Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Author's Note: The idea came from a Nickelback song called "Next Contestant." Warning: Very mild yuri. TemarixTenten.

The Next Contestant

xXx

Her eyes watched carefully as the men surrounded her friend. Temari sipped her white Russian coolly as the pounding music drowned out the voices she wanted to hear. She kept a close eye on her friend, and noted the smile on the girl's face as she set down her drink and headed to the dance floor with the handsome stranger. It was the fourth one tonight. Temari sighed inwardly but maintained her mask of apathy. She watched her friend on the dance floor and her drink at the same time; Temari didn't trust anyone around her friend. The blonde winced as the reminder cut in: she kept wanting to think girlfriend instead of friend.

Tenten was dancing now, the smile on her face had grown and her hair fell gracefully around her shoulders. Hair that had been restrained in those buns for far too long. The stranger got closer and closer as Temari watched with a twitch, her grip on her drink tightening. Temari knew that Tenten was only here to loosen up after a long week of training, that was why they came together; safety in numbers. Although Temari did not enjoy dancing like Tenten did, she was good at keeping an eye on her friend.

She couldn't pinpoint when these feelings had started. It had taken her eighteen years to realize that she wasn't straight, but she couldn't figure out why these desires were so strongly centered on Tenten. Tenten; the girl she'd beaten-- badly-- in the chuunin exam all those years ago. The girl who was swaying on the dance floor now with someone else.

Temari released her drink before her grip could crush it. The man's hands were exploring the delicate body before him. Temari stood up slowly, taking in the whole situation before allowing herself to react. Sure enough, the man's hand betrayed him and he moved to caress the girl in a place she would likely not appreciate.

He gasped in pain as Temari bent the offending hand back against itself. Tenten blinked in surprise, but her gaze soon darkened as she saw where Temari had caught his hand. Tenten backed away, smiling gratefully at Temari, and returned to the drink she had left at the bar.

"See that girl you were dancing with?" Temari hissed as she tightened her grip on the man's hand. "That's my girl… Don't you dare mess with her again or next time the hand comes off."

She tossed him aside carelessly and went back over to the bar, taking a deep drink of her white Russian. Tenten sighed and looked over at Temari gratefully. Temari smiled back and forgot the jealous feelings that had only been present a few minutes ago.

"Why does that always have to happen?" Tenten wondered aloud.

"Because you loosen up so much, it makes you vulnerable. It's like you have a vibe they come to," Temari tried to answer.

"Oh well, thanks again," Tenten took another sip of her drink.

"Anytime," Temari replied.

"It's getting late, we should head out," Tenten pulled out her wallet and paid for the few drinks she had. Temari did the same and they left together.

The air was cool outside the hot bar atmosphere, and the girls were reminded that it was late autumn. Tenten drew her jacket tighter around herself and Temari smiled in spite of herself. She really did enjoy these times with her friend, even if she had to take care of the undesirables at times.

Tenten's loose hair swayed in the breeze and the moonlight lit the path. It really was a lovely night. It was to bad that one of the men from the club had followed them out. He cleared his throat to get their attention and they turned around reluctantly. Temari's jaw tightened as she recognized the second contestant; the one she'd had to actually punch. His face still seemed rather purple.

"You ladies going alone?" he teased, his breath smelling heavily of liquor. He went right up to Tenten and brushed a hair out of her face. Tenten frowned and leaned away from him.

"Who do you think--"

"Temari," Tenten stopped her friend. "I can handle this one. I don't need you to protect me all the time."

Temari stopped abruptly and frowned. The girl's tone had reminded her so much of the one she had heard all those years ago, once again during the chuunin exam…

… "How can you be so reckless with a fellow ninja!" Rock Lee had been lecturing her. She had merely stared back at him, trying not to laugh at this young boy for what he was saying. It was a competition, winning was the objective. So what if throwing her once she was unconscious was seen as cruel by this guy?

"Fine! I chall--" he'd began but a yell from his teammate stopped him.

"Lee! Stop it!" she had come up behind him and her tone made him jump. Even Temari had looked over with interest; the girl was pissed. "I can handle myself! I don't need you! I'm strong!"

She was huffing, and still seemed rather tired, but her eyes showed the fire within. Temari felt a slight chill when that fire turned to her, and Lee had backed away obediently. They blazed with what Gai would have called her "flame of youth," but they were also brimming with unshed tears.

"The better girl won," Tenten admitted. "But someday, I will be ready to defeat you."…

…It had been that look that had made Temari regret her actions. The girl had spirit, and a strong sense of honor. Still, even remembering that, it was hard for her to step down in this case.

"Oh, a fight with your hired thug?" the man snickered, but his expression turn to shock when Tenten had a hold of his collar and had pulled him down to her level with a kunai to his neck.

"Don't call her that again," Tenten hissed and added something that Temari could not hear. The man scampered away when Tenten threw him back and the girls went on their way once more.

"What did you tell him?" Temari wanted to know.

"The same thing I tell the other men that try to go to far, before you have to step in," Tenten smiled, and Temari could have sworn the girl's cheeks were pink.

"And that is?"

"I told him not to piss off my girlfriend," Tenten gave Temari a smile, who stared back in shock. Temari slowly began to smile back and the two walked home, hand in hand.

A week later, the club was once more pounding the same music and the night had come alive. Tenten was dancing alone now, but still there was someone getting too close to her. The music distracted her, all she knew was that language of words and notes. The thud of the heavy bass in her body as she moved with it, and as the man behind her drew closer.

There was a snapping sound behind her, and she turned slightly to see that Temari had apprehended the third one tonight.

"Is that your hand--" Temari tightened her grip, causing the man to wince, "-- on my girlfriend?"

Tenten could not help but smile, yet still made a mental note to have Temari loosen up from now on.