Chapter 2- The Chat

The next day, Tenten and her best friend, Hinata, were waiting at the beach(Hinata is a lot less shy in this story. Just so you know). Tenten had told Hinata about Sakura because Hinata was a true friend and wouldn't tell. They were waiting with the shell Sakura had given them.

"Tenten?"asked Hinata.

"Hm?"

"The mermaid..."

"Sakura."

"Yeah, she said that she was going to love Sasuke?"

"That's what she said."

"And you told her about Ino right?"

"Yeah and she was still determined."

"Well, I would do anything to see Ino upset." The two friends laughed.

The shell started making a bubbling noise, "What should I do?" asked Tenten.

"Well Sakura said that you can listen to the ocean through it so I guess you should put it to your ear."

Tenten knew that Hinata was smart so she put the shell to her ear, "Hello?"

"Tenten!"cried a voice on the other side, "It's Sakura!"

"Oh hi Sakura. Where are you?"

"I'm at a lagoon. No one's here but you better hurry. People start to come here after sunhigh. You know where the lagoon is?"

"Uh..."Tenten looked to Hinata and her friend pointed to some rocks, "Yeah we'll be there in about five-ten minutes."

"Ok, see you there." The shell went silent.

"Hinata, lead the way!" Tenten picked up her beach bag and Hinata led Tenten across some rocks and around a cliff. There they saw a lagoon. The water was much clearer then the ocean. They saw Sakura sitting on a rock. Her hair was already pink.

"Sakura!"cried Tenten.

The mermaid looked at the two girls running towards her. She was suprised that there even was two, "Tenten, who's this?"

"Oh, this is Hinata. She's my best friend. Don't worry, she won't tell anyone about you."

"Well if you say so."

"Oh, Sakura, here." Tenten handed Sakura a bag of clothes.

"Thanks Tenten. My tail is almost dry. Uh...could you turn around?"

"Oh sure." Tenten and Hinata turned around. They heard a bubbling sort of noise.

"Ok done! I can't believe I have my own legs!" Tenten and Hinata turned around. They had picked the perfect outfit for her. The pink bikini top fit snugly around her, well, where it goes, and matched her hair perfectly. They had also given her a blue ruffle-ish mini skirt that fit nicely as well. The white flip flops were just her size too(I know the odds of this are way far fetched),

"Great! I thought that top would look good on you. But that starfish has got to go."

"Why?"

"It messes up the outfit. Here." Tenten gave her a white ribbon. Sakura looked confused. Tenten slightly shook her head before going over to the once-mermaid and tying strands of hair from the side of her head in the back and making a little bow, "Yup...perfect. And your necklace and bracelet are great accesories."

"Thanks, my mother gave me the necklace and my father gave me the bracelet."

"Yeah, oh one more thing." Tenten took out a black binkini bottom, "Put this under the skirt. If you want to be a human you have to dress like one(Don't worry, it doesn't show through)."

"Ok." Sakura quickly slipped the last article of clothing on.

"Great. Now let's get back to the beach," Hinata suggested.

"Ok," Sakura replied, "But remember, no water, or my tail comes back."

Tenten and Hinata nodded as they led Sakura over the dryest course back to the beach.

Sasuke's POV

Sasuke sat on his lifeguard post looking out to the ocean, thinking of what's really out there(wow, who knew Sasuke was so deep?). He really didn't want to be here but his parents made him. Every now and then he would scan the his territory to protect and sigh. He rested his cheek on his hand, making his face look smushed. The slight breeze made his raven colored hair sway a little. He was remembering yesterday when he swam out to Tenten. He seriously thought that the pink this he saw was larger then a necklace. Something caught his eye and he saw that same pink thing again! Sasuke looked over and saw a girl with bright pink hair. Tenten and Hinata were with her. They were climbing over some rocks at the far end of the beach.

"Hey Sasuke!" called a familiar voice. He looked over and saw his 'girlfriend' Ino.

"Hey Ino," he replied, unemotionally.

"Save anyone lately?"

"No."

"Sasuke, what's wrong with you?"

"Ino, I can't refuse my feelings anymore. I wanna break up."

"WHAT!"

"Yup."

"You can't do this to me Sasuke!"

"I just did. Now leave me alone before I make you leave the beach!" Ino didn't have to be told twice. She and her friend, Temari, left Sasuke with their noses in the air. Sasuke turned his attention back to the pink haired girl. She was only a few feet away from his lifeguard stand. Tenten and Hinata were near a few towels, talking. Apparently she hadn't seen the rock in front of her foot. She slipped on the rock and almost fell on her face but she caught herself. She sat down and rubbed her ankle. Sasuke could see that she had lovely sea foam green eyes and a slightly large forehear that she had almost grown into. Sasuke jumped down, "You ok?"

"Yeah. Just hurts a little."

"Let me see." Sasuke took the girl's ankle and looked it over. The girl winced in pain a little. It was a little red, "You'll be fine. It's small."

"Thanks."

"I'm Sasuke by the way."

"My name's Cher...I mean Sakura."

"Sakura eh? Means cherry blossom right?"

"Yeah."

"Are you a tourist?"

Sakura shot a glance to Tenten and Hinata but quickly turned her head back, "I guess you could say that."

Sasuke sat in the sand and motioned for Sakura to join him. Sakura scooted closer to him.

Sakura's POV

"So you're friends with Tenten and Hinata?" Sasuke asked.

"Yeah. I met Tenten yesterday and Hinata today. I uh..heard that you have a girlfriend."

"Not anymore. I broke up with Ino. She just wasn't right for me." After a few minutes of silence Sasuke said, "Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Well, you get right to the point."Sakura and Sasuke chuckled a little.

"Well do you?"

"Kinda but not really. My dad is way old fashion and wants me to marry this gerk."

"An arranged marrage? How old are you anyway?"

"16. The guy by father wants be to marry is way older."

"How much?"

"Uh..a few years, maybe 4." More like 400.

"You don't really want to marry him?"

"No way. He's a total crab."

"Sorry? A crab?"

"Yeah, you know pinches a lot, lives in the ocean?"

"I know but why do you compare him to that?"

"Because, he's mean like a crab I guess."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

Sasuke decided the change the subject since he could tell he wouldn't get much more out of this mysterious girl, "Is that your natural hair color?"

No, my natural hair color is brown. It's only pink when it's dry because I'm a mermaid. "Uh..yeah."

"I've never seen someone with pink hair."

"Well, there's a first for everything."

"So how long are you staying?"

Sakura's eyes widened but Sasuke didn't seem to notice, "Uh...well, I'm not sure. You see, uh...there was some...uh...trouble...with my parents...so they...uh...sent me...to stay with my...friends who live near here." Sakura hated the idea of lying.

"Tenten?"

"Uh..yeah."

Sasuke's POV

Sasuke examined Sakura from head to toe. The outfit she had on was perfect for her. He could tell that she was wearing a bikini and the skirt over the bottom seemed to make her perfect curves stand out more I just met her, I can't be falling for her, I just met her. She is beautiful though, "You wanna go for a swim?"

"No thanks. I don't really like the feeling of wet sand on my body."

"Ok, I'll be right back." Sakura watched Sasuke get up and jog into the water. He looks so cute when he's wet. In a few minutes Sasuke was out of the water and drying himself with the towel from his lifeguard chair.

Sakura's POV

Sakura watched as the lifeguard dried himself. She felt many eyes on her. She quickly eyed a drop of water that was about to fall from Sasuke's dripping hair. Uh oh. The drop of water fell and landed on her thigh. Sakura gasped but Sasuke's didn't seem to notice. Sakura thought this was the end but in fact she was quite alright. Instead of her whole newly found lower body becoming a tail, only a few scales showed up. It was only where the drop had landed! Sakura let out a sigh of reflief as she quickly dried the scales, turned the scales to skin.

"Something wrong?"

"Yeah, uh..why are people stareing are me?" Sakura's eyes scanned the beach and a lot of girls eyes were on her.

"Oh, it's because you're with me."

"Huh?"

"Girls like me for my looks and so they tail me. They are always jealous of people who are close to me."

"Close like physically?"

"Yes and emotionally."

"I see."

"You want an apple?"

What's an apple?, "I guess." Sasuke gave her a red spherical thing. She watched him sit down and take a bite out of the apple.

He must have noticed that she wasn't eating, "The apple's washed."

"Oh." Sakura mimiced Sasuke's bite. The hard skin was not as bad as it looked. When her teeth sank into the tender inside, the juice filled her mouth, "Good apple," she said once she had swallowed her bite.

"Yeah. Personally, I like tomatoes better, but I couldn't risk getting them sqaushed in my bag so I brought apples instead."

There was silence for a bit while the two ate their apples.

Tenten's POV

Tenten and Hinata kept glancing at Sakura and Sasuke to make sure they were ok. They were close enough to overhear the conversation and help if nessacary but far enough away so it didn't look like they were eavsdropping.

"Hinata."

"Hm?"

"I can't believe how well they're getting along."

"I know. Sakura's doing great."

Tenten shot a quick glance over and her eyes widened, "Hinata, look."

Hinata looked and she too was in shock, "Is he...?

"Uh huh. He's smiling at her. Not his smirk smile, but a real smile. I think he likes her."

"Oh my god. You're right."

"Now what?"

"I guess we keep letting them bond."

Sakura's POV

Sakura and Sasuke talked to each other nonstop for most of the day. It was about 4:00 when Sasuke said, "I'd better be getting home. My parents will start to worry about me."

"Ok."

"Will I see you again?"

"Yeah. I'll be here tomorrow."

"When?"

"Well when do you get here?"

"My shift starts at 10."

"I'll be here at 10 then."

Sasuke grabbed Sakura's hand and helped her up before pulling her into an embrace. Sasuke stood there, his grip never weakening, for a minute or so.

"Sasuke, you can let go now."

"Oh." Sasuke blushed and backed off.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Sure Sakura. Bye."

The two went their separate ways. Sakura went over to Tenten and Hinata and they annoyed her until she told them everything.