The Difference Between Boys And Girls by fang_shinobi
Disclaimer: Naruto and other related characters, settings and such are strictly under the ownership of Masashi Kishimoto-sama. I take no claim of ownership except for the words I have contributed.
Summary: Sasuke and Sakura have been chosen by their camp counselors to head the debate on which gender was better. But things get personal when they start a girl-against-boy war that could ruin the whole summer. Watch out for cockroaches, bloodsucking leeches and such. Sasusaku and other pairings…
CHAPTER 18 - Questions
DAY 5
Cabin G4 1230
"What's this supposed to be?"
"What? You can't recognize my handwriting?" demanded Shinju, crossing her arms in front of her chest, a few pieces of paper and a pen clutched in one hand.
Tenten raised the piece of paper in her hand. "I said what's this for-"
"It's a survey. A survey." The raven-haired girl stressed the word heavily. "It's to gather people's opinion, that's what it's for."
The chocolate-haired girl rolled her eyes and started reading off the questionnaire. "Does this debate have a negative effect on relationships between boys and girls prior to the feud? Do you think this feud wouldn't have been much of an issue if it wasn't brought up in the debate as a topic? Did anything the debaters say affect your opinion on the matter? In fact, was equality between the sexes even much of an issue before the said debate?" She waved the piece of paper in front of her friend's face. "We all know it was the boys' fault. There's no need for this!"
Behind her, Temari was curiously reading the questionnaire, seemingly engrossed with it.
Shinju's face was starting to turn red. She bit her lip, holding off whatever explosion she so dearly wanted to unleash upon the equally enraged Tenten. Instead of doing so, she passed on the baton to someone else before she flipped her top. "MIKAN! GET OVER HERE AND DEFEND YOUR SURVEY!"
Mikan came skipping out of the cabin, a clueless expression on her face and a stick of Pocky hanging out of her mouth. "Eh? What's up?" she asked.
Shinju marched over to her, grabbed the pocky sticking out of her mouth and held it up like a ransom. "I. Need. You. To explain this." She held up the survey, her face distorted in so much anger that Mikan cringed back.
"NOW," ordered the raven-haired girl.
Mikan gulped, stiffly straightened herself out and came face to face with Tenten, who was still glaring at them. "Tenten, about that…"
The taller girl raised an eyebrow. Surely, the little curly-haired shrimp couldn't have come up with this, could she?
Mikan's strained voice suddenly took on a tone eerily resembling a robot's. "This survey's primary objective is to gather the campers' and possibly even teachers' opinions on the boy versus girl feud in order to achieve the secondary objective, which is to determine the underlying cause of this said feud, whether it stems from personal or general misconceptions and understandings. In doing so, hopefully, the third and final objective may be achieved, which is to conclude whether or not it is worth fighting over such a shallow and trivial topic." She took in a deep breath, refilling her lungs after such a lengthy explanation. "That's all."
The three girls gaped at her scientific explanation, their mouths hanging open in disbelief, any anger left over all but forgotten.
Mikan smiled, turned, grabbed her pocky from Shinju's frozen hand and merrily skipped back into the cabin.
Cabin G6 1300
"You're not seriously participating in this survey crap, are you?" Tenten asked in disbelief, shaking her head.
"What? The G4 girls are making a huge effort to get things back to normal." When Temari saw that her answer held little to convince her friend, she added, "Well I'm sick of this fight, and all I do is get mad over the littlest things boys do wrong. In fact, I'm mad at them even when they don't do anything wrong. It's not like they do those things to offend me. They're just naturally annoying.
"I mean, Kankurou's been hanging out with the G4 girls for crying out loud! He seems to get along with them, why can't I? I mean isn't it a moot point to keep on acting like this anymore?" She browsed through the questionnaire. "See here, one question asks if the root of these confrontations is strictly personal or if it really was in the name of whatever cause we had in mind. I've always been on opposite sides of the spectrum when it came to my brother, and that Shikamaru was just plain annoying back in the council as the batch representative. That kid's sharp, always picking at details. I have to admit, I guess I was just a little jealous of him, always getting the better of me. You can probably say I was just in it for my own personal vendettas."
Tenten's steely gaze didn't waver.
"And you on the other hand…" continued Temari, gazing down at the paper. "Are you sure this isn't all about some quarrel you're just having with Neji? I mean, he's your friend and all, but ever since this whole mess started, you've been at each other's necks. I don't really see you picking fights with the rest of them-"
Before she could say anything further, Tenten had marched out of the cabin, leaving the door hanging wide open.
Temari continued answering the survey without looking up. After a minute or so, she got up and closed the door with a sigh.
Vegetable Garden 1400
"Look who's behaving."
"I can say the same thing about you."
Shikamaru suddenly started, seeing Temari actually smile. Smile. Not smirk, smile.
He put aside the trowel in his hand "Okay, what's going on? I don't like the look on your face."
Temari looked up from the clod of dirt she was torturing and suddenly laughed. Not some maniacal laugh. Not even a cynical 'You're-gonna-get-it' laugh. Just a soft, amused laugh. Wow, he wasn't even aware she could sound like that. "What? I'm even scarier when I'm not mad?"
"Wait, hold on a minute. Not mad?" Disbelief was evident on his face. "We spent Volleyball class shouting at each other's ears, and you're not mad at me?"
"As far as I'm concerned, this war is over," she stated. "I don't care who the victor is. I'm done."
"What made you change your mind?"
"I've been thinking about it for some time now… All this getting mad and shouting's stressing me out. I'm going to start breaking out any time soon."
"Yeah, right."
"Okay, fine. It was the survey G4 put out."
"Survey? You're kidding."
"Nope. Try it. It'll help your perspective on things."
"What things?"
"Like you're still trying to aggravate me even when I said I don't care anymore."
"No, I'm not. I'm really interested in your sudden change of heart. So it's this survey?"
"Why are you so interested?"
"Just."
Temari narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "Just take the survey already. And make your friends take it."
Shikamaru nodded his head absent-mindedly, already thinking about the survey and what sort of miracles it could also pull off.
…
Sakura couldn't help staring at her two groupmates who suddenly seemed to get along. It almost seemed as if they were flirting. She suppressed an involuntary shiver. Hell would freeze over first.
Her gaze drifted to the adjacent plot, where she could see Tenten gaping with her mouth wide open at the same sight. No, not only hell should freeze over first. Heck, the oceans and seas should start burning first.
What was going on?
On the other hand, when Sakura turned to steal a glimpse from Ino, she saw her best friend solitarily working on her own little corner of dirt while the rest of her team pretty much did the same. She almost seemed to resemble Sai, with their eerily similar zombie-like behavior.
…
"So, has Sakura done something yet?"
Sasuke started at his blond friend's sudden appearance, cursing under his breath for his sudden skittishness. Why was he so anxious about Sakura possibly talking to him? He wasn't usually this paranoid.
Naruto looked at him with an annoyingly curious expression, leaning closer as if to examine his friend's face better. "Ooh, what was that just now?"
The dark-haired teen backed away, not wanting to fall over from his squatting position on the ground lest he lose his balance. "Nothing," he mumbled, redirecting his attention to his garden work.
"Oh, she's looking this way."
Sasuke suddenly ducked his head as if to duck for cover.
"Ha, made you duck." Sasuke pushed a hand against his face, pushing him away.
"Get back to work."
"Wait, she really is looking this way now."
"Yeah, right." Sasuke turned and saw that she really was looking their way. He looked away quickly, flustered. Damn, this was getting more awkward by the second. "I need to go get something from the tool shed."
Naruto slapped a hand on his forehead in annoyance as his friend fled the scene.
"What was that about?" mouthed Sakura in his direction after Sasuke's sudden flight.
The blond boy shrugged in response.
…
"Ino-chan, do you need help with that?"
"Uh, no, Lee, I don't." Ino scooted farther away, trying to keep her groupmate from getting any nearer.
Lee made a face. "Ino-chan, you seem to be acting weird lately. Just now, it almost seems as if you're acting all cold and dead like Sai."
At the mention of his name, Sai suddenly looked up from his work, as if someone had just woken him up. Despite the distance between them, Ino was able to see his reaction. She was surprised though, when she saw that he returned to his work without even acknowledging whoever it was that had called him. He was acting like a zombie, all right. Did that mean she acted just as… gray?
"Ah, I know, you just need some cheering up," said Lee, a hopeful smile on his face.
"I think I need more than that." Ino looked away, contemplating. For the first time, she finally noticed how Sai looked so gloomy… so dead… It just occurred to her that Sai was never really like most guys… what if… no… but then…
"Did you say something?"
"Uh, nothing." She laughed loudly, a smidge of hysterics in her tone. "I just need some fresh air," she said, getting up and stretching her arms.
"Yosh!" Said Lee as he jumped to his feet. "I'll take a walk with you. If I can't get back here in time before you do, I'll run a hundred laps around the lake."
"No need, sempai," she replied, already heading off. The last thing she needed was Lee's crazy antics in cheering her up.
"Where do you think you're going?" Tayuya called after her, annoyed.
"I'll be back!" responded the blonde. Yeah, right.
Basketball Court 1530
"Come on, Kage-sempai," whined Kiba as he squatted on the ground, letting the basketball roll off his hand. "You can't seriously make me take this…" His face crunched up in confusion at the questionnaire in his hand. Paperwork equals hard work. Bad. Very bad.
"Oi, oi," said the raven-haired upperclassman, holding a few more of the same survey in his hand, "if I don't get these filled up, I won't get that Fang Shinobi Chronicles Special Chapter Mikan promised. So you better answer it." He was an expert at the convincingly evil glare.
"What Special Chapter?" The mere mention of the said manga series had Kiba's face vibrant and alive again.
"I'll lend it to you if you answer the survey."
"Sweet!"
"Oh, and read it before you answer. And don't just make stuff up as you go. Think about it before answering."
"Aw, come on."
"Don't worry, Kiba-kun, it's easy." Rei was squatting as well on the ground beside him, bent over the questionnaire on his lap. "Just let 'em know how you feel. Won't hurt to tell 'em what you really think."
"Fine, I'll give it a shot… For FSC!"
The B4 guys had been released early from their 2-4 pm class, so they decided to head to the court to shoot some hoops. Unexpectedly, Kage had come up with these strange survey questionnaires. To top it all off, he claimed that Mikan made the questions while Shinju painstakingly handwrote everything just because there wasn't an available photo copier around. Hana, Kano and Kage handled the distribution. The part about Shinju, the handwriting perfectionist, was believable, but Mikan making this survey? Kage had got to be kidding about that.
"Blackmailed by a girl into doing her bidding," laughed Kankurou, handing Kage his finished survey. "Tsk, tsk, how low can some people go?"
"Girl? What girl?" replied the raven-haired teen. "Tch, if it wasn't for the curly-hair, I could've sworn Mikan was a guy."
"Oh, really?" Kage didn't like the implication Kankurou had in his tone.
"Lay off, she's just a friend who just happens to be an annoying girl… and who has a boatload of FSC stuff…"
"What's this supposed to be?" someone suddenly interrupted them. "A study group on the basketball court? And you're supposed to be guys."
"What do you want, Kin?" Kiba asked, looking up from the survey with an indifferent look on his face. Having faced her off the other day, he was quite aware she wasn't quite as scary as she presented herself to be. If bees could make him make a fool of himself, the kitchen was her ultimate kryptonite.
Beside her stood Tayuya, who yawned loudly, not even trying to hide the look of annoyance on her face. Her countenance clearly stated that she wanted no participation in this.
Meanwhile, Kin picked up the basketball and started spinning it on her hand. "Anyone up for a game?" she asked with a smirk.
"Uh, if you haven't noticed," said Kankurou, "there are four of us and two of you and-"
"Sure, you're on," said Kiba. "Two-on-two?"
Tayuya coughed loudly, her face contorting into one of discontent.
"One-on-one then?" he amended.
"Yeah, whatever." Kin glared at Tayuya before she started dribbling the ball.
"What's going on?" asked Kage.
"Hold this for a sec, Sempai." Kiba handed him the unfinished survey. "We have a bone to pick, that's all."
The court was cleared as the others evacuated the area.
"What's with her?" Rei was brave (or stupid) enough to ask Tayuya.
She looked away and shrugged in response.
"Okay, first one to ten," said Kin.
"'S that all?" scoffed Kiba. "We can even have a race to twenty for all I care-"
She suddenly dashed past him, knocking him over before performing a lay-up.
"What the – hey! The match hasn't started yet!" he complained as he got up, his face red from his friends' jeers.
"Not my fault you weren't prepared," she retorted. She picked up the ball and passed it to him. "Your turn."
"Kiba's gonna lose to a girl!" shouted Rei.
"Kin's more of a guy than you are!" taunted Kankurou.
"Oi! Shut up, would ya?" shouted Kiba as he started dribbling. He is definitely not going to take her easy.
Cooking Class 1600
"I didn't sign up for some home economics class," grumbled Deidara, uncomfortable in the full-body cooking ensemble.
"Deidara-sempai, you look like a girl!" exclaimed Tobi, pointing an accusatory finger.
The upperclassman's face reddened considerably at the remark. With his hair pulled up in a ponytail, the long white apron with the long sleeves, the white gloves and kerchief around his head, anyone would readily agree with Tobi's claim. Deidara was also short for a guy, which further supported the annoying kouhai's claim.
"TOOOOBIIII!"
"Kyaa! Deidara-sempai looks so cute!" shouted one of the G3 girls.
"Who said that!" roared Deidara.
"Deidara-sempai, can we play with your hair?" asked another.
"So pretty, Deidara-san! Kyaaaa!"
Sakura and Hinata watched as the blond upperclassman made a fool of himself running around chasing the kouhai.
"That's… interesting…" said the pink-haired girl, remembering how the same guy not only ruined their fishing class, but also caused the Grand Assembly ruckus and the G3 slug infestation. Oh, if only those girls knew…
"Ahem."
Sakura turned and saw Naruto across the counter, holding a fist to his mouth, as if to clear his throat.
"The frog is just about boiled through and through," he said, mirth undeniably on his expression.
"Frog?" The idea of boiling a frog made Sakura contort her face.
"Nothing," he laughed. "Sasuke's outside. He'll come in once Kurenai-sensei arrives. I think he's trying to avoid you that way."
Sakura took a deep breath. Okay, time for a little chat…
END OF CHAPTER
Author's note: At one point, I've been possessed by some spirit and couldn't stop writing till late in the night/early morning… On the other hand… Waaah… I wanted to go on a rally… (My university's full of activists; you can't help being politically aware) I so wanted to go!!! I can almost feel my heart bleeding… I'm an overzealous freshie, I know, but I so wanted to go! Huhu… Also, lost the notebook where I kept the chicken scratch (for some scenes), plots, class schedules and class assignments for my fic, so I have to base my next chapters from scratch… Groan…
Please review… put a smile on my face! I really need it!
Side notes: (1) What can I say? Mikan is based on me, and I'm a weird little thing. I can talk all weird like that…
(2) OMG Revelation of possible couples! I have always been a ShikaTema fan, but not today, guys (It almost seemed as if they were flirtingdoes not mean they really were). Maybe tomorrow then hehe… And NejiTenten… I like reading them, but in the end, LeeTenten is more canon. Oh, and is anyone detecting some KibaKin? If you make me, I can probably make it happen… If you try really really hard…
Also, someone said Kage and Mikan make a nice pair. Hm… the answer is in another fic… Does anyone want to read Mikan and her friends' story? Well, I haven't quite finished it, actually.
(3) Yes, I'm aware BG5 have both volleyball and gardening classes with BG6. But they do have four hours in between those two classes, and BG6 has another class during that break.
(4) Lee! I haven't been giving him much attention! Must make up for it!
(5) Basketball and homework/paperwork usually don't add up, especially for those with jock attitudes.
Survey!!! Here's my own survey. If you review, please answer the following questions. Please!
I know my writing style isn't that professional, or even consistent for the matter, but do you enjoy this fic?
Does it make you laugh?
Do you like my pairings?
Do you want some ShikaTema in it?
Do you want some NejiTenten in it?
Is the pace boring you? Do you think it's dragging?
Or maybe you really can't just wait for Sakura and Sasuke-teme to end up together FINALLY after all these many chapters? (Well, no, I can't give it to you in the next chapter, sorry.)
If I do decide to write/publish it, would anyone be interested in Mikan and her friends' story? It'll be full of OC's though, set in an alternative time with not much semblance to the present Naruto canon.
That's all. Thank you SO MUCH. Love y'all! Ja ne!
Next Time:
"A survey?" exclaimed Deidara. "You've got to be kidding me."
"Ooh, ooh, Sempai, let's answer it!" said Tobi, already taking a copy from Shinju.
"Wait, you're not making me - Toooobi!"