Sakuya's P. O. V:
It's been about four days since we left the Land of Hot Water.
Sakura is standing by Naruto and Sasuke, who has his arms folded atop the railing, just like Kyo, on the other side of the ship.
We were all bored to say the least.
"Is there anything to do on this lousy boat?" Ren complains.
"We'll be there in a few more days, Ren," Hotaru assures him. "Just be patient."
Ren heaves a sigh of boredom and gazes out at the ocean.
Kiba glances to me as he asks, "Sakuya-chan, can you sing to pass the time?"
I say, "Sure. I don't mind."
I get the song in mind and start to sing.
"Everybody's waiting
Everybody's watching
Even when you're sleeping
Keep your ey-eyes open
The tricky thing is yesterday we were just children
Playing soldiers, just pretending
Dreaming dreams with happy endings
In backyards, winning battles with our wooden swords
But now we've stepped into a cruel world
Where everybody stands and keeps score
Keep your eyes open
Everybody's waiting for you to break down
Everybody's watching to see the fallout
Even when you're sleeping, sleeping
Keep your ey-eyes open
Keep your ey-eyes open
Keep your ey-eyes open
So here you are, two steps ahead and staying on guard
Every lesson forms a new scar
They never thought you'd make it this far
But turn around (turn around)
Oh, they've surrounded you
It's a showdown (showdown)
And nobody comes to save you now
But you've got something they don't
Yeah, you've got something they don't
You just gotta keep your eyes open
Everybody's waiting for you to break down
Everybody's watching to see the fallout
Even when you're sleeping, sleeping
Keep your ey-eyes open
Keep your ey-eyes open
Keep your ey-eyes
Keep your feet ready
Heartbeat steady
Keep your eyes open
Keep your aim locked
The night goes dark
Keep your lights open
Everybody's waiting for you to break down
Everybody's watching to see the fallout
Even when you're sleeping, sleeping
Keep your ey-eyes open
Keep your ey-eyes open
Keep your ey-eyes open
Keep your ey-eyes open
Keep your ey-eyes open"
Everyone has contented smiles on their faces.
"Say, Sakuya?" Sakura speaks up. I glance at her. "What's the Land of Blossoms like?"
"Oh, it's beautiful!" I gush, hands clasped under my cheek. "The cherry blossom trees are in full bloom every year, the waters are crystal clear, and there's snow in the winter!"
"Cherry blossom trees full bloom all year round?" Asuma asks. "I've never heard or seen such a thing."
"I can't wait to see it!" Sakura squeals.
"Me neither," Agrees Ino.
"M-Me too," Hinata adds.
I smile before Ren and I take turns singing for the rest of the day.
🌸🌸🌸
Lightning flashes in the sky above as thunder claps, sails and ropes whipping wildly about the ship.
I'd summoned all my cats to help and Amari is helping Choji and Ino hold up a mast. Ren throws some crystal shuriken to pin up a flapping sail, while Sasuke grabs a rope that was flying for my face.
"Watch it! Give me a hand!" Sasuke yells.
I go to grab the rope but a bolt of lightning comes down towards the ship. Lightning crackles in Kakashi's left palm as he aims it for the incoming lightning bolt.
"Raikiri!" The lightning cutter slices right through the bolt, cutting it in half before it could meet the ship.
"Sakuya!! Look out!" Ino yells. I whip my head around with a sharp gasp just in time to meet the mast she, Choji and Amari were pulling up. My eyes bug in my head as the wooden mast rams into my gut.
I gag and Sasuke and the others cry my name as I'm sent spinning over the side of the ship. I flow chakra to my hands to keep on, but the mast was slippery. My hands slip along the slick wood and I gaze down at the churning gray seas below me.
"Sakuya! Grab my hand!" Kakashi yells, having climbed onto the mast and is holding a gloved hand out to me, using his chakra to stay on.
My hands slip as my feet dangle over the sea as I reach out a hand to Kakashi. My other hand slips and I gasp but manage to use my chakra to hang on. I grunt as I continue to try and reach for my Guardian. Our fingers barely graze each other before I slip slightly. With another push of effort, my fingers latch around his and her grips me tightly.
The Hatake grunts as he pulls me up on the mast until I'm on my knees, breathing heavily. Kakashi inches back, guiding me with him, and grips my waist to help me to my feet on the deck. Water sloshes onto the deck and nearly knocks me off my feet but the black eyed man grips my waist tightly as I grip his upper arms, keeping me steady.
"Th-Thanks for that, Kashi-kun," I say breathlessly, trying to cease the wobbling in my legs.
"I'm just glad I got to you in time," He says.
We split to go help around the deck, my cats aiding the ninja. I go to help Sasuke tighten the rope from before, while Kakashi helps Amari, Ino and Choji.
Everyone else was doing their best to get the ship steady. Kakashi, Amari, Ino and Choji manage to haul the mast back up, only for the Yamanaka to cry out.
"LOOK OUT!!"
We all turn our heads to see a massive wave rising up above us, big enough to send the ship under.
My comrades squeal or cry out in fright. Sasuke grunts as I abandon the rope and dash for the front of the ship, the icy wind whipping at my hair.
"IZUMI!!" I scream, and the white tiger leaves Hinata to run over to me.
"This is it! We're gonna die!" Naruto yells dramatically.
"Well! It was nice knowing you guys!!" Kiba shouts above the roar of the rising tsunami.
Izumi reaches my side and we focus our chakra as I do hand signs.
"Water Style: Moon's Pull Jutsu!" I say and thrust my arms forward, closing my eyes in concentration, along with my tiger.
Just as the massive wave slams down on our ship, and everything is enveloped in darkness.
Kakashi's P. O. V:
I slowly blink open my eye when nothing but silence surrounds us. I gaze around and gasp as I take in our surroundings.
"Huh...?"
The others gasp in either shock or confusion as they finally open their own eyes. We weren't crushed by the huge tsunami that was about to bring us under.
Instead, we were in a giant, protective shell of water that covers the whole entire boat, but we could clearly see out of.
"Whoa..." Sakura and Ino breathe as we gaze at the sea life swimming around us. Naruto starts as a large fish swims by and blinks its eye at him, before swimming off.
"Where the heck are we? What is this?" Kiba asks. He goes to poke at the shell of water but freezes at Siri's voice.
"I wouldn't touch that if I were you! Not unless you really want to drown."
Sarabi explains in her smoothe voice, "We are currently hundreds of feet below the ocean's surface."
We all gasp. The tigers, lions, panthers and leopard glance towards the prow of the boat, and we follow their gazes. Only to see Sakuya standing statue still with her arms out in front of her, and Izumo beside her, both their eyes closed.
Diallo says, "Sakuya-sama and Izumi are using Sakuya-sama's Moon Pull Jutsu and combined Water Style to make this boat float under the ocean, to prevent us from being crushed by that tsunami."
Siri adds, whiskers twitching, "And you really shouldn't touch the bubble or it'll break, then we really will drown in the ocean. The same thing will happen if you break M' Lady's and Izumi's concentration."
Mufasa states, "It's best if you don't go near them for now. We'll be riding underneath the storm."
Everyone falls dead silent as we either gaze around at the ocean or watch the Fujikami Princess and her tiger push us through the ocean.
I watch my daughter figure carefully, marvelling at her power. So this is what the Moon's Pull Jutsu is capable of, as well.
I don't know how much time has passed before I blink my visible eye and notice the boat is steadily rising up, towards the surface. It continues to ascend until there's a cracking sound and the boat bursts up, out of the ocean, spraying water.
Murmurs of awe and disbelief ripple through the ninja.
Naruto and Kiba cheer, "You did it, Sakuya-chan!"
"That was awesome!" Kiba adds, grinning widely at her.
I gasp along with Kiba and Kyo as we spot Sakuya's knees beginning to buckle. Kiba gets to her before I could and easily catches the pinkette in his arms just as Izumi collapses, groaning.
We rush over and I gaze at my daughter figure worriedly.
"She's just passed out from overusing her power," Kiba tells us.
I say, "Let's take Sakuya back to her cabin."
Kiba nods and slides his other arm under the girl's knees before lifting her bridal style in his arms as Kiba rises to his feet. He then turns and heads for Sakuya's cabin.
I watch him for a second before I pick up the white tiger and carry her to Sakuya's cabin. Once I reach it, I see the Princess is already in bed, Kiba sitting beside her. I gently place Izumi on the floor beside the bed and straighten.
I watch as Kiba brushes a couple of strands of dark hair behind Sakuya's right ear, and sits back in his seat.
I tell Kiba, "Watch over her for me and let us know the instant she wakes up."
Kiba nods his head as he replies, "Ok, Kakashi Sensei."
I smile at the two of them and push my way past the other cats making their way to their unconscious mistress, and head back to the deck, closing the cabin door softly behind me.
Sakuya's P. O. V:
My eyes peel open sometime later and I blink them to adjust them to the light.
"Sleeping Beauty's awake!" I turn my head to see the Inuzuka sitting beside me, giving me a toothy grin. Then my face was attacked by an excited Akamaru who licks me relentlessly, making me giggle.
I playfully swat at him as I say, "Hey, Akamaru! Ok! I'm happy to see you too." He gives an excited yip as he sits back. "What happened? Is everyone else alright?" I sit up as I whip my face with the back of my gloved hand.
Kiba replies, as I see my cats gathered around the room, "Yeah. We all survived, thanks to you and your awesomeness." Homura is in her neko form.
I smirk as I say, "Yeah, I know I'm the best!"
Kiba and I laugh just as my cats jump on me, making me let out an "Oof!"
I giggle as they lick my face and hug them.
"We're so glad you're alright, M' Lady!" Sarabi says in relief.
"Thanks, guys. I love you so much," I say. I tell them this all the time.
"We love you, too, Sakuya-sama!" My wild cats chime.
"Now, why don't you go tell Kakashi-kun and the others I'm awake snd I'll be up soon?" I suggest as the cats pull back.
Amari asks, "Why not come up yourself right now?"
Siri tells her with a pointed glance at Kiba, "Because she probably wants some alone time with him!" She puts emphasis on the word "alone."
Kiba and I instantly blush at the implication as she and Amari chuckle. I scowl after them as my wild cats saunter out of my cabin.
I look back at Kiba as I mumble, "How embarrassing. Siri didn't need to say that."
Kiba chuckles. "Still, I do want to be with you alone for awhile before we rejoin the others."
I blush at that.
Kiba and I just relax, enjoying, one another's company.
Kiba pulls back sometime later and jerks with his head as he tells me, "Come on. As much as I want to continue, the others are probably worried about you."
I nod my head. He takes my hand and I tug my boots back on before we exit my cabin and step out on deck. Our friends turn as Kiba announces my presence.
"Hey, guys! Look who's awake!"
Everyone except Sasuke and Shino grin at me in relief.
"Sakuya-chan! I'm so glad you're alright!" Naruto says, bounding over and glomping me. I hug him back.
"I'm fine, guys. Really," I say as we pull apart.
"Man, talk about crazy," Shikamaru says with a smirk.
"Well, we made it past the storm, all thanks to Sakuya and Izumi," Says Hotaru with a relieved glance at me.
"No need to thank us," I say with a dismissive wave of my hand.
We all scatter around the boat. My cats chase each other around playfully, enjoying the afternoon sunshine.
I stand with Kiba, Kyo and Hinata, Akamaru in my arms, as the four of us chat, and Kakashi lingers on the main deck, taking a break from steering.
Naruto suddenly decides to jump into the ocean in only his boxers, laughing as he swims about. Ren was quick to follow.
Kiba says with a grin, "That looks fun!" He looks to me.
I shrug as I say, "Go ahead, Kiba-kun."
He sets Akamaru on the deck and strips to his own boxers. My face instantly turns beet red and I look away shyly before the Inuzuka leaps over the railing with a "Whoop!", hitting the water with a splash.
He, Ren and Naruto mess about and all of my cats join them, with Siri swimming on her back and stretching.
I can't help but laugh.
"Sakuya-chan! You should join us!" Naruto calls, waving.
"Oh, I don't know..." I utter as Kiba starts to climb back into the boat.
Izumi urges me, "It really is quite refreshing, dear!"
"I don't really want to," I refuse, shaking my head. My eyes flash dangerously towards Kiba. "And don't even think about throwing me in!"
He and Naruto just chuckle. The brunette then quickly dives back into the ocean.
They eventually climb out of the water with my wild cats.
"Aaahhh!!" We whip our heads to Naruto when he cries out suddenly.
"What is it now, Naruto?" Kakashi questions in exasperation.
Quivering, he replies, pointing at the ocean, "I-I thought I s-saw something huge swim under us!"
Kakashi and I arch an eyebrow as Sasuke scoffs. "Yeah right, loser."
Getting flustered, Naruto insists, waving his arms about, "Guys, I'm serious! It could be a shark, or something!"
"Stop being ridiculous, Naruto," Sakura chides him.
"Yeah. We all know you're just making that up," Ino adds.
Kyo inputs, "You're just imagining things."
With a pondering look, I hand Akamaru back to Kiba as we go over to Naruto's side of the railing. I lean on it as we peer down.
Something swims just underneath us before vanishing back into the depths of the ocean.
"See?! I told you guys!" Naruto exclaims.
"I saw it, too," Kurenai says.
"So did I," Ino chimes.
Pursing my lips, I step onto the water and dip my hand into it, a tiny head pokes out, blinking crystal blue eyes.
I smile as it busted me before I stroke its head.
"That's so cool!! I wanna try it!" Naruto exclaims.
I jerk my head to him as he runs on the water towards me, and I gasp, throwing out a hand, "Naruto, wait—!"
The sea dragon snaps its sharp teeth at Naruto, causing him to cry out and stagger back.
"The sea dragons won't let anyone who isn't a Fujikami near them," I explain as the sea dragon calms down. "Don't leave the ship while they're here."
Naruto looks disappointed but nods his head.l, going back to the ship.
I pat the sea dragon a few more times, as more of its friends join me, before I head back to the ship. I grip the railing and climb back onto the ship.
I face the sea dragons before they lower themselves back into the ocean.
I turn and grin back at my friends.
Kakashi lets out an exasperated sigh as he shakes his head at me, though I can tell he's smiling behind his mask.
I gaze out towards the horizon, my grin fading only a little.
Just three more days until we reach the Land of Blossoms.
Until we reach home.