Chapter 17
Hello, everyone!!!! I'm back!! Ya miss me?! This chapter is dedicated to all you people who read and specifically vote and comment! Letting me know your opinion is very appreciated as a writer, so thank you. Your comments have pushed me to write this as fast as possible. Unfortunately, it took longer than I would have like because... well... I may have wanted to write something that I didn't necessarily have to. You'll see as son as you start reading this chapter. Sorry if it's a bit repetitive, but I thought it important to see it from Sasuke's perspective as well. So an extra long chapter for you all! Yay! I should probably be doing my homework... but whatever! Sasusaku used my body to its own ends! Also, class was canceled today so instead of going until 5:20, I finished at 12:50! Lucky me! Anyway, I think I've held you guys up long enough, so here is chapter 17!
Sasuke wasn't able to sleep at all. Try as he may, the hunger had grown so intense that it was gnawing at his insides. He turned to face Sakura who, thanks to Naruto, had ended up sleeping next to him. The back of her neck was exposed as she was turned away from him, and he could smell the sweet blood pumping energetically through her veins. His fangs elongated instinctively, and in a moment of blind hunger, he even reached out towards her, but he stopped short when she muttered his name.
He brought his hand back to his chest, and pushed himself up, staggering away from the camping sight. Their earlier encounter flashed through his mind, and her hurt face sent a wave of guilt coursing through him. For some reason, when Sasuke was starving like this, he became much more emotional, and though he kept telling himself he did the right thing, he couldn't help the guilt he felt when he thought of the fact that he had been the one to hurt her.
He wanted so badly to drink her blood, but at this point, he didn't really trust himself to be able to stop. He wouldn't drink Naruto's because though Naruto acted chipper, he knew that his injury was still weighing him down, and he didn't want to suck him dry.
As he struggled on, he came to a giant oak tree, and rested there for a while, panting, his breathing coming out in short gasps.
This is ridiculous, you know, his inner growled, as hungry as he was obviously. You're gonna let us die just because you're afraid you won't be able to stop drinking our mate's blood? She's made for us! She can handle it!
I won't be able to stop, Sasuke bit back.
Really? You know that's not the real reason. Come on. Say it. I want to hear you say it.
No.
Why? Too afraid to admit your feelings? Scaredy-cat, his inner sneered.
I am not a scaredy-cat! Sasuke gritted out.
Then say it. Say it and prove that you're not a wuss.
I DON'T WANT HER TO BE AFRAID OF ME, OKAY! He yelled mentally, biting down on his tongue to avoid yelling aloud.
And he finally shows he cares. If it were anyone else you wouldn't. You know that, don't you?
Sasuke didn't have an answer to that. Suddenly, a flowery scent made its way to his nose, and he whirled around.
No! Why was she here?
He jumped up into the large tree, hiding himself.
She came into the clearing, and Sasuke's eyes zeroed in on her. Ah... She really was beautiful although her face was creased with worry. She turned in place, crying out, "Sasuke-kun!"
It took all of Sasuke's willpower not to jump down right then and there. Just go back, he thought to himself. It would be so much easier if you just go back.
You know that's not true.
Looking on the verge of crying now, Sakura tilted her head up, and screamed, "SASUKE—".
That was enough for Sasuke.
He jumped down right in front of her, pushing her harder than he had meant to against the bark of the tree. Her scent was intoxicating, and her jade eyes mesmerizing as he looked down at them, breathing heavily.
"Sakura," he breathed, his voice coming out husky.
He secretly relished the shiver that went up her spine as he said her name.
"You shouldn't have come," he said in a subdued voice as he looked at her longingly from behind his bangs, the sound of her pulse activating his sharingan.
"How could I not have?" she asked, placing her hands against his chest. "I could feel something was wrong and I couldn't let it go and the next thing I know you're not next to me anymore."
This piqued his interest.
"You felt something was wrong? What do you mean?" he asked, the hope in his voice painfully obvious.
"It's like... when you left... I could feel it, like something was missing," she frowned.
His heart skipped a beat, and he chuckled dryly.
"Maybe you really are..." he trailed off as a wave of nausea hit him.
She opened her mouth as if to ask him something, but his strength failed him in that instant and he slumped against her, his breathing coming out in uneven gasps. His surroundings seemed to swim before his eyes, except for Sakura, her outline clear as day.
"Sasuke-kun!" she exclaimed worriedly, grabbing his face in her hands and lifting it up to her gaze.
Crap.
"What's wro—"
She stopped short, and even flinched causing Sasuke's heart to clench.
"Your eyes..." she breathed.
He hadn't wanted her to see, but she had caught him by surprise.
"It's my sharingan," he replied quietly, answering her unspoken question.
Curiosity invaded her features, but it was obvious that she restrained herself as she asked instead, "Sasuke-kun, what's wrong?"
For some reason, Sasuke found that question immensely funny.
"What's wrong?"
He laughed humorlessly.
"What's wrong? What's wrong is that I'm fucking hungry!" he yelled, slamming his fist into the wood behind her, causing her to flinch once again.
It was all becoming too much. He felt hot and cold at the same time, and it was causing his control to slip, unable to hold anything back anymore.
She furrowed her brows cutely in confusion.
"Hungry? What do you mean? You've been eating just fine."
"Sure, that food is enough to sustain me for a little, but it's not what I need..." he said, the words just spilling out now as he came closer to her, his face just inches from hers.
"What do you need? I can give it to you! I just want you to get better!" she said earnestly.
His heart clenched, knowing that she would be absolutely repulsed if she learned what he needed, what he was. He grabbed a stray lock of her long pink hair and twiddled it between his fingers to focus on something other than the rushing of her blood pounding in his ears.
"If you knew what I needed, you wouldn't give it to me," he said simply, twirling the lock as he diverted all his attention to it.
"Yes, I would!" She said confidently. "Just tell me what it is!"
"Hmm, no you wouldn't." he said, totally convinced. "All the same, I wonder what yours would taste like..."
His fingers traveled from her hair to her cheek as he was completely enraptured by touching her.
"I bet you'd be terrified just knowing what I am..." he continued, his brain addled by hunger, his fingers now trailing down her neck. "And I don't think I could handle that..."
"I won't be afraid of you," she said softly, grabbing his venturing hand in her warm one. "I promise."
Her promise combined with the fact that he was feeling terrible compelled him to want to believe her. He looked up at her from his slumped position as he searched her eyes, knowing and hating how vulnerable he looked. But it was okay, right? Since it was with her?
"Just tell me," she pushed, rubbing her thumb against the back of his hand comfortingly.
He opened his mouth, and licked his lips, knowing that she had broken him, but wanting to stall all the same.
"I'm... a vampire," he said finally, just wanting to get it off his chest now.
Sakura had no expression on her face, but Sasuke could practically see the gears in her head working to comprehend his words.
"So that night out in the forest, you were..." she trailed off.
"I was hunting," he responded, waiting hopelessly for when she realized the full implication of what he was. "But animal blood isn't what I really need."
"So what you really need is..." she trailed off, but Sasuke knew without her having to complete her sentence.
"Human blood."
The pinkette stood ramrod-still, and Sasuke's heart clenched painfully as he knew that she just thought of him as what he had expected from the start: a monster.
He gathered his strength, and started to draw away as fast as he could, muttering, "I knew it."
He didn't get far, however, because Sakura grabbed his arm.
"I'm not afraid of you," she stated, shocking him for a moment before he thought that it was probably because she thought he would hurt her if she didn't say so.
He turned away from her, but she grabbed his face gently in her hands, and brought him closer, caressing his cheeks gently with her thumbs. He leaned into her warmth instinctively.
"No matter what you are, to me you're just Sasuke-kun," she said, and in that moment he was sure that she was a savior, his savior. Perhaps due to his deliriousness she seemed to glow with heavenly light, and despite his naturally cold body, a warm feeling filled his chest.
She tilted her head, and brushed her hair back, exposing her neck.
"Go ahead. Have some."
Saying he was shocked was like saying comparing the ocean to a pond.
"Go on," she insisted, pulling his face towards her.
"B-But it's been so long I don't know if I'll be able to stop!" he protested, although his inner was yelling at him that this was his chance.
"I trust you," she stated confidently, and that was all it took; those three words were like a trigger, and it was as if Sakura had shot herself into his heart.
Sasuke opened his mouth, and his canines elongated into fangs. He pressed his body against hers, and he muttered, "Thank you," before plunging them into her neck.
The warm iron tang of blood filled his mouth, and he gulped it down hungrily. Her blood was unlike any he'd ever tasted; the taste was mindblowing. It was sweet and rich, but not disgustingly so. Sakura snaked her arms around his shoulders, pulling him closer still, and he responded in kind, his arm winding around her waist and pulling her to him. Their bodies fit perfectly against each other, further proof to Sasuke that Sakura was made for him, that she was his other half, his mate.
Sasuke could feel strength surging in him the more of her blood he gulped down. He didn't want to stop. He couldn't get enough of this taste, but Sakura's words echoed in his brain: I trust you. He retracted his fangs, and breathed in the fresh air greedily, a rivulet of red liquid slipping down his chin.
Their eyes met, their bodies still glued together. Sakura's knees seemed to give out underneath her, but Sasuke tightened his grip around her waist, preventing her from falling. All he wanted to do was finish what he had started earlier, his body thrumming with the energy her blood had given him, his guard completely lowered. He leaned down, and Sakura closed her eyes, seemingly anting it as much as he did. Their lips had only just brushed against each other when Sasuke felt a strange sensation in his abdomen, and he stopped. Her eyes fluttered open, looking disappointed.
"What is it?" she asked worriedly.
The pain from his recently re-opened wound seemed to be disappearing, a strange heat in the area, feeling strangely like regeneration...
"It's not possible..." he muttered, bewildered.
"What?"
He reached his hand down, wary of what he may see, and pulled up his shirt, ripping the bandages off in one swipe. Their eyes widened in unison as they stared at the phenomenon before them. His wound was slowly sealing, the edges glowing with a soft green light that seemed to be the source of the warmth he was feeling. The light faded when it reached the end of his injury, and it looked like there had never been a wound there in the first place. There wasn't even a scar to indicate that he had been stabbed.
They slowly looked at each other, his eyes returning to their normal black. Her powers were like nothing he'd ever seen before though there was something nagging at him in the back of his mind.
"What the hell are you?" he asked, completely at a loss.
"I have no idea," she responded, her face reflecting his own confusion back at him.
Sasuke soared through the trees, his strength completely restored and his body positively humming. Sakura was in his arms as she was weakened by the amount of blood he had consumed. Her head was lolling against his chest, and he stopped, checking on her worriedly. Had he taken too much?
She opened her eyes slightly, and smiled at him, reaching her hand up to his face.
"Don't worry about me, I'm fine. Just a bit tired is all," she said, cupping his cheek.
"I'm sorry," he muttered.
Her eyes widened, and she giggled slightly.
"Wh-What?"
"It's just so uncharacteristic of you to apologize, Sasuke-kun," she smiled.
"Yeah, well don't get used to it. I'm just still not feeling like myself," he said defensively.
"Mm. I don't want you to apologize, anyway. I'm glad I was able to be of use to you, and... it felt good..." she whispered the last part, blushing slightly.
His own cheeks heated up, and he looked away.
"Tch, whatever," he said, continuing.
The truth was he had enjoyed it too, and not only because of the blood. The memory of her body flush up against his, and the way her small frame fit perfectly against him was enough to make his heart explode.
So have you accepted it then?
You again.
Yup, it's me! Your annoying companion that you won't be able to get rid of for the rest of your life! He sang.
I want to see the scar first.
His inner sighed irritatedly.
You are in major denial, dude.
So what if I am? I jus want to make sure first.
Do what you want, his inner said, and left.
Sasuke sighed audibly, causing Sakura to open her eyes again and look at him questioningly.
"A-Am I too heavy?" she asked nervously.
"What? No. Don't worry about it," Sasuke responded, amazed at how she could even think she was heavy.
What with her small, slim body, and well, her lack of a chest, there was no way she could be heavy. Hinata was another matter entirely. He had had to carry her once when they had still been on the same squad, and let's just say that her rack didn't lie.
If Naruto knew what he was thinking right now, he would surely kill him. Banish all pervy thoughts!
One thing did bother him though. Why did drinking Sakura's blood heal his wound? He was sure that it wouldn't have had he drunken Naruto's blood, and especially because his wound had glowed the same way Sakura's eyes had when she had punched that guy who had insulted him, so it had to be related to her. Would it have the same effect on Naruto? Was it worth a shot?
"Ne, Sakura."
"Hm?" she hummed, opening her eyes.
"Would you be willing to try something?"
She looked confused, but nodded nonetheless.
"You know, you should never say yes to something when you don't know what it is," he sighed.
"Like I said, I trust you," she responded simply.
His heart skipped a beat, and his cheeks heated up.
How could she say that so casually?!
He couldn't turn away because he needed to see where he was going, and she giggled slightly.
"You're so cute when you're embarrassed, Sasuke-kun," she smiled.
"Shut up and rest."
Eventually, she did as she was told, and nodded of to sleep against him, her chest rising and falling softly. He glanced down at her relaxed face, and was surprised when she smiled and snuggled closer to him although his body was cold, being a vampire and all. The corners of his lips twitched up; she really was something.
Sasuke hadn't realized how far he'd gone into the forest until he finally landed in their campsite and the sun was starting to peek its head over the horizon. He looked down at a still sleeping Sakura to see that the wind had whipped a bunch of her hair in her face. Without really thinking about it, he sat down with her in his lap and brushed her hair out of her face, sparks flying up his fingertips as he dragged them across her skin. The feeling was amazing, and he wanted more. He brushed her hair away from her forehead, and leaned down, pressing his lips against her forehead, the sparks extending there too.
"Thank you," he whispered against her skin.
"Dude, I did not need to see that."
Sasuke drew himself up so quickly, his neck cracked painfully. Naruto's hair was a mess, but it was clear that he was wide-awake, and blushing.
"I can't believe my little Sasuke is acting affectionate!" he said loudly, but stopped when Sasuke shushed him, pointing down at Sakura's sleeping face.
Naruto made an "oh" face in understanding.
"Wait, what the hell are you two doing together anyway? Don't tell me my plan worked more than I though it did!" he whispered.
Sasuke sweat dropped at what he was implying.
"You do realize we're fully clothed, right?" he deadpanned.
"Oh," Naruto said, looking him up and down. "So what were you doing?"
Sasuke sighed, knowing that he would have to admit to Naruto that he had been basically starving himself.
"I...fed off of her."
A beat of silence.
"YOU DID WHAT???" he screeched.
Sakura jerked awake in Sasuke's lap, smacking him in the face with her arm, and jumping to her feet in a fighting stance. Her knees buckled underneath her as soon as she stood, however, and Sasuke grabbed her, stopping her from falling.
"You alright?" he asked.
"Yeah, thanks, but... WHO DARED DISTURB MY SLEEP!" she yelled, a dark aura surrounding her as she turned to glare at Naruto.
Naruto gulped, but stared Sakura head on.
"He fed on you?" Naruto asked.
Sakura blinked, her scary aura dissipating.
"Fed on... oh! N-No, I have no idea what you're talking about!" she said, looking at Sasuke with a panicked look on her face, obviously thinking that he still didn't want Naruto to know.
"I told him that I fed off of you."
"Oh, well then yes, he fed off me. That sounds creepy to say," she said, turning towards him.
"Were you hungry?" Naruto asked seriously.
"No shit, dobe. Because I would totally feed off her otherwise."
"You know what I mean," he snapped.
"Yes, I was frankly starving," he admitted, not backing away from his blue gaze.
"How long?" he asked as Sakura looked worriedly between the two of them.
"Around the past ten days," Sasuke counted.
Wow, that was a new record. How he hadn't died was a mystery to him.
It's thanks to our awesome Uchiha genes! His inner sang, and Sasuke could just imagine him flipping his hair.
You're an idiot. Now is not the time.
"Ten days?" he echoed.
Naruto's face suddenly contorted into a scowl, and he grabbed Sasuke by the collar, lifting him up as his canines sharped, his eyes turned red, and his pupils became slits.
"TEN FUCKING DAYS?" he growled.
"N-Naruto!" Sakura protested, grabbing his arms. "Stop!"
"It's fine, Sakura," Sasuke said calmly.
"Why the fuck didn't you tell me?" he growled again.
"Because you already bled a lot and I'm not blind, I know your injury was still bothering you and I didn't want to tell you cause I knew you'd want me to feed off you and I wasn't going to make you weaker when it's my fault you were hurt in the first place!" Sasuke bit back, his voice getting gradually louder. "And I promised Hinata that I'd bring you back!"
Naruto fell silent at that and his eyes returned to normal, his canines receding.
"Hinata did...?" he asked, his voice filled with longing.
"Yeah. She was terrified for you, and sobbing her eyes out. I bet she's worried sick now. I... I already feel guilty enough for leaving our squad and you, so... Yeah..." he trailed, getting uncomfortable with how much he was expressing his feelings.
It was all Sakura's blood's fault.
Naruto let him go, and looked down.
"I'm sorry, Hinata..." he muttered, but looked up at him. "I understand what you mean, but never hesitate to lean on me again. Because we're friends."
Ah, his infamous phrase that trumped all logic. Sasuke hadn't heard it in a while.
The corners of his lips twitched up and he closed his eyes.
"Yeah, I know."
Naruto grinned at him, and they both looked at Sakura who had been unnaturally quiet this entire time.
"E-EH? SAKURA-CHAN, WHY ARE YOU CRYING?" Naruto exclaimed.
Sakura was indeed crying with her hands in front of her mouth.
"I'M CONFUSED AS HELL, BUT YOU GUYS ARE SO CUTE, I JUST CAN'T!" she yelled in response. "THE BEST FRIENDSHIP EVER!"
What the hell?
"I KNOW! WE ARE THE BEST FRIENDS EVER!" Naruto exclaimed, tears now streaming down his face as well.
They both looked at him expectantly now.
"I am not going to cry with you," Sasuke stated firmly.
Naruto and Sakura both stuck their tongue out at him, causing him to roll his eyes, as they continued to cry together.
"Anyway!" Sasuke said loudly. "Sakura, remember when I asked you if you could do something for me earlier?"
Sakura rubbed her tears away, and nodded.
"I need you to do that for me now."
"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked, cocking his head to the side.
Sasuke lifted his shirt in explanation, and he saw Naruto's eyes widen at his obvious lack of a wound.
"What the hell? Did your regeneration come back? But mine hasn't!" he said, ripping his own bandages off to check since he had no shirt.
"It happened when I drank Sakura's blood," Sasuke explained.
"So, yours came back because you finally drank blood? I guess that makes sense," Naruto speculated.
"No, you idiot. It's because I drank Sakura's blood," he emphasized.
Naruto squinted at Sakura.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because my wound glowed the same color as her eyes did earlier when she was fighting," Sasuke explained.
"That's proof enough for me..." Naruto said, obviously bewildered as he looked between Sakura and Sasuke's completely healed abdomen.
"What do you need me to do, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked.
"I just need a little bit of your blood."
"Oh, hell no!" Naruto said immediately, putting himself between him and her. "Seeing how long you hadn't eaten, I'm sure you drank a lot! And she fell as soon as she stood up earlier!"
"I know that," Sasuke growled. "I just wanted to prick her finger, usuratonkachi!"
"Prick her finger? Why?"
"God, you are slow," Sasuke sighed, but Sakura seemed to understand.
"You want to check if it's really my blood that's responsible by seeing if it heals Naruto."
"Exactly."
Aren't you glad our mate isn't stupid?
Shut up.
"You up for it?" Sasuke asked her.
"Mm," she nodded.
"Naruto?" he turned to him.
"Fine...." Naruto obliged. "But only a prick."
Sakura held out her hand, and Naruto brought out a kunai from the small pack tied around his leg. Sasuke grabbed it, and gently grabbed Sakura's hand in his, placing the tip of the kunai against her index finger, and pressed down, breaking the skin. She winced, but did not move. A bubble of blood started to form, and Sakura thrust her hand at Naruto.
"I can't believe I'm doing this..." he groaned, looking disgusted.
Sasuke glared at him.
"Fine, fine," Naruto said quickly, and grabbed Sakura's finger, sticking it in his mouth.
A strange feeling settled in his gut as he watched Naruto suck on Sakura's finger, with her looking completely clueless. A low growl emitted in his throat; not loud enough for Sakura to hear it, but Naruto definitely did. He glanced at him, and gave him an apologetic look.
It was my idea in the first place, it was my idea in the first place, it was my idea in the first place, Sasuke chanted in his head, conjuring up an image of Naruto and Hinata being lovey, and keeping it there firmly.
Someone's jealous~ his inner chanted.
Shut. Up.
Not that I mind because it's just a natural response when someone's touching our mate like that, his inner said slyly.
Do you not understand when I tell you to shut up? Sasuke asked, irritated.
Oh, I do, but I just choose to ignore you like you did me all those years.
Tch.
Ah, jealousy is such a wonderful emotion! His inner sang, and Sasuke could practically see him twirling.
I hate you.
Love you too!
Sasuke turned back to see that Naruto had finally removed Sakura's finger from his mouth, and they were both staring intently at his wound.
"Huh, nothing's happening," Naruto remarked.
Way to state the obvious.
"Maybe it wasn't enough?" Sakura said, already reaching towards the kunai.
"It's enough," Sasuke said quickly, grabbing the kunai before she could touch it.
He didn't think he would be able to stand seeing that again.
"It took a little time for it to work even though I took a lot, so let's just wait a little," he explained.
Naruto smirked at him knowingly, wiggling his eyebrows. Thankfully, Sakura didn't see.
They sat in silence. It was morning now, and Sakura seemed to be nodding off again. She seemed to be leaning towards Naruto and before Sasuke could think he had grabbed her and pulled her against him, causing her to squeak in surprise.
"S-Sasuke-kun," she blushed.
"Shut up and rest," Sasuke ordered, looking away to hide the blush on his cheeks.
Naruto clapped his hands over his mouth, obviously trying hard not to laugh. Sasuke shot him a death glare, and he immediately shut up. They waited around an hour before something actually started to happen. Sasuke was starring to nod off against Sakura's head while Naruto was rummaging in Sakura's backpack for food when he suddenly jerked. Sasuke's eyes flew open, and he was careful not to move as he observed Naruto so he wouldn't wake Sakura in case it was a false alarm.
Naruto turned towards him, revealing his bare torso, and low and behold, the same green light now shone around Naruto's injury, sealing it up as well. Sasuke shook Sakura awake, and she stared in awe at what was happening before them. The process was slower this time, and it took a while for it to completely seal up, but it had the same effect as on Sasuke: there was only smooth, healthy skin now.
"Holy shit!"Naruto exclaimed as he touched his abdomen. "That's freaky, dattebayo!"
"So then quantity equals speed," Sakura said, a hand on her chin as she thought.
"It certainly seems so," Sasuke responded as they both watched Naruto poke his stomach repeatedly.
Something was nagging at him in the back of his mind, but every time he reached for it, it slipped away. Naruto sat up, and seemed to be deep in thought, his brows furrowed.
"What is it?" Sasuke asked.
"I feel like I should know what Sakura-chan is, but I can't seem to put my finger on it," he responded, scratching his head.
Sakura deflated next to him, looking utterly lost.
"I guess we'll just have to hurry home to find out," Sasuke said, patting her head.
She looked up at him hopefully.
"Well off to Konoha we are then! I'm coming home, Hinata!" Naruto exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air as he jumped to his feet.
4623 words
We're going to Konoha, guys! Finally! Hinata, I'm coming, my darling! Also, I would just like to say that I seriously love writing Sasuke's inner because he's just so damn funny. I know he isn't like cannon Sasuke at all, but I wanted to say his real thoughts through a different way since he obviously won't ever say them. Also, how about the fluff in this chapter, am I right?? Like, damn. The love is real.
So predictions? What do you guys think is nagging at the back of both Sasuke's and Naruto's minds? Who is the first character you guys want to see when they finally get to Konoha? Depending, I might take suggestions.
Also, I'm currently watching Beauty and The Beast live action for like the fourth time because I need some background noise and doing my Spanish homework... That's not working out well for me.
Also, for any Nalu shippers/Fairy Tail fans, go check out my other story Dragon Boy and Princess. It's more advanced than this one, and also set in a fantasy world. Lots of fluff in there as well. Also, for future books, what setting would you guys be interested in because I really want to write other fanfics for Sasusaku and Naruhina, but I want to wait until I've finished Dragon Boy and Princess before starting a new story.
In other news, I'll be starting a journal type book of sorts where I'll do daily life updates, drabbles, random things I write, short stories, anime reviews, and character reviews. So for anyone who's interested, stick around!
Anyway, I think I've gone on long enough, so see ya guys next time. Ja ne!
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