This follows on from Chapter One – Arabia.

I loved creating that world so I couldn't just leave it. Expect further parts to this little saga.

Prompt # 48

Sword

They had put a fair amount of distance between themselves and the port, leaving Gaara far behind in his palace of sand.

The crew that had been waiting on the ship had stared in confusion at the pink-haired woman who had bored the ship with their captain – the smile on her face halting speculations that she may be a prisoner or hostage.

A full day of sailing had not put an end to the staring and Sasuke could notice some of the men staring openly at the bared skin Sakura's outfit showed. Sasuke rolled his eyes – whether at his men or the annoyance he felt at the strange feeling building up in his chest – Sasuke did not know.

Sasuke walked over to where the girl was leaning over the railing, her wide eyes sparkling in the dying sun. "You'll fall in." Sasuke stated flatly.

Sakura straightened up and smiled at him. "I've never seen the ocean like this before... never sailed on it." Her face fell a little. "My... tribe would usually travel through the deserts." She turned her head away to hide her sadness from Sasuke but he was not fooled.

He knew that she had been hurt terribly by the man she had considered to be like a father to her. His eyes trailed along her bare arms and down the smooth skin shown through the splits in her skirt and that unusual feeling bubbled up in him again.

His fingers reached out and grasped her wrist loosely. "Come on." He led the silent girl across the deck of the dhow and down in to the depths. He led her to a narrow corridor empty save for a door on one side. Pushing it open he had Sakura follow him in and she saw that it was a bedroom, larger than she would have thought for a ship, and very beautifully decorated.

"This is your room?" Sakura asked, looking around at the jewel-bright rugs and silk panels on the walls. At Sasuke's vague noise of confirmation she giggled. "I never thought you would have such good taste."

She eyed the tattered silk scarf that was now resting around the man's neck (it had been it pulled up to shield most of his face in the palace) and sighed inwardly. Sasuke was a man of contradictions – he was so obviously rough and ready for action, and yet it was clear he appreciated comforts and fine material things.

Sasuke was rifling through an ornate black chest, his back to her as he answered he. "I pick up all sorts of things on my travels." He mumbled. "The things I like, I keep." He turned around then, a bundle of cloth in his hands. "Here." He held it out to Sakura who took it curiously.

She unfurled the fabric and saw it was a pair of dark brown trousers and a white shirt. She raised an eyebrow at Sasuke who turned away, a disgruntled look on his face.

"You're distracting my crew in that outfit. You should wear something more practical."

Sakura felt her mouth twitch and fought to smother the smile threatening to blossom. "Thank you." She said softly and Sasuke jerked his head in an odd little nod.

"I'll be on deck once you've finished."

Sasuke walked back towards the deck and felt a weight in his pocket. He realised that it was the spoils of their trip to Gaara's palace. Sasuke had intended to lock it up in his room, in a place known only to him, but hit had slipped his mind. He had been in such a rush to leave the room he had forgotten.

Sasuke ran a frustrated hand down his face – that girl was proving to be a greater pain in his side than he could have guessed.

"Hey Teme." Naruto bounded over to the brooding man.

Sasuke sent the man a glare. "I'm well within my rights to throw you off this ship, Dobe. I'm still your captain."

Naruto grinned and crossed his arms behind his head. "Sorry, Captain Teme."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and let it go – Naruto would never change.

"So," Naruto began, "What's got you all thoughtful?"

Sasuke ignored the question and turned his head towards the horizon. "Does Shikamaru have us on course?"

"Yep," Naruto nodded. "We can drop of the... well whatever that thing you took from Gaara is and then head on back out. Do you think this time we can go somewhere nice a relaxing? Not that I don't love what we do but sometime the spears and swords get a little old and I-"

Sasuke dad stopped listening. He caught sight of a flash of pink over Naruto's shoulder and watched as Sakura emerged back up on to the deck. The clothes he had given her, while being the smallest sizes he had lying around, were much too big on the girl. She had rolled the trousers up to just below her knees and the white shirt fell past her hips and was slipping off one shoulder.

It was a stark change to the provocative clothes she had been wearing previously and yet was no less appealing to Sasuke. She was all wide, green eyes and loose hair flowing around her shoulders. She looked...

"Ah Sakura!" Naruto had apparently realised Sasuke's attention had drifted. "You look so cute." Naruto rushed forward and scooped the girl up, swinging her about as she squeaked in surprise.

"Idiot, let her down." Sasuke frowned.

Naruto obeyed and set Sakura on her feet. "Sorry." He laughed

"It's okay." Sakura smiled. There was an awkward silence as Sakura looked at her still-bare feet. "What do you want me to do?"

Sasuke and Naruto shared a confused look at Sakura's question. "What do you mean?"

Sakura smiled weakly. "Well I don't expect a free ride. There must be something I can do to pay my way."

Sasuke smirked. "I already told you, you'll be a crew member. You could probably help me keep these miscreants in line."

Naruto laughed at Sasuke's words. "I hear you've got fire in you, Sakura. You'll have the crew fearing for their lives in no time."

"They will be if they see her try to use a sword." Sasuke was amused at the fierce look Sakura sent him.

"Alright, we can teach you how to fight when we get home."

"Home?" Sakura questioned.

"Yep," Naruto grinned. "You'll love it."

"Dobe, is your memory really that short?" Sasuke sighed. "We have something to do first, remember?"

Naruto deflated visibly. "Oh yeah... the package." His eyes brightened just as quickly as they had dulled. "Well I say we teach Sakura the basics now then. We won't be able to do as much in such a small place but it will kill the time."

Sasuke regarded the girl, looking for all the world like a child in her oversized clothes and doll-like features.

"Alright."

The deck had been cleared of the crew, their course was set steady, and Sasuke stood with his sword held loosely in his right hand. Naruto was smiling brightly as usual, twirling his blade flamboyantly, the sun glinting off the metal as it completely disappeared below the horizon.

The crew had lit the torches around the ship as usual, and had lined up along the edge of the boat, forming a circle around their captain, Naruto and the pink-haired addition to the ship. Some men were stood on the rail of the boat to get a better look, hands grasping the rigging of the sails to remain in place.

Sakura looked from Sasuke to Naruto with an unsure expression on her face.

"Here." Sasuke held the sword out to Sakura.

She took it and her cheeks heated as she heard a few of the men snicker. She knew she must have made quite a sight: the sword was quite thin and was longer than average but was very light. She must have looked very undersized to be wielding such a weapon. She held the sword with a firm grip and straight out towards Naruto.

"Like this?" She asked Sasuke.

The captain's lips held a hint of a smirk. "We'll soon see won't we?" With that he nodded at Naruto who took a step forward at Sakura.

She moved instinctively, circling around and away from the approaching man. Naruto reached out with the tip of his sword and caught the end of Sakura's long blade, forcing it sideways and sending the girl staggering in a circle. By the time she had caught herself, Naruto had the blunt side of the blade pressed against her throat.

Sakura sighed and dipped her head. Naruto ruffled her hair and stepped back from her.

"My sword is not like Naruto's." Sasuke said, stepping towards the girl. "If you look you'll see it is considerably longer and not as hardy. Not all blades are the same. Naruto favours blades that are shorter and more suited to blunt force... much like himself." The crew sniggered again and Naruto sent Sasuke a choice gesture with his hand.

"Seems like it was effective though." Sakura muttered. "Well that would be because you're holding the sword wrong. You are using it as if it was a much shorter sword." Sasuke stepped forward and loosened Sakura's fingers from around the handle. "Here."

He held the sword so the blade pointed straight out the side and had Sakura close her hand over it, her palm facing the floor and the back of hand upwards, as though she had just sent a punch forward.

"This is how this blade should be wielded." Sasuke said, stepping back.

"But won't this mean Naruto can get close to me?" Sakura looked down at her frame. Her right hand was up to about chin height, the blade providing cover for her right side only and leaving her face and left side clear. It didn't seem as though it would do any good.

At Sasuke's signal, Naruto moved forward, raising his sword. Sakura flinched but found her arm moved instinctively, pushing to the left and up, and blocking Naruto's (very soft) blow with ease.

"Your movement is not restricted like this." Sasuke said. "And look." He moved behind Sakura and closed his hand over her own. Naruto hand remained where he was, allowing Sasuke to demonstrate. Sakura felt her heart rate pick up as Sasuke's warm body pressed against her back. He spoke with his mouth near her ear.

"This blade is long, while you have to allow your opponent to get close to effectively block, it also makes it harder for them to retreat in time." He pushed Sakura's fist down and pulled it back towards her chest, letting her wrist twist. The blade swung upwards and outwards and Naruto had to fall backwards to avoid being caught by it.

Sasuke released his grip on Sakura and moved to pull Naruto to his feet. "I prefer my blade because it does not just rely on brute strength. Speed and cunning are what make it a deadly weapon, not the muscle behind it."

Sakura nodded in understanding. She would be outsized and outmuscled by any man on this ship, Sasuke was showing her that the best weapons enhanced the wielder's skills. She didn't think such a long sword was for her, but she imagined something similar would suit her more than a heavy blade like Naruto's.

"Why don't you try some sparring?" Sasuke smirked – he was not oblivious to the dusting of pink on Sakura's cheeks.

Sakura looked at him in panic. "What!?"

"Relax, I won't hurt you." Naruto smiled gently, trying to allay her fears.

Sakura watched as Sasuke moved to stand with the rest of the crew. "Really? You teach me how to hold a sword and you think that will be enough?"

"You can't learn everything from instruction. Some things have to be tried out for real. Besides, I know you have talent – sand viper." Sakura narrowed her eyes as Sasuke used the name Gaara had called her before their escape. She'd show him sand viper...

She adjusted the sword, trying to mimic the way Sasuke had placed it but felt that she was probably doing it wrong. Naruto came at her and she was quick to block. It carried on this way for a while, with Sakura loathe to take a swing lest she accidentally hurt Naruto.

Naruto picked up on her hesitation and smiled as their blades were locked. "Don't hold back, Sakura. I'm tougher than I look!"

Sakura tried her hand at attacking, but was still extremely hesitant. So focused was she that she barely registered Sasuke's warning to widen her stance. As it was, the next block and shove from Naruto sent her stumbling. She dropped the sword and reeled backwards in to the arms of one of the watching crew members.

Unfortunately for Kiba Inuzuka however, one of his hands happened to land on quite a... delicate part of Sakura's body.

The crew watched as Sakura turned spectacularly red and her fists clenched. She jerked out of Kiba's grip and reeled around, punching the bemused man square in the face.

Sasuke would later deny that he gaped along with everyone else as Kiba went hurtling back over the rail on the ship and in to the water.

The stunned silence was broken by Naruto's howls of laughter.

Kakashi, stood closest to Sasuke chuckled also. "Why are you bothering with a sword when she can punch like that?"

Once Kiba had been fished out of the water, and both he and Sakura had apologised to one another, the crew sat around on the deck, enjoying the warm night air as they ate supper. The men had warmed to Sakura after the earlier incidents and were curious as to why she was there but seemed pleased to have some new company regardless of their gender.

Sakura soon learned that they were a ragtag bunch of misfits and castaways; people who society had disregarded or who life had trodden in to the dirt. They were lovely though, and Sakura couldn't recall meeting a nicer bunch of people.

There was Kiba, roguish grin (and now two black eyes) permanently in place, whose family had sold tamed wolves to aid hunters. The wealthy lord who had owned their land took possession of it however and left the Inuzuka's penniless. While his parents and older sister had been forced to move on and try to rebuild the business, Kiba had left to find his fortune... and had found a pirate crew instead.

Shikamaru was the navigator and all round genius. His family had expected him to study the arts of al-kimia but Shikamaru was astoundingly lazy. His aptitude was met only by his laziness and he soon found himself with no mentor and had "brought shame upon his family". It must have seemed like heaven on earth for Shikamaru to have found Sasuke's crew and a profession where he was under the wide open sky most days. The fact that before his tutelage had ended he had learned the art of crafting explosives did not hinder his acceptance on to the ship either.

There were so many crew members and all with interesting stories, that Sakura found her head spinning.

Naruto had been an orphan since he was a baby. He grew up on the streets and learned how to defend himself and survive. Lacking family ties Sasuke was the first person he had felt any form of attachment to, and he was a fierce friend.

Sasuke himself... well Sakura didn't know that story yet. She knew that he was a thief, a talented fighter and had crossed Gaara more than once in the past. He had a penchant for luxury and suspiciously good taste for someone who raised themselves on the street. From what she had gathered on passing from Naruto's story, Sasuke had been a street urchin too, eventually befriending Naruto and coming under the care of Kakashi. Anything before that (and most of beyond) was a mystery to Sakura still.

"So what's your story?" Kiba peered at Sakura from over his cup.

Sakura started. "My story?"

"Yeah. How did you come to join our motley crew. Unless I'm very unobservant you weren't with us when Sasuke set out for the palace."

Sakura smiled. "Haven't you answered your own question there?"

Kiba grimaced. "Why are women always difficult. Yes I know Sasuke found you at the palace. What I'm asking is why did you go with him?"

Sakura studied her own drink for a long while and Sasuke found himself interested to hear what she would say. She looked up at Kiba and shrugged lightly. "He jumped out of a window with me."

The men who had been listening blinked at that and Kiba let out a distant-sounding "Oh."

Sakura laughed sadly. "Sorry, I suppose you're right – I am being difficult. You've all told me about your lives and I'm not being very forthcoming."

"You don't have to." Sasuke spoke up and Sakura smiled gratefully but shook her head.

"No, it's fine." She tilted her head back and stared at the stars above as she spoke. "I don't remember much until the time I was seven. I had apparently grown up the other side of the desert, a long way from here. The tribe found me in a village burnt to the ground... there were no other people alive there.

"They took me in and raised me as one of their own. They were nomads – we didn't stay in one place too long. We would make a living by performing."

"Performing?" Naruto perked up.

Sakura nodded. "Yes. Singing and dancing. Sometimes we would just be on the streets and other times the rich would pay us to perform at special events. I seemed to show a knack for dance and earned the favour of the chief. Sometimes the lords would request a more... private performance."

The men shifted uncomfortably as they realised what she had faced.

"Did the chief let-"

"No." Sakura cut Sasuke off sharply. "He had grown to be a father to me. He was always the most fierce guardian of my honour... until last night."

Everyone save Sasuke looked confused. Sakura shifted her gaze to the side, avoiding eye contact with the others.

"Gaara offered the chief just enough that he agreed to sell me off – not even for a night but for life."

Naruto spluttered a few choice words at that and the others, who had mothers, sisters or special women at home shook their heads in disgust.

Sakura tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her right ear and glanced shyly at the captain. "That's where Sasuke came in. He hit Gaara and then we jumped out of a window to escape."

"So you weren't kidding then?" Kiba laughed.

Sakura joined in with him. "No. Then we faced some of Gaara's men in the courtyard."

"And I saved the day. Believe it!" Naruto stood up and struck a heroic pose.

The other men jeered at the poor acting and pelted the blonde with the scraps from their supper. Naruto quickly sat down and Sakura smiled at him brightly.

"You did." She picked a few lumps of bred from his hair. "And you all know the rest."

"So oh great captain, what happens next?" Sasuke sent Kakashi a withering glare as the rest of the crew turned their attention to him. He glanced at Sakura and saw that she was tracing circles on the floor next to her, avoiding his gaze.

"She stays." He said simply and Sakura stilled. "We teach her to fight and survive and if the time comes that she then wants to make her own way we won't stop her." Sakura sent Sasuke a dazzling smile and the rest of the crew cheered. "But first we need to drop of our cargo... then we head for home."

They sailed through the night and then for a further half a day, reaching their destination when the sun was high in the sky.

Sakura stood at the prow of the ship, watching the landscape grow larger. "This is where your... client lives?" She asked Sasuke.

Honestly, the island they had made berth at did not appear too hospitable to any form of life.

"Yes." The captain muttered. "He is quite reclusive." Sakura stared at the overgrown jungle spilling forth on to the beach, the dark green leaves tinged with purple and an eerie fog tumbling across the water.

"Would you like to come?" When Sakura hesitated Sasuke smirked. "You could always stay here if you're scared of course."

Sakura bristled. "I'm not scared!" She turned on her heel and marched over to where the crew had lowered a gangplank on to the beach.

Sasuke watched as the woman skipped down the wood lightly, her natural grace very apparent. Naruto and Kakashi accompanied them. They did not need a large crew for tis task, and most of the men were loath to step foot on the island in any case.

Sasuke led the way through the trees, ducking here and there to avoid trailing vines. He glanced back and saw that while Naruto and Kakashi were close behind, Sakura was lagging a little, being very cautious about what she stepped on. Sasuke glanced down at her feet and inwardly slapped himself for forgetting a crucial fact – she was barefoot.

Sasuke paused and gestured the other men to move ahead. He waited for Sakura to reach him and looked down at her in mock exasperation.

"What?" She asked defensively.

Sasuke turned around and crouched down. "Get on."

"Huh?"

He rolled his eyes and looked back at her. "Get on. You're lagging behind and I want to get this done. Besides, our client likes to keep snakes so bare feet are probably not a great idea."

"Snakes?" Sakura looked at the floor in a panic, as though expecting to see a python suddenly lying before her.

Without further complaint she scrambled up on to Sasuke's back. The man straightened out and followed after Naruto and Kakashi.

"You know, Sakura's breath tickled his ear as she spoke. "This is beginning to become a common thing. You carrying me around like this."

"Don't worry." Sasuke smirked. "As soon as we get home you're buying some shoes."

Sakura made a noise of disgust. "I hate shoes, damn uncomfortable things. Besides, you'd miss carrying me ."

Sasuke didn't reply, instead hiking Sakura up a little further on his back. The girl squeaked in surprise and Sasuke smirked.

Naruto and Kakashi were waiting at the mouth of a small clearing by the time Sasuke caught up with them. He slid Sakura down his back and she landed lightly on the floor. Her wide green eyes took in the gloomy looking shack in the middle of the clearing and she wrinkled her nose.

"Your client I presume?"

Sasuke nodded and approached the door. He raised a hand to knock but the door swung inwards before he could make contact.

A silver haired man stood before the group, blinking slowly. "Come in." He whispered. "Orochimaru is waiting for you."

Sakura stayed close to Sasuke's back as she slipped past the man and in to the dim interior of the house. The shack had only one room and no windows. A sweet, cloying scent tickled Sakura's nose and smoke from the fireplace irritated the back of her throat. She felt sweat beading on her brow from the smothering heat of the room.

A wet shine drew her attention to the corner of the room where she saw a skeletal figure was sat. The shine Sakura had seen was the man's hair, long and black and a completely at odds with the waxy paleness of his skin. Despite the rich colour of his hair, the man looked ancient, all withered away where he sat, but intelligent yellow eyes watched their progress across the room.

"Ah, Sasuke. You've returned sooner than I anticipated." His eyes flicked over Sakura's form, who then tucked herself even further in to Sasuke's shadow. "And it appears you returned with spoils of your own. I trust you have mine also."

Sasuke pulled a small drawstring back from his belt and tossed it towards Orochimaru. A bony hand shot out and grasped it in mid-air. He turned the contents out onto his other hand and Sakura watched as a small glass orb appeared.

"Perfect." Orochimaru hissed, his eyes alight with excitement. "I had feared... but no, this is what was needed." He raised his empty hand and gestured to the silver-haired man.

"Sasuke's payment if you please, Kabuto."

Kabuto carried a small chest over to the group. Sasuke flipped open the two latches on the chest and opened up the lid. Sakura's eyes widened as she saw the sheer amount of gold within.

Her shock quickly drained from her as she felt something smooth and cool move across her bare feet. She looked down just in time to see a white snake with purple diamond markings along its back slither over her toes. Shrieking, Sakura jumped backwards and bumped in to Kakashi's chest.

With great agility she scrambled up Kakashi like a monkey and wrapped her legs around his middle, her face buried in his chest. The tall man laughed nervously as Sasuke gave him an angry look and tried to shift Sakura but the girl would not move.

Orochimaru had looked up in interest and an odd smile twisted his lips. "Scared of snakes my dear? They are such misunderstood creatures."

Sasuke closed the lid of the chest with a snap. "If we're done?"

"Yes." Orochimaru said softly. "You have lived up to my expectations once more, Sasuke. The next time you pass, please stop in. I may have another job for you."

Sasuke nodded and the four left without hesitation, Sakura still attached to Kakashi's front. They made clear of the shack and were back on the jungle path before Sasuke came to a halt.

"Kakashi? Would you mind?" Kakashi had never before seen the captain – dare he say? – jealous, but he quickly realised he didn't want to be on the receiving end of it.

"Believe me, I've tried."

Sasuke sighed, passing the chest to Naruto before touching Sakura's back. "Come on, we're out of there."

"No." Sakura said petulantly. "You said yourself that this place is full of snakes."

Sasuke scowled at her stubbornness. "I only said it to scare you."

"Well it worked!" She snapped back. "I'm not setting foot on this floor again."

The crew watched in confusion as their crewmates arrived back at the ship: one laughing first-mate, a glaring captain and a pink-haired woman clinging to the chest of a particularly nervous-looking Hatake. They decided not to ask.

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at Sasuke who shook his head as he passed. "Shut up. Just set a course for home."

To be continued I guess...

Also, when I picture the Sasuke in this setting, in terms of clothes etc. I'm thinking along the lines of the Prince from Prince of Persia (2008)... just so you know :)