A/N: I try to update as fast as I can.

To those who had requested for the cut sex scenes (no use trying cover that with flowery words), I wish to inform you that I cannot do so. I lost some of the earlier chapters during the thunderstorm last week…Thousand apologies.

Disclaimer: Do turn back to the earlier chapters with the disclaimer note.

Chapter 12

It was not until they were safely in Kyu's cabin that Haku set Sasuke down. Haku then performed a series of seal before touching the door. But nothing happened and Sasuke wondered what the beautiful just did.

As if reading his mind, Haku said, "I used a genjutsu over the dor. Anyone on the other side would only see the ship's hull instead of a door.

Sasuke looked at Haku, then at the door, a plan was formulating in his head. He could knock Haku out and go out to fight. He assessed his immediate surrounding, calculating. Then he turned back his attention to Haku, a dark scowl forming on his otherwise pale face.

Who was he trying to kid? He'd probably spent too much time in trying to defeat Haku in this confining space. By the time the fight finishes, the battle on the deck would probably end. Even if it didn't, he'd probably be too tired to continue on carry on fighting.

So, he decided to change tactic and use persuasion instead.

Sasuke didn't even manage to open his mouth to argue when Haku stopped him short.

"Don't waste your breathe. You won't be able to sway me with persuasions."

Sasuke stared at Haku, his mouth stopped short from a protest. He reverted back to the idea of knocking out Haku.

"And it's no use trying tm knock me out either. You're a bright girl, you'll know the outcome," Haku smiled sympathetically. "Even if you could beat me (which I doubt) you'll only be a burden in an exhausted state."

"You're a mind reader now?" Sasuke frowned.

"No," Haku shook his head. "If I were in your position I would have thought of the same thing."

"Then please let me go out there," Sasuke entreated, only to have Haku barred his way when he made for the door again. "I know that deep down you want to fight. You're a shinobi. It's who you are."

Haku smiled faintly. "Believe me, I would be rather out there than ion here. But my orders…"

"Orders be damn! Uzumaki could shove his orders up his ass!"

Sasuke tried to force Haku to submit with his glare. Then, seeing there wasn't any point in arguing any further, Sasuke slumped in defeat. "Fine. I'll behave and stay here."

Sasuke flopped down on Kyu's cot. There was a big lump under the sheets with blonde hair sticking out.

Amazing! There was a battle up on deck and the little bastard still managed to sleep. Oh well, since he was already there, better make the most of it and annoy Kyu.

"Oi! Usuratonkachi! Get up!"

Sasuke shook Kyu. The blonde wiggled and moaned but didn't show any sign of getting up.

"Oi! said get up!" Sasuke thre the sheet over and his eyes widened in surprise. The sleeping figure wasn't Kyu. It was…

"Iruka-sensei?" Sasuke gasped.

Haku dashed forward and when he saw a tied-up and a duct-tapped Iruka, with a blonde wig he also cried out ion surprise.

Both brunettes quickly untied the poor man, who kept flexing his muscles to circulate the blood back into his limbs.

Sorry about this!" Sasuke said as he tore the tape off Iruka, eliciting a scream of bloody murder.

"Who did this to you?" Haku asked, concern lacing in his voice. "And where's Kyu?"

"It was that little imp who did this to me," he muttered, rubbing his blood deficient body. "Naruto asked me to protect Kyu."

"Oh, don't tell me he said you're the only one he trusted for the job?" Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"How did you know?" Iruka asked in surprise.

"He gave the same speech to Haku." Sasuke nudged his head toward Haku.

Iruka started to get up. "I better go out there and find that imp. Goodness knows what he was thinking! The little brat knocked me out from behind. Kids nowadays!"

Haku smiled significantly at Sasuke who pretended not to notice.

"I'm coming with you," Sasuke leaped off the bed.

Iruka looked scandalous.

"Here we go again," Haku rolled his eyes heavenward.

"Ab-absolutely not!" Iruka protested. "A girl amidst a battle? Ridiculous! It's unthinkable! Absurd! No, I won't allow it!"

"Iruka-sensei, stop fussing. You're ruffling your feathers like a a mother hen," Sasuke said, to the chagrin of the ship's doctor. "I grow up in a island full of pirates. This is nothing to me."

Iruka opened his mouth only to close it again; out of retorts. He looked pass Sasuke toward Haku, obviously offering the chance to be aided.

"Now you know what I've just been through," Haku chuckled. The next instant he grew grim. "I'm afraid Iruka-sensei is right, Sasuki-chan. You cannot go outside."

"Oh, c'mon Haku-chan! Live a little." Sasuke pleaded.

"No, Naruto ordered…"

"Naruto ordered you to send me below and watch over both Kyu and me. He never said I should stay put in here." Sasuke pointed out. "Plus, Kyu isn't exactly here, is he? Just pretend that we'll be fetching the idiot back down. I can't believe I'm saying this but Kyu is quite useful in this time of need…well, useful for me. C'mon, I'll have the two of you to guard me, won't I?"

Haku's face lift up with a smile. "You're totally ignoring Naruto's order."

"No, I'm not. I just twist it around," the young brunette smirked smugly. "Anyway, he needed me to accompany Kyu. Now, tell me, how can do that when I'm here and he's somewhere up there.

C'mon, I know you want to go out there again. And the dobe deserves it when he gave you the same crappy speech like Iruka-sensei."

"Very well, I'm convinced. Let's go,"

"And Naruto…what did you just say?"

"I said let's go. Unless, of course, you want to stay here."

"Yatta!" Sasuke cheered.

Iruka, who was so sure that Haku would drill some sense into the girl was flabbergasted.

"No! Haku, she's only a girl…the danger…"

"Iruka-sensei, you're sputtering."

Iruka closed his mouth, but shook his head vigorously.

"Please," the young pirate entreated. "I'll be fine. You'll see. I know that you'll keep me safe from harm."

Sasuke could see that Iruka was caving in. A little more nudge should do it, so he gave Iruka his fail-safe weapon, a big doe-eyed pout.

That did it.

"Oh, alright," Iruka sighed. Naruto wasn't going to be pleased at all. No, he wouldn't. "Do you have any weapons, Sasuki-chan?"

"Hai, Aniki told me to always carry my weapons in case something happens."

Strange, the desire of wanting to weep every time his brother was mentioned had diminished. It was still there, but the potency had dropped. He guessed that last chat with Haku on deck had something to do with it.

"Sasuki-chan?" Iruka's voice broke through Sasuke's musings. "Are you ready?"

"Hai."

"Then, let's go."

The three stepped out of the cabin. It was utter pandemonium. The battle had reached on the lower level of the ship. They had surprised a couple of enemy shinobis who were beating Naruto's watchman, a strange boy who had a jacket with furs on the edges.

To their attackers, they had appeared out of nowhere. They didn't have the chance to react before Haku and Iruka took them out.

"Daijobu, Kiba-san?" Sasuke extended his hand to help the boy.

Said boy scrambled onto his feet in a rush.

"H-hai!" He squeaked, his face flushed with a crimson shade. "A-arigato! I'm fine!" Then he laughed nervously.

Sasuke chuckled. Kiba was a weird one. He had painted red, fang-like design on his cheeks and he usually had a cute little puppy on his head.

"Where's Akamaru?" Sasuke looked around for the puppy. There was a small yip and a furry white puppy bounded out of Sasuke's cabin. It threw itself onto Kiba, who caught him in his arms.

"I told him to go in your cabin and stand guard when the pirates reached me," Kiba explained as his dog licked his face.

"Why did you send him to my room?"

Kiba blushed. "To guard you."

"Oh…thanks."

"What are you doing here? I thought you were in your cabin."

"I was in Kyu's cabin with Iruka and Haku. Now, I'm going on deck and join the battle."

"Nani?" Whatever the answer, he certainly wasn't expecting that. "D-demo, you're...you're a girl."

"Here we go again," he said and rolled his eyes.

Sasuke explained the situation. After he was finished explaining, Kiba's face was lit with awe and admiration.

"Let me join you," he offered. "I'll t-try my best t help."

"I don't know…." Sasuke hesitated. Not that he doubted the other boy's ability, he was thinking along the line of Kiba's lack of concentration. The boy always had a far away look whenever Sasuke saw him. "I don't want you to get in trouble with Naruto."

"N-no! It would be my pleasure to assist you." Kiba beamed.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I'll gladly lay my life to help you."

Sasuke chuckled. "That's a bit overdramatic, but I accept your gesture. Just try not to get killed. Arigato, Kiba-san"

Sasuke gave him his brightest smile. The poor boy turned redder than a tomato.

"Let's go," Sasuke chirped, and then stopped before shaking his head. He wasn't turning to mush. It's just a phase…yes, that's it. All this chirpiness is because of him finally getting a first-hand experience in a battle…It'll come off soon…he hoped.

The two adults just watched silently at the two youths, their mouth curving into smiles. It looked as if Sasuke had a lot of fans.

A/N: That's it for now. Do tell me what you think. It'll be actions until the next next chapter….I think…