A/N: Hi all, this chapter has been reedited! Please let me know what you think.
With lunch over, we carried onward toward the gym bathrooms.
Changing into our gym gear Ino, Hinata and Tenten made their way to the gymnasium. I followed behind with Naruto at my side. Yellow shirt and mini black shorts was the perfect wear to move freely and comfortably too.
"I wonder what Anko-sensei has installed for us" he asked.
"She's the surprising type of a person." I said swinging my arm around his lower back. "I'm so stuffed and exhausted too." I whispered, resting my head on him and continuing. "I worked late last night" Naruto flew his arm over my shoulders, comforting my frame and pulled me into a tight embrace.
Nobody knows about my part time job except my girls, and Naruto which is fair as he is one of the most important people in my life. On most evenings, he'll pick me up from work and take me home; only taking care of me as my parents are hardly home and away on business trips and my brother is out studying or with his girlfriend.
This time around, mother and father had been away for almost six weeks and at home have been kind of depressing, especially when it doesn't feel warm anymore. I miss my mum, I miss my dad and my brother.
"You work a lot Sakura. Make sure to rest up okay" he said with worrying eyes and nodded.
"Hurry up maggots" Anko called. Naruto and I entered through the gym doors and joined the rest of the class. I stood next to Tenten, Naruto's warmth leaving me to join Sasuke.
"Alright, maggots! This afternoon is volleyball! Girls vs Boys…. Line up" she called taking a bite out of her dango dumplings.
When it comes to sports and competition, I am at my best in this category. I glanced at Ino, my arms fuelling with adrenaline. "Oh dear! Sakura is already fired up" Ino whispered crossing her arms "oh and Ten." We both look at each other, fire literally steaming from our heads. Oh boy, let it begin.
"ARE YOU READY TO ATTACK TENTEN!" I shrieked cracking my knuckles.
"YES I'M READY" she replies shouting in my face and clicking her neck.
"Oh geez girls, calm down" Ino whined, plucking mine and Ten by the ear.
"Owww!" Who doesn't like a little bit of competition, the anticipation and excitement, winning is a great feeling and even loosing too, you grow more from loss. Ten and I are very competitive when it comes to sports and other things, this was my element. Activities and movement, boy I am excited.
We entered the first court and grouped into fours. The rest of the class grouped into equal teams and we were ready to go, everyone dispersing with their groups into different sections of the area.
Evaluation is the key to success, by observing your opponent you are bound to gather some good information for head start, and yes that is what Ten and I were doing behind Hinata and Ino. I glanced over at the uninterested boys and saw how much motivation they had brought. Nothing.
"Guy on far left doesn't seem interested"
"Gosh girls, relax." Whined Ino again and we prepared our formation on the volley court. Being the competitive woman I am, I handed the ball over to Hinata to serve first. Tenten and I took the front and Ino and Hinata taking the rear.
With the blow of her whistle, Anko shouted. "Goooooo!"
Hinata lightly served the ball over the net; her features expressing friendliness and happiness. With one of the boys managing to hit the ball back over the high net. Ino lightly jumped up knocking it back over toward them with ease, she too expressing friendliness.
The ball bounced onto one of the males' head, obviously failing to catch it with his hands and with luck it managed to lob over the net toward me.
Tenten volleyed the ball upward to set it up for me; my muscles tighten and bracing myself, I flew up and smashed the ball onto the far left corner, causing it to whizz pass the guys with extreme force and within a moment, four terrified orbs stared at me taking the chance to step out before any more damage was caused.
"Chaaaa" "Yessss!" I exclaimed, Tenten high fiving me, the two of us steaming of fire and adrenaline surging through us. There was no room for sleep or laziness only winning.
Hit after hit. Tenten and I went roaring after every victory, it was not long till the finals were announced and Tenten was sitting at the edge of her seat.
"I know it's not a real competition, I can't help but win all the time." she chanted, nodding to her reply I quickly glanced over to the boys watching them huddle and glare over to us. It was now the finals. And in the end who knew that we would be challenging our very own friends. Today we are sports rivals.
Neji Hyuuga
Shikamaru Nara
Naruto Uzumaki
Sasuke Uchiha
"Oh Goody! I can't wait to kick their butts" Tenten cheered gulping down her strawberry flavoured beverage.
"Yea" I said drinking down a bottle of water.
"Girls! I know I doubt you guys sometimes" Ino begins; we all look at her strangely. "Haha, not all the time. However I am committed to defeating those boys, I say we smash it all the way"
Completely agreeing, we pulled her into a tight hug and huddled into a circle. "Great motivational speech there Ino, let's do this." I said and we all bumped our fist with each other.
We made our way over to the final court set up, glaring at the boys and evaluating. "You're going down" Naruto started pointing his thumbs down.
"Oh yeah! You're going down first" I replied crossing my arms as I reached my point.
"Oh oh yeah?! Well you're going down last and I'm going first," he says content with his answer.
A 'wtf' expression washed over Shikamaru who then smacked Naruto by the back of the head. "No you idiot, you're not going down at all." he commented, fixing his mistake.
The pale Hyuuga glanced over at me then onto Tenten his eyes sharping on her. Neji is just as competitive as Tenten and honestly speaking having both of the best athletes competing on the same field against each other, is a spectacular view. It would be hard to judge on whose better at what. Volleyball was just one of the unknown.
Hyuuga Neji, just another childhood friend of Naruto's, a sports fanatic and from a traditional family. I don't know him much but all I know he is unbeatable in any event. Next year he'll be signing up for the Olympic swimming team which I believe is Tenten's striving point.
"What cha' staring at slow poke?" Ten teased, glancing at Neji her brown orbs catching his state.
"Slow poke? Says the one who couldn't beat my time on track" he said brushing aside his locks.
"There was only a 2 second difference PLUS I ran it without shoes on, ha! You tried to beat me and ended up 5 seconds behind my time." She challenged, holding her fist at him.
"That was only because YOU ordered Sakura to run away from me WITH the finishing line" he pushed sparking an argument, Ha oh defensive Neji.
"I did no such thing. Ha," Ten managed placing her hands on her hips.
"I don't remember doing that." I giggled, I do recall a race about two weeks ago, both of them competing at different times, and yeah I remember something vaguely. I saw a four left clover that day and ran over to it, forgetting about the race. I'm innocent.
"Maybe if you kept your mouth shut in the first place Naruto. We all wouldn't be teasing each other" Ino requested fixing her ponytail.
"Ya Naruto" Shikamaru replies agreeing with her.
"Ahh…Alright alright..Ratbags!" Anko said breaking the heated argument. "Save your bitching later... Let's get into position"
We resumed our position, Ino and I took the back and Ten and Hina out front. I caught the volley ball as Anko threw it over to us. Ino nodded at me, I stared over at Sasuke, his eyes starting sharply at me in concentration. I'll show you Uchiha. The net and the crowd of supporters, it was literally a boy's vs girl's session atmosphere. It was exciting and also very nerve racking.
"Come on Sakura!" I hear them say. "You go girls"
"Smash them boys! Show them whose boss" I hear the boys say.
Her whistle blew and immediately using my strength, I spiked the ball over the net. Neji on the back was next to Sasuke, quickly nudged the ball over to Sasuke standing in front of him. He lobbed the ball upward setting it for Shikamaru, their entire position switching all over the court.
"Mine!" He roars jumping up into the air preparing his fist, ha show off trying to set up for Ino. Nice one.
Ino, Tenten and Hinata quickly jumped up defending the ball from falling over. With Shikamaru spiking the ball over the net, it quickly came into contact with Ino's defensive hands, stopping it from reaching outside.
Naruto lobbed the ball over the net, saving it from hitting the ground; I quickly moved backward positioning my palms together and allowing the ball to land perfectly on my palms. I quickly passed the ball over to Hinata.
"I got it" Ten called.
"Come one Ten!" I encouraged.
Hinata prepared the ball for Tenten hitting it upward and from then onward I watched the athlete jump her fist colliding hard with the ball, then causing it to spin toward Sasuke.
His reaction was quick enough to stop it from falling out the lines.
"Nice save Teme!" Naruto cheered. Who then punched the ball over to Neji and smacked it over the net.
It had come to five minutes left of the game and both teams were tied. I glanced at my girls, viewing them all bent over resting on their knees as a thick layer of sweat coating our faces. The boys also puffing and glistening I scanned at Sasuke perceiving him grinning at me, and obviously seeing how much of a competition we were.
We had already rotated and I ended up back in the same position from the start. It was seriously intense, every chance we had to spike the ball the boys were always hot on our tail, defending their positions.
"Gahhh! We can do it girls." Tenten exhilarated, the back of her hand wiping away at her head.
"Tired..are.. we?" Neji teased, gasping lightly between his words.
"I am not!" Ten complained holding her fist at him. "Only a weakling like YOU would be tired" she retorted, a smile touching her lips.
His iris lit up and he crossed his arms. "Ha, the weakling has lot to say" he replied.
"GAH! What chu say?" Tenten stormed over to the net, Hinata grabbing her by the arm. "Calm down honey, he's trying to piss you off" she shyly said, knowing how modest her cousin was.
"Let's kick their ass" I called, supporting Ten all the way. I could sense a lot of rivalry between the two not at all in a bad way, in a way that they both knew well enough. It was almost like they were an old married couple. They suited each other.
Readying myself, I scanned at the Hyuuga heiress her eyes lightly fading and her body producing a lot of sweat. I gave her a thumb up checking to see if she was okay and with that, she flashed a brilliant grin.
Glowering at the boys once again, I rapidly pounded the ball over the mesh. The girls and I shifted our footing closer to each other and prepared for the boys to spike. I squinted up and see Sasuke flying up at the ball and spiking it toward Hinata.
Being the closest to Hinata, I quickly rushed to her side and proudly watched as she bumped the ball over the net. Smiling at her with content, I noticed that she had lost her footing causing her to topple over and head toward the metal pole that held up the net.
"Ahh" she cried.
"Hinata…Watch out" I hear Naruto call.
Instinctively, I swiftly scrammed to her side defending her head from hitting the pole. My left wrist acting as a cushion for her cranium, I grabbed a hold of my best friend and held her tight as we slipped down to our feet, my back pinned against the pole. A pained expression fell over my features as I felt the weight and pain strike up my arm.
"Sakura!" Ino called, she ran over to me, Ten behind.
"I'm okay," I managed Hinata laid inactive on my body. I glanced down at her touching her forehead, her cheeks were flustered and her breathing was harsh. Hinata wasn't the athletic type she was more artistic and reading; which suited her best.
"Hinata" I called her eyes lightly fluttered up at me.
"S-Sakura?...I'm so sorry" she said, exhaustion taking over her. She struggled to get up her lips chapped, she was seriously dehydrated.
"No..don't be. You need to rest." I softly said to her, I glanced around. Sasuke fled to my side, reading my mind and had passed over a freshly unsealed water bottle. "Thanks"
"Hinata, drink this" Her arms reached up clutching the bottle and within seconds she swallowed the liquid forming moisture on her lips again. "You did great!"
"Hinata! Are you okay?" Naruto asked crawling beside her; he touched her arm showing comfort.
"Hinata!" Neji shouted, bolting to the scene and accidentally knocking Naruto aside. "ahhhh"
"Are you okay? Where does it hurt?" Neji asked, helping her off me.
"Neji..I'm just tired" she replied, leaning her weight on him. Naruto quickly picked her up, his arms behind her back and under her knees. Neji worried, glanced over at me. "Sakura, thank you I hope you are okay" he said. "And you don't get all romantic with her now Naruto." He warned, allowing his friend to carry his relative.
"andddd…the boys are the winners" Anko summed, jumping down from the umpire seats. "How is she? She okay?" she asked with questioning eyes. "Take her to the sick bay Naruto. Everyone is dismissed"
"She's dehydrated." I spoke, Ino and Tenten helping me up to my feet. "She'll be okay, just needs rest."
Eventually the class had packed up and left murmuring amongst them, guilty and worried for Hinata's condition.
"We'll take her to the rest bay now" Neji said, moving toward the doors. "I'll go and keep an eye on her" Tenten called, slipping out from under me.
"Okay, we'll meet up later Ten" Ino replied. "Text me the updates okay, I'll look out for Sakura"
"Ino" I said, sighing lightly and shuffling to my own feet. "I'm fine you should go with the others and make sure she's okay."
"Sakura... is that okay? You don't mind do you?" Ino asked, regretfully asking to leave.
"Hun, it's okay. I'll meet up with you guys soon. I just need to sit down for a moment. I'm pretty stuffed and besides I can pick on Sasuke," I joked, giggled under my breath. "Oh Shikamaru, you should go too. You're the only one who can beat Naruto up if he tries to do anything perverted."
Shikamaru sighed he scratched his head and nodded. "Yeah you're probably right, come on Ino"
Ino pulled me into a deep hug, my physical state dying under her grasp. She released me eventually and dashed off out the doors with Shikamaru.
I withdrew myself over to the bleachers next to the first aid kit and Sasuke following behind me.
"Class will begin soon" I said, taking a seat. "You should go"
"Yeah, I know" he replied, running his hands through his hair. "I don't feel like it"
"Well what are you going to do?" I asked, without looking at him and searched through the kit pulling out a bandage and fastening pin.
"Hn" he shrugged, I could feel his eyes on me watching my every move. He sat next to me grabbing the bandage as I failed to wrap it around my wrist.
"But I was doing so well" I whined.
"Yeah, you couldn't even bandage your life if it depended on it" he mocked. He gently took my hand and placed it into his, his eyes filled with confusion or so it may seem.
"Hey!" I snapped. My wrist began to scorch and sting as I touched the discomfort, then to gasp in agony. "Ah!"
His eyes made connection with mine and expression angered, he quickly scrutinized at my wrist when realisation smacked him in the face.
"You've hurt yourself from the fall." He said calculating the problem before me.
"Yep, that is why I am here getting this wrapped up" Taking back my arm back from him when his hands held onto mine, tightly stopping me from the force. "You're stubborn" Sasuke began to bandage my wrist; I wanted to yell at him or hit him in the head. "Ugh….am not!" I defended, stubbornly closing my eyes.
He carefully bandaging my wrist and I stared back at him, observed him naturally and tried to understand why he is so… different. We get along normally, always small talk. I guess now seeing Sasuke on his own, being genuinely normal for once it was soothing.
"Hey Sasuke" I asked, breaking the silence he only 'Hn'd' like he always does.
"Stop Hn-ing all the time geez it's annoying" Of course, letting my temper get the best of me. He flashed a brilliant smirk, showing little teeth before replying to me. "Yes Sakura" he glanced up at me then back at his work nearing completion.
I swallowed hard; I'm used to people calling me by my name however hearing him say it sent chills to my body. I beamed up at him and watched him effortlessly pin the clip in place.
"Wow you are really good at this." I thought, taking my arm back and rubbing the bandage softly. "But thank you"
"Anytime." He replied, getting up and offering a hand. "Let's catch up with the others"
Taking his hand with my right arm, he lightly lifted me to my feet and smirked down at me. I glanced away from his senses and grinned to myself. 'Geez didn't think he was nice at all"
A/N: Sooo what are your thoughts? Is it good? Please review? I really want to hear your thoughts. I know it may seem a bit boring, BUT I have a lot of goood chappies coming out on this one! Thank you so much for the reviews :) means a lot to ME.