A/N-Thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter-Puppy444219, iamNOTafangirl3221, Seyann, SaNdEr-ThE-rUbBeR-bAnDeR and Sakura li 19. READ AND REVIEW!!!!

Disclaimer-I don't own Naruto

Chapter 13

"No, please…please…no matter what else happens on this night you must promise me you'll stay with me…please promise me…"

"Sakura!!!" a fist pounded on the suite door. "Wake up, you've slept late enough, we want to hear about how it went." Sakura shot up in bed, head still fuzzy because of the nightmares that had been plaguing her all night-the same ones she had gotten the night before she had been transported here. The pounding paused momentarily and Sakura heard the murmur of voices from behind the door. The emerald eyed girl sighed with relief that the pounding had stopped only to wince as it started back up and she heard Ino's insistent voice demanding that she 'wake up now.'

Throwing back the heavy embroidered duvet cover, Sakura swung her feet over the edge of the bed and into little satin slippers that Dessy had placed there the night before. "Come in ladies," she said as she grabbed her silk robe and hastily tied it over her lace-trimmed nightgown. As the door slid open, Sakura stepped over to the porthole and swung it open to allow in the fresh sea air. Judging from the sunlight it looked to be about nine in the morning.

"So??" asked Ino impatiently as she settled herself on the bed. "So what Miss Ino?" replied Sakura as she went about getting her clothes for that morning.

Tenten sighed. "Come on Sakura, we know who you were out with last evening and we would like to know what, exactly, happened."

Sakura carefully pulled out a long, loose fitting, ankle length casual skirt the color of chocolate and a light blouse that she had worn several times but since it was one of her favorites, and she was friends with the few people on board who wouldn't care about her attire.

"N-nothing happened!" said Sakura, blushing. "We…we ate dinner together, nothing more!" "Nuh- uh!!!" said Ino cheekily. "Don't believe that. I was talking to Asuma earlier today at breakfast-he's the lookout," she added for Sakura's benefit. 'And I knew that' the pink haired girl thought. "And he said that last night, when he was on duty, he was watching you and Sasuke in the bow…and there wasn't much room between the two of you… didja kiss?"

Sakura turned bright red. "I…" she sighed, resigned. "Fine. No, we didn't kiss but there was no room between us because…I asked him if he felt, when we saw each other on that first day…this…spark. I felt…I don't know, like at that instant I knew that he would be someone…

"Special to you," finished Ino and Tenten together. Hinata sat there and smiled softly. "I-I felt that way the first time I saw N-N-Naruto…."

"Anyways, what did he say??" "He said yes…and he took me into a hug. That's probably why Asuma saw us holding each other so tightly. But we didn't kiss, I can promise you that."

"Well. I need more de.." Ino was cut off when Dessy knocked at the door. "Miss Ino," began her 'maid' "Officer Shikamaru is here, he would like a word with you." The blonde rolled her eyes and twirled a strand of her blonde hair in between her fingers. "Tell him I'll be there in a sec." Ino pushed off the bed and sauntered out of the room. In from the main room drifted the lazy officer's voice, "Troublesome woman what did I tell you last time this happened?"

The bedroom door clicked shut, allowing the three remaining girls to burst into giggles. "What happened?" Sakura laughed. "A couple voyages ago, Ino interfered with a shipboard romance and it went lousy," said Tenten. "S-S-Shikamaru said that h-he didn't want her helping a-anyone else," continued Hinata.

"Oh well, she hasn't interfered much," said Sakura dryly. "I'm grateful to Ino actually. I wouldn't have married Neji if it hadn't have been for her," Tenten said softly. She smiled. "And i…Hinata, Sakura please don't tell my husband or Ino about this…not Ino because she will tell everyone but… I'm pregnant. I just found out before we left London."

Hinata gasped and wrapped her arms around Tenten. "I-I-I'm so happy for you!" Sakura smiled and congratulated Tenten but she felt sick. She knew that Neji didn't survive the sinking…unless, there was someway she could save him too…

She would have to talk to Dessy about that.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

"I cannot believe that arrogant lazy husband of mine. How can he just tell me not to 'interfere' as he calls it in my friend's lives? That's what I do best!" Ino was downright indignant at her husband. The four of them were walking down the promenade deck towards the bow of the ship.

"It's all right Ino…he's just concerned for you," said Sakura, sweat dropping. She looked up suddenly, as if sensing someone's gaze, a presence almost. Her hand automatically went up to her pink hair, as she smoothed errant strands that didn't exist as she turned to meet Sasuke's coal black eyes as he approached them, walking from the bow.

She blushed slightly and looked back down. Ino, completely forgetting how irked she had been at her husband moments earlier, gave her a small nudge in the back. Sakura, in small heels, stumbled and gave Ino a glare. Ino and Tenten just winked at her and gave her an encouraging nod. Sakura sighed, turned back around…

And came face to face with Sasuke.

Sakura gave a slight squeak before covering her mouth and composing herself. She had never acted this flustered around him before their date…maybe it was the fact that he had all but implied that he felt the same way as she did. Whatever the case, she forced herself to calm down and greet him normally. "Hello Sasuke," she said quietly. "Sakura, how are you?" answered the officer. "I'm fine…" she replied.

"Ino, Tenten, Hinata, do you mind if I borrow Sakura for a moment? Sakura would you like to take a turn around the deck with me?" Sakura turned a light red and nodded. "Okay…."

Sasuke held out his arm and Sakura gently slid her hand into the crook of his elbow and the two walked off like that.

Halfway around the deck, after a few minutes of silence, Sasuke finally said something. "I'm actually on duty right now. I am for most of today…I just requested some time off so I could come and talk to you about something."

Sakura got a really bad feeling. The kind that you get when the person you feel for is going to reject you. And Sakura didn't want to hear it. "Sasuke…." She said uncertainly, her voice trailing off….

"Last night you asked me something, about the first day we saw each other. I answered you, of course, but I'd just like to clarify."

"Clarify what?" "How I…" Sasuke seemed incapable of continuing. He took a deep breath before voicing anything. "Do you know how hard this is for me?" he asked in a strained voice. Sakura smiled slightly. "Yes," she said, "and it's rather fun watching you squirm like that.

He chuckled before stopping her. They were in the very bow of the ship, ahead of them only ocean, the sun glimmering on the surface of the water. "Well what I wanted to say, as I said, I did feel something that day. I'm sure by now that the girls have told you that I don't really open up to anyone until I've known them for a while." Sasuke glanced at her for confirmation. Sakura nodded as he continued.

"Well, even though I haven't known you for awhile…I feel more connected to you than I have, even to the girl I…. as opposed to other girls." Sakura looked at him questioningly but he merely continued. "And I just want you to know…."

He sighed. "When I said yes last night…I meant that even though it's only been a few days…I already know that I don't want to lose you for a long time. That I…."

Sakura stopped him by shaking her head gently. "If you don't feel comfortable saying anything like that yet, don't. And you didn't need to 'clarify' as you put it, I understood what you said, when you said it last night."

A bell rang. "That's summoning me back to my duties; my break is over," he said quietly.

Sakura turned to look out over the water. "What time do you get off of duties?"

"Tonight? 7." "Meet me in the dining hall…if you want," she turned back to face him. He had closed his eyes and, sensing her eyes on him, he nodded. "I will. Now I need to get back."

"Sasuke?"

"Hn?" "Please make sure that the ship doesn't hit anything…I don't like sailing, I'm scared the ship will sink."

Sasuke chuckled and leaned forward, giving her a little peck on the cheek. "Oh Sakura have you been ignoring the news? This ship cannot sink."

Sasuke turned to go attend his duties leaving a quiet Sakura in the bow.

"But it will Sasuke…" she said softly, as she turned to look at the position of the sun. "And am I doing enough to make sure you don't go down with it?"

A/N- Okay. It's official. I don't like this chapter. The action with the sinking isn't going to start for a couple chapters which is what I cannot wait to write but until then…I don't like this chapter…read and review!!!!