Drudgery
(Work that is Hard and Tiresome)
Morning came quickly to the villagers of Konohagakure. The sun was still rising when the time came about 7:00. Only a few were up at this hour training or opening their shops. Kuniko took in a deep breath of thefresh morning air from the porch of their inn. She smiled and turned towards the door and then made her way up to Narichi's bedroom. She opened the door to her room and found a rugged looking Narichi lying halfway on her bed as the rest of her body was flopped on the floor. Kuniko smile and held in her laugh.
She took a deep breath and screamed, "Wake Up! You Haven't The Time To Be Slacking Off!"
Narichi's ears rang, as she sprang from the bed. The blankets fell to the floor and she jumped up inconfusion, she asked, "Wha, What's going on?"
"This is your wake up call." She smiled then yelled, "Now get dress and fix your bed I will not tolerate such sloppiness in this inn by an employee! Well chop, chop, you better hop to it now!" Kuniko was standing in front of Narichi with her arms on her waist.
"Oh, it's only you Kuniko-san. Good morning to you too," Narichi waved and fell back in bed and pulled the blankets off the floor and buried herself in them. Kuniko was standing there surprised, confused and appalled.
Her confusion began to build up an emotion that's never been seen in Kuniko before by anyone, 'Rage!' She smacked Narichi with a paper fan that came out of nowhere. "What Do You Think You're Doing!" Kuniko screamed from a megaphone that also appeared out of nowhere.
"Uh…Sleeping, you should try it some time, it might rid you of your pissed off attitude this morning." Narichi yawned pulling the clovers back over her head.
Kuniko smacked her again, "Get up you lazy bum, If your planning to sleep you can do it outside! So get your penniless ass up!" Kuniko was in such confusion and rage she had no idea what she was saying, therefore she'll have no recollection of saying these mean things.
"Wow, calm down, fine I'm up! Give me five minutes and I'll be dressed," Narichi stood up and yawned.
"You have five seconds!" yelled Kuniko.
"Fine just get out for a sec." Narichi kicked her out and threw her fan and megaphone at her, and then she slammed the door.
"You better not be sleeping!" Kuniko yell at the door. Kuniko then thought, "One…two…three…four…I'm coming in!"
She barely touched the door knob when it turned and open. "Ok, I'm ready, what do I do first?" Narichi asked fully dressed.
Kuniko was shocked, "Wha? How did you?" Kuniko pushed Narichi aside and poked her head into her room. Her bed was made, and nothing was out of place. In fact Kuniko could swear that it was even cleaner than after she had cleaned it the day before. Kuniko ran up to the furniture sliding her hand on it checking for dust. She found nothing, everything was clean. The sewing kit she used the night before was tightly packed and set aside on the table. Even the windows looked as if they had been washed. "How, is it possible for you to clean an entire room and get dressin five seconds?" Kuniko asked more confused but less enraged.
"Well about 6 years ago when I moved away, I had to take lots of part time jobs to live there. I've work just about every job you could think of." Narichi said thinking about her village, she almost looked worried.
"Wow, so you did that plus train. I have to say, you don't look like someone who has suffered much." Kuniko said forgetting about Narichi's chores.
"Well it just depends on how people chose to deal with their hardships," Narichi smiled, "Well don't I have a job to do?" she said reminding Kuniko.
"Oh yes follow me!" Kuniko said a little rushed, "That's right, I almost forgot," she thought evilly.
Narichi followed Kuniko through the inn to the storage closet, "You'll do Maru-chan's chores first, I don't want you carrying dirt in and out of the house though out the day," Kuniko said taking out gloves and a shovel. "Here put these on," Kuniko said handing her the gloves. "Oh and this," she tossed a sun hat on Narichi's head.
"Ok," Narichi said only putting on the gloves. Then Kuniko handed her a bag of soil, seeds, and a gardening spade.
"Now take these out side. Maru-chan will tell you what to do and I suggest you hurry," Kuniko said leaving. She then stopped and turned back around, "Why aren't you wearing the hat?"
Narichi looked at where she left it, "Because it's overcast right now, the sun isn't even out yet."
"It's for when the sun comes out!" Kuniko yelled.
"But I shouldn't be out therethat long," Narichi said.
Kuniko turned around, "Fine whatever. Just find me when you're done."
"Where are you going?" Narichi asked puzzled.
"Oh, I'll be around. I'm right now going to say hello to a good friend," she smiled. "And I'll be watching you Narichi!" she thought evilly.
"Ok, well see you around!" Narichi smiled and ran towards the backyard.
"Yeah, see you later," Kuniko turned away and walked up stairs.
Narichi meet Maru outside waiting for her. "Good morning! Are you ready to get started?" Maru asked Narichi.
"Yup what do I do?" she said setting down the supplies.
"Ok, first you'll have to weed the garden and then turn the soil." Maru saw Narichi walk over to the garden then she pretty much turned into smoke. Maru was amazed when Narichi reappeared with a bag of weeds and the soil all turned over.
"Wow, your fast! Oh, and now you have to plant these seed and water them." Maru said totally jaw dropped.
"Ok then what," Narichi said disappearing for a split second. There were small patches of dirt where water was poured and the seed bag was empty.
"Uh, you…have to take about 20 logs from that shed and put them in the inn." Maru said pointing across a small field. Her head was spinning at Narichi's performance.
"Easy," Narichi said only a minute or so later. "Now what?" she asked pulling a splinter from her arms.
"Now you have to chop some wood and refill the shed," Maru said amazed. "Narichi-san is so cool, I have to work hard to become a great shinobi like her!" she thought in complete envy.
"Oh, so that's why the shed is empty. I'll be done in no time." Narichi pulled out her chopsticks and rushed over to the trees.
Maru ran after her yelling, "Hey don't you want the ax?"
"Don't need it!" Narichi yelled back showing her the chopsticks.
"Ok then," Maru thought smiling.
Narichicame back laterand asked, "Hey do you really have to do this, I mean you're still very young?"
"Well actually we usually ask someone more suitable, but Kuniko said you could handle it, so, now you just have to paint the windows then you're done!" she smiled.
"Ok, where's the paint and brushes?' she asked. "Huh? Why would Kuniko give me unnecessary work, especially if they have other people do them, Hmm, puzzling," thought Narichi following Maru into the supply shed.
It was about 7:30 when Narichi finished painting, Kuniko was on the roof watching her every move. She saw Narichi wipe her fore head, and accidentally smear some white paint. Maru laughed and Narichi poked Maru's nose. There was a small white dot of paint on it. The two of them were laughing and having a wonderful time.Kuniko couldn't help but want too be down there pouring paintall overNarichi, but she just sat and watched. Narichi and Maru washed off with the hose and put away everything then started to head back inside.
Narichi said to Maru, "Hey Maru-chan, since you don't have to do chores why don't you go out and play?"
"That sounds like a great idea, I'll go ask Oneesan!" she smiled and sprinted for the inn.
"You can do it now, she's right up there." Narichi pointed out Kuniko.
Kuniko was stunned, she almost fell down the roof from surprise. Maru looked up and saw Kuniko, she smiled, "Oneesan! Can I please go play?"
Kuniko caught herself and straightened up, "Yeah, sure go play," she held her hand over her chest to check her escalating pulse.
"Thank you, Oneesan!" she said running off to the city where all the other kids hanged around.
Kuniko looked at Narichi who was smiling at her, "Uh, so you're done with the outside chores." Kuniko said trying to get away.
"Why exactly were you up here for half an hour?" Narichi asked jumping up to question her.
Kuniko didn't have a clue what to say, "Umm, because…I needed some fresh air, and I thought why not stay up here on the roof." She grew very nervous.
"For half an hour? You said earlier that you were going to visit a good friend." Narichi said.
"Well our plans changed and now I'm on a roof, Ok!" Kuniko grew uneasy and headed towards a ladder.
"Ok, well then what are my chores now?" Narichi asked following.
"Well now you can clean the inside." Kuniko smiled thinking she got away with her interrogation.
"Ok what's first?" Narichi smiled having figured out something about Kuniko without her knowing it, they went down a ladder and then inside to work.
In a matter of two hours Narichi was finished with every chore Kuniko threw at her. Narichi even had time left over to take a quick bath. Kuniko waited in the in the lobby of the hot spring, pondering how Narichi was able to accomplish everything so quickly.
Kuniko looked horribly disturbed, she sounded like she was about to snap. "How, could she do all of this! I don't care if she's a shinobi, she accomplished everything I threw at her. She's just too, Damn Fast!"
She sighed, "I gave her everything I could think of, and she even did the most insane chores in a split second! I told her to mop the halls and I turn around she's done! I left the front door open and let in a pack of pre-dirtied dogs. Before they entered the building they were snagged up in a trap and taken outside. She even washed them! I planned for her to work all day, but I feel like I'm going through more drudgery then she is! Why does this only ever happen to people in love?" Kuniko hid her face with her hands and slumped down in her chair.
"Oh, so I was right about you having a little crush on Kashi-kun!" Narichi said in the doorway of the hot spring. Narichi was soaking wet and had a towel wrapped around her, and she just stood there smiling at Kuniko.
Kuniko was in totally shock, she sprang from her seat. Her heart had skipped a beat the moment Narichi spoke. "Wha, what, what! Kuniko cried out, "When did you get there?"
Narichi pondered for a moment, "I believe it was when you said, 'I don't care if she's a shinobi'!"
Kuniko looked about as dead as her mother when she's asleep. "I'm sorry," Kuniko bowed in shame. "I didn't mean to make problems for you, Please, forgive me?"
Narichi bent over Kuniko she looked down at her with her arms crossed over. "No," she said plainly.
Kuniko froze with terror. "What! It's not like I tried to kill you or anything…just sabotage your date." She looked down at her shoes and said softly, "Sorry…" then smiled.
Narichi looked horribly pissed offtrying to calm down she said, "This..is..why I didn't forgive you yet! I figured you'd misunderstand! Kakashi-kun and I are not…Dating!" She punched a vase on a table next to her. It shattered into about oh 100, 200 pieces, plus the small tiny, tiny fragments.
Kuniko was filled with hope, "Oh, really!" she smiled. "In that case I'm, Really Sorry!" Kuniko got up and walked to the door, "Oh and by the way you'll have to work off that vase!"
Narichi was quite mad as a few drops of blood dripped down her hand. Kuniko had left and Narichi heard a very loud squeal. Narichi rushed over to the lobby and found Kuniko talking to Kakashi. They were both healthy and unharmed. "What was that squeal just now?" Narichi asked a little confused.
"Oh that was me. Sorry," Kuniko said waving to Narichi, without removing her attention from Kakashi.
Kakashi stood near by the doorway as far as possible from the obsessed and drooling Kuniko. He couldn't help but be confused by Narichi's choice of apparel. "Hello Narichi. Are you feeling any better?" He said blushing a little.
Kuniko noticed his blush then took a better look at Narichi, who was sobbing wet in an extremely damp towel. She instantly grew somewhat jealous of her bustier figure and began to panic with rage.
"Much better than yesterday!" Narichi smiled not even caring about the towel, for she didn't quite remember she was wearing it.
"Narichi-san! You'll catch your death if you don't hurry and dry off and maybe put on 20 pounds of clothes!" Kuniko rushed Narichi towards the bathroom. She grabbed her arms and pinched them hard with her fury getting the best of her actions.
(If you know where this is going and wish to ignore it skip the next four paragraphs)
"Oww! That's hurts Kuniko-san!" Narichi yanked her arms away from Kuniko who began to pounce right back at her, then Kuniko and Narichi noticed a much unexpected thing happen before them. When Narichi yanked her arms free of Kuniko's grasp Narichi's heavy and sobbing wet towel loosened and began to slip off her. Kuniko with all the power in her jumped in front of Narichi to block Kakashi's view of Narichi's almost reveling self.
Narichi shocked had slipped and fell towards the floor. Kakashi at this point was quite confused for every ones clumsily actions and Kuniko's shield preventing him from seeing Narichi, worked so well he thought she still had a towel around the upper part of her body.
Kakashi then disappeared into smoke and reappeared squatting under Narichi to catch her. Narichi's face was extremely red with a blush when Kakashi caught her in his arms. She moved fast to cover herself before Kakashi could see anything, by grabbing her towel and yanking it up above her bust.
Kuniko noticed Kakashi had disappeared and turned around violently to find Kakashi. Kakashi ducked to dodge her flying arms. Narichi was so embarrassed when Kuniko's arm flung by and smacked her hands, which released her grip on the towel. Narichi couldn't take anymore and her energy quickly faded from her body, as her illness began to effect her. Narichi used the last of her strength to tug Kakashi's Leaf Hitai-ate Hand band over his right eye and she pulled it down covering his view of her.
Kuniko finally understood what just happened and grabbed Narichi from Kakashi and ran out of the room yelling, "Be right back, Kakashi-kun!" Kuniko carried her out thinking, "Well I guess his head band is good for something! Other than just looking cool!" she squealed thinking about him. Remembering Narichi when she accidentally ran her head into a wall, then she took her into the bathhouse to help her recover.
Kakashi stood there standing in the middle of the lobby with his head band over his eyes thinking, "What just happened here?" Then he pulled up the right side of his head band, then he looked at his hands and then blushed, then he shook his head to scatter any thought's that might endanger his life later.
"Narichi-san! Are you ok Narichi-san!" Kuniko yelled shaking Narichi's unconscious body back and forth. "Maru-chan Help Me!" she yelled, and then she remembered she let her play outside. "I've never had to bring an unconscious person back! Oh My Gosh! Does this mean she'll die! No! I can't let one of our guest die, think of our reputation! Is she out because I bonked her head!" she said looking at the 'bandage' on her head, "No! Her relatives could sue us!" Kuniko couldn't stop screaming in her head. "Wait I'll get Kakashi-kun! He's probably dealt with this kind of thing before!" She blissfully headed for the door, and then she stopped looking back at Narichi's half naked body. "No her life is in danger! My love for Kakashi-kun should be second! Every second counts Kuniko, hurry and get Kakashi-kun!"
Moments later Narichi lied on the floor unconscious and dried off. She was wearing high quality style kimonos. She had about five layers on her. Each of a different color. "That should do it! Ok now I'll get Kakashi!" she quickly ran out the door and fetched Kakashi.
"Wait let me get this straight. Narichi's unconscious because she bumped her head while changing into all of those kimonos?" Kakashi questioned Kuniko's story.
"Uh huh! I saw the entire thing." Kuniko said slowly walking closer to Kakashi.
Kakashi took one sad long look at Narichi on the floor teardrop and all. "HUH? Wait a minute!" he thought noticing something wrong with Narichi. He looked over to the in complete daze Kuniko who was off in some fairytale land. He put his hand on her head and turned it towards him, "What did you do to Narichi?" he asked half seriously and half joking.
"Oh no did he figure me out! He'll hate me if he finds out I almost killed one of his friends," she thought looking all teary eyed and sad, "I'm so sorry Kakashi-kun! I was carrying her here when I bonked her head into a wall. She's been like this ever since." Kuniko began to cry.
"No, I think she was out before you bumped her head," he said thinking about her illness, "But why'd you say she changed into 5 Kimonos. We were going training! And it's probably impossible for this klutz to even walk in that!" he joked.
"I'm not a klutz!" Narichi yelled attacking Kakashi. "Oww! Why does my head hurt?" Narichi said rubbing her head.
Kuniko slowly backed away. Kakashi said, "Kuniko bonked your head on a wall when she was carrying you here."
"Oh, Huh? Wait why am I wearing like 5 Kimonos, and why is Kakashi in the WOMEN'S bath house?" she said realizing things for the first time.
"Well see you were unconscious and naked so I put some clothes on you and called Kakashi over, cause I didn't know what to do." Kuniko smiled.
"So why am I wearing 5 kimonos exactly?" Narichi asked again irritated.
Kuniko grew nervous in front of Kakashi, "Well I thought that it was, umm...more appropriate than just another towel."
"SO WHY 5 KIMONOS?" Narichi asked again taking them off one kimono at a time.
"Because…I didn't know where your clothes were," she said trying to cover up.
Narichi left one on and sighed, "Right over there," Narichi pointed over to the cubby area for the guest's clothes. And since no one else has used it only Narichi's clothes were there.
"Oh, is that where they were, he, he, he." Kuniko laughed slowly moving through the door and running away.
Narichi sighed again and Kakashi just stood there looking confused and then down at Narichi. "So umm. Are we ever going to leave this place? I still have a lesson to teach." he asked.
"Sure once you leave this place!" Narichi yell pushing him towards the door.
"Ok, Ok, but could you tell me what happened in the lobby?" Kakashi slyly asked.
Narichi froze up and turned red all over, "He doesn't know!" she yelled in her head. She started shaking and lowered her head in shame. "Uh, my uh. Tow…tow…we…el" she stuttered.
"Towel?" questioned Kakashi trying to get the facts straight.
"Yes Towel! Damn it, just leave me alone!" she screamed pushing Kakashi out oftheroom and slammed the door.
Afraid and a little confused,Kakashi left for the lobby. "So her towel did fall down then." He thought, "That means!" He realized something that Narichi would kill him for, "I think I'll keep my mouth shut," he said softly and walked away.
Narichi changed into her normal clothes and headed towards the lobby. She met up with Kakashi and Kuniko and said good-bye for they had to train the twerps. They were both silent on their walk to the forest around 10:30. Until Narichilookedawayfrom Kakashi and asked slowly, "Umm…did you, uh see any…thing?"
Kakashi was surprised he hadn't a clue what to say! He thought for a moment, and started to question if she was going to trick him.He grew uneasy and catious."Uh," he started.