A/N: Sorry for the delay I had a full sketched out idea of how I wanted this to go and I decided right before posting that I wanted to go at a different angle. I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 2

I woke up the next morning to light snores only slightly more obnoxious than heavy breathing coming from the man I 'rescued' yesterday. As soon as I shifted my legs beneath my comforter as I stretched, preparing to get up for the day, my guest stopped snoring and jolted awake on my couch. That was when I decided this guy was definitely not normal. There was also something vaguely familiar about him that I just couldn't place.

"Um, so, I'm going to go shower and everything. If you don't mind staying in here I'll show you to the house bathroom when I am done." I didn't mean to make it sound like an option but the whole stranger-in-my-room factor was hitting me slowly but surely and I was starting to freak out.

The man blinked in confusion, looking around as if he was in a strange new world and everything was amazing but bewildering. "Yeah, sure, take your time."

As I bolted out the door with everything I needed for my shower which, according to the rules of the boarding house, was limited to fifteen minutes I couldn't help but look over my shoulder. My guest was staring at my computer's background with a small smile that I didn't know what to make of. As the door closed the image, a collage of Gaara photos in the shape of the kanji for love with the words 'those who meet my eyes' 'all must die', switched over to my screensaver slide show. It was only after I felt the hot water of my shower spray down my back that I remembered some of the more risqué fan art on my hard drive.

Too late now. It's not like anyone on there is actually real anyway.

Ten minutes later the issue was far removed from my thoughts and instead I was staring in the bathroom mirror with a frown. My hair, though still wet, was already curling out of control; even on the best day it floated around my head, wispy and almost smoke like. Eyes a shade reminiscent of dark chocolate and framed by rather average black lashes and eyebrows that were thin and only slightly arched drew the most attention whereas the rest of my features were distorted by extra weight.

Medications prescribed for grandiose delusions made me retain fat and that, paired with the fact that those same medications never allowed me to feel full, had, over the years, caused me to put on more and more weight until I was well beyond pleasantly plump. After having tried everything from diet fads to exercise regiments to not eating, defeat sunk in and I stopped caring.

It will never get any better than this. I told myself that every morning after I was dressed and ready for the day. It was my personal mantra of sorts; a reminder that dreams were dreams and reality was real. For a while I railed against this truth but now it was comfortable.

When I got back upstairs my comforter was over my monitor and 'Kuro' named thusly, I realized, because he was wearing all black, was huddled on the couch with his back to it. "I know I have some questionable photos on there but there aren't any nudes." I pointed out to him but he just lifted his head and stared at me like I grew seven more heads.

"Nudes?" He didn't sound curious like most guys would. He sounded embarrassed and indignant.

"Yeah, some weirdoes take it in their heads to draw different anime characters with no clothes. From what I hear some of it can be quite…elaborate. I've never bothered looking it up though, it's a bit much for me." I tried to sound casual but really what kind of guy didn't show any interest in nudity. It was like he was shy to a whole new degree. Wish more guys were like that. "Anyway, lemme lead you to the bathroom. Like I said last night I'm going to my friends' house and I can't just leave you here so you can come or find somewhere to hang out or something. We will leave in a couple minutes."

Snow was still drifting down in light sheets of cold beauty when we got to The Warehouse. It really was a warehouse that Minnie and the others bought years ago and renovated in their spare time to make it livable. There were twelve people living there and I was one of many more that came over regularly. And somehow, just like every other time, as soon as I walked onto their property Minnie was popping her head out of the door. This time was unique in that she looked weary.

The hesitant look passed and the woman's usual smile spread in greeting. She was tall and lean with blonde hair cut short and spikey and had eyes that seemed to change from blue to green depending on the day and her attire. "Harper! You brought a man? The world is ending. War is upon us and there is no salvation in sight, you know?"

I just snorted as a couple heads looked through windows in curiosity. Kurt came ambling out as if he were needed. "It's not like that, Minnie. He just needed a place to stay. It was snowing out." I told them knowing they would get what I meant. It was just one of those weird things about me.

"Harper, did it occur to you that he could be dangerous?" Kurt's brown eyes narrowed at Kuro.

I seemed to bring attention back to me as I spoke without thinking. "It happened again. I just listened this time." They all looked at me with interest before Minnie pulled me towards the door. Kurt stayed behind and another friend, Nick, walked past us as we got to the door as he headed towards Kuro, a determined look on his face.

I knew I shouldn't be worried. Nick wasn't a violent person; in fact he was incredibly placid, but everyone was acting strange. Inside I could smell beef cooking in a stew and the heat of the building slowly spread into my toes and fingers. After a moment three of the other girls living in The Warehouse walked over brimming with questions.

"Who is he?"

"He's kinda hot, don't you think?"

"What's his name?"

Ignoring these questions would do no good and would only give to birth to even more annoying questions. "I'm not sure. He's not my type. I call him Kuro, not sure what his real name is, never asked." The answers came out rapid fire and I just stood there in the lobby like atrium waiting for more pointless questions that I couldn't answer anyway.

Two of the three tended to catch me off guard and it was vivacious and flirty Jane who giggled at my answer to her question. "Of course he's not your type. You have a thing for red heads."

Yaya picked up from there, "But only if they can control sand. How can you not know who he is if he came with you?"

"He didn't do anything to you did he?" Kelly, the third woman of the hair dye brigade asked. Kelly had blue hair with black roots showing through, Yaya used orange hair dye, though sometimes she would go green, and Jane had hair so platinum it looked white. Jane and Yaya were ridiculously curvy and often wore clothes I didn't have to be wearing to cringe at. Kelly was small in every way. Some people confused the poor girl for a teenager.

"No, we just watched Naruto for a while and then I feel asleep. I think he watched for some time after. Sides, who would do anything to…" I was silenced by four very protective glares. My friends always told me a person was not measured by their weight but that was easy for them to say when they were all skinny.

"Well come eat some stew, the boys will be along shortly." Minnie took my hand in hers and made her way towards the kitchen. Looking out the window set in the door I didn't see Nick, Kurt or Kuro. Instead I saw another one of my friends heading towards the shed, Isaac, who was also very quiet. He was contemplative. I would never suspect violence from him. Kuro would be fine.

As soon as they set foot on the property, Minnie knew something odd had happened. The man with Harper had training and more than that he had an affinity. People in this world did not have natural affinities. Of course, all this time they knew Harper would find a way to Minnie's home. To the place everyone she loved in this Warehouse considered home. A place they could no longer go to.

Of course, Harper knew nothing of that. She didn't need to know. After all it would not do any good. The dead could not return to the places they lived in. That was the problem with being dead. This seemed different though, and whoever the man was Minnie knew the young woman she used as a surrogate daughter would be going soon.

And so Minnie popped her head out the front door and tried to put on a hesitant expression. It was difficult not knowing whether to be happy or sad but she was not one to be hesitant. Especially not when she knew that any one of the former ninja in this house could take on some next generation start up. Seeing who it was, the woman was glad they all wore Transformation Jutsu in this world. The man, a puppet user who happened to be the Kazekage of the 4th Shinobi War's older brother, would know quite a few of the people here.

Proceed slowly. She told herself. Minnie knew everything Harper had gone through after being born with a Bloodline Limit that reacted passively and she knew it had been like hell. That's why they professed such belief in the girl. That's why they pushed her, egged her on. She didn't belong in this world that hurt her. They, the dead ninja from another world, had to get Kankuro to bring her back. Even if it meant using genjutsu on her. Even if it meant making her hate them.

When her husband and another of the ninja came out she took it as her cue to bring Harper inside. She just hoped her husband wouldn't say more than was necessary. If he thought it was the right thing to do or even the kind thing to do he would say everything.

Lunch became dinner instead as hours passed before the guys came back. Kuro's face was surprisingly blank; like he was processing one too many things.

"What did you do to Harper's little boyfriend Kurt?" Jane asked as everyone else in the room rolled their eyes.

"He is not my boyfriend." It was pointless to remind her but I tried anyway for his sake.

"Yeah that's cause your so infatuated with…" Yaya began only to fall silent at Minnie's fist colliding with the top of her head.

"You leave her alone about that." The motherly woman said sternly while Kuro watched as if he were analyzing every action.

"Yeah, don't be stupid Yaya," I agreed. "He's not even real so how can I have any attachment to him?" But Yaya just stuck her pierced tongue out while pulling down on her left eye.

Kuro cleared his throat before I could launch myself at the childish wench, bringing my attention to him. Twelve other people also faced him, their faces more serious than I had ever seen. Isaac nodded to Nick who returned the gesture. Jane and Yaya both looked more determined than I thought they had the mental capacity for and there were other reactions as well. Noah, a boy with red hair and round glasses who always sighed at Jane when she was her most provocative, was concentrating on everything happening, a leaf could fall outside and he would probably know. Cheerful, helpful Renee and her goofy but kind partner in crime Toby were glaring but they were also holding hands under the table to try to contain an excitement of some sort. Kelly kept closing her eyes like she was sending prayers. Steve and Ian, the two older gentlemen who could usually be found playing chess in the living room, had identical poses, arms crossed, chins against their chests. Minnie was the only one looking at me while Kurt just leaned against the dining room wall, his arms folded.

"I was told you would believe the information coming from me the most since I have the least reason to pick on you or trick you." Kuro told me. "But I was warned you would most likely not believe quickly. For starters, you only got half of my name right when you addressed me in front of your house."

"Half?" I couldn't help the question. What could 'Kuro' possibly be half of? But my mind began to make strange connections. Kuro didn't even know what a computer was. He looked so incredibly serious at the mention of Naruto. The anime from last night was almost too fascinating and the look on his face when he saw the Gaara background. "Kankuro…"

A/N: So that's the chapter. Kudos and cool points if you can guess who people are. Hope you enjoyed and hopefully I will update a bit quicker this next time.