A/N- Friday 12th of April 1912. That's what date it is in this chapter…. just in case, you, like I, the writer, lost track of what day it was in the story. Just for a reminder…it's Thursday evening and the star couple is on a date at the Parisian Café…. well at least they're going to be;) Thanks to iamNOTafangirl3221, puppy444219, seyann, Loku and Sakura li 19 for reviewing. Read and Review!

Disclaimer-I don't own Naruto

Chapter 12

Sakura anxiously smoothed out her hair. "Relax Sakura, you look fine. I'm sure Sasuke won't care what you wear," coaxed Tenten from behind the worried girl. "But…." She glanced down at the pastel pink, dress she was wearing, cut with a square neckline edged with lace. "Are you sure he's never seen this dress before?"

"Sakura I've never seen that dress before and I've seen you whenever you were with him." Sakura blushed and looked down. "Well…I'm just a little nervous okay?"

"Don't worry Sakura. You'll be fine. I know Sasuke and he's not the type to even care about what you're wearing. And I can promise you that he will act the complete and utter gentleman," assured Ino.

"Guys, I'm just…. nervous," confessed the pink haired girl. "And you think we didn't notice this?" smirked Tenten. "D-don't w-worry Sakura," added Hinata. "You'll be fine."

"What time is it?" before anyone could answer her, Sakura whipped her head around so fast that the tendrils of hair that weren't pinned up smacked against her face. Destiny came over and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Relax miss. I'm sure that whatever happens it will all work out for the best." Then, tactfully, the 'maid' withdrew.

"You're awfully close to your maids. Is there a reason for that?" enquired Tenten. Unbidden, a memory that Sakura didn't know she had come to mind. She was a fair deal younger but it was obviously her as a child in the late 1800's. Destiny and Fate were both there with her. "Yes, they've been with me for a long time, and I feel very close to them. They offer me reassurances where my parents, who passed away, could not."

Suddenly, a sharp rap came at the door. Sakura jumped and looked at the door, scared. "This happened this time yesterday," she whispered. "I don't want to answer it." Even as she said this, all of them heard one of Sakura's maids answer the door. The murmur of voices…

"Miss Sakura!" came the voice of Fate. "Someone is here for you." Sakura stood on unstable legs, reaching out an arm for support, an arm that all three girls grabbed to steady the girl in the pink dress. She thanked them and walked, on unsteady steps, in shaking heels out to the door…

Where Sasuke stood dressed in his good officer's coat. In one hand he held a rose the color of her hair, which he had procured at the gift shop on board. Which meant that it was a piece of exquisitely carved glass. Sakura gasped and, blushing, took the heavy piece of stemware from the officer. "Thank you Sasuke…" she blushed. "Hn. Ready to go? I thought I'd come and pick you up, to avoid the confusion of yesterday." "Good idea, I'll be there in a minute."

As she turned to go back into the stateroom to grab some things, she was confronted by Ino's blue eyes right in front of her own emerald ones. 'Oh no you don't.' mouthed the blonde. "You are going to take your purse and go, no hiding in the stateroom," hissed Tenten. Hinata added, "Y-you don't have to b-be shy around him…if a-anything he doesn't like that…" Sakura took the purse from Ino and nodded, blushing. "Okay, I'm going to go now…." Ino spun the girl around and pointed her out the door…or rather forced her out the door.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

The officer and Sakura walked down the carpeted hallway together, saying nothing. Until Sasuke broke the silence, saying, "Ino was in that room wasn't she?" Sakura laughed. "Yes. And Tenten and Hinata." Sasuke went 'Hn' and then said, "I should tell Shikamaru. He told her not to interfere with anymore shipboard relationships. She screwed the last one up so bad…" he chuckled dryly.

"Well, she wasn't helping per say…" said Sakura hastily, not wanting to get her friend in trouble. "Humph, forget about it I wouldn't have told Shikamaru in the first place." He held out his elbow causing Sakura to stare at him oddly. "It's called an elbow, you take it. Usually the male uses it to escort the woman."

Sakura shot him a Look. "I know what it's for…" she softened her voice. "I just didn't expect you to offer it." She slid her ungloved hand into the crook of his elbow and felt his arm muscles twitch beneath her feather light touch.

Her heart sped up. What was it about this guy…

Oh right, he was her soul mate. She had forgotten.

They got through the supper relatively easy. Sasuke had been surprised when, instead of ordering a dainty dish, she ordered the steak. "I would've thought you for a salad type person," he observed as she cut into her piece of meat. "Why because I'm thin as a twig?" she retorted. "That's only because my maid pulls my stays tight as…" Sakura blushed when she realized what, exactly, she was saying. Definitely not appropriate.

"Relax," he drawled. "You can say stuff like that around me, I don't really care. I know Ino remember. She's not exactly what you would call the dainty type."

"That is true," said Sakura slightly demurely. "Now, let's eat, this steak looks wonderful."

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Later that evening, after they finished their meal at the Parisian café, they took a turn around the deck, winding up standing at the bow. Sakura inhaled gently, blowing out so that she could see her breath. Giving an involuntary shiver (because, of course, her dress bore short sleeves), she felt heavy fabric drape on her shoulders. Turning, she saw Sasuke standing there in his long sleeved suit shirt that had been underneath his jacket.

Meaning the heavy blue thing that she now wore was his jacket. "Sasuke you didn't have to…" "Hn." Sakura shrugged. "Thanks." She turned her face upwards, towards the stars. In the middle of the north Atlantic, with no light pollution, the stars were crystal clear. "It's so beautiful. I love looking at the stars."

She looked down at the ocean in front of the ship, the horizon approaching rapidly and yet there was not a breath of wind to stir her hair. The stars reflected on the water, sending off a dim pale light. A crescent moon hung low in the sky, preparing to set.

"I'm just curious Sasuke…but did you feel it?" Sasuke turned his head towards Sakura indicating that he was listening to her. "That first day…the first day on board the ship, when we passed each other in the hall did you feel it? And then when we were dancing…that spark…. that feeling…" Sakura knew she was blabbering and that, in all likelihood Sasuke no longer understood her. However, she felt a need to fill the empty air between them with conversation. "Because I know I did…feel it that is…"

Before she could utter another syllable, someone grasped her upper arm rather forcefully and pulled her into an embrace. In her minds eye she was pulled back to earlier that day when Gaara had her in the closet and was trying to force himself upon her and she fought back briefly, until she realized that it was Sasuke holding her now. And while his initial grasp had been strong, it was now gentle; the way one holds a fragile blossom that they are scared of breaking.

She felt a rumble start within his chest. This rumble was soon accompanied with a word. "Yes," and that was all. He merely stood there and held her.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Fate and Destiny paced the stateroom, walking opposite to each other. Occasionally their eyes would meet and one, or both, would shake their heads with worry over what was going to happen next and how Sakura would be when she got back…

It was about 10 PM when the door clicked open. Sakura walked in, a dreamy look on her face. As the door slid closed soundlessly behind her she leaned against it and slid to the ground. She was rumpling her skirts. She couldn't exactly sit comfortably because of her corset, but that really didn't seem to bother her.

She had a dreamy look in her eye. And the air around her face seemed to sparkle.

"Sakura how did it go?" Destiny rushed over to the door and helped Sakura to her feet and over to the bed. As she unbuttoned the back of the dress and the back of the corset, Sakura told her and Fate how the date had gone.

"…well I mean you saw the rose that he brought at the beginning…and that was just the start. He was sweet the entire date…the only thing he could stand to be is more talkative. But he's got a sense of humor that rivals mine." "The dry wit?"

"Yeah exactly," said Sakura, smiling gently.

"Didja kiss?" asked the girl smiling gently. "No…we haven't kissed yet…he just hugged me…. I asked him if he felt the spark between us that day…. he took hold of me and said yes…"

Sakura slipped a silk shift onto her body and slipped in between the soft sheets.

"And I can't wait until tomorrow."

"Sakura you know you only have two more days?" "I know," said Sakura closing her eyes. "That's why I can't wait until tomorrow."

A/N-Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Read and Review!