I've been dragging this out for entirely too long. Now that I've made the decision to come back to this place, I'm dragging my feet to get there. The road is clear and the weather, while entirely too hot, is perfect for traveling. If my destination were anywhere else, there's no doubt I'd have a little more pep in my step. Enough. I've spent the last four years searching for answers, and they aren't out there. The only place I'm going to find what I'm looking for is up ahead.


The trees are beginning to thin out. The sunlight is increasing. I can make out the edges of the walls and suddenly the open gates of the Hidden Leaf Village. I press on, the sounds of the village drowning out the rapid beating of my heart. The whole village is humming with life—birds in the trees, citizens milling about the streets, and are those cats? Startled by the amount of cats that just crossed my path, I find myself stopped in the middle of the street.

"Are you lost, dear?"

Whipping my head to the right, I fight the urge to draw a kunai. A woman is standing outside a building, tending to some potted plants. She appears plain in dress and feature. Middle-aged. No visible headband. Not a shinobi. Not a threat. I slowly release the breath I was holding, schooling my features into a soft smile.

"I'm new in town. Could you point me in the direction of place to stay?"

She smiles at me. "Of course. Keep straight along this road until you see the flower shop. There's a hotel directly across the street."

"Thank you."

I dip my head in gratitude and adjust the strap on my bag before moving on. Everything I've heard about this village seems to be true, at least on the surface. It really is bright and colorful, but in a welcoming way. Nothing like Tanzaku Town. That place was painstakingly dull and a headache at best with the festivals. No, this place is warm and balanced. There's the flower shop.

Turning to my right, I take note of my soon-to-be temporary home. The Mountain Villa. Three stories. Sloped awning over the first floor storefront. Shorter buildings on the north and south of the building. Suitable escape routes. This will do. Taking a deep breath, I move forward. There is a soft ring of a bell as I push the door open. The lobby is a small, the counter occupying most of the room. There is a small chair in the corner and a hallway I assume leading to the rooms on the left. An older gentleman is manning the counter.

"Hello!"

Balding. Thick glasses. Age spots dot his hands.

"How can I help you?"

Not a threat.

"I'm new in town. I need a room until I can secure more permanent housing" I say in gentle voice.

"Certainly." He pulls out a book, flipping through the worn pages. "I have rates for the night, week, and month. Do you know how long you'll be staying here?"

"Let's start with a week."

"Just fill out this form for me." He passes me the journal, turning to find a room key. "It'll be 2000 ryō for the week. If you wind up staying for a month, I'll take 900 off your final week."

"Thank you." This is all basic information: name and home village. Bare minimum information required to give to law enforcement if necessary. Too bad I don't know most of this. I pass the form back with the money.

"So, Mei? Mei what? You know you have to fill this whole thing out right?"

If only I could. "It's just Mei." He starts to grumble, fiddling with his ledger. "I don't have any family and I've been traveling for as long as I can remember. I don't have a home village."

"Very well, just Mei." He hands me the key and a receipt. "You'll be on the second floor, room four. My name is Shou—just Shou, mind you. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. If I'm not here, leave me a note." The old man's—no, Shou's grumpy demeanor is overshadowed by his sudden pleasantness.

"Thank you, Shou." Gathering my room key from the desk, I head for the hallway on the left. There are only two doors in this hall, probably a room for Shou and another for supplies. The stairs are narrow and turn the corner at the top, leading to an open hall with staggered doors on both sides. Four, four, four, ah! There I am. Second door from the end of the hall and the next set of stairs.

The key turns gently in the lock with an audible click. Good. I'll be able to hear any intruders attempting to pick the lock. The room itself is plain. A standard bed, one nightstand with a lamp, and a window overlooking the street on the far wall. There is a small bathroom attached on the right, just inside the room. Nothing appears to be out of the ordinary. It doesn't exactly scream the comforts of a home, but it will do until I can find my own place. Tomorrow, I'll start looking for a more permanent place and then work. Right now I need rest. Traveling and training has kept me on guard for too long. If I'm going to make a life here, I need to let myself relax and trust in the village. I don't even bother to change before sinking into the mattress and succumbing to sleep, exhausted from my journey.


Author's Note: This is my first time writing in such a long time. I have just recently gotten into Naruto and have had a story running around my head for weeks. Not everything I write will coincide with show, as I have created my own character and need to work her into the Naruto universe. Updates may be sporadic, but I am aiming for uploading at least once every week while the chapters are short. Constructive criticism is always welcome! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy!