Don't Ever Let Me Go!

Chapter 2: Family

Author's Note: Success! Another chapter done and ready to post!:) I'm so glad some of you liked my story. Thank you for your encouraging comments and reviews. And like you guys have requested, I've posted! I hope you guys like it. From this point on, all the main characters have been introduced, so the plot will be picking up, as you all will see that each of the characters have some kind of dilemma of their own that they are trying to cope with in their own way.^^ With that being said, please Review if you want another early chapter!xD I'm evil I know lol

Summary: Come aboard on the ship of dream, where friendships are made, and the rich and the poor collide, and new and old love blooms, until the tragic day arrives where the Titanic sinks. Naruto AU! Sasu/Saku, Neji/Ten, Ino/Shika, and Naru/Hina.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or the Titanic! But I want to own JACK!XD


"How long are you planning on standing here observing those outside from in here, Shikamaru?"

"As long as I feel like, father." Shikamaru didn't turn to look at his father's, now, disappointed face.

He had too many thoughts clustering his mind at the moment, and he was still angry at his father for what he had recently done to him.

His father sighed. "I know how you must feel, but you must understand I made a promise, and the Nara's—"

"Always keep their promise. I know." Shikamaru turned and glared at his father. "I just never thought you would do such a thing like this without thinking. I am very disappointed in you, father."

"I know." His father looked ashamed. "I could see it in your daily routines every day now. And I have a feeling you will not be forgiving me anytime soon either." Shikamaru's father heaved another sigh. Shikamaru and his father were like the splitting image of each other from head to toe, from the way they pulled back their brown hair tightly in a short and high ponytail, to their lazy pasture, to even how they expressed their feelings and how they talked. If it wasn't for the age gap, they could have literally passed as twins.

"You're right. I won't ever be forgiving you for this—ever. Not this time." Shikamaru was quickly losing his cool. "I mean what went through your thick skull for you to even make a promise like this?"

"He saved my life, so I had to give the man something in return. How was I supposed to know—at the time—that that was the worst mistake in my life? We Nara's never make mistakes when it comes down to calculations. But the idea of how you may feel about this never crossed my mind, until now." The older man truly felt guilty. He didn't know what else to say. He walked up to his son and placed a hesitant hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry son. I figured you would accept it."

Shikamaru let out a stressed sigh, shrugging his hand off. "I would have if you—why didn't you introduce me to her instead? If we were going to be wedded to one another, why not introduce me to her first? Why—why did you have to introduce me to a...completely different person instead?" He slumped over as he came to his desk, paying no mind to the large map and papers and utensils scattering all over the top. His heart hurt as his mind swirled with images of—apparently—the wrong woman. He closed his eyes, rubbing at his eyelids.

"I know. This is completely my fault."

"Entirely," Shikamaru agreed.

His father ignored this however, and proceeded onwards like he hadn't been interrupted. "But I never figured you would fall in love with that other troublesome woman."

Shikamaru didn't know what to say. He exhaled tiredly; he hadn't been sleeping well these couple of nights and it was finally showing on his face. "Neither did I."

His father smiled sadly at him, and gestured to the door. "Come. We should probably go greet our guest, don't you agree?"

At first Shikamaru did not make a move to leave. He just watched his father unsure of how he should feel about this. He just wanted to be alone at the moment. He didn't want to hear, nor see anybody.

But his father continued to pester him along. "…She will be there. Don't you want to see her at least a couple more times before you officially become a married man?"

Shikamaru glared at his father. No, Ino was the last person he wanted to see, especially now that he was feeling venerable. But Shikamaru had no choice. He had an obligation to this family, and since his father and he were the creator of the Titanic. Shikamaru felt he had a reputation to keep. He couldn't—he wouldn't make his family lose face.

He swiftly turned back to his father and with a lazy stride made his way towards the door. "Let's just hope this ends quick then."

His father grinned lazily, "Agreed."


The moment the ship decided to take sail, Sakura, Naruto and Tenten decided to go find their cabin and throw all their stuff in there. What they found almost brought Sakura into tears.

"Beds!" she ran into the closet sized room. "Look you guys, they're beds!" She called out to her siblings like they weren't even there standing right next to her.

"Yeah, we know!" Tenten giggled from her spot by Naruto, also blinking back tears.

Naruto couldn't contain himself anymore; he was just as excited as his sisters. "I call the top bunk!" He ran up to the only other available top bunk.

"Oh—no fair! The other one's taken already!" Tenten fought with Naruto to get on top.

Sakura jumped onto the first bed she could get into, and snuggled in deep into her fluffy pillow that smelled so good—just like lavender. She didn't care about the top or bottom bed, just as long as she got a bed. She closed her eyes relishing this moment. Sakura had never had her own bed—not since her mother passed away. She was always sleeping in the streets with her two siblings—well, they weren't exactly her siblings by blood, but Sakura loved to think that their bond ran deep—deeper than any blood related siblings. She loved Naruto and Tenten like her blood ran in their veins and theirs in hers. Her mother had found both Tenten and Naruto in the streets, both also just infants. Tenten was the first to come into their family of thieves at the age of one. When she turned two their mother's belly was swollen with Sakura, and by that time Tenten and her mother had found Naruto. So Sakura was considered the baby in their little trio. However, if memory served her right, Sakura had no clue exactly how Naruto came to be in their family. She had known Tenten's troubling reason, but Naruto's was just mysterious. From what Sakura's mother had told them, Naruto was found in a disaster zone, by a noble's house. Although Sakura never caught which noble it was, which she found very strange, but all she did know is that Naruto carried a necklace—a necklace not given to him by their mother, but by his real parents—that he never took off. It was a small blue stunning crystal pendent with two little silver balls the size of a mouse's dropping.

"HAH! I win!" Naruto suddenly bellowed out, laughing in Tenten's face.

She slapped his face in, grinning then as he grunted, clutching at his face in pain.

"Tenten you—"

"I dare you to say it!"

Naruto held a sadistic smile. "I accept your challenge, you bit—"

"Quiet you!" She socked his throat. Naruto choked, falling off the bed.

Meanwhile Sakura wiped her face on her pillow, smearing those stray tears away. It was always hard for her to think about her mother. Every single time she did think about her, she always cried.

"I miss mom," she suddenly said, stopping Naruto and Tenten from killing one another. They paused to look at her. Naruto had Tenten in a headlock, and Tenten had his hair in her hand, pulling down hard.

"What?" They released each other.

"Sakura are you thinking about mom right now?" Tenten questioned coming up to her, Naruto followed suit.

"Yeah." She sat up. "I can't help it. Every time we come into a new environment—one we've never been to before—I start thinking about her. You know that."

"Yeah, we do," Naruto came to hug her.

Sakura embraced him back. "I just really miss her," her voice broke.

"I know," Tenten joined in.

"We all do, sis, we all do," Naruto filled in last, holding his sisters till they were content again.

Sakura rubbed at her tears. "Sorry. I must be ruining each of your times," she told her siblings.

"Not at all Sakura! As long as you're happy, we're happy," Tenten smiled down at her.

"Now come on you," Naruto lifted her up and off the lower bunk bed. "It's time we went out and got you some fresh air."

Sakura giggled. "That does sound like a plan to me, big brother."

Naruto laughed, tackling her into a bear hug. "That's the spirit!" They walked out of the room.

"Say, I wonder who's our other bunkmate?" Tenten looked back at the only other spare bed with art supplies on it.

"I don't know, but when he gets back—if he ever gets back—we're going to have to talk about our sleeping arrangements," Naruto said after.

They came up on deck smelling that fresh smell of sea water, enticed by it.

Sakura ran out to the railing alongside Tenten as they both squealed at the sight of two dolphins swimming.

"Ah! Naruto look there are two dolphins!" Sakura turned around to show her brother. He didn't respond.

"Naruto?" She watched her brother's captivated stare worriedly.

What is he looking at? She followed the trail his eyes were lingering at. Her eyes widened.

"Naruto?" she asked again.

"Isn't she beautiful, Sakura?"

Sakura didn't know what to say.


"This time will you be joining us, little brother?" Itachi walked up to Sasuke as he fixed his tie.

"There is no question he will be joining us," a voice said, never giving Sasuke a chance to speak. Sasuke's hard stare came up to meet his father's. They were in his room.

"Don't you think that is my decision to make on my own, father?"

"No," came his swift reply. "If I left it up to you, you would not show up at all, finding these little activities pointless."

"I will not deny that," Sasuke responded bluntly. "Besides, it seems I am not needed there anyway. Since you already have your one precious son, why bother bringing me along?" Sasuke challenged his father.

"Sasuke!" his mother come in out of nowhere from the room in the back. The men in the room didn't even give her a glimpse.

Itachi stepped up to his brother. "Now Sasuke that is not fair..."

"Says the favorite child." Sasuke glared at Itachi.

Sasuke's father looked deadly at him. "Sasuke...do not ruin my patents while it is still here."

Sasuke didn't say anything.

"You are going with us to the grouping to congratulate the Nara's for such an extravagant ship this is, and we will look like a united family, understood Sasuke?"

Sasuke locked his jaw tight. "Understood father," he practically spat. Only because he was going, didn't mean he would be staying for long. Sasuke planned to escape once he saw the Nara's. He felt as the unwanted child he at least deserved that much.


"Choji, will you hurry your stinking ass!" Kiba hissed at his friend as he tried to lift him out the anchor hole they had snuck in from.

Choji grabbed on to him. "I'm trying! But my stomach won't fit!"

"Well then suck it in!" Kiba held his breath as he pulled, Akamaru also tried to help by biting Kiba's lower portion of his pants and pulled back, but it wasn't really helping. He was just damaging the boy's pants by doing that.

Choji sucked in his stomach as he tried to pull himself out, he felt like he was being crushed and suffocated, and just when he was about to give up, Kiba did one last tug and he was out. Kiba yelled as Choji fell on top of him.

"Guh! Choji get off of me! I can't breathe!" Kiba tapped him, trying to push him off.

"I'm trying!"

"You're always trying! Just do it!"

Choji finally got off. "Sorry Kiba!" He came over to help his canine loving best friend.

"Uh~ I can't feel my legs!" Kiba shook his legs, falling back on his back after. "I can't believe this," he breathed. "You're a real monster you know that, Choji?"

Choji felt guilty, but nonetheless still grinned. "It's the pounds man, they do wonders."

"Well then let's do us all a favor and let's not go through that again."

"I second that motion."

They then turned to look at the door as they heard sounds of people talking and walking, as they passed by the room.

Kiba placed a finger to his lips as he gestured to Choji to go forward. There was a small round window at the door as they looked through it. On the other side, they saw maids folding and ironing a bunch of sheets, towels and clothes. From what they could see, the clothes were work clothes.

Choji looked worried. "How are we going to get out of here?"

Kiba suddenly got an idea. "I have a plan." The bell signaling the women off to their break went off in the room. They waited as they watched them go, and then Kiba opened the door to go into the room.

"Kiba what are you doing?" Choji followed after him anxiously, looking at the other door the women had just left through. He could still hear their laughing voices as they began to fade away.

"Calm down my friend. I know what I'm doing," Kiba reassured him.

"Yeah, but what if someone comes in."

"No one's going to come in—"

"What are you doing in here?" suddenly another voice exclaimed, the tone of it very authoritative. It left both Choji and Kiba and even Akamaru speechless.

But inside, Kiba was already cursing himself for getting caught. He was quickly going to retort that they had gotten lost, when the man stopped him.

"Oh, that's right… The manager had said something about getting two new crew members. You must be the new recruits." The man chewed on a toothpick as he smiled at them nonchalantly, he had a white bandana on his head tied up neatly, but it did little to hide his brown hair, in fact it only made him look cooler and mysterious. He was cladded in all white, with his sleeves all the way rolled up to his shoulders, and his white jacket he was supposed to wear when on the job tied around his waist.

"Well then what are you waiting for, grab your uniforms and come along then. Oh, and the names Genma." He smirked at them.

Kiba and Choji looked at one another, shrugging their shoulders after. They did little to question the guy and did as they were told.

"Oh, and you might want to put that little guy in your room while we're at it." Genma turned back at them smiling slyly at Kiba. "What, you didn't think I didn't see him, did you?"

Kiba rubbed his neck, nervously. "Yeah. Sorry."

"No worries, you can just put him in the room. We'll be passing by there in a moment so that you two can put your belongings away. But you might want to keep him hidden from the higher-ups."

Kiba and Choji nodded understanding.

But inside, they were both astonished at this turn of events. Who knew the moment they decided to step inside here they would land themselves a job on the Titanic? They followed the man, Genma, to their cabins.


Hinata sat poised, drinking tea with her father and sister Hanabi, quietly, looking at the table rather than her father as she neatly—with her pinky out—sat her tea-cup down. She was currently in her grand room of one bedroom, with maids scurrying around, nervously, placing everything in order like her father had ordered them to do. He watched her patiently, just as formal. Neji stood to the side with a towel on his arm, waiting like a butler in the corner for either Hinata's or her sister's or her father's call for assistance. He had his eyes looking nowhere in particular.

Her father sat his tea-cup down as he sighed, satisfied. "That is good," he commented, complimenting the tea.

"Yes, it is," Hinata sounded stiff. She was trying really hard not to stutter when speaking to her father. She placed both her hands on her skirt as she waited for her father to speak.

"I see your speech lessons are coming along smoothly."

"Yes, Shikamaru is a wonderful fellow. His teaching skills could not be compared to no other," Hinata praised.

"I see. That's good to hear that our money had not gone to waste."

"Yes."

Her father paused, closing his eyes as he drank more of his tea before clattering down his tea-cup, and continuing again. "You're lessons will double now. I will be filling up your days with necessary activities that I guarantee will give you the necessary skills to take over as the families head. And remember Hinata, I only do this to better our family's assets, and to lessen the burden on your shoulders when the time comes that you must take my place. By the time our journey ends, I expect to see much improvement in you. Do I make myself clear, Hinata?"

"Yes father." Hinata nodded courtly, trying her best not to show how much everything he said to her affected her. She remained as stiff as Venus' statue herself.

An awkward silence passed between them, as Hinata tried not to squirm while under her father's scrutiny. His lavender eyes roaming her carefully, a deep line set on his profile. He had long dark brown hair tied back mid-way like Neji. It seems that when it came to the Hyuga family, there was absolutely no one that could not tell they were the Hyuga's by just looking at them. They were the only family that resembled each other to the bone, besides the Uchiha's, but even they had some slight differences that could be made out.

The clock ticked in the background as the silence deepened.

"I expect to see you act proper and extra mindful of the new acquaintances we are about to meet. All of them could become a good benefit for the family in the future." Hinata's father only spoke to her when speaking. He never lectured her sister Hanabi, because, even though others saw Hinata as perfection, in reality, through her father's eyes, only Hanabi was the perfect example of perfection. Hinata on the other hand was none of that—yet.

"I understand father," Hinata said.

"There will also be great suitors there to choose from. I will arrange for you to have one each day until I see one fit to be your groom. Do not fail me Hinata or you will always be a disappointment through my eyes."

Unknown to them, Neji's fingers twitched at his uncles words. He despised his uncle with everything he had, and always would, for as long as he lived.

"I won't father," Hinata promised.

"Good. Now let's move along." He stood up. Just then, Neji came to Hinata's side to help her up, along with her sister. His uncle paid him no mind.

"As guests, I think it is only fair that we greet the man that made this extravagant ship a reality."

"Yes father," Hinata and Hanabi said at the same time.

Once her father turned his back to them, Hinata let her mask crumple. She showed her sadness, thinking that she was the only one seeing it through her mirror by her room, but little did she know that so was Neji.

By the time they had made it past the hallways and down the stairs of the most gorgeous area in the ship with a chandelier so big it looked like it sparkled full of diamonds, and with wood so neatly carved that it could compare to those of St Sabina's main panel doors on the Aventine Hills, and with walls and ceilings painted so precise that it looked like they were both touched by Leonard Da Vinci hands himself.

Hinata could do little to hide her awe as she gazed about her at every nook and cranny, completely mesmerized, that she had not noticed that they had arrived to their destination at hand. They waited to be let in, and once done, Hinata was met by her friend's open arms, as her long light golden hair perfectly fell to one side in soft curls. She wore a large beautiful violet hat with a pastel blue and violet ribbon bow neatly tide around it with many different flowers from baby pink and purple camellias, to blue hydrangeas. She looked stunning in her violet day dress.

"Oh Hinata, how I missed you!" Ino hugged a confused Hinata. "Play along," she suddenly whispered in her friend's ear; her voice changing.

Hinata just stared at her wide-eyed, but still nodded.

Ino went back to her dramatic acting. "I was just telling my poor mother how suffocated I feel in here and how I felt I needed to get some fresh air—alone—but she refuses, insisting I bring along some miserable fool to come along with me. But I keep refusing her." Ino fanned herself with her pretty purple and blue fan.

Ino's mother tried to contain her scowl, as she made her way towards them. "I keep telling her she needs to have at least a chaperoned just in case something happens to her."

"Oh mother, but nothing will happen to me!" Ino shut her fan.

"And how do you know that?"

"Your mother's right Ino," Ino's father walked up to them, smiling even with his eyes. "Hello Hiashi, it's been a long time," Ino's father greeted.

"Same to you, Inoichi, Mei." Hiashi kissed Ino's mother's hand lightly.

"It is nice to see you again, Hiashi-sama," Ino's mother said her hellos as well.

The act then repeated with their daughters and Neji.

Inoichi landed on Hanabi, and gasped. "My, my, is this Hanabi I'm looking at?" He smiled kindly down at Hanabi, which Hanabi returned the gesture.

"Hello lord Inoichi." She curtsied.

"And her formalities are exquisite," Inoichi observed. "My, my, Hiashi you've sure outdone yourself with these girls."

"Thank you, Inoichi-sama," Hinata and her sister said at once.

Ino began to grow impatient. She suddenly latched on to Hinata. "Oh father, if I can't go alone, how about Hinata and her cousin come along with me? That way I won't be alone, and you and mother would not have to worry."

Her father laughed. "Why that sounds like a brilliant idea! How about it Hiashi, let the girls go have a little fun, after all we will be on this ship for a while, might as well make the most of it, no?"

Hinata worried as she stared at her father's face, waiting for his rejection, but surpassingly, it never came. Hiashi sighed. "Alright, why not. We have a lot of important things to discuss about anyway," Hiashi said to Inoichi.

"Oh yes we do," the blond man beamed.

Yes! Ino took this chance to get away, dragging along Hinata. "Thank you Hinata!" Ino sang.

"I-Ino t-these dresses a-aren't meant to r-run in!" Hinata told her friend as she tried not to trip, forgetting to keep her speech in check. They were called hobble dresses for a reason!

But Ino just continued to laugh, ushering her along. She had been dying to get away, and it seemed that the only times she ever could is when she had someone like Hinata to accompany her, not realizing that it was the same for Hinata.

"I-I-Ino!" Hinata begged. "P-please! I-I'm g-g-going to fall!"

Wordlessly, Neji followed, a bit pleased that Hinata was no longer thinking about the hardships her father puts her through every day.

Ino didn't stop running until they had made it out into the open air of the sea. Ino took a big intake of air as she outstretched her hands and twirled in a circle. "My, isn't this marvelous, Hinata, Neji?"

Neji didn't say anything, which didn't bother Ino.

But Hinata did. Hinata stepped up to look out at the ocean below them. "This is incredible..."

Ino giggled, "Isn't it?"

Hinata nodded, and slowly a big smile began to surface on her face. "Y-yes—yes i-it is!"

She was so captivated by the sea below her that she hadn't noticed a blond not that far away looking at her from a distance away, noticing her for the first time as he watched her through his cerulean eyes.

Beautiful was the first thing that functioned in his head.