Ok, somewhat worried that people are getting to be a little ooc. Hopefully not too badly, some of it is intentional of course, the settings and effects of such. Sorry for the slow update, been a little distracted, should be a little more regular from now on. probably 1-2 times a week. Let me know what you think
Disclaimer - don't own Naruto, wish I did, don't actually think people read these so don't know why I'm bothering...
Chapter 3 - Boots and Bandages
I ruffled a hand through my hair irritated, where was that idiot? The dobe was supposed to be filling my water flask, but he'd been gone a long while now, and I was thirsty damnit. Not that I would let my perfect facade slip to show it, No, not me. Something like a water flask couldn't compare with the things that caused me anger, like that person...
"Hey, Uchiha-teme I have your water flask!" A loud voice thankfully pulled me from my train of thought as the dobe thrust the flask into my face, obviously irritated at being given such menial tasks.
"It's Captain!" I hissed, definately unimpressed with the way he was choosing to address me, "I could have you court martialled for insubordination..." The blonde flinched slightly then grinned at me.
"Heheh, you wouldn't do that, after all if you did that then who would do all your chores, like cleaning your boots and kicking the rats out before you sleep Uchiha-teme" I flinched.
Rats... something I just abhorred, well actually rodents in general. The only person who knew of my fear/hatred of the things had to be the dobe.
And to make me feel even more inadequate, a dobe like him apparently had no problems with the damn things. Something to do with growing up on a Farm, he had to make fun of me when he found out of course. The rich pampered pretty boy with the fear of small fuzzy things. Fate was just out to get me that day...
"hn" I grunted a non-committal sound, ignoring him as I gulped down some of the water in the flask. Another cringe, the water was disgusting, and tasted slightly of iodine, the tablets we used to kill bugs in it before drinking it.
"Hey Uchiha-teme, is that all, 'cause Shikamaru wanted my help on lookout..." I looked at the blonde irritated, filling in for his friends whilst, in all probability they napped, was not allowed under regulations. The rules stated that everyone would only do their allotted amount of duty so that in the event of enemy attack the defence wasn't affected by tired soldiers. I turned to say so, but stopped when I saw his face, true worry depicted on it.
"...Shikamaru's got a bit of a bug at the moment. Something in the water, he said the doctor told him it would pass soon enough so he's just sitting around groaning a bit. I added more iodine to your water though, that bug seems nasty" Naruto just rubbed the back of his neck as he spoke. BR
"It's fine, go." I told the guy emotionlessly, staring at the flask he'd handed me. Why did he... does he care whether I get that bug? Why would he, surely he hates me for acting badly towards him? My eyes flickered towards the exiting boy as he called behind him.
"See ya later Uchiha-teme" A slight wave. Perhaps, despite that, he actually cared slightly.
"Zzzzz" Shikamaru gently snored somewhere below me on the duckboards as I looked out over no-mans land, not daring to put a finger over the top of the trench in fear it would be shot off. Poor guy was really suffering, but no-one had any sympathy for him. A stomach bug wasn't thought of as serious enough to not do your duties, hence the napping by my feet. If someone important came along a well placed shove and he could pretend to be watching out.
Yeah ok I admit it, he came up with the damn plan. Tch, I'm not always stupid like the damn Teme makes out though.
Something wierd's up with him at the moment, not talkative today. Well even less than normal, and that's really saying something. Didn't even complain about the taste of the water, not that I care.
Nu-uh, Uzumaki Naruto is better than that damned Uchiha-teme that everyone thinks so much of!
Ha, can you imagine how everyone would react if they found out he was afraid of rats! Apparently it's a lot of small furry things he doesn't like, I suggested getting a ferret or weasel to kill all the rats like we did back on the farm when rats started a nest near the chickens, but he wasn't too keen on that. Started to turn a funny colour when I said weasel, I think he's scared of them as well... hehehe, it would be quite fun to scare him with one of those...
...off topic.
Actually I don't even remember what I was thinking about originally, heheh.
Eh? Look at Shikamaru's face, it's turning really pale and kinda green…he doesn't look so good. Oh kami-sama he's going to hurl!
I watched the afflicted guy hurl his guts up over the duckboards, much to the disgust of everyone around, especially that guy walking past…
Oh ewww, that really stinks, and all over that guy's boots as well. That guy is really glaring at him, hey wait isn't that a captains badge?! Oh hell, Shikamaru's gonna be in a helluva lotta trouble.
"You there, get this thing to the medics, he shouldn't be out here in this condition, and get me some boots." I flinched under the glare of the pale eyes and moved to help my friend stagger to his feet.
"Uhhg" the ill guy groaned and swiped at his mouth. I cringed. This was so not what I had expected when I signed up.
"Gauze, bandages, more gauze… Ino! Do we have any sling's around here?" I yelled out to my blonde friend.
"There should be some in the other cupboard" she walked over. I rolled my eyes and looked in there, sure enough a pile of triangular bandages, perfect for use as slings. Grabbing one out I quickly tied up the bandaged arm of the soldier I was treating.
"Alright, what's next? Ino?" My blonde friend had disappeared into the other room. Heaving a sigh I followed her, only to hear her gasp.
"Eh? Shikamaru? You look awful, why are you here?" She knew this guy?
"Ino? Tch I joined up, so troublesome…" a guy with a green tinged face replied, staggering as he was held up by a shorter blonde friend.
"Well what's the problem, obviously you have something wrong" Ino forcefully requested. Apparently just because she knew someone didn't mean she became any less demanding.
"He has a stomach bug, he threw up on a captains boots! I was told to get his sorry butt over here… Oh yeah I'm Naruto!" The ill guy introduced himself.
"Which captain? I hear there is a really handsome one in command at one of the trenches at the moment!" Ino exclaimed. She heard that rumour too? I really can't wait to meet this guy, General Kakashi was really impressed with him as well.
"Hey pretty lady, what's your name?" I blushed slightly realising that Naruto was addressing me.
"I'm Sakura, now was there anything else you wanted or are you just going to stand there?" I turned away, noticing Ino manoeuvring Shikamaru into one of our spare beds. Luckily there hadn't been any attacks recently else we would have been low, but then it had been unusually quiet for a war, and with Christmas only a few weeks away I think we've all realised that the war won't be over by then.
Naruto went over to whisper to his friend as Ino came over.
"So how do you know that guy?" I asked Ino, she blushed slightly.
"Well you know I was in some of those Suffragette protests? Shikamaru's mother took part in a few of them, she's a very strong tempered person..." Ino looked into the distance with something like reverence "…he was dragged along to one, although he clearly didn't want to be there. I found out later that he works at the bank a town away, so I visited him occasionally, giving him messages for his mother to attend the demonstrations and that"
I shook my head, he didn't seem the type to be a suffragette supporter. More likely to call all women troublesome, the chauvinist pig. The sound of the door clattering open caught my attention as a tall, handsome, amazing looking man walked in confidently.
"Dobe, captain Hyuuga told me he sent you and your friend here, and also that you owed him a new pair of boots. Care to explain?" Naruto turned, looking embarrassed.
"Uchiha-teme? What are you doing here" unnoticed to anyone else I thought I saw a slight flash of relief across the strangers face.
"hn, well it's no good if my batboy has been incapacitated. I have some more jobs you need to do, and you need to replace Hyuuga's boots apparently."
"Eh, oh right, see you later Shikamaru." Naruto turned to me with a strange look in his eyes, "great to meet you Sakura-san, and you Ino, see you soon, ne? Alright, I'm coming Uchiha-teme" he grumbled noticing the impatient look across the face of the handsome captain.
"How many times do I have to tell you it's Captain Uchiha to you dobe" they both left and a fire grew in my eyes. Captain Uchiha, so handsome, so masculine, so perfect…
"He's mine!" our voices announced together. I turned to see Ino clenching her own fist, fire in her eyes. She glared at me.
"Captain Uchiha is mine, besides why would he like someone with a forehead as big as yours billboard brow!"
"No he's mine, and he would never like someone who looked like a farmyard animal, Ino-pig!"
"Uhhhggg" a groan from across the room pulled my attention as I looked away from my friend. Always work to be done.
Reviews welcomed and appreciated! hope you enjoyed, still UnBeta-ed so please contact me if you could beta my work! Thanks!