Wow, here's the seventh chapter.
I just got inspired today and...BAM!
It's also pretty long so I'm proud of it. :)
It's kinda intense so prepare yourself. lol
Pairings: Nejiten, Sasusaku, Shikatema.
Dislaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of it's characters.
Someone Other Than Yourself
Chapter 7
By: turtlechick
Tenten-
Today was the day, the day of our second race against team Kyuubi. Oh yeah, today was going to interesting. Right now the six of us were heading to the race track in the car Tsunade had provided for us. Temari and were sharing the headphones to her music player. She said it was supposed to help us get pumped up. Sakura and my brother were going over the stats of the other team and our team. Sasuke and Neji were just looking lazily out of the windows.
The car came to a stop and we all filed out. The car had parked right outside the hangar, for easy access of course. The four of us racing quickly went to go put on our suits and then went straight to our mechas. We had been a little late this morning because Temari couldn't figure out what to wear, which was pretty absurd because she was going to change right when we got here.
"Will team Katsuyu please report to the starting line please?" That was our cue.
XxX
On the starting line the screens popped up that connected me to the others. "You ready Tennie?" Temari said with a smile. It was hard to see with her helmet on but it was there. I nodded in response. "And Hyuuga if you leave her again, I swear I'm going to come after you."
Neji let out a sigh. "Calm down Temari. I'm not in the mood to lose again today." Well that made me feel a little bit better, I think.
"Hey chill you two. The race is about to start." Sasuke said, breaking up their little fight.
"Hey there folks! Today for your viewing pleasure we have a race against team Kyuubi and team Katsuyu. As it stands now both teams have lost a race. So let's see who's going to pull ahead today!"
I took a deep breath and watched as the first yellow light turned on, then the second, and finally the green. The race had started. I seemed to be keeping up pace with Neji today. Either that or he was going slower to stay with me so Temari wouldn't through a fit.
"Tenten listen to me." It was Neji. "Lee is really fast. Faster than the both of us I'm afraid." I had never really heard Neji say something like that, something that close to a compliment. But if Neji said it must be true. Was that bushy eye browed lovesick guy really all that good?
"So what do we do?" I was hoping he had a plan.
"Leave Lee to Sasuke, but we just need to stay ahead of Naruto. Even if Lee beats us if we place second and third we should have enough points to win." Wow, he really didn't want to lose today. I was surprised he trusted me so much with his plan. Out of the corner of my viewing screen I could see Naruto and Lee coming up behind the two of us at an incredible speed. I could barely see Chouji's much larger mecha behind them and then Kiba came shooting out from behind them.
I prepared myself for impact, but it never came. "Hurry up Tenten! I'll hold him for as long as I can." I hadn't even seen Temari arrive. She was always saving my ass these days. Without thinking I rushed up towards the front of the pack to where Neji, Naruto and Lee were now. I stayed a little bit behind waiting for my chance to get ahead of the two forwards when I saw my opening. It seems that Sasuke had been able to slip past Chouji and was now heading straight for Lee.
I pulled the throttle for my mecha and I started to gain on the three mechas in front of me with Sasuke barreling closely behind. I took a moment to look at my teammates. Neji face was as stoic and emotionless as usual even though he was probably trying very hard to keep up with Lee. Temari…well Temari scared me a little bit. She was still tussling with Kiba a few stretches behind the rest of us, and she was laughing the entire time, but I'm sure that he would be a tough opponent. Sasuke just had a smirk on his face. Temari had told me earlier that he enjoyed the thrill of the…chase.
I was able to squeeze myself on the edge of the track past Lee and Naruto. They didn't even notice, they were only worrying about Neji. I guess sometimes it was a good thing to be a newbie, because no one viewed you as a threat.
"Shit!" It was Temari's voice. "That shit head!" Kiba was gone from my radar. Where did he go? "Tenten watch your back! He's coming for you!" My hands got clammy as I took an extra look at Temari's mecha. A big chunk of the sheet of metal that protected the most important equipment in her mecha was now gone. If she got another hit, it probably wouldn't be able to be fixed. I guess my defender was down for the count. Wonderful. There was nothing I could do about it. I just had to keep my cool and hopefully evade Kiba for the rest of the race. It wouldn't be that hard, right? There was only about three quarters of a lap left.
I punched the accelerator and tried to not give Kiba an opportunity to jump me while I was unaware of his position. Lee was starting to pull ahead of Neji but Neji was able to stay in front of Naruto.
"Tenten now is our chance. Catch up and try to at least stay in front of Naruto."
"Ok Neji." I pushed the throttle a bit more and now was gaining a noticeable amount on the three other mechas. I finally found Kiba, but I was going too fast for his mecha to even catch up and soon I was pulling ahead of everyone, even Lee.
The finish line was now in my sights and I was still ahead of the pack. Lee was right on my heels though, but even with his best efforts he couldn't get in front of me. Then it hit me, we were going to win. That alone made me pull ahead even more until the crowd was in sight and I had passed the finish line. Then Lee followed by Neji and last was Naruto. Fifth place was close between Sasuke and Kiba until Sasuke got the upper hand and was able to beat him by a hair. Temari's mecha was the only hampering her. I guess my brother and Sakura were going to have a long night ahead of them.
XxX
Back at the hangar the mood couldn't have been any happier. I think I even saw Neji smile. A first for me let me tell you that. Sakura grabbed my hands and began jumping up and down in a circle and soon I was joining her. We squealed like little girls like we were obsessing over a boy band. "Please stop. I really can't take it." My brother was rubbing his temples. He should have been happy that we won but all was thinking about, probably, was all the work he would have to put in on Temari's mecha.
"Well that was fun." Temari said as she joined our party as well. Neji and Sasuke were chatting quietly on the sidelines.
"Hey Temari, sorry about that. You know how I get sometimes." It was Kiba and the rest of his team.
"Yeah yeah, whatever, that just means chief here will have to some…repairs." She laughed as she threw an arm around my brother's neck. Most of us laughed along with her. Naruto was definitely the loudest though.
Lee had overdramatic tears running down his face. "Sakura my flower. I was unable to win the tournament for you so I will have to a punishment." His tears disappeared as he thought up a 'punishment.' He snapped his fingers. "I know! I will run around the mecha track one-hundred times to make up for our loss." He kissed her hand and ran off, in the direction of the race track I was guessing.
"Um…How long is the track?" Sakura asked.
"Ten miles." Chouji answered her as her munched on a rather large handful of chips. Sakura slapped her forehead.
"What did Lee mean that you couldn't win the tournament now?" I asked.
"Well after a team loses twice they're out." Kiba answered.
"So that means." I was shocked. If we lost just one more time we would be out. Just like that.
"Yep." Temari said.
"Well I guess we'll leave you guys to celebrate." Kiba said as he and the others waved and left our team hangar.
"Speaking of celebrating." Temari got an evil smile on her face. "I say we all go out and dance the night away." Temari threw her hands up in the air. I think she was waiting for an answer.
"I think we'll pass Temari." Sasuke said as he and Neji swiftly left the hangar.
"Sorry Temari, but Shikamaru and I will be up late fixing your mecha."
Her face fell until she noticed there was one more person left. Me. 'gulp' I sighed. "I'll go with you Temari." I said reluctantly.
She clapped her hands together. "Great! Let's go. I know all the best clubs." I bet she did alright.
I hate saying this but the next chapter I'm not going to be so happy to write because...
there is going to be a tad bit of drama. Uh-oh.
Maybe I'll write it fast just to get it over with.
Oh and how was the race? I liked it! :)
My Christmas was good. I got almost everything that I asked for. :) My favorite gift was a new Kathy van Zealand purse. It's hard to admit, but indeed I am a label hor... T_T lol We didn't get to visit my favorite sister becasue of the snow but it was fun anyway. Hope your holidays were good too!
BTW; My poll is up so make sure you vote. :) You get to pick two stories how amazing is that!!! lol jk.
Please reveiw and even if you don't check out some of my other stories. XD
turtlechick...out
