Chapter 2: The First Year


I'll try to keep the next few years as highlighted as possible, nothing incredible really happened, I merely ate slept and lived in Iruka's house for about two weeks before I felt bad and began cooking for him, after another three weeks I felt even worse and by then I practically became his housewife, I tried to lighten the burden as much as possible so all he had to do is mark papers and by the time the third month was over I finally broke down and told him that I didn't know what to do.

"Iruka I'm sorry I feel so awkward staying here, I enjoy it really I do I like the company but I'm not making any money to help you pay for rent and food and don't even try to argue with me Iruka you and I both know it's true, I just… it's just that I'm not a ninja and I'm pretty sure my credentials don't allow me to help with things like the academy and such and I'm not exactly a normal citizen…"

Iruka gave me a hug and patted my head gently, "It's alright Molly, I like your company, you're welcome to stay here as long as you want and if you ever move out you're always welcome to come back."

I sniffed, "Thanks Ru-san," one day I had accidentally called him that when I was thinking of one of my favorite fan fictions and I was pretending to be Kakashi. I had walked into his office wearing a dolphin apron I bought and said, "Dinner's ready Ru-kun."

He had just stared at me for a moment and after I blinked a couple of times I realized what I had just said, I apologized but he just laughed and stood. Ever since that incident, it's become a habit of mine.

"How about we go see the Hokage today?" I nodded, feeling some of my usual confidence returning.

"Sounds a-ok to me," Iruka took me to the Hokage tower in which we had to wait a few hours before Tsunade was ready to see me, luckily it was a windy Saturday morning we were wasting.

I walked in and she gestured for me and Iruka to sit down, she smiled, "Hello I am the Hokage of Konoha it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Tsunade, so Iruka is this who you've been wanting me to meet?"

"Yes Tsunade-sama, her name is Molly and she's been living with me for the past three months and I have all the reason to believe she's here to stay permanently."

Tsunade clapped her hands together and smiled, she seemed much more cheery in real life then the way the anime portrays her, either that or I haven't seen her drunk yet, "Wonderful, well then I'll just need to file a report on you it should only take a couple of minutes. Would you like this to be completely confidential between you and me or do you not mind if Iruka is here as well?"

I shook my head, "That's quite alright I'm sure there isn't something that Iruka-san doesn't already know."

Tsunade chuckled and nodded, "Right then," she pulled out a form and the questions began, "Name?"

"Molly-" I had been so close to saying Hoshigaki that I literally had to bite my tongue, I really liked Kisame so I usually pretended that I had the same last name as him, "Hoshina," I finished since I already had the Hoshi out.

"You have a lovely name, birth date?"

"October tenth," soon I'd be nineteen, and I'd know when if I can remember to figure out what the date was.

Tsunade smiled and answered the question I had been thinking, "Oh well happy birthday Molly-san, what year were born by the way?"

"T- uh, I don't know I was never told, nineteen years ago I guess," she raised her eyebrows but she was still smiling anyway. I didn't know the year system here and I didn't want to mess it up by saying the 21st century.

"Alright," the questions didn't take more than a few minutes just like she said. It was mostly because I wasn't able to answer the majority of them, like chakra nature and things alike.

The final question was the one that surprised me, well not the question itself but the answer that was given, "Do you currently have a permanent place of residence?"

"No-"

"She'll be living with me from now on Tsunade-sama," Iruka answered. He said it so assuredly, so perfect, that it was little my choice to have no as an option. I could only give him a look when I turned towards him, my eyes silently asking if he was sure? Iruka turned to look at me as well and he gave a slight nod.

Finally we were done. I didn't bother bringing up the residence thing, I was happy staying with him and he felt likewise.

That same day when we got out of Tsunade's office Iruka took me out to dinner since it was my birthday.
At first it was just the two of us chatting and having fun. Iruka had just mentioned my age, saying he was surprised I was nineteen, when a couple of his friends or maybe colleagues appeared.

I recognized both of them, but I pretended not to know either since we had never officially met yet.

"Hello Iruka-sensei!" Gai boomed as he slid into Iruka's side of the bench.

"Oh hello Gai-sensei, I was just taking my friend Molly out for her birthday."

I looked around him to see that the person who Gai had come with was slowly backing away, take a guess at who it was.

"What a wondrous occasion! Here let me get you something, Kakashi help me out for a second!" That's right, Kakashi, that crazy lightning bastard that I love because he's a total nutcase.

Gai and Kakashi suddenly disappeared and reappeared in what seemed to be the same second with a slice of chilled ice cream cake, my favorite.

"I do hope you like strawberry," up until now I always thought Gai was a little bonkers, scratch that he probably is, but now he's a cool kind of crazy.

Surprised, I took the plate from his hands, "Wow… thank you, where on earth did you get it?"

"Why the kitchen of course, now Iruka I'd like you to tell me why it's just you and this pretty young women alone, surely it's a birthday date correct?" I wasn't going to ask how he was able to just poof into the kitchen, he probably scared the living daylights out of several waiters and waitresses, so instead I looked at Iruka for his reaction to Gai's question.

I remember Iruka had gone fifty shades of red on me at the moment as he tried to stutter out a 'j-jus-j-j-just friends G-Gai…' it was adorable.

With a forkful of food in my mouth I could only smile at him, Kurenai walked in next with Asuma and the two of them noticed the commotion and came over.

Kurenai smiled, "Is that really true Iruka? You've never blushed so hard, and I've been hearing some rumors about a raven haired girl hanging around inside your home could this be her?"

Personally, I didn't mind being Iruka's girlfriend, it was because he was so fucking cute and we've spent so much time together, I'd just have to shove my inner yaoi fangirl into a closet and wait for her to die of starvation. Anyway I really do like his personality and at the time Kisame and the Akatsuki were becoming a distant memory as I was finding myself falling more and more in love with Konoha.

Gai smiled, nearly blinding us with his teeth in the process, and uprooted Iruka from his seat and shoved him next to me. He then threw down Kurenai and Asuma and pulled up two more seats for him and Kakashi.
Asuma tried to leave, saying he felt rude for intruding but Kurenai held him down noticing the panic in Iruka's eyes begging them to stay so Gai wouldn't make it too much worse.

I gave Iruka a kiss on the cheek before finishing my magically appearing slice of cake and we sat there all drinking coffee – minus Iruka who had cocoa – while Gai ate. Kurenai and Asuma just came in for a quick warm up drink from the harsh winds outside, it was getting colder by the day and I thought I saw snow beginning to fall at some point.
When we were finally allowed to leave according to Gai, we had only walked five feet out the door when Iruka began apologizing profusely. I waved it off with the excuse of I knew people who were stranger, which sadly enough was true.

We walked home and for the first time in awhile I was happy. I wasn't worrying about why I was here, I wasn't worried about what it would be like if I ever woke up back in my world, and I most certainly lost any thought of the Akatsuki. It's funny, back when I was a lonely otaku all I ever thought about night and day was the Akatsuki and how much I loved them, but at the moment it all seemed to fade to black.

Part of me wondered about my parents, and also if the time here was going to be the same there or if I just woke up in the exact same position on the exact same day as I was electrocuted.

I knew for sure that if I were to go back anytime soon, my thoughts would most likely completely shift to Konoha and the Akatsuki, as badass as they were, would be stored in the back of my mind. I could feel them slipping away each day and that old part of me was actually trying to make a desperate attempt to hold on to them.

The new girl I was becoming was actually surprised that I was able to adjust so quickly, then again for the longest time I was trying decipher my dream and why I was here. I was constantly worried about what was happening and one day when I accidentally sliced my finger open with a cutting knife. Up until that moment I had never gotten hurt so when I felt the stinging pain and saw the blood I began to relax with the knowledge that I was alive however the action sparked new questions that would only be answered with time and my own self awareness.

Back in my current reality we were walking home when it started to get really cold and I found myself curling into Iruka who was very warm at the moment.

When we got back we went to our separate rooms, I usually slept in the spare bedroom that Naruto occupies when he wanted somewhere to stay, which was where he currently was. Naruto has a spare key to Iruka's apartment and when I walked in I found the little kid passed out atop my sheets. Naruto knew I lived here and he knew I slept there, but he always said he didn't mind. He said I had a comforting smell.

So of course when I saw him there my instinct was to sleep on the couch. I went to ask Iruka for a spare blanket but he refused and offered me his bed instead. He was blushing, as well as half clothed since his shirt was off, when he offered so I just laughed and accepted.

The sheets smelled like wood and vinegar, a strange combination, but it was nice.

After that, Iruka decided to ask me out, it was sweet when he did it. It was actually about a week later, when I got a simple starter job as a file organizer at the academy. I had gotten a messenger bird, which had to peck me on the head for me to notice it, and in it was a summoning from the Hokage. Tsunade said she got me something for me to do for the time being so I wouldn't have to be so bored at home.

Anyway, while I was working I found a file that had one paper in it, the words were handwritten in what I knew to be Iruka's and it told me to go to his office and it read 'come see me as soon as possible.'

So I went to his office and there all I found was a red chrysanthemum in a vase, on it was a card and it didn't say anything, it was just a pass from the deans telling me I was let off early for the day and it told me to go the restaurant where Iruka and I went for my birthday. When I arrived there it was nearing five and a waiter seated me in the back where I found a plate with two poached egg eyes and a bacon smile, he knew that was my favorite dish to eat.

By now I was already freakishly impressed and suddenly Iruka slid into the seat across from me, "Hey," he looked nervous as hell but very cute. His scar was lit up by blush and his hair was down, I had always commented how it looked nice when he came out of the shower and went to bed. He was wearing regular clothing like usual when we go out but they were nice, almost equal to the visual quality of a tux nice.

I smiled, "Hey there, what's going on?"

Iruka scratched the back of his head before blurting out, "Would you… like to go out sometime?"

I reached across the table where his hand was innocently lying and held it, "I would love to."

It was so sweet of Iruka to do that, and as I look back on that memory, I wished to god that I could have stayed there in that era; back when it was so simple to love someone who loves you back just as much. But we aren't there yet, I'm rambling let's move on.

Next up we had thanksgiving.

Iruka invited his friends over; since I worked with some of them it wasn't terribly awkward. He also invited the parents and children, by this time the students had graduated and were off to their own little squads. I saw Sakura there, along with Naruto who kept trying to talk to her but she was too busy glaring at Ino. In my old life, I didn't really like either of them, but I got to know them a little better before the year was over and they were very nice, but I still thought they were useless fan girls.

The kids all liked me, at the moment I was conversing with Shikamaru and Asuma. Shika didn't like a lot of people, but I was one of the few exceptions. He liked me because like Asuma I didn't treat him like a kid. Even though he was only twelve or thirteen whatever, I acted and talked with him as if he were my age or older, something he respected.

It was a nice evening, Iruka and I shared the burden of cooking and everything turned out perfectly.

During dinner I was seated between Iruka and Kurenai, Naruto was on Iruka's other side and Asuma on Kurenai's, across from me was Shikamaru and Ino and Choji. Choji liked my cooking a lot and would often pop by and stay over, I didn't mind, he was a nice kid. Ino was Iruka's flower supplier; Iruka would occasionally surprise me with a single flower, each flower varied. It was always the same vase and the same blue ribbon since he knew blue was my favorite color, but the flower was always different.

He says he wants me to tell him when he finds my favorite and so far he hasn't hit it. My favorite flower is sweet pea and so far I've gotten roses, lilies, daffodils and so on. I thought it was nice he did so much work for me.

Continuing on Hinata was there with her cousin Neji and her sister Hanabi, both looked bored to death. Her dad Hiashi didn't like me much but then again he didn't like anyone no exceptions. Hinata liked me quite well and I helped her grow a bit of a spine. I'm not saying she's weak or anything, I'm not her dad, but she's so shy. I always thought it was cute and I loved her innocence so much when I was watching the anime but when I met her I felt awkward and I don't do well with awkward. Neji and I weren't best friends or anything but we had a mutual understanding. That understanding being you do your thing and I'll do mine.

Even though Lee and Tenten weren't part of the rookie nine they still made an appearance because of Gai and his outlandish ways. Luckily Lee and Gai stuck close for the most part and discussed the weeks training regime. Tenten and I didn't know each other well but we started to click when she went into her weapons collection, she enjoyed talking about her various kunai and I enjoyed listening about it.

Shino and Kiba stuck close to Hinata, the way I saw it they were friends from the start. They may not have coerced in class but once they became a team they had no problem with each other which made me happy that one of the three teams was able to work together well.

I had a fear of bugs so for awhile I tried to avoid seeing Shino's abilities but other than that I loved him, not like I want to be with you love, I just thought he was cool as hell. I could tell Akamaru was bored just sitting on top of Kiba's head so I went over and gave him a pet to wake him up.

Kakashi was there as well with Naruto and Sakura and I was surprised that Sasuke showed up too. I would've liked to stop him from trying to get revenge on Itachi for what he did to the Uchiha clan but I already knew that I would never be able to gain enough influence on him to make him change his mind like that.

When everyone left we relaxed by the fire and drank some of my special hot cocoa I make more often than not these cold days. While we were just getting comfortable someone knocked on the door, I answered it and found Naruto standing there sheepishly in the sleet, "I forgot my key…"

We let him in and he snuggled in between us, we fell asleep like that and the next morning our necks were stiff as hell but we woke with a warm fuzzy feeling.

After that it was only a few weeks before the snow came and along with it was Christmas.

Iruka helped me bake some cookies for the staff and kids and we threw yet another party the Eve before Christmas Eve since everyone was going to spend that night out with family.

By then we were the talk of the town, Iruka was known to mostly keep to himself, he had many friends and lots of people liked him not to mention the students looked up to him as a super role model but he's never really had a significant other, according to the staff members at the academy.

When it was Christmas Eve I marveled at the lights Iruka had put up before and how they shined in individual pockets of snow.

Iruka presented me with a present; it was a red yukata with a black obi and darker red roses for a pattern. Of course when I saw the black and red I immediately thought of the Akatsuki but soon it was dismissed along with every other thought about my past life.

The same part of me that would never die felt like I was losing who I had been but the other part of me felt like this is what's shaping me. These moments happening right now were what was making me who'll I'll be later on.
Iruka took me out to the center of Konoha where we came across stands of mochi and other various food items that smelled like heaven. When the clock struck midnight signaling the end of Christmas Eve and the start of Christmas day, fireworks went off and we kissed under the moonlight and stars. It was wonderful.

We spent the day at home, his gift had been the yukata and a necklace that would forever remain placed upon my neck. I had gotten him something he's been wanting for awhile now, even before we got together. I ended up buying him a hibachi grill and even though I didn't physically have the item I handed him the confirmation paper and he freaked out. We had to wait for it to be installed and he was ecstatic. He constantly asked me how much I had paid for it, I had nonchalantly brushed off the question with an 'it's no big deal' even though I had used all my salary and then some that I had so far. The rest of the money was on loan but would be paid off within two weeks.

Iruka was so excited, he promised to make us something once it was installed. With a suddenly series expression, he went to his room and brought back once last box, "Well now I don't feel like this is too over the top," he handed me the box.

When I tore off the colorful wrapping paper I was surprised to see air holes in the side but I was really shocked when the box started moving, it fell out of my hands and landing on the floor out popped a little puppy when the lid jerked off.

The wiggly little creature was a baby husky and he was making little yipping noises and was jumping and crawling all over me. Iruka knew how much I loved huskies and dogs that get big; I usually mentioned it when I saw average citizens walking their pets. He knew I was a rough housing kind of person and that's why I liked larger animals.

"Oh he's adorable!" I screamed, picking the puppy up and holding him to my face which he began licking furiously.

"I know you're here all alone so I figured you'd want some company when I'm not here," I came home much earlier that Iruka, I only went for about five or six hours then I come home and it's not even everyday that I go since it's just filing.

"He's wonderful, what should we name him?"

"It's up to you Molly," I smiled; Iruka was the only one who chooses to call me by my chosen name over anything else. For example Naruto just calls me sempai while my co-workers call me M-san or Mall-chan, or some other cute nickname. I didn't mind, all my life I've never had cool nicknames, but it was also refreshing when someone respects me enough to use my name, even if it wasn't technically my birth name.

"How about…" suddenly the dog leapt from my grasp and went nose first into my drink, he lapped at it thoroughly enjoying the taste. I giggled and picked him up. I wiped the chocolate from his face and decided right then, "Silly you can't have hot cocoa, especially if it has chocolate in it! hmm... Cocoa... let's name him Cocoa!" Iruka nodded in agreement.

A few days later we had new years and from there things seemed to only get better.

When I landed in Konoha it was mid July, so really it hasn't even been a full year yet, yeah I know you thought I was going to stop at new years well you're wrong.

Not much happened until then though, just the normal holidays.
Well I guess I can say that Iruka finally found my favorite flower.

I was at home, it was Valentine's Day and honestly the thought had completely slipped my mind. Cocoa was running around like the hyper maniac he was, Naruto was over playing with him since there was no training at the moment, and Iruka was at work.

Naruto wanted to go for a walk and he wanted me to come with, so we went out and walked around town for awhile when I suddenly found myself alone. Naruto had Cocoa and I had no idea where he had run off to he had just suddenly disappeared.

"Naruto?" I called out. I searched around but couldn't find him. Eventually I came across Sakura who smiled and told me he was at Ino's flower shop. Slightly peeved, I went over to the Yamanaka shop and I found Inoichi there instead. He handed me a card and told me that Naruto was looking for me at Ichiraku's so off I went.
I looked at the card and on it read, Happy Valentine's Day Molly.

It was typed but as soon as I read it I had a feeling I knew who was making me run around all of Konoha, and it wasn't just Naruto.

Finally I found the traffic cone sitting at one of the seats but what I also noticed was the lack of Cocoa.

"Where's my dog?" I asked, Naruto shrugged and said he last saw him at training ground five. I high tailed it out of there in search of my puppy. I was really hoping this was part of the act otherwise I was probably going to kill Naruto.

When I got the training ground there was a picnic all set up, Iruka was there with Cocoa in his lap and on the blanket was the flower he had been trying to find.

"Happy Valentine's Day," I smiled and sat down.

"Damn boy, hey would you look at that?" I said finally noticing the sweet pea.
"What?"

"Sweet pea, it's my favorite," and it was a nice day and everything felt like it was full of fuzz. Some days were so nice I don't even remember them I was so in the moment and yet completely hazed out.

After that all there was left was Fourth of July where we watched the fireworks and I had dango for the first time.

When I finally felt like I had my fill of normal, I decided it was time to get a little stronger.

It all happened when Iruka took a mission, the mission was designed for Chuunin or lower and it was supposed to be easy. At the time Iruka was one of the few Chuunin on hand who takes missions regularly and he was perfect for the mission since it was one of stealth and he was quite good and being quiet.

I was at home reading a book when someone knocked on the door. I opened it and revealed a random ANBU who was bleeding from various cuts but otherwise alright.

"Yes?" I asked somewhat suspicious since ANBU don't just show up at your doorstep without cause.

"Iruka… hospital," he had barely said the words before I was off. I was heading towards the Hokage tower and I ran in to demand where my Iruka was and Tsunade herself led me to where he was currently passed out.

Iruka's eyes were closed and the bandages that were holding him together were already soaked with blood,
"His chakra reserves have been severely depleted and he has a few cuts and bruises but he's otherwise okay he'll recover in no time."

"What happened?" I asked.

"The mission was to simply go to Kirigakure and retrieve the scroll that the Mizukage has been borrowing when he had a run-in with a pair of ninja. It was just Iruka at first and luckily a returning ANBU intercepted the fight but it was barely enough. We lost the scroll to whoever those ninja were and in turn got one of my finest Chuunin hurt."

I ground my teeth together and in the moment I realized I needed to do something. It's been almost a year and the idea that the people who attacked Iruka were a pair reminded me that soon the Akatsuki would start making their appearance. Soon they'd be at the head of the world if not for Naruto and the others, I needed to be apart of that force, I needed to help fight back.

I needed to protect the new life I was given and everyone in it, I needed to do something. I needed to be a ninja.