Chapter 3: Two Homes

All of you, thanks for the wonderful reviews, favorites, and follows. They really motivate me when writing a new chapter.

Well, here's the new Chapter. I hope it's a good one.

III: Two Homes

Naruto awoke to a world of immense pressure.

It was all around him, pushing against his sides, wrapping around his ribs, surrounding his limbs, and enveloping his body in a hold so tight that even he—without the aid of chakra—was having troubling breaking free. It was oddly warm and constricting within this particular confinement. It felt strange. Peculiar. Soft. Familiar. Almost like he had felt such a sensation in recent times.

Slowly, he opened his eyes.

Bright light filled his senses, and a groan of discomfort escaped his lips.

So… bright.

He first tried to move, tried to shield his eyes from the piercing rays of the early morning sun, but it was all to no avail. Try as he might, his arms remained motionless at his sides, rendered useless, and held together by this unknown, unforeseeable force. At first panic gripped him, for the hold felt humanoid, as though his upper body was in the grasp of strong, yet slender arms. But his lower body, however, was wrapped in what was reminiscent of a snake's grip. Soft, strong, yet scaly. It surrounded the entirety of his body from the waist down.

A snake, huh?

Suspicion and dread entered his gaze. He squinted against the sun's rays, trying to view the silhouette that was before him, laying comfortably in his bed, pulling him ever closer to their body. The delicate, unblemished face of a girl filled his vision. Hair as red as crimson surrounded this visage. Subtle scales covered her cheeks, and two pointy ears protruded from the sides of her face.

Amber eyes blinked open. And a moan escaped her lips.

"Miia…?"

Naruto stiffened with mild surprise, eyes growing wide as the Lamia tightened her unyielding hold around his body, her slender fingers sliding into his slightly sweaty hair.

"Hello…?"

He tried once more, gently wiggling his arms from her lengthy tail's hold, his fingers brushing against her soft, warm stomach.

"Miia…"

Another moan, softer, more content. She snuggled up against him, a small smile plastering her features. Her eyes remained closed as she pulled him so close that their cheeks touched. He could suddenly feel his heart accelerate, pounding hard against his chest at their close proximity. The yellow shirt she wore was loose; it did nothing to hide the feminine aspects of her voluptuous body. Naruto blinked, sharp eyes unconsciously taking in the attractive features of the girl brushing against him.

Miia was certainly beautiful. He could never deny the fact, nor could he still the beating of his heart. He was male, a young man with very little expertise when it came to the subject females. Especially one like the Lamia snuggling at his side. Even though his sensei, Jiraiya, had been constantly filling his mind with lessons on woman, there had only been one girl that had really caught his attention.

"C'mon, it's time to get up." The blonde Shinobi urged, reaching up to shake the girl that had rolled onto him. Her supple breasts made contact with his chest, the loose piece of clothing she wore still doing nothing to shield the sensation.

The Lamia, for first time since awaking, spoke, moving gently against his body, brilliant slitted eyes opening before him once again.

"No… five more… degrees."

Five more degrees.

Hmm.

A mischievous glint entered his gaze. Perhaps he could heat her up with a little burst of what remained of Son's chakra. It would certainly warm her body. But he swiftly decided against attempting such a thing. After all, he'd always had a strange propensity for over doing things, both now and as a child. And he definitely didn't want to hurt Miia in any way.

Naruto let loose a sigh, wondering faintly just how she had managed to enter his room without him noticing. With his senses so attuned to the world around him, even in his sleep, there was no way she could have possibly snuck into his room without altering him in some way.

But maybe he hadn't wanted to notice her entering his room.

The blonde shifted in her tight grasp, stretching out a hand to gently tap her scaly cheek. This action only managed to make her nuzzle against his hand with a contented sigh.

Why had she come into his room, anyway?

This was the first time she had done this, and he was quite curious. But that didn't mean he wouldn't try to break free of her suffocating grasp. Because she was wide awake now, yawning and stretching her arms out. Yet her tail still remained tightly fastened to his body, maybe even a bit tighter. Like he was the prey and she the predator.

"Why're you in my bed, Miia?" He asked.

Miia leaned in closer, so close that their noses touched.

"It was cold last night, and I decided to use you as my heater."

Naruto stroked his chin with his free hand. "I guess it was kind of cold last night. Do I need to raise the temperature?"

"No." She shook her head swiftly and snuggled into him, placing her head directly under his chin. "I can just use you. You're always so… warm."

"Then how about a bath…?"

Miia's breathing evened out; her eyes slowly closed. She had fallen asleep again, and he was talking to thin air.

"Geez…" Naruto sighed, a small smile tugging at his lips. He reached out with a hand to brush the hair from her peaceful features. Maybe he should let her sleep a little. Just until it was warm enough for her to move around freely. He could feel the heat of the rising sun streaming through an open window. He could even feel the steady beating of Miia's heart. This was a bit comfortable, he supposed. Lying in bed, relaxing against its soft surface.

Wrapped around a Lamia's tail…

Not strange at all.

Then Naruto felt her grip around him increase exponentially. Something cracked—a rib perhaps—and an alarmed cry escaped his lips.

"Miia-ack!"

Her tail wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer to her body, closer to her now unveiled chest. He could feel the sensation of exposed breasts as he was pressed into her large bosom.

It was warm.

And soft, so very soft.

There seemed to be no end to the strain on his body she could produce. Her grip around him increased, getting stronger and stronger with each passing moment. Swiftly looking around, he assessed his surrounding area meticulously, scanning his room for something, anything he could use to escape her adamant grasp.

He found one. A pillow. It was next to his bed, on the floor, pushed to the ground by Miia's powerful tail.

Perfect.

A grin etched across his features. He concentrated for a second, feeling the energy churning within his body. He molded it, manipulated it with an expertise honed only by years of intense training. In an instant, he was gone. He escaped from the Lamia's grasp like a ghost, and there to replace him was the pillow he had spotted.

Naruto crouched on the ground with a grin, standing in the place of his lifeless pillow. "Substitution successful."

Miia sighed in his bed, fervently clutching the pillow to her chest, snuggling into it as though he were still there.

"So soft, darling..."

Darling.

Naruto mused, suddenly pondering the affectionate title she had chosen to address him by. At first spoken unconsciously, unintentionally, by the young Lamia, but it had stuck. Stayed with him. It was practically his name now. And it wasn't like he didn't enjoy being called that. So he let her address him in such a way.

"Hey, no fair." Miia bolted upright, fully awake again, looking at the pillow in listless confusion. "How'd you do that?"

A smile crossed his features. "It's a secret."

She pouted cutely, crossing her arms beneath her massive bosom as she rose from the bed. "But I'm still cold."

"Then I'll draw you a… bath…"

Her supple breasts exposed before him made his words end in a whisper.

"Darling, what is it?"

"Uh…" He started, scratching his golden hair. "Nothing."

Miia glanced down, then at him, and realization entered her gaze, a coy smile suddenly framing her features.

"Like what you see, you perv?"

Naruto swallowed, turning around to open his door.

"What's not to like?" He added as he left the room.

He didn't notice Miia's scarlet face.

Naruto Uzumaki had never truly been fond of change, especially when it imposed upon his way of life and the things he was comfortable with and accustomed to. From moving to an apartment at five years of age, to a change in scenery after Pain had decimated the village hidden in the leaves, he had always abhorred alterations in his everyday life, partly due to his naturally stubborn demeanor. Even the smallest, most seemingly insignificant changes. Like when Kakashi had attempted to rid his apartment of his precious ramen, trying in vain to make him eat healthier.

Ugh. He shuddered at that memory.

But when push came to shove, he would swiftly abandon his comfort zone, his way of living, of thinking, of reasoning, if it meant helping and protecting those he considered precious.

So when he had first discovered his present home would need massive renovations due to the recent arrival of an extra-species girl, he had nearly denied such tampering and alterations. Yet, when Miia came to mind, he instantly forgot about himself and agreed to the changes. Because as long as she was comfortable, he wouldn't mind any changes made.

A jet of water shot down from a nozzle above his head, showering him in a spray of icy liquid. Naruto shook his head and shivered lightly. He was utterly soaked. From his head to his waste.

Still not used to his new bath.

At the moment, he was in his newly renovated bathroom. But looking at it now, he realized that it was more reminiscent of a Japanese style public bath, than the normal one he'd had before. It was massive now. The bath looked more like a swimming pool. Even after seeing it for a while it still never stopped looking new to him.

As water cascaded from the nozzle above, slowly but surely filling the tub, Naruto could only wonder if it was too cold for Miia. He reached in, felt the water, and smiled. Perfect. She liked her water warm, but not boiling hot. Just enough to re-energize her body after sleeping through the night.

Wait.

Naruto paused for a moment, and a sudden realization struck him. The realization that he knew so much about Miia, and she knew next to nothing about him. Guilt instantly clawed at his chest. Perhaps he was being selfish. She had been so open to him, so transparent, never keeping important details about herself a secret, and trusting him to such a degree that one would think they'd known each other for years.

But could he really share the details of his past with her?

He didn't know. It wasn't exactly the happiest of tales.

What would she think?

How would she feel?

He could only wonder, considering the fact that his past was a very touchy subject to him, a subject that he had only ever shared it in detail with the people he considered precious.

But Miia is precious to you! He mentally berated himself, another wave of guilt washing over him. Naruto had to admit, Miia was certainly growing on him, getting closer and closer to him, finding a place in him, and rooting herself there, never again to leave.

Her shy, yet confident demeanor. Her concern for him and others, and even her love of books. These were just some of the attributes that he loved about her. Then an idea of how he would share his past came to mind… just as Miia burst through the bathroom door.

"How's the water?"

The blonde turned around.

And froze.

"Whoa!"

Before him was one of the most beautiful, most exotic creatures he had ever laid eyes on. She wore nothing but a happy smile. Her body was bare before him, exposed, naked. His eyes trailed her striking features. From her ample breasts and toned stomach, to her curvaceous waist and glistening tail. He even glimpsed her most feminine aspect, covered loosely by a lone towel.

"M-Miia, what are you doing?" He managed, a burst of warmth rushing to his cheeks.

"Isn't the bath ready?" She asked, moving closer to him, lengthy tail swishing slowly behind her.

"It is… but let me leave first. You shouldn't be revealing yourself to me so much."

The Lamia tilted her head innocently, leaning over as she entered the bath. A contented sigh escaped her lips once she sank into the warm water.

"But darling, I don't mind."

"You should, Miia." He urged, turning around to sit on the side of the bath. His back was facing her, and he was trying not to look at the girl bathing behind him. It was hard not to. So very hard.

"Why should I?"

She leaned forward to hug him from behind, slender arms wrapping around his stomach. Naruto himself went rigid with surprise. He could loosely feel her chest pressing into his clothed back. But when she started to remove his dark shirt with her dexterous tail, it was then that he could feel her bare chest against his exposed skin.

And two hard mounds poking into his back.

"Because if… if something were to happen between us, you will be deported. And I would probably never see you again."

The girl behind him slipped into silence, and then she leaned over to rest her head on his shoulder.

"Darling…" She whispered softly into his ear. "How would you feel if I did get deported?"

A pause.

How would I feel?

The simple question buzzed around his head relentlessly, so much so that it prompted him to take it into serious consideration. How would he feel? Relieved? Certainly not. Sad? Not quite. If she were to suddenly leave, he would feel something deeper. Something far worse. Because even though she hadn't been with him for long, there was still something in him that would be crushed if she were to suddenly leave. The very affection Miia gave him on a daily basis, he very affection only she could give, was above most of what he'd experienced in his short life. Only one person in his entire life had ever showered him with the same affection this Lamia did, and she was far from his reach, left in the world he had been torn from.

"Devastated."

"Really?"

He couldn't stop the smile that overtook his lips. "Yeah..."

Then the Lamia smiled slyly, opening her mouth to nibble on his ear. Her sharp fangs made contact with his flesh, without breaking skin. "Then I'll always be on guard. Smith will never take me."

Naruto could feel the pounding of her heart against his back.

Or was that his heart?

"Miia-"

"Look, you're all wet." She teased, slowly pulling him back, and into the bath. "Might as well get in the bath with me."

In the bath?

A mischievous smile crossed his features as an idea formed in his mind. "Instead of a bath…" Reaching over with a free hand, he quickly turned the facet at his side, and chilling liquid fell from the nozzle above them, showering both he and Miia in a jet of icy water.

"…how 'bout a shower?"

She recoiled in shock, fleeing to the other end of the fifteen foot bath, releasing him, and letting out a childish squeal.

"You meanie," She mumbled meekly.

He rose from the side of the shower and went to the bathroom door, waving at her over his shoulder.

"I gotta make breakfast. Don't stay in there too long."

Slowly closing the door behind him, Naruto lot out a sigh of defeat. She looked a bit upset.

Sorry Miia.

The blonde Shinobi moved to his room once again to get changed out of his soaked clothes. His hall was a bit wider now due to Miia's arrival. The renovators had done an excellent and swift job, expanding all the doors, as well as the walls. So now she could move about the hallway without much trouble or hindrance.

Returning to his room, Naruto was greeted by the sight of a messy bed, courtesy of him and Miia. In his younger years, he would have left his bed unattended, just like he had in his old apartment. Then the untidiness would spread from his bed to the floor, then to his kitchen, until his whole home was a mess. But sparing not a moment, he quickly arranged his bed and moved on to the closet which held his spare clothes.

A mirror stood before him in the closet. He was without a shirt. And at first glance, he noticed the green emerald around his neck, hung loosely by a dark rope. It was one of the first gifts he'd ever been given. And he cherished it above all others. He reached up to touch it, to feel it, to gently trail its smooth surface with a hand. He had worn it for long that he hardly ever noticed he was actually wearing it. Almost like it had become part of him.

Had he ever truly thanked Tsunade for this wonderful gift?

This necklace. It had saved his life, and the lives of countless others, on many occasions, restraining a potent power he could not control before the war.

How're you doing baa-chan? He wondered with a wistful smile as he put on a dark graphic T-shirt.

Hopefully she was well.

Before he left to prepare Miia's breakfast something else caught his eyes. He reached over to grab it on the floor. A metal box. He opened it and smiled. Within the box was his old head band, battered and cracked, but still proudly displaying the symbol of the leaf.

Naruto spent a moment admiring it, clutching it in his hand, then locked it away once again.

Ah, the good old days. A smile overtook him as he finally left the room.

Living the modern world of Japan had certainly been a huge transition. It was much more peaceful than his old home. Though several issues still plague this world, it was nowhere close to what occurred in the elemental nations. Where he was constantly on watch. Training to physically defend his nation. The threat of war looming at every corner.

But here, he had to rarely worry about that. Naruto was starting to love this place more and more. Staying in Japan for nearly four years, it had been a great change, a huge learning experience, where he'd learned to respect other people no matter their origin, their homeland, or even their physical attributes.

But that was why he so desired to return to Konoha and the Shinobi world. He wished to make certain that there were no more wars like the one that had nearly destroyed his world.

Yet… looking around, was there truly any reason for him to leave?

He froze and looked down at his palms.

He had played his part. He had ended the war. Vanquished Uchiha Madara. Was there any still need for his presence in the Shinobi world?

What about… her?

The image of a single blonde female flashed before him. Could he just leave her, even after his promise?

No, he couldn't.

But…

Another image flickered before him. An image of Miia, Sumike, the MON girls, and the countless many he'd met in this world, flashed before his gaze, and a small smile plucked at his lips.

This world also had problems of its own. Problems he could continue working towards solving. Perhaps by rejoining the Cultural Exchange Security squad?

But try as he might, he could not chose a course of action to take.

As far as he was concerned he had two homelands. Japan and Konoha.

Stay?

Or return?

A groan escaped his lips. He hated tough decisions. But before he could further ponder his predicament, he felt a tremor suddenly run through his body. A spark. A jolt. It wasn't painful, nor was it pleasant, because it was meant to alert him to the presence of a stranger in his home.

It was a seal he'd developed, connecting it to himself and his relatively big home. It was used to alert him to anyone that came close to the house. The seal itself was motion sensitive, and he had placed twenty of them around his property. They were activated by chakra, and needed to be reactivated every few weeks. Yet, on the day Miia had first come to live with him, that had been the day he'd needed to reactivate them, but he hadn't. That was why her arrival had been such a shock to him.

Not this time, though. Someone—two people, he realized—were trying to enter his home, and he would not be caught off guard. Down the hall were several unused rooms, each one behind closed doors. There were four in total, excluding his and Miia's room. And on the walls of this hall were paintings decorating his home.

Swiftly moving down the hall, he descended a flight stairs slowly but surely, wary of the people behind his door, trying to get in his house. The door knob rattled violently as he approached it, body unconsciously falling into a stance, ready to defend against an intruder.

When the door slowly creaked open, and the familiar face of a woman filled his vision, he nearly collapsed.

"Oh, ah, morning Whiskers."

Sumike announced with a sheepish smile.

"Good morning too, Blondie."

Naruto blinked.

Not only was the raven-hair coordinator here, but so was one of her fellow workers. An extra species girl with a smile sharper than glass, hair messier than a porcupine, and face as beautiful as the rising sun.

Zombina-chan?

She hadn't seen it coming.

It had happened more swiftly than she could react. More powerfully than she could resist. It had struck her head on, at times leaving her trembling at just a sight of him. Just a glimpse of his golden hair would send her mind racing. Just a gentle touch would send her heart fluttering with glee. And just a word, a single compliment, would leave her smiling from ear to ear.

Miia was in love.

With whom? One might even ask. Who could have captured the heart of a Lamia so beautiful and unique, that very few came close when compared to her?

None other than a certain Shinobi.

Miia sat in the warm bath, concluding her washing session within a few minutes. She'd made sure she did her daily bathing routine, before relaxing in the warm water for a few minutes more, letting her mind drift as the liquid surrounded ever corner of her body, re-energizing her, filling her with the strength to begin a new day.

Once finished, she exited the massive tub tail first as steam blanketed the world around her. She sighed softly and moved to stand before a massive mirror. Reaching for a single towel, she began to dry her crimson hair. Her naked figure stood before the reflective surface. As she did this her mind drifted to one person, and one person alone. Naruto. Her heart leapt at just a thought of him, cheeks tinting pink as an image of the whiskered male filled her mind.

There was just something about him that drew her in, even from the start. Was it his hair, bright as the rising sun? His goofy grin? His whiskered cheeks, or his innately kind nature? She didn't know. Or perhaps her strong feeling toward him was due to her being a Lamia.

She looked at herself in the mirror, eyes intently trailing her glistening, naked body. Her species were comprised of only females. She had been surrounded by women her whole life, growing up under the care and gentle touch of girls. Up until recently she had barely seen a male of any species. She had rarely even spoken to them. Related to them. Seen how they differed from her.

Miia was seventeen, coming up on eighteen. Not only was her body changing, but also her mind. She had come to this realization long ago that… that she needed a male. Desired one, even. It had been a burning desire for years now, growing from the smallest sparks of curiosity as she read books of love and affection.

She didn't care the reason, though. Only cared that she liked him. He had been so kind to her. Even his first sight of her, she had seen no hostility in his gaze. He cared for her. Prepared her food. Talked to her, asking questions she was eager to answer. Her people had come to be known as a very passionate species, and her passion had risen because of this mysterious blonde.

She would one day want him to visit her homeland as… as someone more than her host. A boyfriend. Her cheeks reddened. Or even her… husband. She swiftly shook those far-fetched thoughts away. Sadly, the law prohibited interspecies marriage. Even then, she would still get closer to him, following laws or breaking them. She wasn't frightened by anything as measly as the law.

But… did he feel the same way?

She didn't know.

Miia focused on the mirror for the second time, eyes once again trailing her body. She reached up to touch her chest, feeling them as she frowned. Did her like her breasts? Were they too small for him? Her hands slowly slid down her slick stomach, down her waist, down her scaly red tail. Did he find her tail weird?

"I think your tail is amazing."

She remembered his words, and her heart fluttered

Miia leaned in closer to the mirror, so that she could see her face, and she decided, determination glinting in her amber eyes.

"I'll make him like me."

Tomorrow, they were finally going shopping. She would see more of the land called Japan. There, she would dress up for him, show him just great she was for him.

"What do you mean I can't have any meat?"

The pleading voice of a girl resounded in his ears. Naruto shook his head, smiling brightly as he set up a table in his living room. On this table was nearly thirty minutes of hard work. A large assortment of food adorned the table-cloth. He placed many plates down, each one holding steaming food. From boiled eggs—Miia's favorite—and fried fish, to rice balls, and of course, a massive bowl of ramen.

Naruto, for a moment, stood back to inspect his work. Not in a million years did he imagine he'd be able to cook anything besides ramen. But now he could make almost any Japanese dish, partly thanks to Sumike and a bunch of Shadow clones.

"Because you'll eat all of it if I allowed you."

He answered with a grin, turning around to face his apparent intruders. The first intruder was Miss Smith. She was sitting on one of his chairs, slender legs crossed, sipping a steaming cup of coffee with heart in her eyes.

The second, however, was quite different. She stood before him, arms impatiently crossed, exposing her already substantial bosom. Her eyes pinned him where he stood. She was dressed in a tight tank top and her signature gray jacket. Her shorts were cut even shorter, revealing her feminine legs. Stitches spanned the entirety of her lithe body, from head to toe, as though she had been involved in a grave accident.

But she hadn't, because she was a zombie.

"But you made Miss Smith coffee."

"And?"

"That's not fair!"

Naruto smiled. "Still as immature as ever, I see."

Zombina grinned, displaying shark-like teeth and leaning so close that their noses nearly touched. "You're one to talk. Not long ago you were running around HQ pulling pranks on everyone in sight."

"Like when I gave Sumike mud, instead of coffee?"

The raven-haired coordinator nearly choked on her cup, pausing to inspect the steaming liquid.

He and Zombina erupted into a fit of laughter, all at Miss Smith's expense.

"We really miss you, ya' know?" The Zombie mumbled suddenly, quietly, showing a rare side of herself. "Especially Tio."

Naruto was surprised, taken aback, eyes growing a fraction wider. Never had he seen this girl look so honest, not hiding behind her confident exterior. He glanced behind her toward Sumike. He couldn't tell her expression behind those onyx glasses.

"You want me to join the Cultural Exchange Security Squad again, huh?"

Zombina swiftly shook her head, spiky hair whipping the air. "Not me." A blush tinted her cheeks as she crossed her arms. "Just the others."

"I'll think about it." He smiled as he resumed setting up the table. "And you can go eat something in the kitchen."

"Finally!" The Zombie bolted to the kitchen. "How did you even make all this food so quickly?"

"A clone."

In the background, a horrible noise soon filled the air, a noise that made his heart sink and his wallet cry. It was the sound of Zombina devouring all of his food.

That's Zombina for you.

Concluding with the table, Naruto's attention was suddenly drawn back to the extra-species coordinator as she finally spoke.

"They really do miss you."

"Do they?"

He tilted his head slightly. Was he really that important to them?

"You trained them before MON was active. They see you as part of the team."

Just after the introduction of extra-species, there had been a desire to create a team that would negate that haphazard laws created by the Japanese government. A team that could harm an extra-species person if they were a danger to the society. Four had been selected. Zombina, Tio, Manako, and Doppel. They'd been the most promising when it came to strength, durability, accuracy, and stealth. And he had been chosen to train them, to sharpen their skills, in preparation for any rogue monsters.

The blonde Shinobi remained quiet for a time, letting her words sink in. A television was on to his right. He looked to it curiously. There, shown on the screen, was the popular singing group comprised of nothing but extra-species. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he observed the members. He recognized some of them, because he had been chosen as an escort from their homelands to the country of japan some time ago.

"Hey, Coordinator, how'd you even get in here?"

Miss Smith smirked and raised a bundle of keys.

"Government issued keys."

Raising his arms in a stretch, Naruto looked at her once more. "And why are you here again, besides to steal my food?"

"For Miia, of course." She took a sip of her coffee. "To make sure you haven't harmed her."

Harm?

"I would never. You should know this by now."

"Not just physical harm." Sumike answered, leaning in with knowing eyes.

"You mean, sex?"

A nod.

Naruto stood his ground and met her gaze evenly. "No, I haven't. What, you don't trust me?"

The coordinator waved him off. "Just protocol, whiskers." She smirked. "But she has made advances towards you right? Her species are a very passionate bunch."

He nodded slowly, recalling the times she displayed her feelings—and her body—in full.

"And I can tell you like her as well."

Naruto sucked in a breath.

"Miia is quite the catch, and I'm surprised by how well you've composed yourself."

"I don't want her to be deported, while everything she's done to come here goes to waste."

Sumike leaned back with a sigh. "I believe you, Whiskers. Just be careful. It's still unsure whether the laws fully applies to you. So whatever you do, you're on thin ice."

Naruto felt his lip twitch upward as she reminded him of the dilemma between him and the law. While he physically resembled a human, it was uncertain to them whether he was, or wasn't. He could perform feats far beyond what normal humans were capable of and he was by this world's standards, an alien. But he knew he wasn't. He was entirely human, from head to toe. Sumike knew this as well.

The only difference was that he possessed the ability to manipulate chakra, something that the people of Japan lacked. At least that was what he thought. He wasn't entirely sure of that yet.

"Are you really going to go back?"

"Hm?" Naruto blinked at her.

"Back to your home, that is." Sumike looked curious, leaning back in the chair.

He nodded slowly.

"Why?"

The blond sighed softly. Even Sumike didn't know everything about him. Just broad subjects. Like his home and his possession of chakra.

"I made a promise, and I never go back on my word."

The coordinator nodded once, almost as if accepting his answer. "However you do it, if you do decide to leave, tell me ok?"

Naruto rubbed his hair with a hand. "Hey, it's not like I'm leaving today, or anything. It might be a while till I find the right seals."

"Then you'll be returning to the squad?" She prompted.

"If I do, it'll be on important missions only." He proposed with glint in his eyes. "I still need to take care of Miia."

"Fine." She visibly sagged. "And just when I was starting to think there would be someone to divide the paper work with."

As Sumike rose from the chair and smoothed the wrinkles from her dark skirt, Zombina emerged from the kitchen with a satisfied grin. He deflated as a belch escaped her lips. So much food, gone. The zombie girl hooked an arm around his neck in a friendly gesture.

"Hey, don't worry, I didn't eat that much."

"Yeah, yeah." He waved her off with a faint smile. "I'll just have you do four laps around japan as payment."

Zombina visibly paled, if that was even possible for a zombie. "Y-you're not my Sensei anymore."

"Once a Sensei, always a sensei." A grin framed his features.

Boy, did he miss training the four of them.

Miia could hear voices.

She blinked, ceasing her drying as the sounds of conversation entered her acute ears. She paused and listened, focusing on the talking occurring somewhere in the house. The living room. Instantly she recognized her darling's voice, then strangely, the extra-species coordinator's. But there was a third voice—a familiar voice, one that she could not adequately identify. She'd heard it before. Yet she wasn't sure when, or where.

But the thing that put her on edge was the fact that Naruto was downstairs. Alone. With two other females.

The crimson-haired Lamia abandoned her towel, disregarding her wet skin and hair. Her only thoughts were on reaching Naruto.

Miia halted her advance toward the door. She needed something. Anything to wear. Quickly looking around the bathroom, she found a shirt among the various soaps and conditioners, the very same shirt that her darling had left behind earlier. Without thinking she put on his white t-shirt, a small part of her mind squealing because she was wearing it.

There.

Opening the door, she slithered down the hall as swiftly as she could, tail lashing violently behind her. She passed Naruto's room, her room, then the others, until she finally reached the stairs. A shiver ran down her spine. Cold air billowed past her. Her wet skin and shirt only managed to magnify the problem.

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, reason told her. But it was too late. She was already downstairs.

The first thing she saw was the table of steaming food, then she saw a smiling Sumike, and lastly, a girl that she instantly recognized. It was the Zombie girl that had nearly killed her on her first trip to Naruto's house, driving at uncontrollable speeds, simply because she thought it was fun. The girl had an arm wrapped around his neck, looking up at him with a strange expression.

"What are you doing to my darling?"

The words left her lips before she could even think to react. All three of them turned to her. Naruto's gaze instantly glowed with concern.

"Miia, you'll catch a cold." He prompted. "Please dry yourself."

She slithered quickly towards them, jealousy in her gaze, completely oblivious of Sumike's amused smile. "Not until that Zombie lets go of you."

"Wait wh-"

"And what if I don't want to?" Zombina teased, pulling Naruto closer.

Then I'll… I'll.

Tail lashing behind her, Miia tried to use it to separate the two, but the zombie dodged with amusement and let go of Naruto before she could take a hold of her, making her way back to Sumike's side.

Miia instantly moved to embraced Naruto, wrapping her arms around his waist, and her tail around his thighs. She looked up at him, relief washing over her.

"Miia, she's just teasing you."

"I don't care." She held unto him tighter, turning her head to look at the two government agents.

"Yeah, I was just kidding." Said Zombina with a razor-sharp grin.

"Well then," Sumike interjected, pulling up her dark glasses. "It's time we get going." She and the zombie girl turned to leave.

"…And whiskers, keep your pants on."

"Later, sensei."

The front door slowly creaked closed, and she and Naruto were left in silence.

Another shiver ran down her body. Her hands trembled around his waist.

"Miia… you'll catch a cold."

She summoned her courage, not caring about her shivering.

"Is the prohibition really such a big deal?"

She awaited his answer. Her heart pounded and she didn't know why. It was just a simple question.

"No. I was never really one for following the rules" He said simply, wrapping his hands around her. Her cheeks tinted pink. "But… for your sake, I'll have to follow until it's changed."

Another pause.

"Thanks." She whispered suddenly, looking up at him with a smile.

He titled his head curiously. "For?"

"For being so kind. Even though I'm a Lamia, and people tend to be afraid when meeting us, you still look at me without fear in your eyes."

"Why would I be scared of meeting you?" He pulled her closer.

Suddenly, she felt something run through her body. A burst of energy. It was warm, controlled, deliberate. It spread across the surface of her skin, drying up the water in an instant, and filling her with strength.

How did he?

"…if anything, I'm glad you don't fear me."

What did he mean?

He smiled softly and tried to pull away, but she wouldn't let him. She wrapped her tail tighter around his legs until they both collapsed to the dining room floor.

"Well I don't fear you." She leaned in even closer, heart pounding harder than ever. She lifted the shirt she was wearing, exposing her naked breasts before him. She could see his cheeks redden at the sight. She pushed even further, making certain he could see her most feminine asset. "And I don't mind what you do to me, or I if you take my virginity."

"Miia…"

Her cheeks burned even more as she leaned in.

She would kiss him.

She wouldn't stop for anyth-

"Oh yeah." Zombina's distinct voice startled them. Miia swiftly turned to see the Zombie hefting a huge bag filled with hundreds of letters into the room. By the time she was in, Miia had freed Naruto from her grasp, silently cursing Zombina for ruining her moment with him.

"You had a lot of mail at your front door."

The blonde Shinobi glanced at Miia, then to Zombina.

"They're fan letters." She clarified. "For those books you published. Especially that one. A gutsy Shinobi, I think?"

"Oh." Naruto nodded slowly and moved to take the bag of letters just as the MON girl left.

Wait, books?

Her eyes went wide, and she could not stop the question that escaped her lips.

"You've written books?" She rushed to him with stars in her eyes.

"I know, hard to believe, right?" He chuckled, eyes lingering on the bag for a moment.

"Can I read one?"

She almost pleaded.

"Of course. I knew you'd be interested." He turned to the still steaming food on the table. "But, not before we have breakfast."

"Ok~" Miia chirped. Her mouth watered at the sight of the eggs.

"Ah, darling. Guess what?"

Her moment with him had been indeed ruined, but that didn't mean she wouldn't try again.

"What?"

She smiled brightly.

"I love you."

A/N: So there seems to be a promise Naruto made with someone back in the element nations, a blonde girl. Hmm, wonder who it could be? And he is torn between two homes: Japan and Konoha. And let's not forget the fact that he trained MON.

Not much deviation from canon in this chapter, but I hope you wonderful readers enjoyed it.

Current pairings: NarutoxMiia.

Now, question and answer time.

A: My favorite character so far is Centorea. There's just something about her that I find unique. I suppose it's her calm, noble and mature demeanor, and the fact that she tries so hard to remain levelheaded when everybody is going nuts. Guess I have a thing for mature women? But with the newest Chapter, I can say Suu is now tied with Cerea.

Q: How would you react if the existence of extra-species was discovered? Do you think the world would be willing to accept them?