A/N-Thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter-Sakura li 19, .Rainmoon. Puppy444219, iamNOTafangirl3221, SaNdEr-ThE-rUbBeR-bAnDeR, and Seyann. Read and review this chapter!!!

Disclaimer-I don't own

Chapter 17

Sakura's eyes sprang open a the clanging registered in the back of her mind-she had forgotten, if only for a moment, the tragedy that was going to strike that night. Sasuke released her lips and, releasing all of her except a hand, whirled around to look out over the ocean ahead of them that was supposed to be void of any and all obstacles. Supposed to be.

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In the stateroom, Fate looked up, startled, as Destiny dropped the dress hanger she was holding. "What's wrong Dessy?" Fae asked in an urgent voice. Her sister was shaking, hard. "It has begun," said Destiny in a flat voice. Her normally sparking blue eyes were flat, and her face showed no emotion despite her body shaking. "But by the time it is finished..." She seemed to come out of her revere at last. "All will be for naught," she whispered as she looked at her sister for one moment, terrified, before collapsing onto the ground.

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Sasuke kept his firm grasp on her left hand as he looked out over the ocean, squinting. "I don't see it..." he growled under his breath. Sakura was looking ahead as well, unable to see into the darkness. The phone in the booth was ringing but Sasuke was too absorbed by looking for the obstacle than actually talking to the person who knew what it was. Faintly, the sound of Asuma's growl came from the crow's nest. The pink haired girl could guess what he was saying...probably something along the lines of 'pick up you bastards'.

This time, Sakura didn't have to act scared. She was scared. Moving closer to Sasuke, who removed his hand from hers and wrapped an arm around her trembling form, she whispered in a terrified voice, "What's going on Sasuke?" He didn't answer her just tightened his hold and continued to stare ahead.

Still the phone rang. If Neji didn't show up soon (because he was the one who was supposed to answer it...according to all the research books) she'd go grab it herself and hang the historical consequences.

But her dramatics weren't needed. A split second later, Neji rounded the corner, a cup of tea in his hand. He flipped up the receiver and spoke into the microphone. "What do you see," in a sharp commanding voice.

Sakura couldn't hear Asuma's answer but she didn't have to to know what it was. Asuma was informing the Sixth Officer that there was an iceberg right ahead. At the same time, so it seemed, Sasuke seemed to figure out that there was a big piece of Greenland right in front of them, that they needed to move. Or at least turn... he released Sakura almost violently and ran into the bridge, colliding with Neji, sending tea everywhere. She could hear a jumble of voices..."Iceberg right ahead.." sounded like Neji, and then Sasuke saying, in a very loud commanding voice "Hard to starboard," with Neji echoing. Sakura watched, shaking, as he grasped the brass handle of the mechanism that telegraphed a message to the boiler rooms-full astern.

From inside the bridge, the quartermaster yelled that the wheel was 'hard over'. Normally, Sakura would know exactly what this nautical term meant, however, she was unable to find her wits. It was as if her brain had shut down and she couldn't function beyond standing there and watching Sasuke go through the motions of trying to prevent an inevitable collision. Finally Sasuke came back out and stood beside her, his hands on the firm wooden railing, staring out over the ocean.

Like a bucket of cold water had been poured on her, Sakura finally turned to look out over the ocean. What she saw, even though she knew she was going to see it, chilled her to the bone.

A massive iceberg, vast as a house, was right in front of them. Oh, the prow of the Titanic was slowly shifting...but Sakura recalled something that Iruka had told her a few days ago when they had been talking.

Flashback

"Now, Sakura-San. I know this ship is practically unsinkable..." Sakura noted how he said 'practically' when everyone else always said 'unsinkable', leaving out room for error. "But there is something that worries me if we should get into a dire situation." Sakura nodded, urging him to continue. "I've only just discovered this and it's too late to change, however, I might as well tell you-it will get fixed in New York. The rudder is too small, compared to the bulk of this ship. The ship, if need be, will not turn fast enough to avoid a potential collision." The look in Iruka's eyes grew distant. Then, seeming to remember where he was, he came out of it. "But it's no matter. We shan't run into problems like that, here, in the open ocean." Sakura smiled brittly, and went along with what he said.

End Flashback

Sakura felt a tremor run through the ship as the reversing engines were engaged. Sasuke's gloved hands rested on the wooden railing. "Come on turn..." he hissed under his breath. "Sasuke..." said Sakura in a small voice. "What is it." "I'm scared." Sasuke looked at her and then looked back out, towards the iceberg. "Me too."

Sakura's heart stopped beating in her chest as she waited, in trepidation, as the ship drifted closer to the iceberg. "Why isn't it turning?" she whispered. "It is, just not fast enough," replied Sasuke in a strained voice.

The iceberg loomed closer…and then it was on them.

A jolt ran through the ship; Sakura looked down to the place where Sasuke's gloved hands were clenching the wooden railing…the railing was shaking under his hands.

He had to make a split second decision. Raising his left hand he jabbed an index finger at the wheelhouse, barking out a "Hard to port!!" Sakura could hear the quartermaster turning the wheel as hard as he could.

It's not going to be enough. Even as they stood on the bridge, turning to watching the iceberg pass, water was flooding into the forward compartments. Quick as lightning, Sasuke left her side and ran into the enclosed area. Sakura followed him and got there just in time to watch him press a button, flip a switch…

And seal the watertight doors and the fate of the poor stokers left in the boiler rooms. The pink haired girl who suddenly felt very small and very scared could only imagine the terror of those trapped. Sasuke turned to look at her, his face white. Sakura could only imagine what her own façade looked like.

Sasuke then proceeded to pull out a little brown book that was sitting on a shelf by the wheel. Glancing up at the clock, he wrote something in the book. 'The time…' Sakura thought. '11:40.'

Kakashi walked into the bridge, light spilling in from the corridor behind him. "What happened?" he asked in a business like voice, directing his questions at Sasuke. "There was an iceberg sir. I put her full astern and hard to starboard. When she wasn't turning fast enough I tried to port round it but I believe...and you felt it…she hit."

Kakashi stared at Sasuke for one moment before running out to look at the side of the ship that the iceberg had passed on. "Full stop…are the doors closed?" Neji ran off to telegraph the full stop to the boiler rooms while Sasuke addressed the other question. "Yes, I closed the watertight doors."

Kakashi sighed and stared down onto the bow where several men were kicking ice chunks around. Officer Uchiha I need you to go find the carpenter and have him sound the ship with you. Take Iruka with you and meet back up here with me in 5 minutes."

Sasuke nodded. "Sakura come with me."

She turned her blank emerald eyes on her officer. Suddenly, she realized where she was. On the deck of a boat sinking to the bottom of the ocean. As she began to hyperventilate, she took a step backwards, her eyes going between Kakashi and Sasuke, who had his hand outstretched towards her.

And then she turned on her heel and ran away, tears in her eyes, intent on hiding beneath her covers until this strenuous ordeal was over.

'Forget saving his life…I don't know if I can ably save my own.'

Sasuke stood there torn between going after her and obeying Kakashi. "Sasuke," said the captain quietly. He stared to the place where the girl had disappeared from before giving a 'yes sir' and going off after the people.

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"I don't understand what's going on?" raged Orochimaru. "When can we continue on our way?"

The officers stood around the ship designer's table, with their wives, in his cabin, while Iruka stood with his hands palms down on the table. "We're not going to get underway again," he said in a soft voice.

"What do you mean?" said Orochimaru irritably. "The first five compartments are flooded. She can't stay afloat with more than that," snapped Iruka right back. "The media…encouraged by you, Orochimaru, bought into the line that Titanic is unsinkable. It was supposed to read 'practically' unsinkable. Captain I advise you start loading the women and children into the boats. We have an hour or two at most."

Sasuke stood in the cabin, floored by this straightforward pronunciation of the Titanic's doom.

'Sakura'

A/N-There. I wasn't planning on, from the beginning, to dedicate