Disclaimer: Standand.
Chapter 16: A Lesson in Revenge
Green eyes were fixed upon the opposite side of the room. She gripped her racket tighter, holding it out in front of her. Then, the machine made a popping sound. She moved the racket to the side and with great force swung it forward with a "Ha!" The bright-green tennis ball sped towards the other side. More followed suit, as she hit ten balls consecutively in a row.
After the ten, she looked to her left, where Ino was also doing a similar drill. They both gave each other a challenging look. "More!" they both cried, and so began the unofficial contest of who could hit the most balls back without missing one.
"Girls, girls!" the coach, Kurenai-sensei, said after they'd hit more balls then the people could feed the machine, "this isn't the point of the exercise." She took her own racket from the bench and walked over. "If you two are bound to be partners, work together. Work on your strategy. Right now all your shots are long and low. Your opponent will be able to find these holes really quickly. Try hitting some different shots without the machine. Face each other."
The two did as they were told, so Kurenai went on to check the game schedule. The first game would be against the Sound. They were a new team to enter this year, so there wasn't any info on them. The game would take place tomorrow after school. The basketball team would also be playing just before their matches, because there had been a person on both teams.
She put the timetable down and went to another practice court where she taught another girl how to effectively use the machine. "It always shoots in the same spot, so try hitting it at different angles," she showed her with the racket.
The place where they trained was a type of sports-complex. So right next to them were several gyms with other teams practicing. The boys' basketball team had just finished their 66th lap around the place. Their coach, Gai-sensei, had stopped them in front of the tennis counts, and he stepped inside, followed by the team of about 20. "Now see here," he spoke up, "I don't want to hear that any of you are tired. If not, you don't deserve to be on the basketball team and we'll send you to join tennis!" The whole team stopped their exercises and scowled at the remark.
Kurenai didn't seem too worried. "Now see here," she spoke up, mimicking Gai, "the machines pump so much force that sometimes long shots are what you want to do. Takashi, maximum thrust." The boy at the machine turned the dial and ducked for cover. With a pop. A tennis ball came flying towards her. She redirected it with great force on an angle. It hit Gai square in the face, and sent him flying back. Everyone looked horrified. "Don't ever take any prisoners when they say tennis is a wimpy sport, got that?"
"Okay, listen up!" Gai spoke, a handkerchief on his nose, that was just stopping to bleed, "you're opponents will be very strong. I've heard that the sound are quite formidable this year."
"You know, looking like that it's hard to take this guy seriously now," whispered Naruto to a few teammates, whom nodded in reply. "I don't think I'll ever piss off Sakura-chan when she's got something in her hand."
"So are we clear on the starting lineup, Naruto?" their coach interrupted his conversation. The blond made a face at being picked on like that. "Fine, I'll repeat it again, just so that you hear it. The two forwards will be you, Naruto as well as Kiba. The guards will be Lee and Shino. Our center as like last year will be Sasuke. Got it?"
"Sure," Naruto replied uncaringly.
"Good, now you all get a nice rest and prepare for our game tomorrow."
"I will do my best, sensei! I'll train all tonight and tomorrow so that I may be in the prime of my game tomorrow!" Lee cried, giving his trademark thumbs-up.
"That's the spirit I want to see, Lee! You are indeed one of Konoha's most valuable players! I want this kind of attitude from…everyone?" looking around, the teacher and the student were the only ones left. When Lee and Gai started rambling, it wasn't unusual.
"Oh, by the way, thanks again for letting us come over and study with you for exams," Kiba was walking alongside Hinata just as the lunch bell rang, "I promise we'll be good, right, Naruto?"
"You bet!" the blond boy grinned and nodded, "and just so I can thank you somewhat, I invite you to our basketball game today after school."
Hinata blushed, and looked at the floor, "T-thanks," she said soft enough that the two boys didn't hear.
Kiba began to laugh, "Sorry boy, but you're a bit late. I already asked her yesterday to come. She'll be there rootin' for me."
"That's great for you," the other scowled, "but I'd think she much rather root for me."
"You? Thinking? Amazing…" they both then started to argue in the middle of the busy hallway. She prayed for some miracle so she didn't have to die of embarrassment. Thankfully someone must have been listening, since along came Sakura, Tenten, and her cousin.
The pink haired one was the person who finally pushed the two away. "Alright, alright you guys, break it up. I know you both love her but please save your bickering for a better place. And here's the compromise, she'll root for both of you."
Naruto shrugged and grinned after, "You going to be there, Sakura-chan?"
"That all depends, are you going to watch my tennis match after?"
"Well, are you going to beat them?"
"You bet your ramen I will!"
"Then I'll be there."
"As will I." They both shook hands.
"Hey Sakura! Where you off to so fast?" Ino had caught up to her after school, still holding her books.
Sakura had her gym bag slung over her shoulder, on her way out the back doors. "The question is why are you so slow? The game started a half-hour ago. I'm about to see the Sound get their asses kicked." With that she took up a jogging pace towards the complex. A crowd of students were milling by the door. She squeezed past them, and found her way to the basketball courts. It seemed as if she'd come in during half time, or some sort of break. Both teams were at their benches and the spectators were talking amongst each other.
She managed to find a spot in the second row of the stands. It was the first time she'd gotten a look at the team when she wasn't preoccupied with tennis. They all wore the typical basketball jerseys, scarlet and gray, with the numbers and last names printed on their backs.
The Konoha team broke from their huddle. Sakura waved to Naruto, who seemed to be scanning the crowd for her. "Wow, number 2. You must feel special," she commented.
"Sure do! There wasn't any number 1 so I got the closest thing to it…" the boy ranted on about how great the number 2 was. Sakura was only half listening, since she was looking for someone else. "…and not only that but…Sakura-chan? Something the matter?"
"Ah…oh nothing. I was just wondering where Sasuke-kun was. He's on the team too, right?"
"Oh yeah, him. Kakashi-sensei came by during the second quarter and asked to talk to him. I don't think he came back yet." Just then, the ref blew his whistle, signaling the end of the break. "Well, cheer me on, Sakura-chan! We're definitely going to win today!" with a wave he went back to the bench.
Ino and Hinata joined their pink haired friend shortly after. The blonde was certainly the loudest at cheering, since she made up for Hinata's lack of spirit. She was slightly disappointed that she'd missed Sasuke in action, but still enjoyed watching her school wipe the floor against the opponent. The score still remained in their favor, but remained close.
It was nearing the end of the third quarter, and no one really expected the Sound to pull a trick. While waiting to receive a pass, one of the Sound forwards tried to intercept the ball and ended up elbowing Konoha's center (someone who Ino had called Rey-san). Caught off-guard, he fell to the ground pretty hard.
The ref waved it off as an accident. Kiba didn't like the call, and went over to him, "Are you blind? It was obviously a foul! Look! He can't freaking move his arm!" He kept yelling but the referee shook his head nonetheless.
"Let it go," Rock Lee told him, once he pulled him away, as not to get any sort of technical foul.
"Let it go? Rey was our best center, other then Sasuke who isn't here in case you've forgotten. Now we need to play an inexperienced junior!"
Sakura sighed, as the rest of the quarter sort of fell apart. She and Ino had been convinced that the ref favored the Sound, as they pulled ahead by 8 points. "They play so dirty," Ino grumbled angrily at the end of the quarter. "This sub doesn't know what in the world he's doing."
"Break's over!" the ref warned, as the rest of the Konoha team walked lazily onto the court. They managed to come back, but the Sound was still dominating. With ten minutes left, Gai had called a full timeout.
"What wrong with you guys? I've seen better plays then this! Get it together!" then at the corner of his eye, he caught someone enter the gym. "Sasuke! Hurry up and get here!"
"Ah! Sasuke-kun's just in time!" squealed Ino, clapping her hands. "Oh my gosh! He looks so good in that jersey! What do you think?" Sakura nodded truthfully. Actually, she really thought he looked good anytime.
"Sorry," he said quickly unzipping his jacket, "Sensei wanted me for longer this time around."
"No excuses, Sasuke-san! We need a bunch of your three-pointers and fast!" Lee said quickly. The star center nodded.
Konoha had made a great comeback in the last little bit of the game. They'd clung on to win by two points. "Sasuke-kun! You were great!" Sakura gushed, as she and Ino went onto the court after the game was over to congratulate them. "You coming to watch our match now?"
"No, and even if I wanted to I can't. Kakashi-sensei wants me again," he said taking his jacket. He'd left just as fast as he'd come. He was always so busy.
"Don't worry, Sakura-chan! I'll be there! Let's go or you'll be late!"
Sakura and Ino's match was second out of four. The boys' doubles had lost badly to the Sound. "We'll win," Ino reassured her. Her partner nodded as they stepped onto the court. They walked to the front of the net, where both opponents shook hands.
"Next match, girls doubles. From Konoha, Haruno Sakura and Yamanaka Ino. From the Sound, Kin Tsuchi and Onkyou Tayuka. This match will go to whichever team wins 2 out of 3 sets."
Sakura gripped her racket until her knuckles turned white. All that ran through her mind was, 'Don't screw up!'
They'd lost the first set 30 to 40. Kurenai went of talk to both of them. "It was a nice try," she began, "but they found your holes really easily. Listen, it's harder for the girl with the long black hair to hit smashes. Try using that to your advantage, alright, Sakura?"
She nodded, and the two went onto the court for the second set. It began much as the last one did. The games were getting long, with all the loss of serves. Then Sakura saw her golden opportunity when the score was tied 30 to 30. She wound up to hit it down, but overestimated the distance. She'd hit it on an angle, but at least it was going down. 'It's going to go out,' she thought grimly at missing her golden chance.
Well, it would have gone out of bounds, if it hadn't hit someone in the process. It hit the girl with long hair right square in the face. She covered her nose instantly, dropping her racket. Sakura covered her mouth. "Good job, forehead girl," Ino said sarcastically.
"That was an accident! Really I swear! I just hit the ball weirdly!" she ran over to the other side, "oh my God, are you alright?"
The girl looked up angrily and spat out words that were incoherent since she was covering the lower half of her face. The redhead translated: "She said 'you did that on purpose, bitch.' You'd better hope you didn't break her nose, damn shit, or I'll pay you back double!"
Sakura stood there shocked. All she went there to do was apologize, and this was the kind of treatment she got? Sighing, she went back to her side to where her coach reassured her that accidents like that happened all the time. Meanwhile on the other side, the injured girl went and sat on the bench, and the girl who would be playing singles went to fill in.
The singles girl had trouble playing a doubles position. Sakura and Ino swept the last two sets. "Great game!" Naruto said after they'd returned to the bench, "and you have to admit, when you hit that Sound girl in the face, it was pretty funny."
"That was an accident!" protested a red Sakura, blushing from embarrassment. She sunk onto the bench. She wouldn't hear the end of this for a long time.
"I didn't take my math textbook with me, I'm just going to run and get it. I'll see you guys tomorrow," Sakura waved goodbye to her friends, and ran back to the school. They were starting to lock some of the doors, since it was already nearing six o'clock. She went up to the second floor and opened the doors. Well they would have opened if they weren't locked.
Sighing, she went back down and decided to go to the other side of the hall to see if those worked. Then two figures walked through the side doors. But they were wearing strange uniforms. She eyed them for a second, but continued on her way. They followed after her. Finally she got fed up, "Can I help you two? The school's closed to visitors now."
"Are you the one who nearly broke Kin's nose? She said pink hair, you fit her description well," one of them replied.
"Excuse me?" she blinked. Was Kin that girl who she'd accidentally hit?
"Zaku you idiot, of course it's her. Who else has pink hair?"
She looked at both of them strangely. "Well then, Dosu, I think that we should get right to the point," the one called Zaku cracked his knuckles. She was becoming very nervous.
"Usually it's against our morals to fight women…" the other shrugged, "but it was Kin who asked us to 'take care' of you. And what Kin wants, she gets."
"What are you people talking about? If you'll excuse me, I need to get home," Sakura turned on her heel, but stopped when one of them gripped her shoulder tightly.
"I don't think you quite understand the situation. Let me explain. Kin wants you hurt, you got it? And we're going to do the work for her." She wasn't quite sure what to think at this point. "We'll give you a ten second head start. You can run anywhere you'd like. Let's make this game interesting."
"What?" she asked one more time, walking away. They began to count. 'What's with these guys? They're really creeping the hell out of me.' When they got to five, she officially got scared and ran up the stairs. She heard them follow, just as she reached the top part of the stairs. 'What are these morons thinking?'
They were fast morons at that. Why was no one here to help her? Even the janitors were nowhere to be found. She zoomed past her locker, and through another set of doors. They were still following. Her best bet was to shake them, since the school itself had a rather complex system of halls. She went right, then left, then left again. She listened as their footsteps stopped. They went one way, and Sakura was thankful that was the wrong one.
She went down a flight of stairs. The side doors should have been open. That would have worked, had the two freaks beaten her to it, coming down from somewhere else. "You're pretty tricky, aren't you?" Zaku commented rolling his shoulders back.
Sakura couldn't speak. It was partially from fear, and partially wondering how they'd gotten down the staircase at the other end of the hall so fast. "Well, now that our little game of tag is over, we'll give you the first shot. Go ahead, we won't object. But you only have 10 seconds."
"This is stupid. Why are you doing this?" They both stood in front of the door, blocking her exit. They counted. So they wanted her to…attack them? Well if she wanted to get out from this hellhole, she might as well have to use force. "Fine, your funeral." She kicked Dosu in the stomach with as much force as she could muster. With a grunt, he went flying back into the wall.
He was temporarily speechless, as the wind was knocked out of him. "Dosu! The nerve of you, bitch! You're really going to get it now," the other advanced on her. She blocked his kick, but his fist landed on her face. And it hurt a lot. She fell to her knees, wiping her cheek. She glared evilly.
"Get up," a very familiar voice cooed.
She had been pretty sure that no one in front of her had said it.
"Get up," he repeated.
Now she was sure she was crazy. There were voices in her head. And not just any voices at that. Two very familiar voices that belonged to her friends.
"You don't want to look weak, do you?" the voice spoke again. Sakura looked up to see Gaara. He and his sister stood in front of her. "You never should start a fight, but at least don't leave until you finish one."
"Either that, or let us finish it for you. You don't be afraid to tell us if someone hurts you, right, Sakura?" Temari winked.
They'd told her that awhile ago, but it didn't matter if they weren't here now. How she wished they were here now. She received a slap on her other cheek to even out the pain. It stung like hell, but she wouldn't dare give them the satisfaction of knowing that.
"You listening to what I'm saying? You better get ready to take it, bitch." Zaku raised his hand. Sakura closed her eyes, and heard the side doors open with a loud screech. Her emerald eyes still remained shut. "Who the hell are you?"
"I come back to get my textbook and this is what I find? Two guys from another school beating up a girl? How filthy low can you morons get?" a very familiar voice spoke. Sakura cracked an eye open, to see who it was.
"S-Sasuke-kun!" she whispered, as he stepped between her and the abuser.
The Uchiha gave his deadly glare. "Sakura, which one hurt you?"
She stayed quiet for a minute. "T-this really isn't necessary. Let's just get out of here."
"Sakura. Who hurt you?" he asked again.
Zaku was getting annoyed with the intruder's persistence. "I'm the one who hurt her, alright punk?" Sasuke narrowed his eyes even more, and without warning threw a punch at his face. He hobbled backwards, stunned.
"I see she did in you friend here. Is that reason to come after a defenseless woman? Scum like you shouldn't even exist." Sasuke kicked him in the gut, and was about to do more damage, until he felt a hand upon his shoulder.
"Sasuke-kun, enough is enough. Let's just get going," she grabbed his arm. He reluctantly backed away from the two who sat against the wall, still full of pain. "Let's go…please."
He sighed, running his fingers against each of her cheek, checking for any damage. Nothing more then a bruise. "What are you going to do if someone asks about this?"
"I'll make something up," she smiled. They exited the building together, leaving the two to figure out how to move.
Would you know that none of them ever got those textbooks they were after?
AN: -Hinata-hime has flashbacks from chunin exam arc- Wow…I really need to watch those eps again. Anyway, yes, sorry the chapter is a week late. I wrote it…and then was quite unhappy with it and rewrote part of it. I still hate it, but just not as much. Oh well, you can't win em all. I've been kind of preoccupied with other things. Things including writing my new SasuSaku story, (which I think I'll post around next time I update this story I think), and getting my LiveJournal up. I just got into it really, and still half confused on how to use it. I hate being new, I have like, no friends there. I need friends! –laughs nervously and watches everyone around her sweatdrop-
Anyway, now onto chapter matters. Didn't expect the 2 angry females to be from the Sound, now did you? (Actually neither did I, but the idea came into my head so I stuck with it). As you may have noticed, there were so many chunin exam moments, especially the ending. God, I miss them. The fillers make me sad (though I find the current team Gai filler entertaining, though Neji ended up being kinda useless, like last ep 157). Anyway, after rereading what I wrote, how cliché was this whole chapter? (Please don't answer that…) Promise, next chapter will be awesome-er.
More review responses. I got so many this time around. –hugs all reviewers even if they don't want one- XD
psychedelic aya: your reviews always make me laugh! Better then caffeine? That, I'm not so sure about…
Kookie315: ShikaIno, a surprisingly fun pairing to write about. Don't worry. They'll get a whole section next chapter. Promise. And Neji's just kind of confused right now. (He's not quite sure what he thinks of her yet, though in time it'll be different)
justsomenobody: Hmm. That'll really just make my story longer. To tell you the truth, it's more of a Sakura-centric fic, though it wasn't originally planned that way. Besides, I'd rather keep Sasuke along the lines of 'I-don't-trust-many-people'.
inuyashafangirl333: OOC means 'out-of-character' You pick up these things sometimes. Anyway, it's nice to hear I have die-hard fans that would…strap me to a chair…XD
charl: pen-name, I think mine's easy to remember, compared to others XD but no worries. Husband-wife indeed. And yes, as I've mentioned before, the Sand sibs will come in (in person this time) when I decide the time is right.
ArishaGinkaze and Sakura-Girl 2005: yes! More Canadians! (I think I've said that before but meh). French is a pain, but thankfully only 3 and a bit more months until my semester is over. T.T And you're lucky it was only grade 6 you had it. Grade 10 is even more so a pain.
Okay, my ANs are starting to get too long. I'll get on with the chapter preview (which I think most of you will like): It's time that Hinata-hime paid more attention to some pairings! Because next chapter is: February 14th! And what better way to celebrate that day then a dance of course! But…Sasuke's going to need some convincing, more so then the others. And beware of Neji, Hinata, and Tenten's all-time master plan! –laughs evily-