DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the of the Naruto characters or franchise only the girls involved in the series of events that follow.

A/N: Hey again! Here goes Marisela being all touristy in Suna. Wonder how that plays out... with Matsuri. If you don't get what I'm hinting at, you'll find out eventually. Until later!

Marisela- Code Red, This is Not a Drill! (Part II)

Matsuri took charge and lead me by the hand as we explored the village that I don't know to heart yet. It's weird to be surrounded by Japanese things everywhere and not being able to know what all the signs and posters and other stuff say, but hey I've always wanted to go to Japan so this is like a warm up for when that happens. First, was a stop at the market avenue where dozens of merchants advertised their goods all ranging from clothing, jewelry, random spare parts for equipment, street food, and even small Gaara merchandise. Apparently that's a thing. But man am I happy it is! I ended up trading my cloak for a plastic Gaara statue. And if Kiran, Michelle, or Thalia judge me, they should know that Matsuri prompted me to get it. She said something about Gaara being the main attraction of the Sand Village, which I wholesomely believe is true. I did end up having to get a bag I found off the floor to put my clothes in though, and put up with people staring at my arm. Throughout it all, Matsuri would always stand at my right side for reasons I can't understand. Next was a restaurant that Matsuri recommended. I was a bit skeptical being how I never got to see Sand Village food before (because of the show). However, this place change my mind! They seated us indoors where the place -despite it's outside appearance- was larger than life. Matsuri ordered the specials which was good because I'm not able to read the menu and man was it a feast. The waiter brought over a bowl of yogurt topped with different kinds of fruits, two milkshakes, kebabs over rice, a side dish of what looked like thick tortillas and some creamy looking cheese, and omelets each with their toppings. We both dug in without a single word and waited until we devoured everything on our table to talk about what I just ate. After that, we decided to walk off the food we ate.

It's been about twenty minutes since we began walking, and having been with Matsuri this long, I can tell I'll be relying on her more often. Up ahead, a large building comes into view. To me, it looks like it might be a mall. Obviously the first thing that comes to mind is more Gaara merchandise. I immediately point out the building to Matsuri.

"Hey, Matsuri, can we go there?"

"There?" She peers at me with a slight shock. So there's no Gaara stuff there?

"Uh, yeah. It looks cool so I just wanted to take a look inside."

She takes out a small pouch from her shinobi jacket and starts to looks through it. "I don't know if I have enough money. Is it okay if we only look around?"

I nod. "Yeah that's okay with me."

We walk to the building, getting closer and closer up to the point where I realize that it isn't a mall but a movie theatre. Posters are up everywhere advertising different genres that range from action to fantasy to horror by the looks of it. It's very interesting to see what they call entertainment compared to the commercials for movies I used to see on TV everyday. No aliens or monsters, but some terrifying jutsus taking possession of people and causing the world to end. Oh, this one is interesting. Apparently they also have some medieval stuff here too. I tilt my head to the side but the armor and swords are a bit ahead of our time compared the ones I'm used to seeing.

I didn't even realize I stopped in front of a poster until Matsuri came up to me.

"Do you want to see that?" she asked me.

I blink away all thoughts that were still in my head to move my face away from the poster. "No. I just wanted to look at it." Because I can't read anything that's on it.

Matsuri smiles. "Those are actually popular here. What about where you come from?"

Now this will take a lot of thinking. Let's see, there's comedies, romance- no wait! Romcoms. Yeah, romcoms. "Romantic comedies," is what I say to her.

"Romantic comedies?" She ponders this for a moment before she has that expression of having figured it out. "Now that you mention it, there's this new movie that's going to come out soon that's a romantic comedy. Come on." Like usual, she takes off.

I chase after Matsuri who stops in front of the largest poster outside of the theatre. It also happens to be in the center of the building. Still can't read Japanese.

Matsuri points to the thing. "This is it! It's called It Was Fate. It's about a novelist who, by chance, meets a man while traveling. She tells him that she is stuck on how to end one of her books and so the man proposes an idea. He asks if she would marry his son so it could benefit them both. And it turns out that his son is the head of a really big company."

And where does comedy fit in all of this?

"But both her and the guy are really shy and have never been in a serious relationship before so there's a lot of funny situations involving them and his three younger brothers," she carries on.

Oh, so siblings and mishaps make the movie a romantic comedy? I'm actually getting excited to watch it.

"That sounds interesting."

Matsuri's eyes shoot wide open and she dreamily sighs. "It really does doesn't it? It just makes you think about that one special person in your life. Oh, Marisela, do you have someone special?"

The Gaara statuette in my left hand shakes gently due to my lightly jerking fingers.

That came out of absolutely nowhere. Now how am I supposed to answer? There's no one I really like come to think of it. Except maybe…

"Well… There is this one guy…" I trail off a bit as I feel a small blush on my cheeks.

Matsuri lights up like a Christmas tree. "Wow! You too!"

"Wait, Matsuri, you like someone too?"

She smiles to herself, looking at the ground sheepishly. "Yeah. It's someone I've known for a long time now. I'm hoping that one day he could like me as much as I like him."

Here we are, two girls that like guys but can't seem to get them to like us. Matsuri's is probably more able to come true compared to my crush which, up until two days ago was all but a figure in a screen. I feel the object in my left hand grow warm. Either way, I smile encouragingly at her. "I think he'll like you some time if you don't stop liking him."

Matsuri brightens even more. "Of course I won't! Not with you having so much faith in me, Marisela. I just wish for your guy to like you back too." Suddenly, she whips out her wallet again. After a few minutes, she releases a cry of victory and raises a small slip of paper in the air. "Here it is! I knew I had it." She hands me the little piece of paper that has big writing on the front side and too many to count in small print on the back.

"A ticket?" I guess.

Matsuri nods. "Sort of. It's your one way ticket to a free movie. I remembered I had it when we were talking about the movie. Do you want to use it now or later? I think I still have enough money for some snacks if you want?"

"You mean right now? Like, watch a movie right now?"

"Yup."

This has got to be the best day ever.

"Yeah, let's go!"

We settle on a comedy about two anbu ninja that have to infiltrate a secret organization that has to do with mobs. It was hilarious and reminds me a lot of 21 Jump Street. It actually brought up the conversation of my ranking. I know that I'm supposed to be a shinobi but no one ever said if I even passed the chunin exams or was bumped up to Jonin. Dammit, more lies. But hey I'm okay with that.

"Jonin."

"Wow! That's so cool. I'm still a genin. Do you have any tips?"

Let's see, how do I make it so that I won't lie to her but don't say the absolute truth or leave her wanting more? "Train hard and don't give up." Yeah that sounds right.

With that, Matsuri is satisfied and doesn't ask any more questions so we walk around the village a bit more until the sun starts to go down. The sun's speed as it gets lower and lower is the same speed I move my head to get a glance at the bracelet on my right wrist. I can't help myself. Every second I'm here I'm constantly connecting everything I've seen through a screen to the real world and the people I'm not with. I brush the yarn of the bracelet, telling myself and the friends that aren't by my side at the moment, Don't worry guys, we'll get through this.

"Marisela."

Matsuri nudges my shoulder lightly. My attention is brought back to her. "Sorry, I was just thinking. What's up?"

She turns to look at the fading sun. "It's starting to get dark. Where do you live? I can walk you there."

Wait a second. Have I really been with Matsuri this long? And has Temari just left me with her this entire time? What kind of guardian just drops off the person they need to guard and never comes back? Shinobi my-

"Marisela?"

Oh, yeah. So where do I go? I don't exactly know where my hut is or where Temari or even Kankuro can be. That just leaves… I glance down at the statuette of that person. "A-Actually, can you take me to the Kazekage's office? I need to talk with Gaara."

"G-Gaara! Why didn't you say so? Let's go now!"