CHAPTER 3: Hello, Society!

Over the next few months, I learnt to live.

I camped out in my hotel room for a week and practiced my story. I was from the Land of Rain. My parents ran a moderately successful business but I got bored, wanted to see the world, blah blah blah.

Yeah, not the best backstory. But it was the best I could do.

I'd brought my ninja duds along, in case I wanted to train. But I hadn't trained in a week and truth to tell, I didn't miss it that much. Maybe my father was right; I wasn't cut out to be a kunoichi after all. On Monday, the craving for flavour got to be too much – a girl couldn't live on plain beans and rice for too long – so I went out.

I checked out the street. There were a couple of skeezy strip malls at either end (gross) and a couple of clothes stores, convenience stores and bingo! A ramen stand. A scruffy, hobo-looking guy whistled as I walked in. I ignored him; I was already used to it.

Once I found I seat, I ordered the largest portion of pork ramen they had, but as soon as it arrived, I couldn't eat it. Even the smell was enough to send me back to Konoha, to Naruto and his stupid jokes at Ichiraku's, to Kurenai, to my father …

Tears welled up in my eyes and dribbled down my face. I shut my eyes. It was so unfair. I hated that place and its memories, yet every time I thought of them, I felt sad. Suddenly there was an intake of breath above me and I snapped my head up.

"Ow!" the mystery breath-taker yelled. My cheeks turned pink.

"Oh, my god. I am so sorry …" I stammered, then mentally smacked myself.

No! No no no. You are Sayuri Yuki, not Hinata, lame-ass, 'I'm so sorry' Hyuga. You are not sorry, what was this douchebag doing above you?

"I mean, what?" I snapped. My inner Sayuri gave me a thumbs-up. I put my hands on my hips, feeling the power. "Yeah, what's the big idea?"

"I-I'm sorry," the guy was stuttering now. I recognise him as the guy who served my ramen. Tilting my head up at him, he's actually pretty damn cute, too. He has the whole Shikamaru hair, bright eyes thing going on. I half-smile; Hanabi would've liked him. The older, bald guy behind him snorted.

"Clumsy as always, Idate," the man sighed. The cutie shot him a look of death.

"Here they go," the woman sitting next to me muttered. "They're always arguing."

"Please, old man," cutie – sorry, Idate – snorted. "You're lucky anyone even works at this fag stall." My ears pricked up (not literally; I'm not Kiba). This was getting interesting. The man went red and threw down his serving spoon.

"I've had it with you, Idate! It was your father's wish that I stayed here to supervise you in the family business, but your attitude makes that impossible." Idate rolled his eyes.

"God, you're such a drama queen. Leave, then."

"Fine," the bald guy replied shortly. He took off his chef's hat and left, banging the door as he left and making me jump. Crap. Hinata's resurfacing. Idate smirked and gave the guy's retreating back the finger. I snorted; I couldn't help myself. Idate winked at me and I felt the red return to my cheeks. Damn. I guess every 'Hinata' aspect hadn't left me yet. He leant against the counter and propped his head up on a hand.

"So, cutie. What's your name? I haven't seen you round these parts—Crap!"

Flames flickered from one of the pots and Idate jumped up to tend it. He grabbed a towel and started fanning the flames. What an idiot. Before I could think, I ran after him and plucked it from his hands.

"Don't do that! The oxygen only feeds the fire," I told him while at the same time forming a hand sign. I concentrated my chakra. "Water Style! Dragon Blast Jutsu." (should warn you: my made-up jutsus are really, REALLY bad.) Almost immediately, water shot from my hand and extinguished the blaze. Clapping broke out in the cramped seating area.

"You kick ass, girlie!" yelled the tramp in the corner. I grinned, and realised how long it'd been since I smiled. I took a bow and smiled at Idate. He returned it briefly – nice teeth! - then turned to assess the damage. It was pretty severe. The fire had eaten right through the wall. He groaned and ran a hand through his hair. The gesture took me right back to the Leaf Village and Naruto. Naruto ... I bit my lip. Not now, Hinata. Sayuri. Whatever! Then I realised that Idate was waving his hand in front of my face.

"Y-yes? I mean, yeah?" I asked, deepening my voice just in time for Sayuri. Idate laughed.

"Thank God, I thought you'd fainted standing up or something! Anyway, I was just saying thank you. I didn't know you were a ninja!"

"Uh … I had some training," I mumbled.

"Cool, me too. I never got to the complicated jutsu though. What happened to you? Got bored, huh?" I nodded. "Me too. Shinobi are so uptight!"

You're wrong. He wasn't. He was sweet and brilliant and a little dopey, but kind. I miss him …

"Yeah, tell me about it," I laughed.

"Exactly! But I'm still screwed," he proclaimed cheerfully. "And I have no waiter or anyone to cover the damage, now the old man's left." He looked me up and down. "Hmm ... you've got the look. Say, you wouldn't be looking for a job, would you?"

Like I was going to say no.

I walked from the stall with a diner-style apron and hat, ready for my first day of manual labour with a cute guy.

Bring it on!