Please see first chapter for disclaimer, rating, warnings, pairings, etc.

Special Thanks: goes out to alanasometimes, PrettyinPink, Darkrai, and rao hyuga 18 for all your wonderful and supportive reviews, and to everyone who has added this story to their alert and favorite lists!

Author's Notes: I'm so excited! More Itachi/Temari interaction in this chapter, plus a tour of the ship, and the introduction of some more familiar faces. And each chapter brings us ever-closer to the story of Temari's past, which I'm also excited about revealing! Thanks again to everyone who's read and reviewed, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

*~Chapter VI~*

~Masquerade~

Friday, April 12, 1912 - 9:30 A.M.

After a mostly sleepless night - partly thanks to Tenten's excitement, and partly thanks to her own tightly-strung nerves - Temari was not at all sure she could stomach a first-class breakfast, let alone make her way through a tour of a ship as massive as Titanic.

But when Itachi showed up with his charming smile at eight promptly, Temari knew she could not disappoint him. So, with a sweet smile, she accepted his arm and went with him, enduring breakfast with a dignity she knew would have made her former employer proud.

Itachi, his brother, his mother, and most of the other occupants of the table, only two familiar from the night before, were nothing but polite to her. However, she could feel Fugaku Uchiha's icy glare on her all through the meal, though she did her best to ignore it. How could someone as sweet and caring as Itachi have a father such as Fugaku? The thought reminded her of another question she'd asked herself not long before, but she quickly shook all those thoughts away. She meant to enjoy today, make the most of it, and then take the rest of voyage one day at a time.

After breakfast Fugaku, to her great relief, declined to join the tour and took off for the gentleman's smoking room. Temari privately thought the man spent too much time there, though she was certainly not one to judge. Smiling, she accepted Itachi's arm as they, plus Sasuke and Mrs. Uchiha, made their way out to where Mr. Andrews waited for them. He sat at one of the tables in the reception room outside the dining room, quietly conversing with a man Temari recognized as Mr. Ismay. When he saw them, he excused himself and hurried toward them.

"Excellent! Is everyone ready for the tour?" Mr. Andrews gave them an excited smile as he looked from face to face, bowing to both Temari and Mikoto before he turned away.

As the group made their way up the Grand Staircase (of which Temari was convinced there could never be an equal), Itachi leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Since there are three Mr. Uchiha, I wish to ask if you'll please call me Itachi. To keep ourselves from getting into confusing situations, of course," he hastened to add. "I shall, of course, continue referring to you as Miss Sabaku, as is proper."

Temari bit her lower lip to keep herself from saying nothing about this situation was proper. She was a second class woman gallivanting about the ship with a first class man, returning to her own areas only long enough to sleep. It was nothing less than shocking. "If I am to be casual with you, Itachi," she said, forcing herself to say his name aloud, "I insist: you must call me Temari in return. It is only right."

He studied her face seriously for a long moment, as if checking to make sure her offer was genuine. Itachi must have decided it was, for he finally smiled and tilted his head toward her happily. "Your wish is my command then, Temari."

She was used to her given name being spoken in several different ways. With concern and caring by her brothers, in a nicely worded order by her former employer, and, later, in less acceptable tones by Hidan and his employer. But her name on Itachi's lips made the fine hairs on her arms and the back of her neck prickle in a completely good way. No one had ever spoken her name the way Itachi did before, and she found she yearned to hear it more.

"I'll take you up to the bridge first," Mr. Andrews was saying when Temari forced herself to pay attention again. "Though the true power of Titanic lies far below our feet, the bridge holds the people who keep her functioning smoothly and moving forward reliably."

Temari paid only slight attention to Mr. Andrews's words as she admired her surroundings. The day was cold, but the sky was practically cloudless. Both it and the water were so blue she wished she could find a fabric that shade and make it into a dress. She was sure if she were able to touch one or the other, it would already feel like the finest silk. Her surroundings outside the ship were almost more impressive than the beauty the Titanic itself offered.

"Have you ever seen anything like this?" Even Itachi seemed caught up in Mr. Andrews's enthusiasm, his dark eyes shining as he looked around. Both of them paid special attention to what the Irishman pointed out, all of which was certainly worth another look. Temari had already noticed the wrought-iron and glass dome over the Grand Staircase, the clock mounted on the wall at its head, the elaborate carvings on the wooden accents, and even the small stars in the silverware on the table, indicating their presence on a ship built by the White Star Line. But Mr. Andrews was careful to point out things one would miss on their own examinations, mostly having to do with how the ship was built and run.

The more Mr. Andrews talked, the more she began to realize the White Star Line really had spared no expense to make sure the Titanic was not only luxurious, but safe. Even though Itachi mentioned something about the number, or lack thereof, of lifeboats, Mr. Andrews reassured them all by describing the watertight compartments belowdecks, which would prevent the ship from sinking on the slight chance they did hit something. She remembered the near-miss with the New York back in Southampton, and was glad to know even if the two ships had collided, the damage to the Titanic would have been minimal and would not have endangered any lives.

"Since I had to get on board a ship to get back home," Itachi remarked to Temari as they exited the bridge, "I'm glad it's the Titanic. Seems like there's none safer on the water."

"It's reassuring," Temari agreed. She had so many other things occupying her mind, and her worries, but at least the Titanic's safety would not have to be one of them. It made the hair on the back of her neck stand straight up in fear at the thought of Gaara having come across on a far less safe ship two years before. Hopefully Kankuro would be able to book passage on the Titanic or one of her sister ships when he came across later.

As they walked across the deck, past the Marconi room, then down a set of steps to the gymnasium, Sasuke began asking technical questions which made no sense to the other three members of the group. Mikoto dropped back to walk next to her eldest son and Temari, a gentle smile on her lovely features as she looked around her. Itachi offered his other arm to his mother, who accepted it with a demure smile.

"Miss Sabaku," Mikoto said, leaning around her son, "if it's not too impertinent, may I ask why you're going to America?"

Temari forced herself not to tense as she returned the other woman's smile. "My youngest brother is already there," she said. "For now I'm going to visit, but depending on how things go, I might stay there."

If Itachi noticed the difference between what she'd just told his mother and what she'd told him last night, he didn't react. "Your other brother is still in England, correct?"

She nodded. "Yes. But I'm hoping it won't be long before he'll be able to follow me."

"Hopefully he'll be able to come across on the Titanic when he does," Mikoto said. "Or, if not this one, then one of her sisters." She glanced up at her son's face, her expression suddenly slightly puzzled. "What were those names, Itachi?"

"The Olympic is the one already built," Itachi answered dutifully. "And I heard Mr. Ismay mention the next one to be constructed will be called Gigantic."

"With three ships, I'm sure he'll have the chance to travel on one of them," Mikoto told Temari reassuringly.

Sasuke mentioned the boilers belowdecks which supplied the steam to keep the ship moving and the electricity running, and she felt Itachi come to attention next to her. As he listened intently, Temari thoughtfully kept quiet so he could hear better. She soon found herself caught up as well, amazed at the sheer size of the engines which kept Titanic steaming her way towards America: each one powered by a boiler at the bottom of the ship, manned twenty-four hours a day by a crew who shoveled over 600 tons of coal into the boilers daily. She'd never thought about those who kept the ship working, but from now on she vowed she would keep them in mind and try to be more appreciative of their efforts.

When it became clear Itachi had stopped paying close attention to the conversation, Temari decided it was safe to speak again. "Do you have any particular plans when we reach America?"

Itachi's expression was full of chagrin when he looked at her. He shot a quick glance at his mother, who had moved up to ask a question about the Elizabethan decór in the lounge. "I am expected to choose a bride," he said simply. His voice lacked any inflection or emotion, and Temari realized he dreaded it.

"I'm sorry," she said softly. "Am I to understand there are no young ladies of interest?"

"Not in America," he replied vaguely. Temari wasn't sure, but she thought she felt his hand resting over hers on his arm tighten slightly. "But we likely won't get there until next Wednesday, so I still have some time and freedom. What about you? Any plans after you reunite with your brother?"

Oh, Temari had plans all right, but she didn't particularly feel like sharing them with Itachi or anyone else. "Nothing in particular. I imagine we will spend quite a bit of time catching up, though. I'm sure a lot has happened in these past two years we haven't been able to fit in letters."

Sasuke spoke in a slightly louder voice in front of them, momentarily drawing their attention. "So you're saying there is a chance we'll get to New York Tuesday night instead of Wednesday?"

"It's possible," Mr. Andrews admitted. "The Titanic has not yet reached her full speed potential, as Captain Smith has not yet ordered the last few boilers lit. This is our first full day at sea, so we are waiting to see how she does today before we make a decision one way or the other about lighting the others and pushing her speed. But yes, I do believe if we light the final boilers and push the engines to their fullest extent, we will make it to New York early."

"Not even a full week on board," Itachi marveled as his and Temari's attention returned to each other. "Can you imagine it?"

"It is a marvel," she admitted. "Did you come on board in Southampton or Cherbourg?"

"Cherbourg. You?"

"Southampton. So though I've been on board a few hours longer, it hardly matters." Temari turned her face into the wind and closed her eyes, for a moment allowing her imagination to run away with her. She imagined she was on one of Itachi's imagined flying machines, winging her way across the ocean to America and freedom. Though Hidan's presence on board briefly touched her thoughts, she firmly pushed it away. She would not waste worries or thoughts on him, not when she was in first class and the safety of Itachi's company.

"You look deep in thought," Itachi said. "How much would you charge for one or two?"

Temari laughed, surprised at how easily it came. She hadn't been able to laugh so freely in quite a while. "For you? I suppose I shall offer them freely, in response to your kindness." She pushed a stray curl of hair out of her mouth before continuing. "I was just thinking about your flying machine we discussed last night, wondering what it would be like to make our way across the ocean in the air, instead of on the water."

"A much nicer prospect, isn't it?" They made their way through a beautiful arched entrance into a tiled foyer, taking a moment to admire the wrought-iron gates, before Itachi spoke again. "Though it would be faster, I admit there would be a few things I would miss."

Surprised, Temari looked up at him. "Like what?"

He turned his head so he faced her, his dark eyes smoldering with some unindentifiable emotion as he stated, "On a flying machine, I would not have as much time to get to know a wonderful woman like you."

Temari fought against the blush rising into her cheeks, but ultimately lost. It took a great effort to tear her gaze away from Itachi's. She grasped a handful of her skirt in a tight fist as she fought back the hot tears suddenly stinging her eyes. "I'm nothing like you think I am." It hurt so much to say the words, to admit the truth she'd been trying to hide the whole voyage thus far.

Once again, Itachi's hand tightened over hers slightly. "Perhaps you're not seeing yourself clearly enough," he said gently.

Unfortunately she knew herself much better than Itachi ever could, particularly since they'd only be on Titanic for a week (or, more likely, less than a week), but she didn't say so. She only smiled slightly and declined to speak, deciding to let him have the last word. Temari didn't want to argue the matter for several reasons, not the least of which because she didn't want to give away too many of her secrets. Itachi had a way of inspiring confidences, and she'd already given away far more than she'd ever intended.

Refocusing on the tour, they lightly touched on the first class writing room for women, smoking room for men, the lounge, the reception room, and the dining saloon. When they reached the Parisián Restaurant, Itachi leaned over and said, "If you're up for it, I'd like to take you there for the meal tonight."

Temari bit her lower lip as she looked around the spacious room, admiring the decór based on a place she'd never been but always secretly wanted to go. "All right," she finally gave in. "Thank you."

Itachi's warm smile rewarded her, and as they moved on, Temari found herself a little more able to enjoy herself. She idly wondered if he was trying to help keep her out of second class and away from Hidan, and entertained the thought of letting him in on at least part of her secret. No way she could stay away from the man on her own, but she still felt less than entirely sure she could completely trust Itachi. Thus far, her encounters with men not her brothers had not given her the greatest opinion of the gender. But perhaps it was time for her to let go of her prejudices and allow Itachi to offer a different, better, experience upon which she could base her opinions.

Regardless, she had the rest of the afternoon to make her decision. At the same time, she needed to decide whether to let Tenten in on the secret, since she would also need the other woman's help. The only snag was the fact she didn't want to put Itachi or Tenten in danger. And if she were to tell either or both the truth, she would definitely put both of them in great danger.

So many decisions to make, and so little time in which to make them. What was she to do?

As they doubled back and passed by the gymnasium again, Temari paused to study one of the covered lifeboats secured to the deck. "How many are on board?" she asked.

"Twenty," Itachi replied. "Four more than legally required."

Sasuke, having overheard their conversation, dropped back a couple of steps to stand next to them. "On an unsinkable ship, though, they won't be needed. I suppose it's still comforting to know they're there, though."

"What's the capacity for each lifeboat?" Temari asked Mr. Andrews, who had come back when he noticed some of the party had stopped.

"In Ireland, we tested each with seventy strong men," he said. "So there is plenty of room on each. But, as the younger Mr. Uchiha mentioned, the Titanic is a strongly designed and built ship, if I may be allowed to say. I built the deck wider so there would be room for more, but it was ultimately decided what we have are plenty enough. I assure you, Miss Sabaku, those are all the lifeboats you'll need." With a reassuring smile, he turned and continued walking, taking turns answering Sasuke's and Mikoto's questions.

"Even at full capacity, there aren't enough lifeboats for everyone aboard." Temari offered the one she'd been examining one last long look before she slid her arm through Itachi's again and allowed him to lead her away.

"I noticed that yesterday," he said. "I heard Mr. Ismay mention at dinner last night Titanic isn't full to capacity on this trip, but there are still around 2,200 people on board. With only twenty lifeboats, there's not even room for half." He shook his head. "Mr. Andrews is right though, I suppose. On a ship built to be unsinkable, they're really not needed."

When they started approaching the area leading toward second class, Itachi abruptly excused himself and Temari from the tour. Mr. Andrews graciously accepted their bowing out, but Mikoto hung back for a moment to check to make sure everything was all right.

"I'm feeling a little tired," Temari said quickly. "I'll be fine, though."

The explanation seemed to satisfy her, and Mrs. Uchiha took off to catch up with her younger son and Mr. Andrews. Itachi took Temari's arm and led her back through the labyrinth of halls, then up the Grand Staircase to the alcove at the top where a number of benches and chairs had been set up. He assisted her into one of the chairs, then took the one next to it, with a little table between them.

"I figured you would rather stay here," Itachi said as he settled into his chair.

"Certainly," Temari agreed. "And you were right."

"About what?"

"About my not wanting to spend my days locked in my cabin," she said, keeping her gaze focused on the staircase. There weren't too many people coming up or going down it, considering the hour, but it wouldn't be long before the luncheon crowd started trickling in. "Yesterday afternoon, I learned it is rather lonely."

A slow smile began to curl Itachi's lips. "So I'm guessing you would not protest spending every day in first class with me between now and when we arrive in New York?"

Temari looked down at her hands, primly folded on her lap. She studied them for a long moment, noting the slight roughness acquired from work, but not so much as to be noticeable from a distance. She didn't belong in first class; they both knew it, but her sense of self-preservation overrode the feeling of being unwelcomed by the senior Mr. Uchiha. "I would not protest too much," she clarified.

Itachi's smile widened into a grin, one which almost completely transformed his face. He was extremely handsome straightfaced, she had already noticed. But when he grinned, he was positively, devastatingly good looking. "I'll work on that, then, during our time together."

She sensed the conversation veering toward more personal notes, so she quickly tried to think of another topic they could discuss. One she could control, preferably, so it wouldn't be veer in the direction of personal again. "So what was your favorite part of the tour?" she finally thought to ask.

"It's difficult to choose. The gymnasium interested me, as well as the Turkish bath and the squash racquet court. I've never been particularly interested in the sport myself, but since there's one on board, it makes the Titanic seem all the more luxurious and suited to the passenger's comfort. My favorite part, though? Probably the Parisián Restaraunt. But that's probably more due to my dining companion later than the actual atmosphere of the place." Itachi gazed at her with his shining dark eyes, a hint of a smile playing about his lips, before his expression smoothed to neutrality and he turned the question back on her. "And what was your favorite part of the tour, then, Temari?"

And just when Temari had been thinking the conversation was in safe territory! It would never do to let Itachi know she'd been paying more attention to him than the rooms they were passing, so she spouted off the first thing which came to mind. "The women's writing room." They had only glimpsed it briefly as they passed, of course, but the decór had been fresh and feminine, making it look like a place where Temari wouldn't mind spending her hours.

"Naturally," Itachi replied, tilting his head toward her. "I would expect no less. Mother's been in there once, and she described it as 'the perfect place to spend my afternoon reading and writing those letters I've been meaning to pen our whole trip.'" Clearing his throat to signal the end of his falsetto imitation of his mother, he smiled again. "Though, to be honest, I think she was more interested in talking with the other women in the room than actually doing anything so constructive. Our friends in America will have to wait until we get there to actually hear anything from Mother about our trip."

"I suppose she could use the Marconi wireless," Temari mentioned. She remembered the cramped room they'd passed, in which a young man had been sitting tapping away at the control board which filled the majority of the room.

"Hmm, true. I've heard several other passengers talking about sending messages out today, though, so I think we should probably keep that theory to ourselves. We wouldn't want to overload the poor messengers, would we?"

Remembering the way the man in the Marconi room had been concentrating on his equipment, so focused he hadn't even heard the door open or Mr. Andrews's voice as he briefly described the room and its function, made Temari instantly agree. "Perhaps once the excitement of having such a technological marvel on board dies down your mother can send a few messages."

"An excellent plan." Itachi glanced toward the stairs, and Temari followed his gaze to see the number of people congregating there had increased. She spotted Mikoto with her husband, and Sasuke a few steps away in conversation with a tall, shapely blonde woman and another young man who looked to be approximately Sasuke's own age. "Hmm. I wonder who Sasuke's found to talk to. He looks like he's putting those stuffy etiquette lessons he and I had to endure to good use, though."

Temari slid her gaze back toward Fugaku, who was thankfully standing with his back to the alcove and had not noticed her or Itachi. She felt afraid to move, or look at him for too long, for fear he would turn and see her, so she quickly returned her attention to Itachi's younger brother and the people with whom he conversed. "From your words, I suppose it's not too much of an assumption for me to think your brother doesn't much care for the social niceties?"

Itachi shrugged. "He's not rude, but he finds the 'social niceties,' as you call them, rather tedious. I do, too, really. Things were a lot simpler when we were younger, and I think Sasuke misses that more than I do. But, in other ways, he also fits in with the social set a lot better than I."

"You both have your strengths and weaknesses, as do we all," Temari said diplomatically. Then, as most of the crowd started down the steps, "It looks like it's a little closer to luncheon than we had originally thought."

Getting to his feet, Itachi bowed slightly and held a hand out to assist her to rise. "Are you particularly interested in dining in the saloon?" he asked as they started toward the staircase.

"Why?" Temari asked suspiciously.

Before Itachi could reply, Sasuke caught sight of them. "Ah! Itachi, Miss Sabaku!" He waved them over, and the couple had no choice but to join him. "I'd like you to meet Tsunade Senju and her grandson, Naruto Uzumaki. Mrs. Senju, Naruto, this is my brother, Itachi Uchiha, and our friend Miss Temari Sabaku."

Even as she admired Sasuke's smooth introduction of her, Temari curtsied in the way she'd been doing almost her entire life, keeping her eyes focused on the floor and her hands folded before her. "A pleasure to meet you," she said, after other greetings had been exchanged by all.

"We were all just discussing sharing a table for luncheon," Mrs. Senju mentioned. Temari kept her gaze glued to the woman's face, mostly to keep from gawking at the amazing diamond-and-emerald net necklace which matched her dress and the heavy combs confining her blonde hair to the top of her head. The woman's jewels, dress, and bearing fairly shouted "old money." While Temari was no stranger to her type of people, she found it distinctly uncomfortable to be conversing with one of them, particularly since she seemed to think her a social equal and treated her as such.

"While it would be a pleasure to dine with new friends," Itachi said, tone apologetic, "Miss Sabaku and I were just departing for luncheon in the Verandah Café."

"I've heard good things about the place," Tsunade said. "I've also heard it's more for the younger set, so sadly I've not gotten to try it out myself. But I'm sure all the food there is excellent, particularly if it's anything like they serve in the dining saloon."

"I ate there last night with Shino and Hana, remember, Grandmother?" Naruto replied. His voice was low and raspy, his tone offering the impression of bottled up excitement just waiting to burst out and ignite. With his shock of spiky yellow hair, wide bright blue eyes, and the orange jacket he wore, his appearance offered credence to Temari's private assessment of his being a naturally bright and cheerful person.

"You wouldn't let me forget it, regardless," his grandmother replied dryly. "And, so, how was the food?"

"Good," Naruto replied cheerfully.

"Naturally." Tsunade's amber eyes turned back to Itachi and Temari, the humor in her expression making her look several years younger than she already did. "We won't keep you from enjoying it yourself, then. It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Uchiha, Miss Sabaku."

"I suppose I must now accept your invitation to dine at the Verandah Café," Temari said as Tsunade, Naruto, and Sasuke moved to join Mikoto and Fugaku going down the steps. "Otherwise I'll seem quite unappreciative to you."

"You don't have to accept it." Itachi's hand lingered at her lower back as they descended the stairs. "I wouldn't think differently of you if you didn't. I just thought you might enjoy eating somewhere else."

"But we're already supposed to dine in the Parisián tonight," Temari softly protested. "It would be too much-"

"It's not too much," Itachi said firmly, but not unkindly. "But if it will make you feel uncomfortable, we will not go."

They had a delightful meal at the Verandah Café before Itachi quietly accompanied Temari back to her room so she could rest and then change for dinner that night. As Temari closed the door to her and Tenten's stateroom behind her, she shook her head and let out a reluctant laugh. Even as Itachi encouraged her to do things she had never done before, and at times felt slightly uncomfortable doing, she admitted how glad she felt for all his efforts, because she was also having a great deal of fun.

But, she thought grimly as she slid off her shoes and reclined on her bed, I can never let myself forget this cannot last. It is too dangerous, and Itachi and I too different. Not to mention, if he ever found out the truth about me, he would never want to see me again.

Closing her eyes, Temari laid one arm over her aching eyes and the other over her churning stomach. As soon as the Titanic docks in New York, I am going to have to put an end to all this. Though it is horribly selfish of me, for as long as I'm on board, I'm going to let myself enjoy his lavish attentions. I have no doubt they will be the only I shall ever receive.

The painful thought chased her into sleep, filling her dreams with discomfort and a hideous foreboding that she could not explain to herself even upon waking.

*~To Be Continued~*

Author's Ending Notes: So many exciting things going on! I really hope you enjoyed reading this chapter - it certainly was great fun to write. The next chapter will include their meal at the Parisián, as well as some other exciting things. I look forward to seeing you all then, and thanks for reading this chapter!