"It's Sakura," said the black-haired girl.
"What do you mean," croaked the girl who was sitting up against a tree, "'who is this'?"
"Ino has apparently lost her memories due to an attack from a plant monster," supplied the black-haired girl.
"Whoa, the little guy doesn't want me getting close to you," said Naruto as the bird hissed and spread wings in an attempt to look menacing.
"Vul vulpix," said the fox-like creature.
"That's a 'Pidgey'?" asked Naruto of the fox.
The bird protecting Sakura managed to look startled and cooed at the fox briefly. The fox answered in its own manner.
"So you're a 'pidgey'?" asked Sakura of the bird. Who was much more cooperative and enthusiastic answering her.
"Huh," said Naruto, scratching his head. "Looks like each of us, except Ino, ended up getting one of these 'pokemon' adopting us."
"There's a town about two miles that way," said Hinata. "They may be able to deal with your injuries there."
"Then let's get going," said Sakura, eyeing Ino uncertainly. "You've lost your memories?"
"Yes, apparently," said Ino. "Hopefully you can answer a few questions on the way."
After a few minutes of discussion, Sakura ended up in a fireman's carry on Ino's back. Though she still seemed to expect this was an elaborate prank being pulled on her.
Ino lagged a little bit behind Naruto and Hinata in order to whisper to Sakura when they finally set out.
"Hey, Sakura, we're friends or something?" asked Ino.
"Uhm, well, we WERE," admitted Sakura.
"Oh?" asked Ino. "We're both after that cute blond boy or something?"
Sakura collapsed, nearly sending both of them tumbling in mid-leap. "WHAT?!"
"That cute blond boy. He's not my brother or something is he?" asked Ino when she'd recovered.
"Uhm, no, you're not related," said Sakura, wondering if this was NOT a prank. If so it might be a Golden Opportunity to derail her chief rival. Of course that might be playing into the prank being pulled, but that would be one way to tell if it WAS a prank. "He's... Well, he's..."
Ino wondered if Sakura was about to reveal that the cute blond boy named Naruto was gay or something.
"He's available, I guess," said Sakura finally, watching as best she could from her current vantage for any sign that Ino was going to pull off the joke.
"Oh good," said Ino. "I was worried you were going to say he was gay or something. He's got a REALLY cute butt. Would you STOP shifting your weight like that?"
"But he's, well, he's, that is," said Sakura, trying to protest this without either some trick being thrown on her or necessarily awakening old rivalries while she was nearly helpless from the poison. Frustration had her voice begin rising in volume. "He's such a clown. He's never serious. He's completely uncool. He's a complete and total loser. Naruto is a loud and obnoxious IDIOT."
Ino could see that Naruto's head ducked down and shoulders slumped. For Sakura's words to affect him that much, he must care about her. So... this girl WAS her rival for Naruto's affection! "He certainly hasn't been acting like that since he found me in the forest. Very responsible. Would you STOP shifting around?"
"I don't believe this," muttered Sakura.
Ino spent the next few minutes in silence as she worked it out. Apparently Naruto liked Sakura, hence his reaction to her criticisms, but Sakura didn't like him. So it was a love triangle? What of the black-haired girl? What was her name again? "Psst. Who's the other girl anyway?"
"Hinata Hyuga," said Sakura. She intended the remainder to come out with a lot of sarcasm, but she was sufficiently confused and numbed by the earlier comments that it didn't sound sarcastic. "She's the main rival that tries to keep you from your true love of Naruto."
"I see," said Ino, nodding. "Well, I need to get a pokemon of my own to better compete then."
"Uhh, yeah," said Sakura, still uncertain whether Ino was faking this or not.
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(Posted Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:54)
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