hearing those words. She was sure that she only had around twenty or so minutes to meet up with Naruto. How was she going to leave?

"Why?" she asked, unable to comprehend why he'd tell her something like that. "Why would you want to keep me?"

His grip around her tightened ever so slightly as he stared deep in to her sparkling viridian eyes. "Because this is where you belong, Sakura. You belong here, with me. In my arms, in my bed, by my side. I'm not going to let you go. I can't let you go."

Somehow, though her heart was beating in her chest like a drum, she managed to smile, knowing that it was the closest she'd ever get to a love confession in return. Why did he have to say everything now? He was making it so much harder for her to leave. The best idea she could come up with was getting him to fall asleep, so that she could sneak away whilst he lay unaware.

"Thank you," she whispered, and buried her face into his chest, hoping that he would get the impression that she was trying to immerse herself in slumber.

The stars seemed to be on her side, as barely a few minutes later his breathing became deep and even, his arm growing slack about her waist and his body stilling as sleep folded him in its embrace. Heart palpitating, Sakura waited a few more moments so as to be sure that he wouldn't wake, then slowly crawled out of his arms, careful to not disturb him. She raced to where her slip lay discarded and quickly put it on, before tiptoeing back over to Sasuke.

"I must leave, Sasuke. There is no other option. I must go," she murmured, and kissed him softly on the cheek. "I love you."

And she crept from his room, quietly closing the door behind her.

.:{*}:.

As soon as the door had closed, she wasted no time in racing towards the gardens, hoping that midnight had not yet struck. Naruto and her only had a window of a few minutes to scamper over the wall and ride away as far as they could whilst the guards changed shifts, else they'd be caught.

Panting, she made it to the gardens, and raced towards the dip in the wall, praying it wasn't too late. Naruto was already there, a strained look upon his face. It was obvious that he feared she wouldn't come.

"Where have you been?" he hissed as she neared him. "Do you know how close it is until the guards change? We only have two minutes!"

"I'm sorry, Naruto. I got distracted," she apologised, and hurriedly pulled on a pair of trousers that lay waiting with her pack, before pulling on a cloak. "At least I got here," she said, before fastening her pack behind her. "I can see the guards. They're leaving their stations now."

Naruto nodded at her, before linking his hands together to make a foothold. Sakura immediately placed her foot on his hands and heaved herself to the top of the wall, using all her strength to get in a sitting position before offering Naruto her hand in assisting him up as well.

Naruto was a lot more graceful at climbing over the wall than Sakura was, and he jumped down to the other side before even stopping to regain his breath, before opening his arms wide to catch her.

"Jump, Sakura Chan. Quick, before the next guard comes back."

Sakura gulped, feeling oddly dizzy at such a height, but before she let her nerves take over she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, pushing herself off the wall and landing heavily in Naruto's arms.

"Only a couple more minutes and they're going to be back. Quick, get on the horse, Sakura."

Sakura approached the beast wearily. She hadn't ridden a horse since coming to Otogakure and now wished that she'd asked someone to teach her how to ride. Before she could protest, she felt Naruto's hands on her waist lifting her up into the saddle, and seconds later he vaulted up behind her.

"Keep a firm grip with your thighs, Sakura, and hold on to the reigns. It's going to be bumpy, I'm sorry."

She merely smiled back at him and did as he said, feeling him spurring the horse into an immediate gallop straight towards the trees.

She didn't look back as Otogakure faded into the night.

Soooo... Thoughts? Opinions? It's nearly midnight and I can't be bothered typing another huge authors note. But yeah, I'd love to hear from those coughmanycough people who've favourited and not reviewed, and to everyone who reviewed last chapter, thank you. I don't like getting angry at you guys, and I'm sad that it did seem to take that for you to actually review. But thank you so much everyone, and now that you know that reviewing really does make me update quicker, maybe leave another little one? ;) Okay, yes, I'm bribing you ^_^ But it's fun!

Please don't favourite without leaving a review guys. They're like written gold :)

Much love, SapphireRivulet xoxoxoxox