AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey, sorry its been awhile! I've been bogged down with school work I'm feeling overwhelmed and just bummed out. So I figured I would edit this chapter and get out to you all and it helped distract my mind from the world, woot. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy, please review with comments. Eventful stuff will be happening in the next chapter!*

Gaara's POV

I stumbled as I came down the stairs, catching my footing before I could fall. I looked out at the crewmembers, who did not notice my fumble. I continued down the stairs. I cautiously walked over to a tall man, who leaned against a table with a rustic pot. On the table, there is a tall silver pot and several small loaves of bread. The smell of the pot nearly made me regurgitate my previous meal.

I rushed past him and the revolting pot. I went to a dark corner of the room. Shukaku crawled from my sack onto my shoulder as I sat down. I opened my sack. A smile formed on my lips at the two large loaves of bread. Kakashi, surprisingly, is skilled in the kitchen.

Shukaku jumped from my shoulder. He put his paws on my leg and opened his mouth wide closing his eyes. Chuckling I broke off a piece of the bread. I shook it in front of him. He opened his eyes and squeaked. He grabbed the bread and began eating it.

I smiled and broke off a piece for me and began eating it. I felt slightly degraded to be sitting down here, yet I suppose it would be worse if I had to eat that disgusting gruel. I drank some of my water while listening to the men talking.

"Aye I am sure I saw the lass! Golden hair an all!" One of them shouted. I glanced up at the table of men in front of me. My eyes widened at the site of Choji sitting there. "You are full of some shit Lee! Ha! The blonde haired lass is but a myth! Thar are no woman pirates on the sea!" He exclaimed and pointed his spoon across the table.

A man with long black hair sitting beside him chuckled, "They have all been bedded by the Raven." He spoke and the entire room filled with roars of laughter. Even a smile threatened to form on my lips. But before it could I felt Shu push on my leg.

I broke off another piece of bread and turned my attention to him. I held it out to him and he took it eagerly. I chuckled. He seemed to like Kakashi's cooking as much as I did.

Suddenly a shiver slipped down my spine. I slowly raised my eyes and they were met with the gaze of Choji and the man sitting next to him. Their gaze lowered to Shukaku eating his meal. Shu finished his bread and cooed. I frantically grabbed him and held him to my chest.

"He will not be a…er… he won't be causin' no trouble!" I spoke. Their gaze moved to me. Several other men had stood up to look over the table. Shu cooed wanting me to let him go, but I did not release him afraid for what they would do to him.

Choji pointed his spoon at Shukaku, "That critter…how did you come by it?" He asked narrowing his eyes. I felt my heart sink. The thought had not even crossed my mind. In the entire world, Suna is the only country to possess the raccoon guardians and it is known that only those of royalty can possess them.

"I stole it." I replied quickly. "I uh…my master had two…one he had given to the prince of Suna and this one which he wanted to keep in order to sell." I lied. "But we became attached to each other…I couldn't possibly leave it behind…so I stole it from him." I said and hugged Shu closer to me.

Choji's mouth curved into a frown, but his eyes remained steady with their gaze on me. He slowly began to nod his head. I looked down at Shu, who had stopped squirming and just accepted me holding him.

"Ya don't need to worry 'bout us taking an eating it. Shenro's cooking ain't that bad!" Choji exclaimed causing the entire room to erupt in laughter. A smile slowly formed on my lips and I glanced at the man beside the pot of food. He had crossed his arms and closed his eyes shaking his head.

Choji turned back to the table and began telling the man next to him about something that occurred at the port. I packed the rest of my bread and placed Shu on my shoulder. His claws latched onto me causing me to wince at the slight pain.

I carefully stood up and went to the stairs. I walked up and onto the deck of the ship. I rested my bag on my shoulder and sighed as I stared up at the dark night sky. The moon reflecting off the ocean. I walked to the right side of the ship gripping the rail of the vessel.

The water is choppy a tell-tell sign of an upcoming storm; however, the sky held no sign of storm clouds. Well there were a few clouds, but not enough that one would predict a storm to appear within a moment's notice.

I stared up at the stars decorating the night sky. I felt my chest tighten as a familiar feeling of insignificance arose. When I was in Suna, I had the same thoughts. The feelings of what purpose could I serve with my short life. In the scheme of things, my existence is small. What could I possibly have to offer to this world.

I heard Shu coo and I looked at him. He rose and turned on my shoulder and looked out to the ocean. He whimpered showing his fear of the dark water, but didn't move to hide from it. I turned my attention back to the sky and sighed.

I didn't think I would be here now, especially alone. My chest felt as if it was beginning to swell with regret. Yes, I want to go find out about the mermaid, but…I wanted to be with Sasuke when I did.

Of course, not to share some romantic kiss at the moment of finding her, or something as fantastical as that. Yet I want to believe, he would have grown to like me…surely I would have more of an opportunity to gain some favor in his eyes, at least more than some pompous prince who didn't take a step from his chambers. A lump grew in his throat. No, Sasuke refused to believe that I could be more than a prince. He should know not to underestimate someone, based on how they present themselves.

I sighed and sank down to my knees. I placed my arms on the rail of the ship and rested my head on it. Shu began to shift his weight on my shoulder. I vowed not to mutter or even entertain the thought of…Sasuke. I bit my lip and closed my eyes.

I do miss him…ah more than miss him. My heart yearns for him. If I hadn't have left then…then he would have forced Naruto to take me away. Even so…I wish I could have seen him before I left. Now I'm not sure if I'll ever see him again.

Sasuke's POV

His crimson hair fell around his face, so that I could only see his pink, lips. His head rose slowly, his turquoise eyes meeting mine with lust burning inside them. They slowly closed and his head slowly rose as I pushed my hips slowly into him. A feeling that drove me to the edge of madness and at the sound his voice I fell over the edge.

Before I knew it, I had him against the bed and thrusting into his pale body. My body felt pleasure run through every fiber, my temple down to the bottom of my feet. A pleasure spreading throughout my body filling me up. Then I felt the familiar sensation telling me I was close to my climax.

His hands slowly made their way up my back pulling me closer. I pushed his hair from his face revealing his glistening eyes. We held each other's gaze as my body slowly moved against his. Quiet gasps escaping from his soft lips.

I grabbed his face staring deep into his eyes unable to look way. I slowly moved my right hand down his chest to his hip and gripped it as I thrusted harder into him. I closed my eyes as I felt myself coming close to my climax. I looked back down at him.

Suddenly he had disappeared and I was alone on my knees, clothed. I quickly stood up and began looking around into the darkness around me. "Gaara!" I shouted. Only echoes would return to me. I began to run through the darkness. Gaara being the only one on my mind.

Suddenly I ran into a hard surface causing me to fall to the ground. I looked up at what I ran into. I slowly got up and I could see Gaara staring at me. Tears falling from his eyes. "Gaara." I whispered and hit my hand against the surface.

"If I leave you now…" I stopped moving and watched as he spoke. "If I leave you now…"

Then I remembered those terrible moments. "If I leave you now…" No…don't say it again. "If I leave you now…" I began kicking at the surface in a panic to get to him. "If I leave you now…then you will not see me again." He said in a low tone. I gritted my teeth and started hitting the surface harder to the point my fists began to bleed. "Gaara!" I kept hitting it harder and harder with desperation clouding the pain.

"If that is what you want, then so be it. But you will be leaving to go back to Suna." My words sounded. I stopped and pressed my forehead against the surface. I watched him wipe the tears from his eyes. Something I had steeled myself from seeing.

His head slowly lowered and he began to turn. "No! Gaara don't go!" I stepped back and ran towards the surface covering my head.

I jolted awake and began breathing heavily. I sat up panting. I got up from the bed quickly and stumbled to the small table in the captain's quarters. I put my hands on it trying to stabilize myself. My body suddenly felt cold and sweat dripped from my forehead.

I heard the door creak open. "Shit…" I heard Kakashi's voice. I could his footsteps stomping over to me. "Sasu-…sit down…." I heard him say. I looked at him slowly, my vision blurry. "…need water?" I stared at him, then looked down at my hands on the table.

That's right…I drank enough rum to cause me to pass out, so I could finally fucking sleep after so many night of not sleeping. I sighed and shook my head. I used to could handle such exhaustion. I pushed myself from the table. I know what I need to do. I started quickly stumbling out of the room. I ran towards the edge of the ship and messily climbed onto the rail and jumped into the dark waters.

The waters engulfing me, embracing every fiber of my being as they had once done years before. I closed my eyes and didn't fight the onset of waves. I felt my body becoming lighter. I stared up at the night sky.

I could simply consume enough water to end my wretched life. Enough water to keep him from my thoughts. The water came over me and like before I could feel it enter my body forcefully and I held no resistance to it.

I opened my eyes, but closed them as another wave engulfed me and pulled me further into the water. Kakashi saved me the last time. Yes. He kept me from putting me out of my misery and becoming one with the ocean I love.

Gaara's face appeared, his gaze focused on me. His eyes looking into my wretched soul. Slowly his lips curved into a smile. I could see my hand reach out to him, but it went through him making him disappear.

Suddenly I started choking on the water. I quickly began to swim to the surface. When I reached it, I began coughing water up. I was snatched up from the water. "Damn it Sasuke, if you want to kill yourself do it after we return this fucking ship and take that kid back to Suna." He said.

I leaned over the side of the rowboat and began throwing up into the water. I finally settled down and took deep breaths, but each time my chest ached. "As if you would understand." I muttered bitterly.

"Sasuke, you made a mistake. Admit it. You allowed the oh so precious prince to get away and now you won't be compensated for your job, especially since you also betrayed Orochimaru." He rattled off to me. I rolled my eyes, "I don't give a shit about the fucking coin. I shouldn't have let Gaara leave…he could get hurt." I muttered.

"The only person who seems to have truly hurt him is you." He said. I glared down at my soaked clothes, yet my irritation is aimed at Kakashi. "Yet…well how should I put it…I never seen you like this. Desperate to find someone, whose life is nothing to you." He said.

I gritted my teeth as I felt my angry welling up inside me. "He is not nothing!" I growled. I looked at the water. "He is far more important than I. His life is far more precious than my own. He deserves more than some pirate like me, whose only benefit is that of any hired hand." I rambled.

"Sasuke…I did not come on this journey for you to pursue your love interest. I am here to find the prince and return him to his kingdom. Do not give me and Ino cause to abandon this foolish journey." He said. I sighed, "Yes, of course."

One month later…

Gaara's POV

"If any of ye, be wanting yer wage see Neji, he'll be distributing it after I leave the vessel. We will be leaving for Kiriga within the week, so prepare ye selves." Choji announced after we docked the ship and unloaded the shipment of goods.

I leaned onto the rail watching a déjà vu sight. I smirked as I remembered when Sasuke's crew had done the same and lined up to get their wages. Choji walked over to me after speaking to a few other crewmembers.

"You said you had business with me now let's go exchange words." He said coolly. He started in the direction of his cabin with me following behind him. I mentioned to him that I would like to speak to him about making a side journey, only if it were reasonable.

I stepped into his quarters. He quickly walked to his small desk and stood behind it. He pushed a few trivial things off a large piece of paper. As I approached the desk, I saw it was a map.

"I want to know if ye could take me to Ningyo Island." I stated. He looked down at his map. "It ain't particularly on the journey, in fact it will be far out of our way." He said and sighed. I bit my lip. If he can't take me there then…well I would have to find another way.

He sighed and scratched his head. "Ye see, I cannot be risking the lives of my crew to go to Ningyo. I think ye are a fine lad; however, one life is not the worth of many." He said solemnly. I took in a deep breath and let out as a long sigh. The temptation to say who I was, is great, yet it would only serve to keep me from any progress.

I did not want to take the chances of trying to find another group of people to take me the Ningyo, but that may be what I need to do. On the other hand, perhaps Sasuke will surprise me with his appearance and take me to Ningyo. No even if he were to find me, he would just take me to Suna.

Perhaps that may not be so unfortunate…if I go back to Suna then Sasuke will just leave me there. Then I could pursue this journey on my own with some of our sailors. They may not be as skilled as Sasuke, but they should be skilled enough to guide a ship.

Choji left the room and I hung my head as regret filled my mind. I should have considered that prior to leaving. I turned and walked out of the room. Choji was standing with Neji and talking to him about the ship.

I walked past them and got off the ship. I looked around at the people on the pier and began walking in no particular direction. I just wanted to get away from the ship. There were few people trying to gain my attention with selling me their merchandise, but I avoided eye contact with them.

I pushed my fingers through my short hair. It confused me a bit. Typically, my hair grows at a rapid rate, yet over the month it seemed to have slowed down greatly. I don't think I need to cut it shorter.

Suddenly a hand gripped my shoulder. I quickly turned knocking the hand from my shoulder and backed away from the person. My eyes grew wide and held my when I saw who it was…Itachi.

I felt my heart stop as he smiled at me. He stepped closer to me, "Gaara, to see you here is such a pleasure." He spoke. I scowled at him and straightened my figure, "Clearly you are only speaking for yourself."

His lips formed a smirk, "I see sour feelings are still smoldering inside you towards a friend." I gritted my teeth, "You are no friend in my regard." He stepped closer to me, "Yes...however I am an ally to Suna…and the last I checked you are the prince of Suna." He replied then looked down at my body and back up to my face. "Yet you are not in your usual ornate clothing."

I knew he knew about my journey with Sasuke. His eyes said it all, yet Itachi would never admit to exactly how much he knew. "Yes I am a prince of Suna; however, with my siblings return to the city, I have been taken from the throne and allowed to pursue a personal desire." I told him crossing my arms.

He chuckled, "Ah so, despite your demeanor you do seek a relationship with me?" He said. I glared at him, "As if I would pursue to even the slightest kindling of a relationship with such a cowardly monster." I spat. He shrugged, "That's grave news." He said.

I rolled my eyes and turned away from him, "If you will excuse me I don't need to continue talking to the scum of Iwaga." I spoke coldly.

Since that day, I made careful arrangements to stay far from Itachi. The thought of him being near me is revolting, I merely only tolerate his existence. Naruto is a different story. I understood why he would want to betray me in such a manner, yet my regards to him are less than my regards to Itachi.

Naruto had simply left the room after I had told them I did not wish to take part in such an activity. Itachi took the advantage over me and continued to pursue the unwanted attention, despite my refusals.

Suddenly I felt his hand grab my wrist. I turned around and slipped my hand through his grasp, but took a hold of the area between his thumb and finger and pinched the area hard. Immediately he began to try to pull his hand from my pressure, but I did not release my grip.

"Itachi what do you not understand when I blatantly refuse to be around you?" I asked. His facial expression strained slightly. "You mistake me for someone who cares about the concerns of others." He replied and glanced down at his hand.

I narrowed my eyes and let go of the pressure point. He sighed and smiled meekly. I crossed my arms, "If you're not going to be providing me a ship and crew to go to Ningyo island then I will not have anything more to do with you. I am sure you have more pressing matters than harassing an acquaintance.

"Ah, you see you are wrong about that. Currently I am able to do all the harassing I please as Pein as seen fit to take charge of the events for today. So I am free to pursue my desires." He spoke.

"A freedom that will cause you great harm if you pursue the wrong desires." I hissed. He moved closer to me, "This desire could never be wrong when it only brought me pleasure." He spoke. I rolled my eyes, "You would be disappointed to find that your desired object only desires your sibling." I spat. He muttered under his breath and looked down then back up at me.

"Each moment that passes I continue regretting having letting him escape the fate of our people." I rolled my eyes and began to walk away as if his words did not pierce my heart like sharp arrows.

"Gaara, I do I have business with you regarding Orochimaru." He said as he caught up to me. I stopped and looked at him. "What kind of business?" I asked cautiously. He sighed and pursed his lips together. His eyes glanced around then settled on mine. "I cannot break such words with you here…come to the council building."