A/N: YES! It's back from the dead! :D

Thirty Nights

Chapter Four

The day dragged by slowly, nearly tormenting the anxious Uchiha. Feelings of both regret and excitement swirled about in his mind; Sasuke was looking forward to spending more time with his (sexy, but he wouldn't dare say that out loud) student, but at the same time, the controversy of a man his age hanging around with his sixteen year old underling itched at the back of his brain.

'We're just being friendly,' he told himself as he was preparing to leave his house for the training spot. 'Nothing sexual…just being friendly.'

But the way they carried on the night before suggested otherwise. Not only did they share an unintentional kiss, but Yumi nearly let him fondle her! And as much as Sasuke denied it…he really enjoyed it. No, not enjoyed it…loved it. Loved the way this young woman could make him yearn, turn him on, like no other woman could…

At that thought, a sudden rush of horror struck the man as he shut the front door of his house behind him, and a cold sweat formed above his brow. This was shameful. This was wrong. In fact, this was illegal, thinking these thoughts about Yumi, his student, a young woman he was supposed to take under his wing. She wasn't someone he could think dirty thoughts about.

But dirty thoughts there were. The night before, Sasuke mentally fucked the girl over and over as he lay in bed, his body covered in sweat and his hardened member bulging at the front of his pants, and the constant thought of "If only she were older'.

Thinking about his promiscuous fantasies involving Yumi only made him feel worse as he neared the team's training area, the stars once again shining brightly in the heavens. What if he attempted to make those fantasies reality? What if the need to show his student the physical wonders of love overcame him?

'I can't do that to her,' he thought as the concrete of the street melted into the spongy dirt floor of the forest. ' I can't…I won't let it happen. Tonight, I'll tell her that we can't meet like this anymore.'

His resolve crumbled as he entered the circular patch of grass that his team had been training on for many years and was rooted to the spot when he saw Yumi sitting on a tree stump, her long blonde hair hanging straight down her back and glinting in the ivory moonlight. He gulped, noting that she was wearing a low-cut white t-shirt and a jean mini skirt. This display of female clothing was such a shock after seeing her dress like a boy ever since he met her.

She turned and smiled at him. "Well good, you're not late this time."

Sasuke smirked back and relaxed. At least she wasn't acting any differently. Still the same snarky girl with a biting attitude. He took a seat next to her on the stump and folded his arms.

"You shouldn't be-"

"Dressed like this?" She offered lightly.

"Exactly."

She didn't respond but instead turned her sea-green eyes skyward. Sasuke watched her for a minute before doing the same. There was something so lustful and mysterious about the night sky, with it's billions of stars twinkling and the moon shining brightly. The man couldn't help but think that at this very moment, there were young couples all over the world making love under this same sky.

"Maybe I want to impress somebody," Yumi finally said quietly.

It took a few seconds for Sasuke to realize that she was talking about the way she was dressed and he began to feel increasingly nervous again. He shuffled his feet and cleared his throat.

"Yumi, I-"

She looked him in the eye and smiled warmly. "Remember that one night, Sensei, when we were out on a mission and we had to camp in the middle of the woods?"

Sasuke hesitated, really wanting to tell the girl that this would never work between them, but instead nodded and laughed quietly. "Of course I do. That night was the night of Banken's birthday."

"And like he totally flashed me and he made me all uncomfortable and-" Yumi stopped and blushed.

"And you demanded that I let you sleep in my tent," Sasuke finished quietly.

The girl nodded. "And you made me feel so safe and secure. I just…felt like you could protect me from anything."

"And I would, Yumi," Sasuke said gently. "Because you're my student." As much as he tried to emphasize the word 'student', the implication was lost on Yumi.

"And because you're a good man, Sasuke," she said, and the man felt even more unsettled at the fact that she had used his name instead of 'Sensei'. After a moment, he also realized that her mother had said the same thing to him on the day he had first seen her as an infant.

The two were quiet again for a while before Sasuke attempted to speak again.

"Yumi, we can't-"

He stopped in mid-sentence when he noticed that silent tears had begun to pour down his student's cheek. He shut his mouth and gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Yumi…"

She sniffled and faced him, the tears messing up her make-up and her hair sticking to her face. Yet even looking as disheveled as she did, at that moment Sasuke thought was incredibly beautiful.

"Can't you tell…" Yumi managed to whisper between her tears. "That I'm falling for you?"

All Sasuke could do was stare at her sadly, feeling his heart throb painfully in his chest, and knowing that he too wanted to say those exact same words to her. Instead he bit his lip and wrapped his strong arms around the girl's shaking body, pulling her as close as he could to his chest, holding her tightly, trying to ease not only her pain, but his too. Yumi was right: he would protect her from anything…

Even himself.

Sasuke took a deep breath, trying his best to keep his own tears at bay. He pulled away and touched her cheek tenderly, wishing with all his might that he didn't have to break a young woman's heart tonight.

"I know, Yumi. I know that you have a crush on me, and though I shouldn't be saying this, I admittedly return some of those feelings-"

"Then why-" The girl whimpered, her voice breaking.

"Because it's wrong," Sasuke said softly.

Yumi's lip quavered and she turned her head away. "We…we can try and keep it secret-"

"No, Yumi."

The two sat in uncomfortable silence except for the young woman's quiet sobbing before she attempted to sit up and break away from Sasuke's grip. The man in turn grabbed Yumi's shoulders tighter. Out of fear that he might lose her, or because it was just his initial reaction, he wasn't sure.

"Let me go," Yumi said quietly, almost menacingly.

"Not until I know you're going to be alright."

Yumi snapped her head back towards him, a look of pure hatred on her fiercely beautiful face. "I said, let me go," she growled between gritted teeth.

"No," Sasuke said calmly, though his heart was starting to tear at the seams.

That's when Yumi did the unexpected: she slapped her teacher, hard. Stunned, Sasuke's grip on her shoulders loosened, and she freed herself, jumping off the ground and sprinting out of the clearing.

After the initial shock of being struck by Yumi had worn off, Sasuke had come to his senses and yelled after her. "Yumi, wait!"

"I hate you!" A shrill, agonized shriek responded. "I fucking hate you!"

Sasuke sighed heavily and rubbed the spot where she had hit him, whispering aloud the words that he had wanted to tell her so much that it was unbearable:

"…But I love you."