Moriko's POV

I lifted one of the last small cardboard boxes off the cart, which was almost empty. Ten-chan had been such a huge help, I wished I could thank her. Keeping my green eyes on the ground, I walked inside and set the box on the carpet. There were boxes scattered around what would become my living room. The carpet was only visible on one half of the room and some of my boxes had been stacked against the only window, next to the door, blocking the natural light. Before returning to the cart for the last 3 boxes, I flipped the switch on the wall and turned the overhead light on. On such a cloudy, gloomy day, without the lights my mood was bound to be weighed down more than usual.

"All done, Mori-chan." Ten-chan announced as she walked into the room behind me balancing one box on top of the ones she held in each hand with seemingly no effort. I rushed up to her and grabbed the top box away from her face so she could at least see. The two of us took a deep breath as we looked over the sea of dirty damaged boxes. I knew they seemed like a lot now, but soon they would be empty and the rooms will all seem partially bare.

"Well..." Ten-chan sighed and glanced out the open front door. "I'll have to take that cart back... You go ahead and start unpacking. I'll be back in... 20 minutes to help you." She informed me. I gave her the most convincing smile I could and bowed deeply to show my thanks. She laughed slightly and pat my back before disappearing out the door and shutting it behind her. I started instantly hopeful I could take care of some of the unpacking before my friend came back, so she would not need to waste the rest of her day taking care of me. I felt like such a hindrance, but I knew she wouldn't listen to me if I tried to make her go about her bushiness.

I opened the closest box and began to set things up. My bookshelves were in pieces that I had to put together. I began working at it and let my mind wander as I worked. I owed Ten-chan more than I could say... Though I suppose that didn't mean anything, since I don't speak. Even as I put my bookshelf together, I was fighting against the lump in my throat. Wanting to cry a thousand tears of gratitude but knowing Ten-chan would misunderstand and be hurt, I held them back. Hurting her was the last thing I would ever want, after all, she was literally all I had, now.

Ten-chan may not have realized it, but she had probably saved my life. Though, I did regret that from now on I would depend on her until I could get on my feet... Even then, she was the only person who knew enough about me to be able to understand what I was 'saying'. My life in Konoha was about to begin and with this begriming, ended my past life. I had no family and Ten-chan was my only friend. At this thought, a certain surge of optimism spread through me.

Ten-chan seemed to know several people, though. She had introduced me to 3 people after my first few hours in Konoha. They had seemed pleasant maybe I would be able to make more friends, here. But the surge of optimism faded and was replaced with reality. With my lack of voice, I also lacked the key to normal communication. Plus, the blond boy (Naruto-kun?) seemed a little repulsed by me, though he was eager enough to smile when we were introduced. The girl with the pink hair looked a bit put off by me. Sakura-san obviously wasn't as open as her two companions.

Then there was Lee-kun, Ten-chan's team mate. He looked just as my friend had described him. His appearance was odd at first glance but the purehearted kindness on his face was more than enough to overlook something so unimportant. Ten-chan loved to complain about how 'dorky' Lee-kun was, but she had also mentioned that he was a stickler for manners and said he was 'chivalrous to the point of stupidity' but that was almost all I was told in advance about Lee-kun.

"Mori-chan, I'm back!" Ten-chan called opening the door without knocking. I stood from the mostly completed bookshelf to greet her. Soon we were unpacking together and time was flying. Unpacking took less time than I could have imagined. As we were unpacking the last box together, the sky was turning dark.

"Have you checked around the apartment, yet?" Ten-chan asked me. I nodded The first thing I had done was gone to look around. "Good. There's some instant foods like ramen in the cupboards, milk and some fruit in the fridge. Oh there's some rice, too. I didn't have much I could spare between me and my family... Sorry, Mori-chan, but that's okay. I'm taking you shopping tomorrow, with Sensei's permission." She said with a warm smile.

I was stunned. Dropping the hand mirror I hand just picked up, I wiped around to face her, mouth hanging open in shock. The glass broke around my feet but I ignored it. I had no idea all the food in the kitchen had been given to me from Ten-chan's house. I didn't know where it had come from, but I never would have imagined my friend would be giving me the food out of her house. She was staring at me, with a confused expression. I bolted from the room and into the kitchen. I grabbed the thin clear bag of assorted fruits and I swiped the bag of uncooked rice into my arms before returning to the living room to see Ten-chan throwing away the broken glass to the mirror I had dropped.

"What are y-" Before my friend could finish I tried to push the food into her arms. I realized the grateful tears I had held back, were spilling down my cheeks. She stared for a moment and laughed at me, shoving the food back. "Mori-chan! Knock it off. You'll need food, don't worry about this. I do missions to earn money, my parents do, too... you don't have a job or anyone to support you. I won't take the food back, but if you want to repay me, try to find a job around Konoha or I'll have to continue to give you my hard earned cash." She said with a chuckle. She thought I was being silly, I could tell... I wished I could make her understand that I was not worth her effort, I should have been moved into this empty apartment without any possessions or food or even the bed upstairs. Come to think of it, this was a very nice apartment, I didn't deserve such a nice place, either.

Ten-chan put the food back in the kitchen and came back to where I stood feeling sick. My friend wrapped me in a hug. I only felt sicker at her kindness. She didn't understand, I couldn't take her affection. I ran away from my home, I left my younger sister all alone with my father. How could they keep the house on their own now that I was not helping earn an income? I should have been scolded at the least, for abandoning my family, not hugged. The guilt was killing me.

Ten-chan and I went back to unpacking and soon the few remaining boxes were empty and disposed of. I didn't want to be alone, I knew where my thoughts would lead. Though, I was grateful Ten-chan did not ask about my meeting with Hokage-sama. She must have already known what it would be about. Guilt, dread and a bit of panic were pumping through me as I resigned to the bed upstairs and the nightmares that would no doubt come with sleep.

The next day, Ten-chan picked me up bright and early. I hadn't expected her Sensei to let her go, let alone to come himself with Ten-chan and Lee-kun close behind him. The guilt was like a stone in my stomach, but it was hard to pay attention to while watching the Sesnei's enthusiastic face. He practically bounced as he walked, much like Lee-kun, though without the slight limp. Ten-chan was the only one walking normally.

"GOOD MORNING!" The tall man shouted with a big wave as he walked down the road toward my door. I had been sitting in front of my apartment door, reading in the sunlight. I snapped my book shut as I stood. The group grew closer. "Please accept my apologies on Neji-kun's behalf, Moriko-san." Sensei said. I recalled Ten-chan's other team mate, Neji-kun. She enjoyed bragging about him and his abilities. "He doesn't have the youthful joy that we have when helping others and offered training in the place of taking you shopping. Tenten-kun and Lee have told me about you and your situation." He said with a carefree face. I may have been feeling miserable, but his optimism forced me to feel a little better and put a tiny grin on my face.

"Mori-chan, this is Gai-sensei." Ten-chan said with a weak smile. "We are all going to pool our money to take you shopping." she said and my face fell. I shook my head violently with a horrified expression. I tried every gesture I could to say 'NO!' I didn't even want Ten-chan to have to buy me anything let alone her teacher I had just met and Lee-kun, who didn't know me. Ten-chan gave the males an amused smile. "I told you, she doesn't like having to depend on others. We'll never get her to the store, now." She said. And she was dead on, too. I would lock myself in the apartment if I had to, but I couldn't allow them all to waste their money on me.

"Do not worry, Moriko-san." Lee said with a sparkling smile like the one I had seen yesterday. "We would not have offered to do it if we did not want to. We want to help you." He said, trying to make me feel better. He didn't understand, though... I couldn't make any of them understand without voice. All I could do was continuously shake my head.

"Mori-chan, you have no clothes that didn't have rips or stains on them." Ten-chan pointed out. Lee-kun and Sensei stared at the two of us with pitying expressions. I didn't change my mind. "You'll need shampoo and other toiletries." Ten-chan pointed out. I didn't budge. "We can ask the shop manager if there is a job opening for you." She said with a smirk. At this I faltered.

"It's settled then!" Sensei called. I shook my head again but it was too late. Before I knew what was happening, the man grabbed me around the middle and tossed me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Ten-chan followed behind him and mouthed 'I'm sorry.' I couldn't think of a response back. Instead I glanced over at Lee-kun, walking oddly next to her. Not quite limping, not quite steady.

"We can take you out for lunch, too!" Lee-kun said euphorically. I finally dropped my head against Sensei's back in defeat. I wanted to cry again, both from happiness and guilt, but would never allow myself to do so. I learned long ago, never to cry in front of men, but I wished I could make them understand I didn't deserve this. I never knew how useful my voice might be until I moved into this village.

End Notes: Yeah, I know that was pretty boring but I needed my audience to know more about Moriko and her personality before we continued. Next chapter will be a bit better, I hope.