Hello again everyone! It's been a while, but I'm back! I hope you all have been enjoying yourselves while I was away. ~KB

Disclaimer: I don't own it... blah blah blah. (I'm getting tired of this)

UPDATED VERSION - 3/31/16

Chapter 22: Neighbors

Manami glanced at the little slip of paper for the thirteenth time that morning.

"Five-twenty, five-twenty-one…" she whispered mostly to herself. "It should be right- here!"

Manami stopped in front of a door labeled 524, the number of her new apartment. She slipped the paper into her pocket and pulled out the key provided by the landlord earlier that day. Adjusting the bags to one arm, Manami unlocked the door and pushed it open.

"Well, here it is!" she happily announced. The purple-haired ninja shoved past Manami into the apartment shouting "It's about time!"

Anko unceremoniously dropped the groceries on the floor of what appeared to be a living room and fell beside them.

"Please be careful with those!" Manami scolded, stepping around the female ninja. "I appreciate your assistance, but how am I supposed to cook with already mashed food?"

Anko shrugged, "Eh, not my problem. Besides, it all ends up in the same place."

Manami wrinkled her nose and shook her head. Adjusting the bags once again, Manami closed the door with her foot then made her way to the kitchen on the far side of the living room. It was small, especially with the dining table, but maneuverable. Back in the living room, Manami found Anko sprawled out on the provided couch. She smiled to herself and shook her head again; there weren't that many groceries. Taking a look around, Manami spotted two additional single chairs and a couple of end-tables with lamps on each. Along the right wall was a linen closet and a hallway that she supposed led to the bedroom and bathroom.

Gathering the spilled food items, Manami picked up the bags again. Okay, maybe there are a few extra items, she thought carrying them to the kitchen.

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*Whump!*

Manami let out a deep breath from the awkward position on the bed she landed in. It was surprisingly comfortable.

After Anko had helped her shop for groceries, Manami spent the day organizing her new apartment. It came with standard furniture and some basic kitchen appliances but needed a personal touch to it. The bedroom was down the hallway as Manami had guessed, along with a bathroom and storage closet.

Manami had put all the groceries away (no thanks to Anko, who later left from boredom) then set to rearranging the furniture. The couch was now shoved against the far left wall with an end-table on each side and the two single seats were placed on opposite walls. The hard-wood floor wasn't too bad, but if Manami earned enough money a carpet wouldn't hurt.

The bedroom wasn't too bad either but Manami struggled for a while trying to swap the placement of the desk and bed. Once those were successfully moved, Manami told herself she deserved a break and flopped on the bed, her head missing the pillow by about two feet.

*KnockKnockKnock*

Manami's eyes snapped open. Who on earth is that? she thought as she grabbed her headband and a kunai. Part of her new contract as a ninja of the village required her to wear the headband (in some form or fashion) at all times when on duty. The uniform was recommended, but not necessary. The kunai was for some sort of protection; Manami had handed in her weapons after the test but Anko "accidentally" left a few kunai in her apartment. Manami supposed it was because she didn't have any proper weaponry of her own yet. She would make sure to return them later.

Manami cautiously moved towards the door. She couldn't be too careful in this village; not after everyone she's met so far. Tucking the kunai behind her Manami called out, "Hello?"

"Hi!" came a muffled voice through the door.

"Who is it?"

"Oh, sorry. I'm your neighbor, Izumo-" the voice introduced.

"And I'm Kotetsu!" exclaimed a second one.

"We wanted to welcome you to the complex."

The names rung a small bell, but Manami couldn't pin where she'd heard them before. She decided it was safe enough, but kept the kunai in her front pocket. Manami opened the door with the chain lock on to see two familiar faces and blinked in surprise. "Wait- Aren't you two the gate guards?!"

The ninja with long, spiky, black hair and the white strip of cloth over his nose broke out into a huge grin. "You're that pretty girl that Genma chased through the gate! Manami, right?"

The ninja with the bandana and brown hair combed over his right eye elbowed his friend in the gut.

"We're tryin' to make a good first impression, not creep her out!" he hissed. He looked at Manami and gave her an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that. Are you the new girl that we saw?"

Manami nodded, fighting down laughter at their antics. "I am. It's nice to officially meet you this time."

They smiled at her and Manami felt awkward just standing there. "Would you like to come in?" she asked hesitantly.

Izumo and Kotetsu nodded eagerly. Closing the door, Manami unlocked the chain. She fingered the kunai in her pocket to make sure it was still there and opened the door. Izumo entered first, nodding his thanks, followed by Kotetsu who caught Manami off guard by shoving a gift bag in her arms.

"W-what's this?" she sputtered out.

"It's a welcome gift!" Kotetsu happily replied.

Izumo smiled in agreement, "I live next door in 525, but Kotetsu and I often hang out together. He lives up a floor in 619."

Manami ruffled around the tissue paper and pulled out a large bottle that read "Sake" on the label.

"I- uh, thank you!" she sputtered out. The two ninja beamed at her and Manami couldn't help but smile back. How sweet of them, she thought.

Feeling awkward just standing there, again, Manami felt obligated to keep the conversation going.

"I- uh, you see," she started hesitantly, "since I'm new here, would you guys mind helping me out a bit?"

"Sure!" they chimed together and Manami couldn't help but laugh. She was already beginning to grow very fond of these two.

"Well," she began, "there's a lot about your village that I don't know and I'm supposed to help out one of the teachers at the academy. So to start, where's that at? Is it the building next to the Hokage's office?"

Izumo nodded his head. "That's the one. It's hard to miss will all the students running around."

"Too true!" Kotetsu continued, "In fact, a close friend of ours works there."

"Really? That's cool. I'd love to meet him one day." Manami commented.

"Oh! I know!" Kotetsu was practically bouncing in place. "We could all go out for dinner one night and give you a proper tour of the village!"

Izumo grinned from ear to ear, "That's a perfect idea! This way you get to meet some more people and more importantly a coworker at the academy!"

Manami hugged the sake bottle nervously and smiled sheepishly. "I don't think I can do that."

Kotetsu and Izumo gaped at her. "Why not?!" the asked in unison.

"I- I uh, you see…" Manami fumbled for words in embarrassment, "I don't really have any money. Even after I get paid for working this week, it will just go back to the rent on the apartment this month. Not to mention I need to start looking for weapons and-"

"Hang on," Izumo interrupted, causing Manami to flush in more embarrassment, "You think that we were gonna make you pay for your meal?"

Manami looked back and forth between the two and blinked. Slowly, she nodded her head in response.

"We wouldn't do that!" Kotetsu cried, "You're new here! It's our treat!"

Manami was stunned, They're treating me? But I just moved here!

A firm hand on her shoulder brought her out of her thoughts. Izumo smiled sweetly at her, "Seriously. Don't worry about it. That's what friends do for each other."

Friends… Manami looked at the pair and smiled. Kotetsu wrapped his arm around Manami and brought them all in for a group hug. She stiffened from the sudden contact at first, but eased into the hug gradually. Manami couldn't stop the small smile from growing even if she wanted to. I have friends now, she thought hugging her new companions.

FIN

:) I know it isn't much, but I promise it's important! (sort of... lol) Until next time! ~KunoichiBlade