Where should I go?

Teamwork is next to victory.

With one being the best in his standards should share the other who lacks such skill.

This is the battle of their high school days.

Girls for volleyball while boys for basketball…

Who will win?

Bounce. Toss. Block. Spike!

"And there goes another fascinating combo from the Quadruple Aces of Juniors!" The announcer said in his microphone as the audience continued to shout at each of the girls' names.

Inside the court however, Temari, Tenten, Ino and even Sakura were sweating hard. They won two games already. They were against the Freshmen and the Sophomores and their last competitors would be this last game… with the Seniors.

They never really thought that they could easily beat them all, but with their great skills and strategy, anyone who enters their first six could make a turn or toss the ball. They do not hog the game. They wanted everybody to play. But then again, when they need to get serious, they have to get the ball and make a strategy on the spot.

Sakura glanced towards her right side then to the back. She made a signal to Temari who was outside the court, the one who shall make the service. Temari grinned.

Whatever you say captain. She said more to herself still referring to their team captain, Sakura.

As soon as she tossed up the ball, all her teammates bent their knees and readied their arms to the exchange of tosses. Once Temari spiked, Tenten couldn't help but smirk. They saw the ball flying towards the net. The rival team was confident that it will not make it to the other side but alas! It tumbles to their side! They didn't ask the person in front to block it! Instead everybody from their team ran towards it in attempt to toss it back but it was too late.

Wahahaha! You think we're that easy to defeat? Ino thought as she smirked towards the rivalry team.

Sakura ran towards Temari and hugged her. "Nice service Temari! We won!"

Temari stuck out her tongue and made a thumb's up to their team members.

And that's how the Junior Girl's Division won the Championship round.

Same day though the game was held in the afternoon.

A group of five Juniors wearing their blue jerseys ran towards their side. One of them held the basketball and is stalling some little time to make a plan to outsmart, yet again, the Seniors team. The person who held the ball was Shikamaru.

We're like what… almost even with the score. We have to raise three or two points before the timer ends.

Shikamaru glanced towards the right. Naruto was guarding a tall and large-built player who Shikamaru thinks is the supposedly center player.

What a moron… the center should stay at the center…

He glanced lazily behind Naruto. There Neji has outdone another player and ready to receive the ball.

Nah ah… if I give this ball to Neji then the moron center player will swat the ball out of Neji's hands. They'll block him.

He glanced towards the left. He saw Kankuro doing a great job outsmarting their opponent, well same as Sasuke.

When it comes to hogging the spotlight and perfect game play… Shikamaru smirked; it has always been him…

He made a fake pass to the right in which both Neji and Naruto knew, and then Shikamaru passed the ball towards Kankuro. Sasuke ran out from the inside and waited for Kankuro to pass the ball to him. They only have 15 seconds to make a score and Kankuro was already blocked by the person he outsmarted earlier and then comes the other who was once guarding Sasuke.

Shit! Kankuro cursed inwardly but sooner, he heard a whistle from behind.

He smirked.

Out of nowhere he passed the ball behind him and then a quick figure zoomed behind as he gets the ball. All the rivalry members followed where the quick player went. However when the person who held the ball stopped, all of them were surprised when he stepped in the line for the three-point shot!

"Damn block him!" They all heard.

"GOOOOO SASUKE-KUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!" Most of the girls cheered.

"Don't let him shoot it!"

And then it looks like the time turned slow as Sasuke evaded an attempt of stealing the ball, he jumped high and slanted slowly backwards to avoid another hand in attempt, again, to block his shot. Then he found the chance to release the ball before he even got his two feet back on the ground.

His entire team member smirked.

Fade-away jump shot from Uchiha Sasuke… Neji said more to himself as he watched the ball smoothly went inside the net.

And then the bell rings loudly.

"And the champion of the basketball game of this year is… THE JUNIORS TEAM!" The announcer excitedly shouted at the mike as he made the announcement.

All girls shouted for Sasuke and they attempted to get in the court to give him a kiss but the team hastily grabbed him and patted his shoulders, head and cheered at him.

Sasuke who was fairly beaten, not from the game, but from his teammates, turned red as he laughed aloud.

After being held as the year's over all champion, the gang planned to make a party for their victory. But the only member of the volleyball team then suggested an overnight at a resort not so near nor far from their school in which everyone agreed on. They hang out with their team players for an hour before they went on in separate ways.

Sakura and the girls were slowly trudging the path to her home while their guy friends followed their suit.

"Hmm…" Sakura looked at sideways and then sighed deeply.

Ino noticed her obviously uneasy actions, "what's wrong?"

"You know my mom, Ino. I don't think she'll let me have an overnight with… you know… everybody."

Ino then patted her shoulders and glanced behind.

"Do you think your boyfriend can save you for tonight?"

That earned several giggling sounds from Tenten, Temari and Ino in which Sakura turned beet red. She nudged Ino playfully.

"Hey I was just joking!" Ino shrieked and then laughed once again and teased her.

Sakura was about to chase her when she noticed the guys looked at her curiously. She turned redder.

"Hey Sakura-chan you're red."

Sakura pouted cutely at Naruto and said, "Shut up!" She stomped till she reached their gate.

All of them went either smirking, laughing and giggling at her antics.

"WAAAH! NEJI YOU ARE SO UNFAIR!" Ino shrilled in her utmost high pitched voice.

But Neji was already immune to her tone that he continuously pressing buttons of the controller. Ino was practically gagging on her seat while she struggle to beat Neji in a game…

…of Crash Team Racing!

"GYAAAAAHH! I hate you Neji!" Ino shrieked once again when the screen showed a confetti at the higher portion where Neji's avatar won the race.

Neji, being Neji, smiled evilly at Ino and bowed politely as if insulting her more. Ino was literally steaming and was ready to lunge at Neji when Shikamaru and Chouji grabbed her from behind.

"I'm GONNA KILL YOU HYUUGA NEJI!"

"Oi! Don't be too troublesome it's just a game!" Shikamaru locked her arms behind while Chouji held her hips.

"GRRRR! I'll bite your head off NEJI!"

"Admit it Yamanaka, you're just best in dancing and passing the ball."

That earned another steam from the Yamanaka herself though before Ino could bite of Neji's head, Naruto and Kiba came with lots of snacks in their trays.

"Yoh hold yer horses, Ino! Let's get something to eat first!" Naruto said out loud as the gang lunges towards the tray and snagged any food that they get.

While doing so, Sakura walked towards the corner and grabbed the phone. She sighed deeply first and waited for someone from the other line to pick up the call.

"Hello. Yes, can I speak to Mrs. Haruno Ritsuko? Mm. This is her daughter speaking."

Sasuke glanced at her and smoothly sat beside her at the sofa mouthing words, "Your mom?"

Sakura looked at him and nodded nervously. In a while someone got the phone, she made a stop sign at Sasuke and resumed talking to the person on the other line.

"Mom. Yeah. Uhm… we're gonna have an overnight stay at a resort. Yeah. Well… victory party. I'm with Ino, Sasuke, Naruto and the rest of the gang. Nope. I have money. We'll rent a cottage. No. Uhm, Sasuke's here do you wish to speak with him?"

Sakura gave the phone to Sasuke and mouthed words, "Please tell her I'm gonna be fine."

Sasuke nodded and took the phone, "Hello? Sasuke speaking. Mm. Yes, auntie. She'll be fine. I'll take care of her. Mm. Okay. Bye." Then Sasuke hang up while Sakura gave her a questioning face. Sasuke could only smile, a little. "Your mom said its okay for you to join but I'll be the one dropping you home tomorrow."

Sakura could only smile and hugged Sasuke while saying, "Thank you" straight to his ear.

What she didn't know was Sasuke was already blushing lightly at their contact.

They had fun during the afternoon. Water splashing, water fight, or any fun under the sun made their day so great. They were the victors during the games so they should have time for themselves, more likely, the joy as they rewarded themselves for all the efforts they gave in during the game.

Later on, the bright sky slowly settled down to meet the moon and stars for it faded to darkness, not entirely. Everybody went inside the cottage to settle down themselves as well as have the opportunity to take a rest after a day's full of tiring activities.

Sakura couldn't find any sleep so she got up from the bed straight towards the veranda located at the second floor. She slid open the wooden door and felt the cold wind passed through her bare skin. She shiver at the first attack yet ignored the rest and watched the sky twinkled as though smiling at her. She smiled more to herself.

More likely, all she was thinking of was the victory of their batch. Beating the Seniors team was so much of a hassle and too much work, but they did it. They won. At first she didn't think about winning well at the back of her mind it was. She couldn't possibly go for the losing side and turn all their trainings down in hell.

They trained hard to win. They gave their effort to be victorious. Not just for the title but for the rewards of their hardships.

She smiled once again and watched the water on all pools ripple smoothly. She wanted to go for a swim but its damn cold! And then another wind passed by her bare skin where she reacted once again.

Then out of nowhere warm fabric covered her skin that her reflexes made her twist her head and look at the person who gave her the blanket.

And that person was none other than…

"Sasuke-kun." She whispered with a tone of surprised.

Said person smiled at her and turned his back towards the banister of the veranda.

"What are you doing here at this godly hour?" He asked quietly, conscious that if he used his normal voice he would have woken up some people inside.

Sakura fixed the blanket that shielded her from the cold night and walked towards the banister and held it with her hand.

"Contemplating about… well things." She said in wonder and looked at the pool again.

"Would you like to tell me those things?" Sasuke curiously asked and turned around again where he put his lower arms at the banister and leaned on to look at what's under them.

"Hmm… the victory, our effort and…" She giggled first when she continued, "Gaara."

If she could only stare at the Uchiha she would have seen his once smiling face turned into a stoic one. Such names or things related to her means so much to him. Well, weren't they best friends?

"Aa," was all he could say as he gave sad eyes eyeing the pool.

"I never really thought I'd come this far. My life is so full of happiness, don't you think?" She asked.

Sakura didn't even know that while she was stating her happy side the one's accepting it turned sad each passing second. What was the reason of his sadness? Wasn't he also a part of her happiness?

Sakura continued, "You know," Sasuke noticed the changed atmosphere when Sakura spoke, "after what happened months ago, I thought I was a failure."

Sasuke leaned further until his chin reached the folded lower part of his arm. He listened intently.

"Of course you know that incident right. You were the one who beat him in to a pulp." She gave out a nostalgic laugh but stopped momentarily. That's when Sasuke glanced at her, "You were such an idiot when you didn't come to school and when you didn't tell me why you didn't come either. I was mad at you."

Sasuke snorted and looked away, "I wasn't prepared to tell you what happened."

"I know this is isn't a good time reminiscing things, but this is the only chance that I could speak with you privately."

"Can't we speak on the phone?" He contradicted.

"Someone will just hang up from your house, I know, Itachi-kun."

Sasuke gave out a "piff" sound and chuckled. Sakura followed the suit. The young Uchiha couldn't describe the feeling he's feeling right now. He was leaning on the banister of the veranda of their cottage, clad with white blanket and talking with his best friend. A best friend he loved for years.

After the short chuckles, they finally gave up and made way for another silent treatment where they both have the comfort to feel the area's atmosphere. Sakura leaned on the banister but was looking up in the sky. Sasuke was looking downwards but noticed her gesture when her image registered at the pool. He glanced at her once again.

"So what was the thing that you're gonna say?" He asked. He had known her actions ever since she was little, of course he knew that there's something wrong with her.

"Thank you."

Simple yet full of meaning. These are the words that Sasuke rarely received from Sakura. Of course she always say "thank you" even from the smallest of things, but this time, the "thank you" she said meant a lot. He had done all things for her… for her to make her happy. He did all those things for her happiness. Because he didn't want to see her crying worst slashing her self, hurting in the process.

Sasuke's eyes softened as he stared at her, "Be careful with what you do next time okay? I might not be there to protect you."

"You always say that. I can still remember the times when we were in Kindergarten. You kicked our classmate's butt after he made me cry. You always say you're going to be there to protect me, though not all times. Why do you say that?"

He looked forward and narrowed his eyes (though Sakura didn't notice it), "I know it's contradicting but it's for real. What if for example you're in pain, unless you call me up that's when I'll come to you. I know you. You wouldn't call somebody to ease your pain because you'll lock yourself in your own misery and find yourself a failure like what you said earlier. That is when my words will come in to the picture. Unless you call me, that's when I'm gonna be there for you. To protect you." And not make you cry any more… He added silently in his mind while closing his eyes.

"You're such a sweet talker. Even so, you're the best person I've ever met. You're my lifesaver." She sighed for a while and leaned forward and kissed his head.

Sasuke jerked at the contact but didn't pull away instead he stared at her, still surprise from the action she just did.

"I would have kissed you on the lips but I'm not single. So bear with the kiss on the head for a while." She smiled and tilted her head to the side waiting for her best friend's reply.

"Aa… it's… okay."

Thank you…

To be continued…

Author's Notes: Yeah right I know the update was like for ages! You can't blame me. Well I think you can because of the writer's block and I think I'm sleepy again (yawns). There you have it, a short chapter for this story. Hope you wouldn't mind. Next chapter is still… undecided. Let me get over with the writer's block first before I continue this one. And at some point though, there are things that I didn't want to recall. It gives back the feeling of pain. (bows politely) Please have more patience.