Alright. So. If this looks familiar, that's because I tried to post this before. Between crippling self doubt and other struggles I took it down and then destroyed it because of said struggles. I was afraid it would become just like my other fanfiction story, in which I felt the relationship/romance drained the story (You know those stories where as soon as the romance starts nothing else happens? I don't like those and I can't stand them. It's fine if it's purely a romance but when it starts as an adventure and then nothing but romance… not a fan.) So I was afraid that the story would become just like that. Mostly because it began similarly.

The GOOD news is that the story is starting a bit more clear on why Tami showed up. And you won't be rereading most of the older plot points. Because when I had taken this down, I had roughly 12k words, I'll try my best to not only match it but best it so when this is posted, we won't be rehashing old ground.

Warnings: Tami and her sassy attitude, kidnapping, violence, movie/theater/book mentions, one liners, and various other fanfic shenanigans.

Spark

Chapter One

"I am somewhat exhausted; I wonder how a battery feels when it pours electricity into a non-conductor?"

― Arthur Conan Doyle , The Adventure of the Dying Detective

After being in plays, and reading stories about grand adventures I never did think I would be a part of them. Never once in my twenty-one years would I be dropped into another world like Dorothy in Wizard of Oz. Ah. Pardon. Maybe not the best comparison. After all, Chicago is far from Kansas, and I wasn't even born in America. Perhaps Alice in Wonderland worked better

My day had been usual. Wake up, get breakfast, go to rehearsal, return home and (like every Wednesday) help my Uncle Oliver with his detective work at Walker Investigation. It had quite the ring, don't you think? I had been helping since I was 15. In some ways he approved. In others, he wasn't much for it. But he respected my will to do as I wished, and much preferred to be open about my nosiness than sleuthing in the shadows without him. He knew my certain stubbornness for particular things. Best to work with it than against and all that.

I was getting ready at 4:30pm like I always did before heading to my Uncle. Personally, I preferred to dress up when going to gather information on people. I didn't like people knowing what I truly looked like. The anonymity was a grand thing.

I had a thin wiry frame at 5ft6, which suited best for my day job. I had short platinum blonde hair that tended to do whatever it wished, green eyes, with no piercings save for my ears.

So long as I wasn't on my theater stage or working with Uncle I didn't care.

And when I was with Uncle - well; that was a different story. I played up the punk, uncaring act. I changed my hair so that it was bi-colored with temporary dye, the back was a bubblegum pink while the front was a deep navy blue. I used convincing, yet completely fake piercings on my ears and one on my nose. I used lavender contacts as well - they looked rather eerie in the right lighting. With a leather jacket, an underground band t shirt, skinny jeans black boots and silver rings on nearly every finger I completed my look. There were more than enough who looked like me for me to nearly fade into the sea of people. At least in the crowds I walked in for information, after all that was the only thing I dealt in. I was just another girl gossiping surrounded by others doing the same.

I had my bag packed, prepared for anything. Among my possessions was whatever I felt I needed. My Uncle loved to speak about being prepared for anything, for everything. I tried to live by this. Not as well as I hoped, mind - but my best. Uncle and I would be investigating our latest case. I also had another mystery I wanted to check in on; Luanna, a close friend of mine, hadn't replied to me for a few days. I hoped she was well.

I was getting ready to leave when I heard my peculiar roommate, Maya Davis, was watching that show. She was a hard core anime fan. I wasn't much for it, personally. I tried to watch the Dragon one (which hadn't barely any dragons in it, mind) and the screaming men turned me off of the genre completely. I went to the living room and sure enough she was watching her favorite one.

It was the one with the hyperactive blond, who yelled far too often and was rather vibrant in personality. She had posters all over her room of this anime, and even statues of a particular grey-haired one and a very tired looking black haired one.

I couldn't recall the names of the characters (Naruno? Hitch-hike? Itchy? I was rather lost).

Maya was cute and petite, deep black hair and lively clear blue eyes. She was easily excitable and a joy to be around - despite her odd choices in shows. I was never home much anyways. It was better that she actually put the television to use.

I strolled in quietly, eyeing the scene before me. She was sitting on the floor, the comics surrounded her. The show looked like it was at the beginning. The grey-haired man was on the screen fighting someone else wrapped in bandages. Three little kids seemed to be just trying to deal on their own in the background, the blond included.

She turned around and saw me standing there.

"Lookit you, all fancy for work." She grinned up at me. I hummed.

"What can I say? I aim to please." I responded back. My gaze flickered up to the screen in question. "Again?"

"What can I say?" Maya parroted, "I love this show. It's just so inspiring! So amazing! The characters are so alive and - agh! Have I told you about Kakashi and Itachi? Their story arcs are so heartbreaking! And Naruto's is so amazing!"

I hummed, raising an eyebrow. Ah, that was their names. "Everyone has a heartbreaking story, luv."

It was then when I noticed something strange. Was it just me or was the carpet glowing? No. It couldn't have been.

"No, not at all! Not tragic like theirs." She sighed longingly and turned to watch the show again.

"Do you have to go soon?" She asked.

I tried not to notice that the floor was glowing brighter. Maybe it was the TV? I glanced at it - no.

"Ah - maybe about ten minutes."

"Stay and watch! I promise, this is nothing like Dragon Ball. I think you'd like it! I mean, there's even a character similar to Gambit. Well, kind of." She tried to entice me. I gave her a well suffering sigh and shrugged.

Gambit of the X-Men was a favorite of mine. I may have learned a couple of card tricks for kicks when I was younger because of the character. But that was neither here nor there.

"Fine. Ten minutes. Then I must go." I complied.

"Oh! Really? Wait right here! You have down time, right? Let me get the first graphic novel! You can read it while on break!" She jumped up and ran from the room. I watched her as she went.

It was then as she left that it looked like words in an unknown language were appearing on the walls. Was it scribbles or words?

What was going on?

I watched them scroll up like the opening to Star Wars.

I gripped my backpack tighter, standing up to look closer at it.

"Maya, did you buy a wall laser?" I asked. It was all I could think of. How on earth could this be happening?

"No - why do you-"

POOF

Dust burst right in my face, overwhelming my senses and sight. Something wasn't right, my head felt funny and I couldn't see anything.

"Maya, what is going-" I froze as the dust cloud cleared. Pieces of the comic book Maya loved so much flitted around my feet. While I knew Maya was going to be angry about it, that wasn't the most concerning part. I was no longer in my living room - nor was I in my apartment either. There were four men standing around, three were wearing combat gear and the other seemed to be in a lab coat. Each of them wore a metal headband with a crossed out sideways H with an I near it. Their faces looked - odd. The fine lines and wrinkles that every face had no matter the age wasn't there. Their eyes were larger than I expected them to be. It was uncanny but I dismissed it immediately. Bigger fish to fry and all that.

Somehow, we were in some sort of cave with all sorts of paper around and lab equipment. Text was written everywhere on the floor below me, but it looked like the group had been working there for some time. Practically out of nowhere, the ninja on the left grabbed me and put me in a headlock. I dropped my bag on reflex alone and my hands went right to his arm, trying to pull him away. He didn't move - I wasn't anywhere near strong enough.

"You tell us what we want know." The man in the labcoat said in heavily accented English.

He wanted information? On what? On who? This wasn't the first time I had been in this situation, but still. I had to at least know the context! One moment I was at home and in a poof of smoke I was in a cave?

"Really, luv? Methinks you know more than I at this moment in time." I bit out. Confusion flickered on his face before it darkened and he said something to the other men in some other language. Was it Japanese? Maybe? It sounded familiar. Then, just as suddenly as before a knife appeared at my neck.

Oh.

Fun.

Interrogations.

What. Was. Going. On?!

"What is going on? Where's Maya?" I hissed out, trying my best not to lose my composure.

"Your world has Naruto. My world wants to know." The man in the Lab coat. "You know who we are."

He gestured to the comic book papers around my feet as another man picked them up.

What? The man had lost his mind. My world? His world? I was kidnapped by men who thought the show was real. The man thought I knew something about his world? Insanity?

"Mmm, too true I know who you are. Losers by the look of it." I grinned. He glared at me.

The only thing that was saving me was the fact he believed I knew something. I had to make a plan. Was this a prank? Where was Maya? Was she safe?

He nodded to the other men and spoke again in that language.

"We will make you cooperate." He grinned sadistically at me. Ah - not what I wanted.

One of the men were dragging me away - the knife was gone but the intent was still there. Were they going to torture the information out of me? How long could I pretend to know what a group of insane men wanted to know? How long could I keep it up to escape or be saved?

No! I had to fight! I struggled against him.

"Let me go!" I growled out, kicking as the man tried to drag me away. He was laughing as if my battle meant nothing to him. The others looked just as entertained.

I had to get away now. If I was strapped down to that table who knew how long I could be stuck! By any means I had to escape!

My hand dove into my pocket and grabbed my key-chain pepper spray. They didn't even notice around their laughter. With one quick movement (and with closed eyes) I sprayed my captor who began to howl in pain. He let me go to clutch his face, his screaming continued. I could feel a burning sensation in the air and in my nose - but I knew I had to go. Quickly!

As soon as I was released I tried to dash out of the cave entrance. My other hand went for my pants pocket and pulled out my compact stun gun. Both of these items I needed for work. It was too bad I wasn't able to carry something stronger.

The other two tried to rush me, I was able to stun one but the other dodged my pepper spray.

Something appeared in his hand - was it - was it electricity?!

He grabbed my arm and instantly pain shot through my arm making it's quick and brutal pace throughout my body. I didn't even feel it when I fell onto the ground. I could hear one cackle in glee, while the others were swearing (or at least it sounded like it). Lab Coat was barking orders to the others while I writhed in pain. I had never before been so aware of all of my nerves before. I was grabbed once more and dragged lifelessly towards the table once more.

How did they hold electricity in their very hand?

Something was wrong.

They were laughing once more. Thankfully it wasn't for long. There was a flurry of movement and yelling behind me.

I was dropped again and I could hear chaos begin. I forced my eyes open and there was a man fighting. He was big, and had long white hair. He wore a green ninja suit with a bright red vest over it. With the distraction there, I slowly forced myself up on my knees as I watched others pile into the cave. It was two others in masks and black attire.

Breathing itself was hard and my arm felt like it was on fire but I couldn't stop. I had to get out. Were these friends or otherwise? Maybe Uncle sent them? Certainly I would have known who they were if that was the case. Certainly Uncle wouldn't have known I was gone so quickly. He was good, but not that good.

The men battling soon ended in death for my captors and I forced myself to my feet. My body felt so raw that at that moment I wasn't sure what I would do next.

The men who had taken me were dead. Their blood spattered around the cave and bodies were laying like discarded cigarette butts. The man who would be my savior stood tall. The way he held himself made me think of Uncle Oliver, his face set in a concerned scowl. He had long white hair and red lines that ran down from under each eye. He had his hands out in the universal signal of "I won't hurt you". But, once more, I didn't understand a word he spoke.

"I don't know what you're saying." I bit out. "Who are you and who sent you?"

Understanding flickered in his eyes.

"Aaaah." He nodded and looked to the two others with him, one in an owl mask and the other in a frog mask. Frog-Mask started talking, gesturing to the ground. One of them picked up the comic pieces on the ground.

One of them muttered Kakashi and Uchiha under their breath, looking up at the ringleader. They knew about that strange Anime too?

"What on earth are you all concerned about Naruto for?" I asked. It was a book. A cartoon!

Now there was a reaction. A hard look appeared in the man's eyes. One barked out something.

"I don't understand you." I growled at him back.

The white-haired man studied me carefully and snagged the comic in hand and waved it. He gestured to me.

Ah. He wanted to know what I knew. Same as the others. I let out a sigh and shook my head.

"I've no idea." I gave him a deep shrug, throwing my arms up to further emphasize my point.

He looked around at the others and grunted something. The owl masked man quietly came forward. I jerked away but the white haired man sent me a calming signal and an encouraging look.

I frowned and eyed the other carefully.

"I suppose I've no choice but to trust you." I muttered. Bird-Mask shuffled over and tugged on my jacket. I shrugged it off and saw exactly why I was still in pain. A blue electric burn decorated my arm right up to my heart and neck. I grimaced and others muttered under their breath. I tried my best to remain calm when Owl-Mask's hands started to glow. Truly, I tried but I couldn't help but jerk away. The Owl-man spoke calmingly and grabbed my arm, placing the glowing hand on my burn. I would have fought him but it felt much better when he was done (although the mark remained). What was that? What was he?

Owl-Man stepped away when he was done. I decided to call that one Jareth - a character from The Labyrinth who had a habit of turning into an owl.

The main man spoke to the others, muttering to them. He then watched me carefully and tapped his chest meaningfully.

"Jiraiya."

Right then, introductions. Jiraiya watched me expectantly, as if I should know something. It was almost like he thought I knew who he was. I didn't. I've never seen the man in my life.

"Tami." I pointed to myself. He seemed to deflate for a brief moment.

I had the distinct feeling that we would be leaving soon. I also had the feeling this would be my last chance for information. In addition, I felt that I also would probably be politely asked to go with these mystery men. I picked my jacket up and fished out my phone. Jareth seemed to be watching me intently. He was speaking to the others, probably reporting on my actions. Fair enough, all things considered.

"It's fine, Jareth. No trickery on my part." I put as much energy as I could to sound reassuring. I unlocked the device with him watching over my shoulder and started taking pictures of everything. The walls, the papers on the counter, the men - anything and everything. I certainly didn't know the language spoken, but looking at it everything literally looked like Japanese. I wondered about it, how odd everything was.

No.

I didn't have time to think about this.

Jiraiya was eyeing me with concern. "Tami."

I nodded and put up my hand, wiggling my fingers at him, "Five minutes, Jiraiya. Give me five minutes."

Jiraiya sighed and grumbled while another man laughed.

Probably some comments about women taking their time. Whatever - I might need this information later.

That little Lab-Rat probably had a hiding vault somewhere. Types like his tended to. Thugs and fighters don't care about information being hidden and safe all too much. Lab-rats? They hid it and stockpiled one of them tended to believe they were on the verge of a devastating breakthrough thanks to their obvious brilliance. I walked around the room, kicking the wall.

"Tami." Jiraiya called again.

I checked my phone, and held up four more fingers. Barely any time had passed. Jareth seemed to know exactly what I was doing when I found a hollow part of the wall.

I knelt down to investigate it further when Jareth motioned me to step away. He moved his hands in quick succession (gang signs?) and something poofed. He then jabbed a knife into the wall, popping the false wall out.

Well. That was far more flashy than I had planned. I do wonder if he actually did something, or if it was for show.

"Thanks, Jareth." I muttered, using my flashlight on my phone to dig through the little cavern. Papers, papers, papers. Nothing I could read, sadly. Jiraiya appeared behind me and snagged the papers from my hand.

"Why, you're very welcome." I said dryly and he indicated it was time to go. I shouldered my bag after picking up my things and followed him. Jareth and the Frog Mask stayed behind. Jiraiya barked orders to them and hid the papers in his shirt.

"Well then, this will be fun." I muttered to myself.

The masked men burned the cave - nothing remained. They scavenged for what they could beforehand, and the rest was gone just as quickly as the men were.

While waiting for the Three Amigos to finish their work, I plotted my course.

It was clear I was no longer home. Probably in Japan, somehow. I didn't know how it happened, but it was clear. My phone had no reception so I had to be overseas, or at least the middle of nowhere. As soon as I could I would call Uncle, or my Cousin Charles. He was in the FBI (at least last I knew). I would be able to find a way back home after that.

I watched Jiraiya quietly as he made his way to me. What he didn't know was that I was recording the upcoming conversation on my phone. I could learn Japanese, or find someone who knew it. I would at least know what was going on, albeit far too late. But, information was information. I may need it.

Finally, he turned to me with a look I was all too familiar with. The same look my Uncle would use when he had to tell me news I wouldn't like. I had been right.

"Tami…" Jiraiya began, and continued to talk slowly. He pointed to his two masked friends with his thumb, as he put a comforting hand on my shoulder. He then gave me a bright, but entirely forced and fake smile.

"I don't trust you, luv." I smiled and nodded in agreement. I would go with them and find out more about how to get home. They showed me no distinct reason that I should not trust them - but they haven't quite proven it either.

I followed Jiraiya and the other two flanked me as we made our trek down the mountain.

Jiraiya chatted cheerfully while I had no idea what he was saying. I hummed along and we both communicated in an intricate game of charades.

Jareth's name was apparently Fukuro, while the Frog's name was Kaeru. Jareth seemed amused by my choice in names, while Frog (who I've named as Frogger after the infamous Frog) didn't care for it. Well, I could only guess - I couldn't tell one way or the other with the masks; the men, beside Jiraiya, barely emoted. Frogger, for the most part seemed distant and unattached to what was going on. Jareth was the only one who seemed to be friendly in manner.

It took us some time, but before nightfall we arrived into town. The town looked… strange. There was barely anything modern in the town, the streets weren't even paved and there weren't even cars. The houses were a strange collection of different styles. Some houses were rounded and others were what I expected from Japan. There were bicycles here and there, but nothing motorized. Even the clothing seemed out of date. There were no jeans, no leather jackets, no boots like mine. The colors of the clothes seemed drained - nothing of the bright tones or modern aesthetic I heard that populated Toyko. Thankfully there were landlines but no cellphone towers. It was bizarre. Maybe I was truly in the middle of nowhere? Then again - my world, your world - maybe something else was going on?

My new friends walked me to a hotel. We stayed in a room with two beds (The men never seem to sleep, and Jiraiya was always gone when we were in town). I tried calling home with the telephone (a rotary telephone!), but nothing worked. Just a dial tone and disappointment. Uncle must be so worried. Maya was probably as well.

It wasn't until I went to the restroom when things took a turn for the strange. I had gone in to take a shower when I saw the state of myself.

While I still looked like myself, it wasn't the me I was used to seeing in the mirror. It was like looking at a living cartoon. I nearly screamed, instead holding my breath before I could slowly gain my bearings. It was unsettling. I forced out a slow, shaky breath.

Calm down. This changes nothing. It's nothing.

But it was something. My eyes were bigger and my features in general were cartoonized. I studied myself for what felt like hours, expecting this farce to disappear. I had to come to a conclusion. Maybe I was in another world? Perhaps. But, no - it couldn't be. I had to decide who I trusted. The men I was with? I had no other choice. The men who insisted it was "my world vs their world"? Maybe not. The men I was with showed me no reason to not trust them.

I forced down my panic and tried to not think about it. There was nothing I could do about it now. Nothing at all. Panic would do nothing.

So, instead I took off my false earrings and piercings and took off my rings, focusing on a simple task just to calm down. Quickly, I took out my contacts soon after and nearly regretted it. When I saw my eyes - far brighter green than I was used to, I forced myself to look away.

Don't think about it, don't think about it, don't think about it. I chanted to myself.

I cleaned up, and stripped the dye out of my hair. Had the men wondered anything they didn't say a word or move. Jiraiya barely even seemed to register that I looked different the next day. Had Frogger or Jareth even explained it, I never would have known.

My life was this way for the next week or so as we traversed through what I assumed was Japan. What I hoped was Japan. If - if it was't Japan, I didn't know -

No.

Anything else was insane.

I tried calling home when I could via landlines at the hotels - nothing. I called every number I knew thrice over and nothing happened every time. Every time it was the same, maddening dial tone. Uncle must be so worried about me. Maya - I had just went missing. She wouldn't have known what had happened to me. I could only imagine what was happening at work. I imagine my understudy had gladly took over.

I couldn't ask my new friends much, or even where we were going. Jiraiya wasn't saying much, just shinjiru sprinkled throughout his mystery sentences. I'd caught on to some of their words, but not nearly enough to understand much of anything.

Finally we reached our supposed destination. Jareth and Frogger disappeared as the city came into view. The entire city was encased in a large wooden fence and a large gate with what I figured was Kanji labeling the town.

We stopped only long enough to talk to the guard at the gate. His outfit looked so very familiar. Painfully familiar, to be honest. The man wore a garish green vest, a navy blue sweater underneath, blue pants with these incredibly ugly sandals. He also wore a headband. It was like the headband the other men were wearing but the emblem on it was different. It looked like an eye or a bird's head seen from the side - but this one didn't have a strike through it. It looked so very familiar.

Jiraiya traded words with the man, before patting me on the shoulder with a loud "Tami" when introducing me.

To ease my nerves I bowed elaborately. The man in the ugly uniform grunted, not at all looking amused. Jiraiya simply grinned, patting me on the shoulder even more. They gave me a sheet of paper and sent us on our way. I folded it and put it in my jacket pocket.

Jiraiya kept his arm around me, steering me as we went. The people of the village starred as we walked by. He didn't even seem to notice it as he rambled on. He sprinkled my name in here and there and soon enough we stopped in front of a large building. He grinned at me again, patted my shoulder, and we walked in.

It looked like a government building but far before the need for metal detectors and severe security. There were some lone plants decorating the sparse room, a simple rug and very official looking portraits on the walls of men in large hats. There were guards but no one stopped us as we made our way in. At least I would finally get my answers. That's what I was heading towards. That was what I was hoping for.

I tried not to let my anxious thoughts get the best of me. There were a handful of men in the room, including Jareth and Frogger. One man was a long haired blond with green eyes, he had strong features and a stern face. Another had deep scars on his face and a scowl. The last was an older man in a large hat and ornate robes, a smoking pipe stuck between his teeth. Jiraiya guided me to a chair and gestured for me to sit. They began talking to each other in hurried but hushed tones. Jiraiya had pulled out the comic sheets he had collected a week prior. The old man gasped and muttered to himself as he pulled them in to examine. The men passed the papers back and forth, their voices more and more concerned.

I was trying not to read into the situation. I tried not to think about why they would care about a comic book page, or why they dragged me across half of creation. I absolutely refused to even consider why the guard's uniform looked so painfully familiar. I did my best not to even think about it. And I did my best to be quiet. I was also recording this conversation with my phone. My phone wasn't used much for its original purpose but with a solar charging backpack - it worked well enough for other uses.

They continued chatting until finally they seemed to come to a conclusion. The man in the robes spoke to Frogger and suddenly Frogger vanished in a poof of smoke. I jerked, not expecting it at all. The men seemed to be evaluating my reaction. Jiraiya gestured to me, seeming to point it out.

They spoke for a short time longer before the blond made his way over to me.

His face was severe and drawn. He knelt down to me again as Jiraiya kept saying Shinjiru again. He seemed concerned while the others appeared upset.

I couldn't tell you what the Blond did but I was out within seconds. My memories seemed to be flashing through my mind without any control on my part. They were almost shuffled as if by another's hand. They stopped in some situations but moved on for others. My choices to record conversations. My appearance in the cave. My interactions with my Uncle. And then Maya appeared. Maya, everything Maya. Her bedroom walls, her love for anime, for that show Naruto. Figures, posters, snippets that I caught of the show in passing were all passing through my mind at a rapid pace. A large elaborate funeral. The battle with the silver-haired one with the children hiding in the background. A large scale battle in a city. A large-chested woman growling out orders. That silver-haired man wearing a large hat. That blond kid grown up wearing the same hat. Each of these tiny snippets flickered through my mind. Then it stopped and something in my mind seemed to click.

I was still in the chair when I awoke, but the men had congregated to the desk. My vision came together slowly, and with it my ability to focus on what was being said.

"She's been recording you, Jiraiya." A voice said.

Wait, what?!

I knew without a doubt that they weren't speaking English. I could clearly hear them and understand them - and yet, I knew it wasn't English. Shinjiru - trust? He had been asking me to trust him, all of this time. I didn't know how to feel about that. I don't know how I knew what it meant, but I knew. How?

"I wondered about that. Nifty little thing. I think she was watching a movie with it the other day." Jiraiya rumbled.

I raised my head to look at them, trying not to gape. Frogger was still gone, but so was Jareth, or Owl as they called him. The other men were still there. The blond had my phone in his hand. I forced myself to focus. If I could understand Japanese now, maybe I could speak it?

"She would rather you not talk as if she wasn't in the room." I commented. All of the men turned to look at me.

"Tami! It's good to finally understand you." Jiraiya gave me a big thumbs up and a grin.

"Jiraiya." I switched my gaze to the others, "Strange men who I don't know."

The scarred one scoffed but the blond shook his head.

"She's being honest. She still thinks-" He paused and eyed me with what seemed to be pity.

"She thinks what?" I asked, my eyebrows hitched.

The older man gave a deep sigh.

"Tami Walker, where do you think you are right now?" He asked gently as he blew out a plume of smoke.

I froze - I never told any of them my last name. How did he know it?

"Some backwood city in Japan." I said firmly. It was the only reasonable explanation. I tried not to even figure out why I could understand them. Not yet. Not now.

The old man shared a look with Jiraiya whose face fell. Inoichi looked away while the Scarred man seemed vaguely amused.

"You can come in now." The old man said loudly.

The large door opened to reveal a man I never thought would be walking around, living and breathing.

He had silver hair, a mostly hidden face except for one bored looking eye, and he was wearing that horrible outfit that guard had been wearing.

I couldn't believe it. I stood slowly, my mouth falling open. I couldn't stop staring.

There was no way. None.

"This isn't funny." I whispered. My gaze snapped to Jiraiya who was watching me in concern.

"This isn't funny! What is he- what are you?!"

I refused to name him. I absolutely refused! He couldn't be the man from the cartoon! He couldn't! There was no way! That man! That face! I had seen it on TV, on that comic page, in my roommates room! No. Not him. People cosplayed as him!

As he took a step into the room, I backed away.

"Keep him away from me."

The silver haired man's single visible eye locked gaze with mine.

"Do I know you?" He asked.

"You had best not." I quickly replied, "And this had best be a joke!"

I was shaking so hard I could see it in my arms. He stepped further into the room. I stepped back again.

"Stop." I said, breathing in a shaky breath. The silver-haired man regarded me coolly, seeming to try to place me in his mind.

"Thank you Kakashi. You may leave now." The old man dismissed him. The Silver haired man glanced at him, back to me and then vanished into thin air.

I couldn't stop the shaking. It wasn't possible! It couldn't be possible! How would this ever happen? How could it happen? Without warning my vision blurred. I brought a hand up and realized I had begun to cry.

No.

Not over this.

I didn't even cry when my father kicked me out. Why? Why over this? I furiously wiped them away and did my best to calm my nerves.

Stop it. You stop it right now. Don't you dare lose your cool. I thought to myself. I forced my breathing to calm. I shoved my shaking palms in my jacket pockets.

"Well, then. Where am I?" I did my best to steady my voice but it clearly wasn't.

The men glanced at each other. Jiraiya's face seemed to age in that moment. He picked up the comic page from the desk.

"Tami-chan, you know exactly where you are." He told her sadly.

My legs gave way and I found myself on my knees. No. That's not possible. It wasn't, but it was! It added up. The mirror, the languages, the my world - all of it added up into an impossible equation that I was somehow a part of. I needed to get home. Now.

"How can I get home?" I asked, looking up at them.

"We don't… we don't know." The old man said.

I waited for a beat.

"They were able to take me, can't we just - reverse it?"

"That's not how summoning works. Not this kind." The Blond answered.

I felt lost. I didn't know what to do.

"We can't have you leave. Not yet, even the small information you have is detrimental to Konoha. While it makes no sense to you, you have no guard against any mind jutsu. As Hokage I have a responsibility to my people. And, for the time that you remain in our walls you are a part of that." The old man started. He waited until I looked up at him to continue on, "The story right now is that you're in Konoha under Inoichi's protection. You don't remember much of anything, and Jiraiya found you while wandering the region. He brought you in after working with him. You helped him, we'll help you. This story is under wraps. I hope you understand our need for secrecy. You'll find any recordings or photos you have taken have been destroyed. As a show of good faith, you'll be returned your items but we request that you keep the phone device hidden. No one but those in this room know of your Origin. Owl and Frog will remember you - but they won't remember the finer details of why you're here and how. We ask that you keep it that way."

I glanced over at Inoichi.

"You may stay with my family until you get on your feet. I expect you to help around the house." Inoichi explained. I stayed quiet, processing the information thoroughly.

"When can I leave? What do I need to do?" I asked.

"Only with a Jounin Rank escort would we allow it; if we allow it. You carry some grave secrets. You know two - no, three future Hokage's. One of which hasn't even graduated from the academy yet. You know a large scale attack on Konoha. You also saw my death." The Hokage explained. The others in the room seemed to stiffen.

I didn't even know what a Jounin was. I certainly didn't know what a Hokage was either. I barely understood what he said, but I would need to. I filed it away for later investigation.

"Or become a ninja yourself." The scarred man offered.

Inoichi shook his head. "I think it's far too soon for that."

"You know she would be good. She has experience with that Uncle of hers." Jiraiya interrupted

"She can't fight." Inoichi reasoned.

"She dealt with the missing nin from Lightning Country. Fought them until they landed a hit. She used something on two of them before we got to her. She can't fight, but she has a fighting spirit."

"That doesn't mean much."

"How long would it take?" I asked, glancing from one man to the other.

"Years of training. Our ninja start young." Inoichi told her.

I paused. I didn't have years.

"Tell you what - if you want to learn so badly, I'll help." Scar-face gave a sadistic grin.

I didn't know how to respond to him. It was like inviting the Joker to oversee your personal torture. I'd rather not, but something told me it might be my only way.

The rest of my time there was a blur. Turns out the Old man was the Hokage of Konoha. I've never heard of either word, so I just nodded as if I knew exactly what they were talking about. Once the Hokage dismissed me, Inoichi left with me. We walked out as the others seemed to be discussing something else. I kept my peace, unsure of what to do. Somehow, in the span of an hour, I learned a foreign language, met a cartoon character, and learned exactly where I was.

"We have a guest room available. You'll be using it until you find your own place." Inoichi told me.

I hummed, deciding not to comment.

The rest of the day went by as a blurr. I didn't know how to process the information as I was given further instruction about Konoha, some paperwork and eventually my things. Inoichi walked me to his home. I didn't even know how to feel about the fact he went in a deep dive through my mind. It was insane to even think about.

On the way to his house he explained my new found ability to speak Japanese. It was an experiment that thankfully worked well. It was nearly the same way the Lightning Nin had learned English as it turned out. I hadn't been their first victim. However, those men hadn't the skill Inoichi had and killed their informant by accident, gaining only a part English-speaking ability. It was rather grand to know I was subject to experiments (I wasn't thrilled, but it wasn't a rabbit hole I wished to explore). Inoichi only gave me a smile and said nothing more.

When we arrived I met his wife and adorable little girl. She became less adorable as the night went on. She, quite boldly, told me my nose was far too large to ever find love - far too pointy and may poke an eye out. She was quite sure I was part bird. Her mother tried to shush her.

Kids…

I loved them, but certain ones didn't like me.

And with that, my first day at Konoha ended. I was drained, tired, exhausted - all of it. And even with all of these things going on, my lightning blue scar seemed to act up throughout the night while thunder rumbled in the distance.

AN/ I hope you enjoyed this first part. It's very different from how my first story started but I really like it. I feel like I was trying to hide the story from the reader with the last one and this one - this one seems far more in line with what I wanted.

Tami Fact #1: Tami calls those 'luv' who she keeps at an emotional distance. She developed this for work.