Author's Notes:
Here's chapter three! Thank you to TekTak and 101stardreamer for the reviews, and also to everyone who put this story on story alert. Now, I've been putting up new chapters pretty quickly these past few days, but the updates are going to slow down in about a week. I'm currently on break and I can write as much as I want, but once the break ends I'm going to have a lot less time. My goal is to upload a chapter once every week, and I'll try my best to make them as long as possible, I'm even writing some extra chapters right now just so I have something to fall back on if I have a busy week. I couldn't decide if I wanted to throw in the use of honorifics in this story so I decided to put some in in this chapter and see what everyone thinks, hopefully it doesn't seem out of place. I can promise you that we'll be meeting some of the larger Naruto characters next chapter, and there will definitely be some action coming up very soon, so even if the pace has felt slow so far I can tell you it's about to pick up. As always, constructive criticism is always very appreciated, no matter how small. One of these days I wont have to write so much in this section, but until then please enjoy!

Otō-san - Father

Onee-san - Older Sister

negi tanshio - Salted beef tongue with Welsh onions

Chapter 3:

Debts

"Just five more hours, please." Haruka pleaded as she pulled the bed covers up over her head. The deep chuckle from Kenta that came as a response to her only served to make her feel more irritable. "Five more hours? I wouldn't give you five more minutes, even if you got down and begged me. " Well there goes that idea then. "Now get up!" She clutched the covers closer and snuggled further into her pillow, refusing to move.

Kenta, as she would come to learn, was not the sort of man willing to repeat himself. Without hesitation he grabbed hold of the covers that she clung to and flung them across the room, nearly bringing her with in the process. Well, that's certainly one way to wake up. Setting an alarm would've sufficed, but no, that's fine. I love almost getting thrown out of bed when I wake up! She internalized her sarcasm, knowing that she had the tendency to lash out when first woken up.

Slowly, begrudgingly she sat up and slipped out of bed, grabbing her shoes and slipping them on. "Alright, alright, I'm up. What do you need me to do?" Kenta grinned and pointed out the doorway at his bag on the table. "We've gotta get that package delivered and set up shop before noon or we'll miss the afternoon rush!" Haruka didn't dare ask what the "afternoon rush" entailed, following him as he grabbed his bag and opened the front door. "Where's Miyu?" Haruka asked, noticing the younger girl was nowhere to be seen. "She's already down there waiting for us with a spot!" That can't be safe to let a little girl go walking around this village by herself. So she picked up her pace, wanting to get down there as fast as possible.

It didn't take them long to find Miyu, who was standing in the middle of what looked to be some sort of shopping and food district. The delicious smells from the many restaurants that lined the streets only helped to remind Haruka that she hadn't eaten a decent meal in more than a day, and she couldn't help but wish she had saved some berries from the bush in the woods.

She watched as Kenta put his bag down in a space between two small stores and proceed to start unpacking. She stood next to Miyu, wondering if she should help him or just let him be when he suddenly spun around, shoving a small money pouch and a neatly wrapped package at the girls. Miyu took the money while Haruka carefully took the package, worried that whatever was inside might be fragile.

"While I get everything set up here why don't you girls go deliver that package and then buy us all something to eat?" Food and no hard labor? It's like a dream come true! "Where exactly are we supposed to bring this package to?" Haruka asked. Miyu chimed in at this point, her voice sounding as energetic and excited as always. "I know where it's supposed to go, so let's hurry so we eat soon, ok?" Haruka smiled at her and nodded. "I wont argue with that logic." She let Miyu lead the way, cradling the package close to her as they walked.

"So Miyu," she started when they had been walking for some minutes in silence. "Do you know what this package is?" Miyu turned to look back at Haruka, who was a few steps behind her. "Not really. Otō-san doesn't usually say what's being delivered, only where it needs to go." Haruka looked at her incredulously. "And you've never been curious? Not even a little?" Miyu shook her head. "I've never really cared, I guess." She told the older girl as she slowed down to fall into step next to her. "Are you serious? But there could be anything in this package! I could be holding highly sensitive explosives for all I know!"

"Then you better be extra careful with it." She's kidding, right? Please tell me she's kidding. "I don't think you have much to worry about, though. I'm pretty sure we stopped selling explosives a while ago... You'll probably be fine." Even so, she noticed Miyu start to slowly inch away from her. Haruka shot the girl a terrified expression, shoving the package out towards her as if to say: "I like living, thank you, you take it!"

Miyu couldn't help but burst into laughter after seeing her reaction. "Just kidding!" Haruka dead-panned. You have a dark sense of humor, my friend. That's fine, two can play that game. "Oh thank God!" Haruka exclaimed, feigning relief. She was going to let Miyu have a taste of her own medicine. "I was worried I was going to lose another leg!" Miyu eyed her with a confused expression. "What are you talking about? You have both legs, you wouldn't be able to walk otherwise." Haruka shook her head, shifting the package so that she held it with one arm while she used the other to gently pound against her left leg as though it were made of wood. "Nope, this one's a fake." Miyu's eyes widened as she looked at Haruka with wonder. "What? What happened to it?" Haruka paused for a moment to muster up her best serious expression, knowing she'd need it if she was going to pull this off.

"I had to chew it off." She said flatly with a grave expression on her face. "Wha-?" Miyu started to speak but was cut off. "I got caught in a bear trap when I was playing hide-and-go-seek with my friends one day. We were playing inside the whole time so I thought I'd be sneaky and hide outside in the woods, I knew they'd never look for me out there." She paused for dramatic effect. "I was right." Miyu visibly paled. "Are you... Are you serious?" Haruka gave her a long look before slowly- ever so slowly- she let a grin break the tension. "Not at all." And then she broke into a fit of laughter.

"That wasn't funny, Onee-san." Miyu said, a sober look spreading across her features. Haruka was a little surprised at her use of honorific, but shrugged it off. "I thought it was hilarious." She said, unable to wipe the grin off her face. Alright, that was a little cruel, but I just couldn't help myself! When the laughter finally died down they walked without saying anything for a while.

Miyu was the first to break the silence this time. "What were you doing out in those woods, anyway?" Haruka had to think her answer over carefully. She couldn't just tell her the truth, she'd sound insane, but she didn't want to lie to someone who had gone so far out of their way to help her out. "I... Don't really know." Miyu raised and eyebrow. "You 'don't know'? How can you not know?" Haruka shrugged. "I guess I'm just lost, don't really know how I got that way though."

"What about your parents? Don't you have parents?" That was something Haruka had been trying not to think about. What were her parents doing right now? They must have realized she was gone, had they already called the police? Were they sick with worry? It got to the point where she just had to block out any thoughts on the matter, telling herself that they weren't helpful. "Yeah, I have parents."

"Then why did you leave? Don't you think they're worried?" Haruka sighed, fingers fiddling absentmindedly with the neatly wrapped package in her grasp as she tried to think of what to say. "Like I said, I don't really know why I left. All I know is that I'm here now, and I want..." She shook her head, correcting herself. "No, I need to find a way to get home." Miyu was silent for a while, staring off into space with an expression that Haruka couldn't quite read.

"Ok." She finally said, shifting her gaze back to Haruka. "Then I'll help you." Haruka didn't know what to say. What was she supposed to say? Telling her that she couldn't accept her help would be rude, but Miyu had already done so much for her already. There was no way she'd be able to repay her at this rate. "Fine, but I'm going to have to find some way to pay you back now." Miyu smiled, nodding. "I'm sure I can find something even you can do." Haruka frowned, turning to the black-haired girl with a slightly indignant look. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Hm? Oh, look! We're supposed to deliver the package right over there!" And with that Miyu was off, bounding forward before Haruka could say another word.

By the time Haruka caught up, Miyu had already knocked on the apartment door and was patiently waiting for it to open. Out of breath, Haruka shot her a death glare. "It's right over there" my ass! I think we just ran half a mile! And she's not even a little out of breath. Miyu stood with her hands clasped behind her back and a pleasant expression on her face, completely unfazed by their little sprint across town. Am I that out of shape? I really need to take up a sport when I get home, this is pathetic. She scolded herself, straightening up and forcing a smile on her face to look presentable for the customer.

The door opened slowly, and a woman that looked to be in her late twenties stepped out to greet the girls. She was definitely different from the other villagers Haruka was used to dealing with, with a soft smile on her face instead of a hard expression, but there was something odd about her that Haruka couldn't quite place. "Hello, can I help you two?" Miyu nodded to the woman and gestured at the package in Haruka's hands. "We're here to deliver a package to a Ms. Yūhi!" She chirped, and the woman's face seemed to light up with understanding.

Haruka examined the woman closely, trying to figure out what was so off about her. Her choice of clothing was pretty odd, for sure. She wore a red half-cloth-half-mesh blouse with only the right sleeve underneath a broad, white and black material that looked to make up some sort of very short dress, and her hands and upper thighs were wrapped in bandages. Yes, her clothing was definitely different, but Haruka was getting to the point where she was no longer fazed by the village's strange sense of style, so that couldn't be it.

Her shoulder-length hair was a normal black color, and she had the same type of forehead protector that Haruka had seen on Military-man when they had arrived at the village. It's not what she's wearing. It's not her hair... What is it? The woman's makeup was simple; red lipstick and soft purple eyeshadow that went very well with her red eyes and- Hold on. That's not... What... Are her eyes red?

Haruka did her best to discreetly rub her eyes, blinking a few times before looking again. Sure enough, the woman's eyes had not changed color. Colored contacts. Plenty of people wear them, Haruka. It's a normal thing. She tried to convince herself. It was becoming progressively harder to find believable explanations for all the strange things she was experiencing in Konohagakure.

"Oh, right! The kunai I ordered." Miyu nodded, taking the package out of Haruka's grasp and handing it to the woman. "Wait here just a second, I'll get the money." And with that the woman disappeared back into her apartment. Haruka just stood there, unable to say a word. Kuna-? No. It's better if I just don't ask questions. The woman returned, handing Miyu some money and thanking the two girls before closing her door.

Haruka didn't know what expression she was making when Miyu looked at her, but from the younger girl's response she could assume it was some kind of mix between confusion, utter hopelessness, and sweet denial. "Are you o-?" Haruka grabbed her arm, not letting her finish her sentence as she dragged her along behind her. "Time for food! Are you hungry? I'm starving! Where should we go?" Miyu only let out a startled "Uh..." in response, stumbling after a determined-looking Haruka. If I just ignore it, it'll all go away.

"I go there at least once every time we're in Konoha." Miyu had been trying for the last five minutes to convince Haruka that a restaurant called "Yakiniku Q" was where they should get food. The way she explained it, the place sounded like a Gyu-Kaku; a chain of restaurants where you order your food raw and cook it yourself on a charcoal brazier built into the table. "They have the best negi tanshio in the world. It's like heaven~!" Haruka watched as Miyu swooned, chuckling softly at her.

"I'm sure it's amazing, but I don't think we can get take-out if everything is ordered raw." She watched as Miyu's face fell, her hopes crushed. "Oh, yeah, you're right." She sighed heavily, her entire demeanor changing in a matter of seconds. Haruka cleared her throat awkwardly, not really liking this gloomy side of Miyu. "But I'm sure we can go there soon! We have to eat more than just one meal a day, right?" And just like that, Miyu had a grin back on her face. "Right!" Haruka smiled, only mildly concerned at how quickly the young girl could be swayed.

"What about Ichiraku Ramen?" Miyu suggested, but Haruka shook her head. "Ramen? How would we get that back to the shop? We'd spill it everywhere!" Miyu rolled her eyes. "No we wouldn't. Besides, it's almost right next to the shop, we wouldn't have to walk far at all." Haruka eyed her suspiciously. Last time she said something was close I ended up sprinting half a mile to get there. I'm not going to do the same carrying bowls of ramen, thank you.

"We're going there." Miyu said with an 'end of discussion' tone, not giving Haruka a chance to argue as she started off in the direction of the restaurant. Haruka sighed, defeated as she jogged to catch up. "Fine. But we're not running anymore!"