Chapter 2

"Excuse me?" Sasuke asked, mouth agape.

"You should close your mouth. You're not a fish. And yes, my area of expertise is gymnastics."

"This school doesn't have a gynmastics team."

"Of course it does. Everyone, except you, knows about it."

"Oh, do they?"

"They do."

"Prove it."

"Okay. Tsunade-sama, I'll be right back." Sakura walked out of the office. About twenty seconds later, the last bell of the day rang. Two minutes later, Sakura came in with two boys. She must have dragged them in from the hallway.

"Akio....Taku...."Sasuke whispered.

"You know these guys, Sasuke-san?"

"They're on the football team."

"Oh? Perfect. Let's see.....Akio-san."

A brown haired boy answered her, "Yeah?"

"I need you two to answer a few questions okay? The two nodded, "Akio-san...how many members are on this school's gymnastics team?"

"10," Akio replied without hesitating.

"Taku-san....when does the gymnastics team meet?"

A white blond responded, "Everyday after school except Friday."

"Thank you. You guys can go now."

"Whatever," The two jocks replied.

Sakura faced Sasuke, "Satisfied?"

"Hn."

"Well, Tsuande-sensei...."

"Nani?!" Sasuke was startled by the sudden change in suffixes to the pricipal's name. Normally, she only allows people to call her 'Tsunade-sama' or maybe Shizune would be able to call her just 'Tsunade.' Even the teachers called her 'Tsuande-sama.' Naruto was the only one who could sometimes get away with 'Baa-chan.'

"Nani? Tsunade-sensei is the coach of the gymnastics team, therefore, called her with a 'sensei' suffix is gramatically correct. Anyway, what would you like me to do with him?"

"Hmmmm...."Tsunade thought for a moment, "....discipline him. I'll let you choose the course of action."

"Okay. Let's go Sasuke-san."

"Sakura-chan....take him to that gym."

"Hai! Okay Sasuke-san, we'll need to stop at your locker first."

"Doushite?"

"You'll need your gym clothes."

"Hn." Sasuke got up out of the chair. He turned towards the door. He heard the principal mutter something to the pink haired girl. Sasuke was already walking towards his locker by the time Sakura caught up with him. Most of the students had left already. It was Friday, of course they would be gone. While Sasuke did his business at his locker, Sakura took out her hot pink Razr. She hit a speed dial number and walked across the hall.

"Moshi moshi. Kaa-san....I'm staying after today. Tsunade-sensei need my help with something. It will help with my routine as well. I know, I know....I'll take it easy...........Okay, I might go out with Ino-chan and the girls. Kaa-san! Only 10? Demo, it's Friday.....please. 11. Arigatou. Ja ne!" Sakura flipped her cell closed and turned back to Sasuke, who was ready to go. Sakura started to walk in the opposite way of the gym.

"You're going the wrong way, Haruno," Sasuke stated bluntly.

"No, I'm not. I'm taking you to a special gym. It's an actual gymnasium. It has all the equipment we'll need."

"Hn."

After a few seconds, maybe thirty, Sakura asked, "Sasuke-san, what do you know about gymnastics?"

"That it's a stupid girly thing that almost anyone could do." Sasuke's vision of gymnastics was forward rolls and cartwheels. He's so ignorant.

"Oh really?"

"Really."

"Then you're saying that you, yourself, could master this sport? Like one, two ,three?"

"I would call it a sport but basically, that is what I'm saying."

"Well, when we're done, we'll see if your opinion changes."

"Hn."

"We're here." Sasuke looked at what seemed like an ordinary door. He always thought it was a closet or something along those lines. Sakura opened it and it revealed a hallway with double doors at the end. The hallway was pretty oridnary. The only thing that stood out was the shelfs of trophies, plaques, ribbons and other various awards. There were pictures of the past gymnastics teams and of the current one. Sakura pushed one of the double doors at the end of the hall open and walked inside.

Sasuke followed and was overwhelmed at the site. There was equipment in this room he either never seen or seen maybe once or twice, "I take it you've never seen even half of this equipment before." Sasuke didn't reply, "Well, go get changed....there's a bathroom over there," She pointed to a set of doors. She, herself, picked up her own gym bag and walked into the room labelled 'Girls'. Sasuke didn't know what she and Tsunade were planning but he got changed anyway. He came out in baggy black shorts and a white muscle shirt that showed his pride, well two aspects of his pride; his arms. Being the captian of the football team had to have some strength advantages, especially since he was the one to throw the ball. His entire upper body was well-muscled, but not to the point where it was disgusting. He had on black sneakers as well. Sakura stood leaning on a piece of equipment. Sasuke was shocked at her outfit. She was wearing nothing but a black sports bra and red short shorts. Even her feet were shoeless. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail.

"What the hell are you wearing?!" He exclaimed.

"What I always wear when I do my gymnastics. You will have a hard time doing this."

"Hn."

"Come on. I introduce you to the equipment." Sakura led Sasuke around the gymnasium, "That's the uneven bars, the even bars, the rings, the floor routine mat, the beams, the tumble track, the trampoline, the weights, the vault......"and so on.

"Damn, how much equipment could a single team need?"

"Depends on the sport. There are several aspects of gymnastics. For each, you need different equipment. Get it?"

"Hn."

"Well, you seem to be so sure of yourself. You said you could pick this up like one, two, three. So, we'll start now. Follow me." Sakura led Sasuke over to the beams, "First thing's first." Sakura placed her hands on the beam and picked herself up so that she sat on the beam, "Come on, get on the beam." Sasuke followed suit and lifted himself onto the beam. Only when he tried to sit down, did he realize how thin the beam actually was. The pastel haired girl chuckled, "This beam is only four inches wide. There are some wider and some thinner. This is a standard sized beam." Once Sasuke had his balance sitting, "Do football players need balance?" she asked.

"A bit. I mean, we have to manuver through and over the opposing team and we can't fall over."

"Okay. Stand up." Sakura went on one knee and arose to an erect position(not like that you pervs). Sasuke tried to mimic her, finding it easier said then done. A lot easier. His sneakers took up a lot of room on the beam. After some time of leaning and shaking, Sasuke was finally standing, "Still think it's as easy as you say?"

"Is that all you're good at? Talking? You're all talk and no action."

"Oh really?"

"Really."

"Then tell me, if I'm 'all talk and no action' would I be able to do a standing back tuck? Which, by the way, is very basic."

"A what?"

"You really are hopeless."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"It's suppose to mean that you are hoplessly unaware of anything other then your friends and football."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

"You don't know a thing about me. And if you're so confident, then let's see you do this 'standing back tuck'."

"If you insist." Sakura got stood with her feet side-by-side, somehow staying balanced on the four-inch beam. She leapt into the air and brought her knees to her chest. While air-born, she did a quick somersault, backwards, in the air and landed back on the beam, her feet still together, still balanced, somehow(don't try any of this at home!). Sasuke's orbs slightly widened at the sight, "So about the 'no action', care you change your words? And don't worry; that's the bare minimum of what I can do," She was replied to with silence, "I see you're in shock and awe. But I can tell we won't have much progress on the beam, sooooo....I've got it. Come on." Sakura hopped off the beam and Sasuke followed. She led him to the even bars. The bars stood about five feet off the ground. After rubbing some chalk on her hands(it's for a better grip on something), she placed one hand on each bar, pulled herself up and sat on one of the bars, "Your turn." Sasuke mimiced her, once again, finding that the balancing part was easier said then done, "Now, when I say to start, I want you to place one hand on each bar and hold yourself up until I say stop. Got it?"

"Hn." The football player got ready.

"I'll go with you. Just so you can see what kind of strength and endurance a gymnast like me must have. Ready? Go." Sakura locked her arms out and held her body up. Sasuke did the same. After a while, Sasuke's arms started to shake. Sakura decided to let him in onto how strong gymnasts were, and how strong she was. She easily brought her legs up and went into a handstand. Sasuke's arms collasped and he fell to the ground. Sakura remained in her handstand for a few more seconds before letting herself down, "Well, I'm guessing your arms are throbbing. Am I correct, Sasuke-san?"

"Stop it."

"Stop what?"

"I hate formalities Haruno. Just call me Sasuke."

"Fine, then I'm just Sakura." The gymnast watched as the football player strong to sooth his throbbing arms. She lowered herself into a perfect straddle and started stretching; getting her limbs and muscles loosened up.

"You might want to stretch. With the training you'll be getting this afternoon, you'll need every chance you get." Sasuke didn't reply, but just plopped down next to Sakura and stretched out his legs. Sakura noticed Sasuke wince when his left arm would stretch or move. She skooched(my word, I think. aka-moved) over towards him and grabbed his arm.

"What the hell are you doing?" he demanded.

"Helping. I can tell that you're in pain from your arm. Since this isn't your throwing arm, I'm guessing it isn't as strong as your right." Sakura started to massage his upper arm. Suprisingly, to Sasuke, the pain dwelled down. While Sakura was rubbing his arm, she pictured herself being held by these strong arms. Shaking her head free of these thoughts, she just concentrated on finishing her job. But hey, most of the girls in this school think what she just did. And few are able to see what she sees. If only his fangirls knew about this, "Sasuke, I can tell that we won't get much further today. Why don't you go home and rest your arms. Be here Monday, after school. And make sure you put some ice on your arm. It will help. 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off." Sakura got up and went over to the beam, which she hoped on. She practiced her beam routine. Sakura began tumbling and twisting, all while staying completely balanced. Sasuke watched a bit, amazed at her skill, before leaving; going home to give his throbbing arms some rest.