Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto in any way, shape, or form.
This story was inspired by the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics.
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"Sakura! Time to get off the rink! It's closing!"
"Alright, I'll be right there, Tsunade-sama." A pink-haired girl stepped off the ice rink, and began to take off her skates. "I can't believe I lost track of time like that." She murmured. Slipping the skates into her bag, she slid her feet into sneakers.
"Sakura, what took so long? I bet everyone's waiting." A girl with long blonde hair tied up into a ponytail tugged on Sakura's arm, wanting to hurry.
"H-hey! Ino, my legs are sore. Besides, I'm supposed to meet my doubles partner tomorrow. I don't have time for parties."
"Sakura, does everything in your life revolve around skating?" Ino pouted at her best friend.
"Well, I could drop in for a little while..."
"Great! Let's go!" Ino dragged her pink-haired companion towards her car, despite Sakura's yelps of disagreement.
"Geez, Ino. Next time, tell me when you're going to push me." Sakura rubbed her arm where Ino had been pulling.
"Eh, whatever."
"I'm only going to stay for an hour. Then, I want you to take me home." Sakura folded her arms.
"Fine, fine. Whatever. I just heard Shikamaru and Chouji found a new restaurant. The Phoenix, I think it was. They're supposed to have really good food." Ino put the key into the ignition and started the car.
---The Next Day---
"Hmm... I suppose Kakashi-sensei's not here yet." Sakura sat down on one of the benches surrounding the ice rink. "I suppose I could get in some practice before he shows up."
--- An Hour Later---
"Hey, Sakura. I was having trouble starting my car today, so..." A silver-haired man with a scarf covering his nose, mouth, and chin skated onto the rink.
"Save it, liar." Sakura skated over to him and stopped. "So what am I practicing today?"
"Pairs skating." Kakashi stepped aside, revealing a young, raven-haired man behind him. "This is your partner, Uchiha Sasuke."
"Nice to meet you, Sasuke." Sakura held out her hand in offering. Sasuke merely glanced at it before beginning to skate around the rink.
'How rude is he? Wait... I have to skate with him? Just my luck. He'd better cooperate.'
"Well, I've got your routine all planned out. Here." Kakashi handed her a clipboard with the plan on it. "You should begin to practice with each other today."
"Mmhm. Only if he works with me." Sakura glanced at the young man still warming up.
"I know he's cold, but he's the most accomplished male skater I've ever met and taught." Kakashi sighed. "Just try and work together."
"Why couldn't I have skated with Lee? He was friendly, and pretty good."
"He hurt his leg."
"Okay, then. But if he drops me on purpose, I'm not going to guarantee his safety." Sakura began to glide towards Sasuke and shoved the clipboard into his gut.
"Oof! What was that for?" He glared at her. She returned the glare.
"Hurry up and read it. We're starting on the first few moves today."
"Listen, Sakura, right? I'm only doing this because I want an Olympic medal to prove to my brother I'm not second best." He skimmed over the paper.
"That's perfectly fine with me. Now I think we should start soon." Sakura told him, grabbing his hand.
"Hn."
He put the clipboard on the bench and skated to the center of the ice. Watching the two from the stands, Kakashi pressed play on the CD player next to him. 'A Thousand Words' orchestral version began to play.
"That's right, skate around the rink, spin, double lutz," Kakashi muttered, relaying the routine as the two skated around the rink, "corkscrew spin, skate around once more, join hands, lasso lift, good, good, now a triple toe loop, and a double salchow. Ah, here's the hard part. Let's see how low he can get her to the ice. Wow, nice work, Sasuke."
The two continued to skate in near perfect synch, until Sasuke abruptly braked, causing Sakura to crash into him.
"Ow! Hey, what was that for?" Sakura glared at him.
"I've gotta go." Sasuke glided away to the bench and began unlacing his skates.
"Where to?"
"None of your business." He pulled off each skate, sighing in relief as the constricting shoe was taken off.
"Well-"
"You're annoying."
"I beg your pardon?"
"You're annoying. I can't believe you're the wondrous skater Kakashi was talking about." Sasuke stood up and began to walk towards the door.
"Bu- I- Well," Sakura stared helplessly at his back, tears beginning to form in the jade-green orbs that were her eyes. "What do you know?" She sat down on the ice, not feeling the cold.
"Hey, Sakura!" Ino bounded into the ice rink. "Who was that guy and how can I meet hi-, Sakura? Are you okay?" Ino saw Sakura sitting on the ice, silently crying.
"He-he's such a jerk!" Sakura slammed her fist down on the ice.
"Who? Him? The guy who just walked out?"
Sakura nodded, tears still streaming down her face.
"Oh, oh, Sakura." Ino carefully stepped onto the ice and made her way to her friend. "Don't listen to him. He's stupid, obviously, and can't see that you're an awesome person." She patted Sakura's back reassuringly.
"Y-you're right. I don't need to listen to him to tell me what I am." She stood up, bringing Ino with her. "Come on. Maybe we can have a movie marathon tonight at my house."
"Actually, Shikamaru said he made a new friend and he's bringing him to Temari's party." Ino helped Sakura take off her skates and put them into Sakura's skate bag.
"Well... Okay. I don't think I'm going to practice tomorrow, so why not." Sakura pulled on her sneakers and followed her blonde friend out the door.
---An Hour Later---
"Thanks for letting me borrow your clothes, Ino. I wouldn't want to have shown up at Temari's wearing my sweats." Sakura hugged her friend.
"No problem. What are friends for?" Ino smiled before ringing the doorbell of the house that was pounding with music.
The door opened, showing a blonde with her hair up. She smiled and ushered them in. "Hi Ino, Sakura. Shikamaru's over by the punch bowl."
"Thanks, Temari. Come on, Sakura." Ino pulled Sakura towards the table.
"Hey. Ino. Sakura. Meet my new friend." Shikamaru gestured towards a raven-haired young man who was muttering something about stupid parties.
Sakura breathed in sharply. She hadn't wanted to see him again, not for a while.
"Hey, annoying." He greeted her
"Hello, arrogant." Sakura hissed.
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