(Recap)

"I'm not going to marry him. If I have I'll die before this boat reaches America." Sakura thought to her self as she Inner Sakura came to the surface.

"Heard about you marriage. That's got to hurt." She said as Sakura nodded.

"I hate Itachi and I'm going to die with a ring around my finger and the ring from a man who I don't like. What am I going to do?" Sakura asked as she felt a heavy weight on her heart.

"Try to run away. Hide." Inner Sakura said as Sakura shook her head.

"Where would I hide until we got to America?" Sakura asked her as Inner Sakura got an image of that one guy.

"How about that one guy? What was his name?"

"Gaara?"

"Yeah that's his name. He was kind of cute. Ask if you can hide from Itachi with him." Inner Sakura said as Sakura wasn't sure.

"Would you rather be with Itachi or be free?" That got Sakura's attention quiet quickly.

"I'll give it a try but I can't try it now, so I'll try tomorrow." Sakura said as she went to bed.

(End of Recap)

Chapter Three: Finding Freedom and kind of a date

Gaara woke up the next morning and heard silence. He looked out the window and saw that it was still dark out side. He checked his watch and saw it was only six. Unable to get back to sleep he put his shirt, shoes, and his jacket on. He walked up the stairs and cold but crisp air hit him. He took a deep breath and walked over to a bench at the front of the boat. He looked out on to see the sun was still set and knew the sun would come up soon.

Sakura woke up to find Itachi's arm around her waist and eyed him. She looked behind to see him snoring. She looked at him in disgust and slowly got out of bed. She walked over to the bathroom and brushed her short hair out. She changed into some more reasonable clothes and grabbed a jacket. She walked out side the room and saw Itachi still snoring when she shut the door. She quickly walked down the hall way and out on to dining rooms. She walked out on to the deck where she went to walk around. No one was out at this time. She didn't know what time it was but it had to be around six or some thing because the sun hadn't come up yet. She walked down some stairs and looked out on to the horizon. She saw the sun come up and as it got brighter and brighter she some one sitting at the bench which stood at the front of the boat.

"I wonder who that is." Sakura thought to herself as she recognized him. It was Gaara, the guy from the night before. She blushed at being near his presence. The sun shined on him and he seemed to be an angel. He turned around and looked at her and she was unable to say anything. His eyes were a foam green color, his hair was a blood red color, and his face expression seemed inviting. When the sun got up some more and he didn't shine as much, she could see clearly and he was looking at her. Sakura didn't know why but she couldn't stop staring at him.

"Hey." He said as Sakura hit back down to earth. She felt her heart speed up as he looked at her.

"Hey." She managed to say back but mentally hit herself for sounding so stupid. Gaara flashed a quickly smile at her and she blushed.

"It's okay, I don't bite. If you want to sit, then take a seat." Sakura chuckled and took a seat down next to him.

"You're real quiet. You don't have to be nervous." Gaara said trying to reassuring. Sakura got fired up and spoke.

"I'm not nervous. What makes you think I'm nervous?" She said as Gaara saw her bravery.

"Well it's just you haven't been talking and I thought you were shy."

"I'm not shy. Remember that." Sakura said leaning back into her seat.

"I'll remember that for sure." Gaara thought to himself. He looked at Sakura and thought she was really pretty.

"God she's pretty."

"No she's not. She's HOT! Gaara go get some. I'll kill you if you turn forty and don't get laid yet. Remember that I'll kill you if you plan to go out as a virgin." Gaara heard his inner demon say as it ticked him off.

"I'm not going to. I hardly know her. But I do admit she's is hot." Gaara thought as he heard Sakura call him.

"Gaara?" Gaara heard his name be called and answered it quickly.

"Yes."

"I was wondering how do know Sasuke?" She asked as he told her how they met for the first time.

(Flashback)

Gaara was walking down the road to a bar where he was going to meet Kankaru and Naruto. They were playing against a pair of some rough guys.

"What are you guys playing?" He asked cooly.

"Poker, want to join?" Gaara nodded and saw another guy join in. He had dark colored hair, dark eyes, and seemed mysterious.

"I'm joining into." He said as he took a seat next to Naruto and a guy who looked half snake. Gaara took an interest in this guy. He didn't know his name until Naruto spoke out.

"Sasuke it's about time you got here. I thought you backed out for a minute." Gaara looked at Sasuke who was looking at him. They looked away and played. When Gaara put his cards down and showed his cards, Sasuke saw his full house. Gaara pulled the money towards him and smirked at Sasuke.

"You're good. I'm Sasuke Uchiha by the way."

"Gaara no Sabaku. I'm interested in you too. You almost won that round." Sasuke nodded his head and ever since then had been going to bars and because they were so good at playing it, they played many people and won almost every game. That was until Naruto beat them once. Naruto's only victory, which they loss proposefully since he would always complain about losing.

(End of Flashback)

"So you play poker?" Gaara nodded.

"If you ever get the chance I could show you." Sakura smiled at him and nodded. Gaara felt his heart melt.

"I'd like that." Sakura said still smiling at him. Gaara returned it to her and both soon ended up lost in stars in their eyes.

"Sakura, would you like to go for a walk around the boat for a while? That is if you want." Gaara asked as he stood up and held his hand out. Sakura took it gladly and walked the boat for an hour talking about one another's lives.

"Hey guys have you seen Gaara lately?" Sasuke asked as he stood in the door way of the small room. Kankaru scratched his brown hair and looked at the top bunk.

"Nope. Did you ask Naruto or dog boy?" Sasuke looked at Naruto and dog boy's beds and saw both were empty.

"Nope. I'll see you later Kankaru." Sasuke said shutting the door. Sasuke walked out side and saw Naruto and a boy whose name was Kiba. Kiba had a large jacket on and a puppy on his shoulder.

"Naruto, Kiba have you seen Gaara? I've got to talk to him." Sasuke asked as Naruto shook his head. Kiba thought and Akamaru, his puppy, barked.

"What's that boy?" Akamaru barked and Kiba nodded his head.

"Yeah Akamaru said he saw Gaara earlier. He saw him sitting over at the front of the boat and also we saw him with a pretty lady." Kiba said as Akamaru barked again.

"He doesn't know her but they were talking a lot. We didn't want to disturb them." Kiba said as he petted Akamaru and gave him a small dog biscuit. Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

"Kiba and Akamaru, did she had pink hair?" Akamaru barked. Kiba nodded his head in translation.

"Where did you see them?"

"By the edge of the dock I guess on the other side. Oh my bad, right down there. God they take forever but they to get around. I want to say that thats their millionth time around the boat." Kiba said as Gaara and Sakura walked down along the edge of the boat walking alone the railing. Sasuke saw Sakura was enjoying herself for the first time in years with another guy. Besides Sasuke, Sakura had never taken interest in at least making friends with some guy. Sasuke felt some thing wrong and saw Itachi and Sakura's mother come his way.

"I've got to go." Sasuke said as he ran towards Sakura and Gaara. Quickly he reached them before they were spotted.

"Sakura, Itachi and your mother are coming this way. Hide before they see you with Gaara." Sasuke said as Sakura looked for a place to hide really quickly. She ran behind a door and waited for them to leave. Gaara stood there and Sasuke pretended to talk to him.

"Hey Sasuke!" Itachi called out as Sasuke and Gaara looked up.

"What you do you need Itachi?" Sasuke called out as Itachi looked at him.

"Have you seen Sakura? I can't seem to find her." Itachi called out as Sakura's mother, Mrs. Haruno, stood by him with her mean stern look as always.

"I think she went to see Ino and Shikamaru. She wanted to tell them about some thing." Itachi nodded and left with Mrs. Haruno along with him. Sasuke called the coast clear and Sakura came out of hiding.

"That was a close one. Are you okay Gaara?" He nodded but seemed confused.

"I think I missed some thing. Why did she have to hide?" Sasuke explained it to him.

"Sakura can't be seen with you because you're not rich and Itachi is her fiancée. And since she's engaged, forcefully, she's not allowed to be around other men unless Itachi or I are there. The reason for me is because I'm her friend and if she and Itachi were to get married, I would also be her brother in law." Gaara looked at her as she looked up set.

"Damn." Gaara thought as Sakura sat down.

"And if I don't marry him my mother is going to beat me until I do or kill me. If I don't marry some one with old money she'll say that I'll never have a good life." Sakura said as Gaara sat beside her.

"Well if you ever need help then I'm happy to help out." Gaara said as Sakura smiled. Sasuke left them and left them to their company. Gaara and Sakura soon started walking around the boat again and when Sakura realized she should get back in case they call the police.

"Gaara I think I should get going or else I'm trouble when I get to my room." Sakura said as she started walking away.

"Wait Sakura. I was wondering, can we meet again later like tonight?" Sakura nodded her head. Gaara walked over to her and kissed her softly on her cheek. Sakura blushed and smiled.

"I'll see you tonight right here. Bye Gaara." Sakura said as she left blushing and her heart feeling lifted. She thought about it but by the time she got to her room, she realized that she was starting to like Gaara more than she expected.

"He's so nice." Sakura thought to her self as she brushed her hair by the vanity. She heard the door open and saw Itachi and her mother walked in the door and looked at Sakura.

"Sakura Haruno where have you been, we've worried sick about you?" Sakura giggled at the question her mother asked as Sakura didn't care if Itachi and her mother were there, Sakura felt happy.

"I've been here. Now I have to go and take a shower." Sakura said as smiled and looked happy as can be. She started the shower and hum to her self.

"Well, I guess she might actually start to like you Itachi. I don't know what you did to her but I like it so far. I want her to be happy and if she's with you then she'll thank me some day." Mrs. Haruno said as Itachi nodded.

"I guess, my magic is starting to work." Itachi thought as he went to work on some papers that were at his desk. Sakura, still in the shower began to feel so happy. She didn't know when she had been this happy before. She didn't care but she felt happy and she couldn't wait for tonight.