Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Mia

"World Transfer Jutsu!"

I opened my eyes to see I was in an alleyway, hearing traffic noises up ahead.

"Whoa…" Kiba breathed, "What are those moving things with wheels? They look awesome."

"They're cars," A man behind us replied, "Welcome to Mia's world! I'm…John Riker."

He seemed like he didn't remember his name.

"So where are we supposed to live?" Neji asked.

"You're all going to have to squish into the car…" 'John' scratched his head, "Unless you would rather walk, and I'll give you the directions."

"NO WAY! I WANNA GO IN THE CAR!" Naruto yelled.

"Idiot, you barely know what a car is," Sasuke muttered.

"HEY!"

"Who wants to go in the car?" 'John' asked.

Tenten, Sakura, Lee, Kiba, Naruto, Gaara, Temari and I raised our hands.

"You want to go in the car?" I whispered to Gaara.

"I have a gourd on my back, and Temari has a giant fan, we have no choice," He retorted.

"Alright!" 'John' yelled, "I'll be right back. Here's the address for those who want to walk."

He handed Neji a piece of paper, and ran off to where he came from.

"We'll see you there," Sakura waved to the leaving group.

Suddenly a roar of an engine was heard. Turning around, we saw a black SUV heading straight towards us.

"Ah!" Kiba yelled, "He's trying to kill us!"

The car screeched to a halt, and out stepped the brunette man from before, grinning sheepishly.

"Sorry," 'John' said, "I'm not very good, but don't worry! I've been practicing!"

I was suddenly afraid for my life.

"Is it too late to catch up with the others?" I whispered.

Temari nodded. Damn.

"Hop in!" 'John' yelled, "You're gonna have to squeeze in, seeing there are eight people for a car."

Temari and Sakura ended up sharing the front, squishing into the passenger seat and eagerly securing the seatbelt to themselves. Tenten, Kiba, and Naruto got into the backseats – only Naruto seemed unfazed at John's apparent inability to drive. Gaara, Lee, and I sat in the way back, fastening our seatbelts quickly.

The car started, and John backed out of the alleyway, onto the street. So far, so good.

I spoke too soon.

It turns out that John isn't the best driver. It's actually a miracle we got to the apartments with no injuries, let alone deaths. Let's just say that half our ride was spent at over ninety miles per hour, and a lot of the times on two wheels. I think I'm now afraid to get in a car.

"Land!" Sakura jumped out of the car, "We're alive!"

I was dizzy from all the high speed driving.

"I will never get in another car as long as I live," Naruto said, a little green in the face.

"Cars are worse than demons," Gaara muttered.

"Come on!" John yelled, "Maybe the rest are inside already!"

Sure enough, the rest of the group were inside the lobby, waiting, and not looking nauseous, unlike the rest of us.

"What happened to you?" Ino asked.

"He's really bad at driving…" I said, "I think we all have phobias against them now…"

"W-wow…" Hinata stammered.

"Let me take you to your apartments. The girls will share rooms, except one, and so do the guys," John said cheerfully.

We followed him into the abnormally large elevator, and into the third floor.

"The girls are 3A and the boys are 3B and C," John said, "There are doors that connect the apartments to each other, so you can confer with each other without raising suspicion. And the Hokage says no funny business, either."

"Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered.

"Here are your keys," John handed us keys, including me, "The Hokage also requested Mia to have one, so she can pass freely throughout the apartments."

"When does school start?" Sasuke asked.

"Two weeks from today," John replied, "Mia, your parents are expecting you tomorrow. It's actually not that far from here, so I'll trust you'll walk there, but with an escort, of course."

I nodded.

"Anything else?" Kiba asked.

"No, just be at school by eight," John smiled, heading for the elevator again and leaving us in silence.

"So…who gets their own rooms?" Naruto asked.

"We'll just have to wait and see," Gaara replied, heading for the door labeled 3B.

I followed Hinata and Temari inside, dropping my backpack on the couch, and looked around. It was plain, the walls a light beige color, with a small kitchen, living room, one bathroom, and three separate rooms.

"I'll sleep on the couch tonight," I offered.

"I call my own room!" Temari yelled, running into a random room.

"I'm sharing m-my r-room with Tenten," Hinata giggled, running off into another room to put her stuff, Tenten close behind.

"Aw, no fair!" Sakura whined, "Now I have to share a room with Ino-pig!"

"Billboard brow!"

"Pig!"

"We haven't even been here one day and they're already fighting," Shikamaru sighed, "Troublesome."

The boys walked into the girls' apartment, apparently done with the room arrangements.

"Done picking rooms already?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, but I don't get why Gaara gets his own room," Naruto whined, "He doesn't even sleep!"

Gaara raised a nonexistent eyebrow. "Do you want me to possibly kill you in your sleep?"

Naruto shook his head no.

It turns out Naruto and Choji shared a room, Shikamaru and Sasuke, Kiba and Lee shared another one, Kankuro and Neji, while Gaara and Shino got their own rooms.

When everyone had settled in the living room, we got down to business.

"Let's look over our files, to see what our aliases are," Shikamaru suggested.

"I don't have an alias," Neji stated.

"M-me neither," Hinata stammered.

"Tsunade didn't give you aliases," Sasuke stated the obvious.

"All it says is that we're from Japan and that we're going to be in the tenth grade, except for Neji, Tenten, Lee, and Temari," Kiba added, "They're going to the eleventh grade."

Sometimes I wonder how she ever got to be the Hokage…Katana trailed off.

You and me both, I replied.

"What's the tenth grade?" Naruto asked.

"Part of school," I shrugged.

"That didn't answer my question at all, you know."

"I know."

"W-we have a f-few problems," Hinata stammered.

"What do you mean?" Kiba asked.

"Our appearances," Shino answered, "More appropriately, Hinata's, Neji's, and Gaara's appearances."

"How do you feel about wearing contacts?" I asked.

"No," Neji refused, "Contacts are redundant."

"They're going to think you're blind," Shikamaru stated, "There are no eyes without pupils here."

"So be it."

I sighed. "What would you rather have, having everyone stare at you, unnecessarily helping you around, and having to act useless, or just wear simple contact lenses that only change your eye color?"

Silence. Neji was contemplating the idea.

"Fine," He said, "Contacts it is."

I barely heard him mutter something about not being blind and contacts being freaking redundant.

"Gaara's going to need to leave the gourd," Sasuke said.

"No."

"You can't walk around school with a big jar of sand on your back," Tenten argued.

"He c-could put some of h-his s-sand in a smaller j-jar," Hinata suggested, "And keep it in a back-backpack that we h-have to buy soon-sooner or later."

"I agree with Hinata," Gaara said, "But I'm not going anywhere without my sand.

"You're also gonna need to cover up your tattoo and the rings around your eyes," Kiba added.

"What do you suggest I do, then?" Gaara asked.

"Makeup?" I offered.

"Hell. No."

"But –"

"No."

Sakura sighed. "We'll figure something out," She said.

"Is there any food in the fridges?" Naruto asked, "I'm starving."

"I'll check," Temari offered, walking to the kitchen.

"There's food in the fridge," Temari called from the kitchen, "Good thing too, 'cause we don't have any – hey, what's this?"

Temari walked back in with a plastic card and a slip of paper in her hands.

"It's a credit card," I explained, "It's like money, only when you don't have any at the moment you buy something."

"And what's with the numbers on the paper?" Gaara asked.

"The code you have to use to buy whatever you wanted."

"Can someone make something to eat?" Naruto asked, "Like I said, I'm starving."

"Why not just go out and buy some food?" I asked, "It's faster."

"Do they have ramen here?" Naruto asked hopefully.

"No," Sasuke replied, "You idiot, we're in a different dimension. Of course there's no ramen here."

"W-well, I saw a…B-Burger K-King…what-whatever that is, on the way h-here," Hinata stated, "How about we go there?"

"Burger King?" Neji raised his eyebrow.

I could practically imagine what they were thinking – a burger with a crown and scepter...

"Fast food," I explained, "Greasy, but it is food nonetheless."

"Too troublesome," Shikamaru sighed, "Let's just cook something here."

He's just too lazy to do anything, Katana said.

True.

"Then who's gonna cook?" I asked.

Silence.

"I-I'll cook," Hinata meekly offered, "But I'll n-need some help…"

"I'll do it," I said, "Come on."

Opening the fridge, I examined what there was. Ham, eggs, tomatoes, various fruits and vegetables, noodles, etc.

"What are we going to make?" I asked.

"Well…there's bread on the counter," Hinata said, "We could make sandwiches…o-or pasta, some-something simple would b-be good…"

"Pasta it is, then," I replied.

-x-

"I'll set the table," I offered, already pulling out a few plates.

Hinata nodded, spooning the pasta into a large bowl, mixing some tomato sauce in it, and leaving some in another bowl.

As I finished setting the table, I grabbed the pot to put it in the sink, not bothering to use the handle.

"W-wait!" Hinata stammered, "It's s-still –"

"Ow!" I burned my left hand while trying to pick it up.

"H-hot…" Hinata trailed off, "Are y-you okay?"

"Yeah," I nodded, "I'm fine."

You act so stupid sometimes, Katana giggled.

I. Hate. You. I thought darkly.

I love you too, She replied smugly.

If only she were human, then I can wipe the smirk she'd probably have on her face right off!

"Dinner's ready!" I called, placing my hand in the sink and letting the cool water soothe it.

"Finally!" Naruto yelled, running into the kitchen.

"What happened to your hand?" Sasuke asked.

"Burned it."

"Smart move."

"Hn," I grunted.

"E-eat up," Hinata stammered.

Not everyone could fit at the small table, so we split up. I ate with Sasuke and the Sand Siblings in Sasuke's and Gaara's apartments.

"Is there anywhere to train here?" Sasuke asked.

Typical Sasuke. Even on a mission, he wants to train.

"A park here and there, deserted buildings, something along those lines, I guess," I replied.

"Hn."

"What are the supplies we need for school?" Gaara asked.

"What a normal student needs," I shrugged.

"Which are?" Temari asked incredulously.

"We'll go shopping tomorrow," Kankuro stated, "I can't believe I have to wash off my face paint."

"Face paint here is considered childish, and on men it's just gay."

"I don't think you would like being considered gay, wouldn't you?" Gaara smirked.

"No," Kankuro huffed.

Later

"It's late," Shikamaru sighed, "We need to wake up early, to buy whatever it is we need."

Everyone nodded, going to their respective rooms.

I had found an extra blanket and pillow in one of the closets, and I settled down on the couch, under the blanket. I was still awake after a few hours, and I could hear peoples' soft breathing from the slightly open doors, yet I still couldn't sleep.

So what's your brother's name? I asked.

Takeshi. His name means warrior, Katana replied. There was a bitter undercurrent in her tone. I chose to ignore it.

He was always the better one at combat, Katana continued, so I wouldn't be surprised if he is stronger. He's also…kind of corrupt.

My eyebrow rose. What do you mean by "corrupt"? I asked.

It really depends on the situation, Katana sighed, He likes to win at all costs.

I honestly didn't like what that meant for us, but before I could ask another question, soft footsteps – barely audible – approached.

I sat up, curiously looking to the source of the footsteps. It was Sasuke.

"Hey," I whispered.

Sasuke nodded his greeting.

"How's your hand?" He asked.

"It's fine."

"While we're here," He began in a hushed tone, "I have the feeling the Akatsuki or Orochimaru or anyone, might be here to get you too, so just be careful."

"Like I don't know that," I snorted quietly, "Tsunade told me the same thing."

"Yeah, yeah," Sasuke rolled his eyes, "But we won't always be here to protect your. And as much as I'd like you to have weapons on you twenty-four seven, that won't happen."

I snickered. Sasuke smirked.

"'Night," I whispered.

"Sleep well," He murmured, before brushing his lips against mine, "Good night."

Now I can sleep, I thought, resting my head on my pillow.

Author's Note: I hope you liked that last part with Sasuke and Mia. Again, sorry for the shortness. It'll get longer, I promise you! Please Review.