chapter 2

Chapter 2

My hands shook as they gripped my shorts to me. What in the world was going on? Why was I in Naruto? What was happening to me?!

The man named Kenji seemed like a quiet person seeing as he hadn't talked much since meeting me.

We'd been walking for a long time now, maybe several hours. My feet ached and I felt my stomach shrinking tightly in hunger.

I held back my complaints as we continued, but after a while the sun set and my stomach roared in protest.

The man turned and smiled at me, "You hungry, kiddo?"

I frowned and replied, "I am not a kid!"

He smiled, "You're right! You're not a kid… You're a brat!"

Anger coursed through me and he laughed.

"So you hungry then?" he asked with that smile on his face that reminded me of someone…

I nodded as my stomach growled loudly again.

He laughed and turned off of the path at a sign which clearly said 'spa' on it.

Wait a sec! That sign was in Japanese! Why could I read it?!

I gasped and reread the sign as we passed. I knew it said spa but I could also see the symbols; nothing like the American words I was used to.

So many odd things had happened already…

Kenji stopped after a while and turned to me, "We will stay here tonight, Morgan-san."

I frowned, "Thanks… Ke-… Sho-san…"

The man nodded slightly and that strange smile crept over his face as the building came into view.

As we neared the door two women ran out and smiled happily to us. I had to admit… they were beautiful.

Kenji smiled and asked them, "Are there any rooms open for tonight?"

The first girl nodded and replied, "We are close to empty, but you are welcome to stay as long as you like!"

Kenji looked over his shoulder at me and asked, "Do you mind sharing a room with me? I'm low on cash."

I nodded with a smile and followed them inside.

We were being led back to our room when the second girl asked, "Are you two ninja?"

Kenji asked, "Why would you ask that?"

"Your and your friends are both dressed oddly not to be," she replied casually.

Kenji seemed to stiffen as he looked over his shoulder at me. "I suppose we do look the part."

They came to the room and the two of us entered together.

Kenji was watching me carefully as he asked, "So tell me… are you a ninja?"

I gave a shocked looked and replied, "No way! I wish! Ninja are so cool!"

He smirked slightly as he watched me. "Not as cool as we seem."

I cocked my head to the side and asked, "So you're a ninja?"

He smiled that creepy fake smile of his and replied, "Yes I am."

I must have looked excited as I asked, "What village?!" because he narrowed his eyes slightly at me.

"Leaf." He replied. I frowned and sighed, "What rank?"

He stated, "I do not have to tell you that."

I smiled, "I know! If I annoy you please just ignore me! I've never met a real live ninja before!"

His eyes widened and he smiled again. "Sure kid."

I nodded and he tossed me a robe, "Hit the hot springs kid. No telling what you caught sleeping on the ground."

He grabbed his own as he walked out the door.

I looked at it and remember something embarrassing. In Naruto the women went to the spa without bathing suits…

I felt myself blush as I also grabbed a towel. I could wear that in the water…

I walked into the spa room with the spa bath and tucked the towel around me as I stepped into the water. I sat down and relaxed into the heat. I'd never been in anything like this before. I felt myself sink in and I really just let myself go as I drunk in the healthy water.

After a while I stood in my wet towel and walked back into changing room where I got in my kimono like robe and walked down the hall to the room I shared with the man called Kenji Sho.

I walked in to find what appeared to be one of the maid's outfits on the bed.

Kenji had his back to me as he read a scroll. He looked over his shoulder at me and replied, "I asked the maids if they could spare you an outfit while they washed yours." I nodded and walked into the bathroom to change.

I looked straight as the door as I slipped into it and back up to lean on the opposite wall as I relaxed. The wall behind me felt funny and I slid my hand over it. It was a mirror! I could tell by the touch!

I sucked in a rattled breath as I readied myself to see my reflection as an anime character for the first time. I gulped and turned with my eyes closed. With all the courage I had I struck a pose and made myself smile as I opened my eyes to see what I looked like…I gasped. I was definitely NOT fourteen. I looked at the very least seventeen! And I was really pretty!

I was in shock as I lifted a hand to touch my reflection. Sucking in an awed breath, I walked back out the door.

Kenji flicked his eyes to me to show that he knew I was back.

"Do you think I am pretty, Kenji?" I asked in a very plain matter.

He looked to me in confusion. "Pretty?"

I nodded and took a step closer. He asked, "Um I don't think I know?" he replied in an almost question.

I sighed and stated, "I really like this maid outfit."

He laughed slightly in a very forced manner.

I nodded slightly and looked around. There was a knock at the door and I opened it to see one of the maids standing there.

"Is there anything you would like? Everything comes free with the room rental!"

I thought a moment and looked to my new friend. He shook his head no and I replied, "Do you have any books?"

The girl looked shocked a moment and looked to the other girl who had been standing behind her.

The girl asked, "You want to… read?"

I nodded and asked, "Do you have any?"

The two girls beamed and replied, "We have several actually! What kinds do you want?"

I replied happily, "History please!"

Both the set of girls and Kenji looked to me in surprise.

I smiled as the two rushed away to get me the book.

"You like history?" he asked me.

I nodded, "I know some already but not all that much. Mainly about Konoha."

He looked interested, "Amuse me."

I nodded and raised a finger as I stated, "Well the village was formed when an alliance between the Uchiha clan and the First Hokage's clan made a pact. The leader of the Uchiha clan didn't respond well to this and tried many times to corrupt the clan and persuade them to attack but they refused-"

The man's hand came down over her mouth. "That's enough. How do you know this?"

I smiled, "Research!"

He looked both interested and on edge.

He asked, "Where are you from?"

This was something I'd not considered. I answered easily, "I don't know."

He glared as he demanded, "That is not an answer! What country are you from?!"

I replied, "Not here."

He looked angry, "Tell me!"

I screamed back with tears in my eyes, "I don't know where I am or how I got here! I don't know how to get home! I don't know!"

He looked startled and moved his gaze away from me do the floor. "I think you should come back to Konoha with me."

I looked away and someone knocked at the door. I walked over and opened it to reveal the maids with a set of history books. They bowed and I returned it with a thanks.

I returned and looked though the titles. History of the Ninja… History of the Land of Fire… and several others.

I set to work on the history of the Land of Fire immediately as I moved to a seat beside a lamp.

Kenji looked to me and stated, "I think you should get some sleep. We have a ways to travel tomorrow."

I smiled, "No way! Not when I don't have parents here to make me!"

He looked startled as I jumped into the book.

Normally I would have gone for a work of fiction, but this was Naruto! I could learn so much that no one else in my world knew!

I knew the night was flying by. I watched as Kenji kept a constant watch out of the window at the road almost as if… on lookout.

It struck me as familiar again and I sighed. He was so much like someone I knew of…

I rolled my eyes and thought back in annoyance. He was nothing like Naruto… or any of team 7 for that matter. Nothing like any of the Jounin or Chuunin on the show, Genin either… and then it hit me! He was exactly like Sai! He was an Anbu!

I smirked and stated as I snapped my fingers, "I know why you are so familiar now! You're a Konoha Anbu member!"

His eyes grew wide and he demanded, "How did you figure that out?!"

I knew I was in deeeeeep trouble now… I had let a little too much info slip to the wrong person… oops…