Hey guys I am so so so sorry for such a late update. Actually I have been suffering from high fever in the past 2 weeks. Even now I am not that well but I decided that you guys have waited long enough. So I decided to finish and upload the new chapter. To make up to you guys this chapter is the longest chapter I have written till yet. So without further ado. Onwards!

(By the way in the last chapter I wrote chapter 6-Nightmare whereas it should have been chapter 7. Seriously what's wrong with me! Anyway this will be the 8th chapter.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Also, I do not own 'All I need' by Within Temptation and 'Let it go' by idina Menzel. For the sake of the story, these are the works of Sakura Haruno.

Chapter 8: Redemption

She cried and cried until she just couldn't cry anymore. In a daze, she made her way to the activity deck. She was surprised to see that it had been cleaned spotless. She was touched by the hard work shown by the staff members.

She took a few shuddering breaths. A tear rolled down her cheek. She finally realized why Neji hadn't been invited. He was happily married and this party was for people looking for cheap fun. Why would Neji come to a party like this? And why hadn't she thought about this fact before?

She needed to calm herself down. She went up to the DJ system. She found that she had left her computer there only, when she had been sitting with Lolly. She opened it and put on the tune she was working on. She connected it to the speakers and it blasted out. She walked out on to the deck. She stood there staring at the dark horizon. She took a few calming breaths as the music blew out softly.

She saw Sasuke's happy face in her mind. The times he used to tease her and play with her. When he used to hold her in his arms and brush away her tears. Remembered the way he left her to go to Karin, the way she pleasured him, the way she felt abandoned outside his room…. Fresh tears tumbled down her cheek. She took a deep breath and let it out with a whoosh! And then she began.

(Please play the song while reading.)

I'm dying to catch my breath
Oh, why don't I ever learn?
I've lost all my trust
Though I've surely tried to turn it around

Flash of Sasuke's face. The moment of their embrace near her parent's grave.

Can you still see the heart of me?
All my agony fades away
When you hold me in your embrace

Don't tear me down for all I need
Make my heart a better place
Give me something I can believe

Don't tear me down
You've opened the door now
Don't let it close

She sang as if she was pleading Sasuke to not give up on her. To become his old, caring self again. Oblivious of a pair of eyes watching her.

I'm here on the edge again
I wish I could let it go
I know that I'm only one step away
From turning it around

Can you still see the heart of me?
All my agony fades away
When you hold me in your embrace

Flash of Sasuke carrying her to her room.

Don't tear me down for all I need
Make my heart a better place
Give me something I can believe

Don't tear it down, what's left of me
Make my heart a better place

Flash of her being in high school, the way Sasuke stood by her always. Flash of Sasuke leaving her standing in his room to go to Karin.

I tried many times but nothing was real
Make it fade away, don't break me down
I want to believe that this is for real
Save me from my fear, don't tear me down

Her voice turned to whisper but was still caught by the person watching her.

Don't tear me down for all I need
Make my heart a better place

Tears were streaming down her face. She wiped them away, took a deep breath and continued.

Don't tear me down for all I need
Make my heart a better place
Give me something I can believe

Don't tear it down, what's left of me
Make my heart a better place
Make my heart a better place

Her voice turning desperate again and finally, broke in the end. She just stood there sobbing quietly.

"That" she heard a voice behind her, "was amazing! I am sorry, I just heard you singing and just couldn't stop myself. Wow! You have such a marvellous voice. You should be a singer, man!"

"Lolly" she said impassively, "You should go to sleep, you know. Tomorrow is going to be another hectic day."

She turned around to face him and that's when he noticed her face was glistening with tears. Lolly had been sneaking into the kitchen for a midnight snack and that's when he had heard her singing. He was amazed to hear such a sweet voice and hadn't been able to stop himself from listening to her as well as was curious to find the beholder of such an impressive voice.

"Sakura, what's wrong?" he asked her gently.

Sakura just shook her head and replied, "Nothing".

"Okay, if you don't wanna tell me, its okay." he just patted her on the head and continued, "By the way, my name is Drake not Lolly."

That made Sakura look up at him.

"But Sasuke called you Lolly." she asked, her voice thick due to all that crying.

"Baby, that is my stage name. I had to have some swag, right." he lifted the collar of his jacket and spun slowly on the spot.

Sakura giggled.

"So now you know something no one else does." he said softly.

"I think Drake has more swag than Lolly." she said matter of factly.

"How dare you? Take that back. Take that back this instant" Drake/Lolly whined.

Sakura just laughed.

"So, is that your original composition." he asked her.

Sakura nodded.

"Damn! You are good!" he exclaimed.

They made their way inside and reaching the stairs looked at each other.

"So, ummm…..good night" said Drake awkwardly.

Sakura just smiled at him.

"Good night, Drake. Ohhh…. I mean….. Lolly" she winked at him.

She woke up the next morning feeling very tired. She had slept last night only fitfully. Nightmares had plagued her sleep. Somehow she had dragged herself out of the bed by 8 o'clock. Sally had already woken up by then. By 9 o' clock both of them had made their way to the kitchen. The ship was very quiet as no one was awake by then. Sakura instructed the head chef as to what was to be made for breakfast.

By 10:30-11:00, the guests started trickling into the dining area. Some were supporting massive hangovers. People had not really bothered to dress up. So, Sakura and the staff members were greeted by the sight of ample flesh, in case of both men and women. This was the only meal they took properly.

As the people moved out to the activity deck to start the party again. Sakura and the staff moved on for housekeeping. It was unbelievable how much mess these rich people had created. It was like they were savages and not the off-springs of reputable families. It took them almost half of the afternoon to finish with the cleaning of rooms.

By 2 o'clock the party was back in full swing and all the hangovers were forgotten. It was a miracle that these people had the stamina to party again the next day after such a wild party day before. The beats were being played perfectly by DJ Lolly.

The staff was engaged in circulating snacks and serving drinks at the bar. Sasuke, Naruto and Kiba were sitting on the bar stools with skimpily clad Karin, Cathy and Cherry in their laps, respectively. They were laughing and having the time of their lives. Sakura felt a pang in her heart but she continued serving snacks.

By the evening around 5 o'clock, she had suffered many rude comments and jabs. She felt her strength slipping away. She felt as if she could break any moment.

"Hey, pink dyed bitch!" she heard Cathy call out to her.

Taking a deep breath she turned around to look at Cathy. Cathy was rubbing her backside against Naruto's crotch. She bend down to push her ass out more, so as to grind better against. She was successful if Naruto's satisfying moan could be an answer.

"Yes, ma'am" Sakura asked her.

"Get me an apple martini, bitch" she said to Sakura vehemently, still bend and grinding.

Sakura just stared at her. After giving the command, Cathy returned to her twerking. She had turned her eyes back down to the floor so as to concentrate on pleasuring the man standing behind her. That's when she heard.

Pffffttttt!

She looked up to see Sakura's face all red. Her eyes were twinkling with laughter and she was covering her mouth with her hand to not burst out laughing.

"What's wrong, bitch. Didn't you understand what I said" she asked angrily.

Apparently something was definitely wrong, because her words caused Sakura to laugh louder.

"How could I not see this?! I have been so blind!" Sakura thought.

Sakura was laughing at the state in which Cathy was giving order to her. Though she was calling Sakura a bitch but she was herself looking like one by bending and grinding like an animal. She looked around to find that almost every woman was behaving like a nymphomaniac bitch by spreading themselves for the men and allowing them to treat them like bitches. Apparently the women hadn't heard about feminism. The women were just taking out their frustrations as they had to work so hard for a man to look their way. Until they didn't do the dirty, the men didn't care. If this was the state of people giving orders to her, then she was definitely better off.

"This is not love. This can't be love. If a man treats a woman so callously, he is definitely not in love with her. Love was about making your partner feel comfortable. This was all just plain lust."

The confidence that was waning from her, returned with full vigour and she composed herself.

"Sorry, ma'am. I can't do that. I am not supposed to serve you drinks, just snacks." she answered professionally.

"How dare you defy me?" Cathy roared, still busy pleasuring her man though it was becoming uncomfortable to look up at her and talk to her as well as to keep doing the grinding motion, "I will tell Sasuke!"

"Looks like 'Bitch' is her favourite word."

"Go ahead and do that. Although, you will benefit nothing from it because I am only following Sasuke's orders. He told me not serve any drinks." Sakura said.

With that she turned around and walked away and Cathy's mouth just fell open.

"I will teach you a lesson, you bitch" Cathy thought.

It was 1 o' clock in the night and the party was still going on. The scenario was a mirror image of yesterday's scenario. People were passing out all over the place. Sakura was tired of all this shit.

She decided that it was time that the DJ and bar was closed. So, she told Matt to close it.

As Matt was closing the bar, he was assaulted by two women. One of them climbed on his back and the other one latched on to him from front, both of them fully naked. She recognized the one on his back as the lady who had slapped her yesterday and in the front, the woman was no other than Cathy. They both started pulling him away from the bar. Both of them had put their arms around his neck and were pulling in opposite directions, in turn suffocating him. The poor guy was trying to find his balance, trying to claw them off and breathe simultaneously. But both of them were stuck to him like leeches and continued with their pulling.

"Matt" Sakura screamed, she started running towards him. From the corner of her eye, she saw Cherry make a dash for the bar. It all clicked in Sakura's mind.

"They planned all of this, just to get a drink?"

Matt's face was turning red due to suffocation. Sakura was so furious that her fury knew no bounds.

"No you don't" she growled and ran towards the bar. She was able to intercept just before Cherry reached the bar.

"Back off" she growled. The expression on Sakura's face said it all and Cherry backed off obediently, apparently, scared by the look she gave him.

"Eric lock the bar up and then take Cherry back to her room" she said quietly. Eric nodded and proceeded with locking up.

She looked over to see that Henry, Sally and Trudy were trying to pry the girls off Matt, his face had almost turned purple. They successfully removed them. The girl on the back was easily subdued by Henry but Cathy was thrashing in Sally's and Trudy's arms.

"Let go, you bitches. I want my drink." she spat out.

Sakura had enough of this woman's nonsense. She stormed up to her and slapped her across the face. There was absolute silence.

"You…..You are such a….. You are just not worth it. You don't deserve my respect. You don't deserve anyone's respect. You are proud of your heritage right. So, is this what your wealthy family has taught you? Disregard a human's life for a bloody drink? We live in a world of equality and no law in the world gives you the right to treat a person like this. And you know what? The only bitch on this ship is YOU! No, you are not even a bitch, you are fucking frustrated bitch who has nothing better to do but just be a bitch for people who you feel are important."

Everyone was staring at Sakura, who was breathing heavily after her speech.

Sasuke stepped forward.

"Sakura-" he started.

"Sasuke, don't" she looked at him furiously with fire of mutiny in her eyes, "Everyone, the party has officially ended. Please move back to your rooms cordially."

And for the first time in her life, no one questioned her.

"All my life I have relied on people like Sasuke, Ino and Naruto to fight my battles. Its time I stood for myself and fought my own battles. I am sorry, Maki-san but you were wrong. Maids are not supposed to take everything in stride. We are not supposed to suffer when we try our hardest to make our masters lead a comfortable life. We are not supposed to take injustice and keep our feelings bottled up inside. Though I have tried to do a lot. You advice to conceal our feelings and just keep on doing our work without showing that we are hurting inside is inhumane. I cannot follow that anymore. It's a mutual relationship. We deserve respect too. Clean sheets to sleep and hot food to eat doesn't appear out of thin air. We work hard to achieve these tasks. I will neither tolerate nor allow injustice. Enough is enough."

Slowly all the guests shuffled back to their rooms. Somehow they too realized that they had crossed the line. Staff members started with the task of cleaning the activity deck and Sakura joined them.

"What kind of party is this? People drinking till they throw up. Dancing where they have turned their insides out. Expecting it to vanish. Stripping off their clothes and start doing each other in broad daylight in public eye. Are these our leaders of tomorrow? Such dickheads? I just don't even know what to think?"

"You know you shouldn't have done that, maid" she heard Kiba behind her. He was leaning against the railings.

"You know, Sasuke is a ruthless beast and when something doesn't go his way that beast awakens. Then he will make sure you come out bleeding and there will be nothing you can do." he laughed evilly.

Sakura smirked.

"Bring it on"

That's all she said and walked off to do her work. Kiba stood there, clearly shaken. He couldn't believe the timid Sakura had turned into such a bold woman. He couldn't scare her anymore. He didn't have any power over her. And that frightened Kiba. A lot. How do you fight someone who fears nothing?

It was almost 2 o'clock in the morning by the time she went to bed and she was beat. She felt broken. Actually, she couldn't feel anything. Everything had happened so fast that it was still a blur. Maybe the repercussions of her actions would come glaring to her when she woke up. But right now she just didn't have the energy to even to keep her eyes open.

It was 6 o'clock in the morning when her sleep was broken by the blaring of a horn. She wrapped her night gown around herself and went up to check what the matter was.

All she saw was white as soon as she stepped on to the deck.

"SNOW!"

Soft snowflakes were falling around her.

"Snow in Caribbean seas what the hell was happening."

So that is what the horn was for. Something unusual was happening. She went out on the activity deck and was surprised to see it covered with a white carpet of snow. The swimming pool had been covered by someone, maybe by one of the stewards.

The skies were dark, fog was swirling and wind was howling around her. It was freezing but Sakura just welcomed the cold. It felt symbolic to her. It looked as if the weather was revolting in the similar manner as she was. It was showing that no one could control it. If it wanted to be sunny, it would be and if it didn't, it won't be.

"It must have been snowing for a while. At least it will put a stop to their freakish parties. What a blessing in disguise." she thought.

She sat down in one of the chairs. Thinking about what had happened yesterday. She still had a lot of rage in her but right now she could do nothing. She was stuck here for this trip. But some things were going to change around her. She would not be treated like shit anymore.

She seriously needed to calm down. She started humming a tune she had made. It was like her mind went in an overdrive and words started stringing into lyrics. She made her way to the DJ platform to work on her computer.

Sasuke was awoken by a knock on his door. He disentangled the slim arm draped over his chest, dressed up into low cut navy blue jeans and threw on a cotton sleeveless jacket that zipped up in the front. He zipped it up just enough to cover half the expanse of his chiselled chest and opened the door. A steward was standing there.

"Sir, I am sorry to disturb you so early in the morning but the captain wants to see you." said the steward.

"This better be good. I have a massive headache." grumbled Sasuke.

Both of them made their way to the bridge of the ship. Sasuke was surprised to see that it was snowing.

"Sorry to disturb you sir but as you can see there has been a dramatic change in the weather." said the captain.

"Have we gone off-course?" inquired Sasuke.

"No, sir. I am as much shocked as you are. These seas are not known for these temperatures. It's a freak of nature if you ask me." replied the captain.

"So, what do you suggest?" asked Sasuke.

"There is nothing to worry about, sir. I am more than capable of handling the ship in these extreme conditions. Although there might be a delay in our arrival." said the captain.

"That's fine as long as we reach there safe and sound." said Sasuke.

"That much I can do." replied the captain confidently.

"Will that be all?" asked Sasuke.

"Yes, sir" said the captain.

Sasuke nodded and turned around to make his way to his room when they heard a melodious voice cut sharply through the air.

"Who's that?" asked the steward.

Sasuke could recognise that voice anywhere.

"Sakura" he said.

He made his way to the upper deck which overlooked the activity deck.

Sakura had plugged in her computer and was playing the tune she had been working. When she had made this tune she hadn't been able to think of the lyrics but right now, her feelings were pouring out of her. As the music played out, she took off her slippers and stepped on the snow covered activity deck. A shiver went through her as the cold pierced her foot. She began her song.

(Please play the song while reading.)

The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen.
A kingdom of isolation
and it looks like I'm the Queen

A very strong wind whipped her hair around her face.

The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
Couldn't keep it in
Heaven knows I've tried

She remembered the words of her mentor.

Don't let them in
don't let them see
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don't feel
don't let them know
Well now they'll know

She slowly moved across the expanse of ice.

Let it go, let it go
Can't hold it back anymore

Let it go, let it go
Turn away and slam the door
I don't care
what they're going to say
Let the storm rage on.
The cold never bothered me anyway

Sasuke stood above her and watched as her beautiful voice floated up to him

"What is she doing? Why is she singing?" he thought.

He couldn't understand as to what was happening. She put her hand on the railing and trailed her fingers on it. One trip away from the protection of Uchihas and she had turned into a completely different person. She wasn't that timid girl anymore who was scared of standing up for herself.

It's funny how some distance
Makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me
Can't get to me at all

It's time to see what I can do
To test the limits and break through
No right, no wrong, no rules for me

She will never be controlled or dictated by anyone. She will be the master of herself.

I'm free!

She twirled around as the wind howled around her.

Let it go, let it go
I am one with the wind and sky
Let it go, let it go
You'll never see me cry
Here I stand
And here I'll stay
Let the storm rage on

She twirled and danced across the frozen area. She marvelled at the confidence and the power she felt as she put her resolves into words which came out as music from her mouth.

Karin awoke as she heard the soft music playing. She was surprised to see that Sasuke was nowhere to be found. She covered her nakedness with a red-coloured, chiffon night gown that ended just below her hips and put on her six-inched golden pumps. She walked out as she heard a beautiful voice sing.

My power flurries through the air into the ground
My soul is spiralling in frozen fractals all around

Karin was surprised to find that it was snowing.

"Where is Sasuke?" she asked rudely to a steward who was passing by her.

"He is in on the top deck, ma'am. You can take these stairs to go up there." He answered.

And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast

She hurried up the stairs to find Sasuke staring down at Sakura who was standing at the railing of the deck.

I'm never going back, the past is in the past

The sun suddenly came out from behind the dark clouds bathing the three people with its orange hue. Somehow Sakura's robe came undone and it fluttered in the air.

Let it go, let it go
And I'll rise like the break of dawn
Let it go, let it go
That perfect girl is gone

Her hair moved violently with the wind.

Here I stand
In the light of day
Let the storm rage on

She spread her arms out parallel to the ground as she elongated the last syllable and as she finished the sun hid again behind the clouds.

The cold never bothered me anyway

She whispered out the last line. The two people above her who were watching her performance were moved by it. They had never witnessed such powerful singing. Karin was dumbstruck as she had never realized that the girl below her was so talented.

Sakura stood there at the railing, in the cold, staring at the horizon and Sasuke kept on staring at her. Karin didn't like the way he was looking at her. She moved forward and took his bare arm and snuggled to it.

"What are you doing here, baby." she asked Sasuke in a sultry voice.

"Nothing" he answered. His voice was devoid of any emotion but Karin could just see an emotion in his eyes as he stared intently at Sakura.

"Well, let's go back to bed, baby" she said and ground her hips against him.

"Hn"

Both of them made their way back and the woman below them was oblivious to their presence.

Sakura kept on staring with a grim expression on her face and the last thought that she had before she went back to get ready for the day was…..

"It is time these people realized Sakura Haruno is a force to be reckoned."

Hey guys. Sakura has arrived! I know many of you might have found it a little cheesy but just keep in mind that all of this will build up the story. Thank you to everyone who read, favourite, followed and reviewed the story. Thank you very much and once again I am sorry for the late update.

Katty09 signing off.