"Ugghh..."

I groaned as I sat up, rubbing my head. It ached as though I had hit it on something.

Well, at least my migraine was gone.

"Urg.."

I sat up gingerly, scanning the area for the source of the other voice. I saw a head, poking out of a bush, with astonishingly bright orange hair, and black stripes through it horizontally. It looked like a tiger pattern. The head groaned in pain, and I squeaked.

"What the crap?! A talking head!!" I yelled, pointing at it. The eyes opened, bright yellow, and pupiless. The head frowned at me.

"Charlie..?"

A look of horror formed on my face, "How do you know my name?!"

The head rolled it's eyes. "It's me, Jack."

I blinked, "Ooohhh." then I frowned, "Your hair is orange and your eyes are yellow."

"Well, so's yours." he retorted, and I tipped my head forward to see that my hair was, in fact, in the same tiger stripe pattern as Jack's.

He started to get up, and I squawked. "Dude!! You're freaking naked!!" I quickly put my hands up to block it from my vision, "What the hell?!"

"Ahh, no way!!" He yelled, flushing bright red and using his hands to cover himself. "I forgot that I was in the shower!!"

Then he stopped, and looked around. "Speaking of which... where are we?"

I scanned the foresty area, and dread filled me. "We're back in the Naruto world.."

Jack grinned, "Really?! That's awesome!!"

"Yeah..." I smiled fakely, then sighed. "Go jump in that river. I'll go get you some clothes."

He stared at me a minute, then nodded. I walked away, hearing a splash just as I left the clearing. It wasn't much of a splash, though; Jack's captain of the swim team at our school.

I meandered toward mine and Zoey's apartment building; I guess it would be Jack's as well now.

I cannot believe this, though. I was finally back home, and then this happens. The world just has to ruin my peace, doesn't it?!

I sighed deeply, using the key in the letter box to unlock the door to my flat. I was just going to have to tough it out, until I find a way to get back.

I suppose I should become a shinobi again... I'll have more chance finding a way to get home if I travel out on missions and such.

I searched through my wardrobe, and found a pair of boy jeans (yes, I do wear boy clothes) that were far too big for me, but would fit Jack perfectly, since he's monster tall. I then found a navy hoodie, which would probably fit him too.

He'd have to go without underwear. I have some boy boxers ('cause, let's face it, they are SO much cooler than girl's underwear) but none would fit Jack. I suppose I could go ask Sasuke or Naruto, if they are even here, but I can't be bothered to walk there.

"Yo Jack, you gotta go commando." I called, dumping the clothes beside the lake, then turned away and sat down, waiting for him to change.

"What?!" Jack sounded shocked.

"Well, I'm sorry that you're so freakishly tall that none of my boxers fit you!!" I growled, and he stayed silent, but I could feel him glaring at me. Honestly.

"I'm dressed." I stood, and laughed out loud when I looked at him. He looked ridiculous.

"Shut up." He grumbled, and I suppressed my sniggers, but couldn't help the smirk of humour on my face.

"Well, anyway, I guess first on the agenda is shopping, then. After that, we gotta go see the Hokage." I said, tugging slightly at my t-shirt and jeans. Funny, last time we came here, it changed my clothes too. And, coincidentally, this is the exact same place.

Jack followed me as I gestured, grumbling to himself, which made me smirk.

After an hour and a half of shopping, we both had new outfits. Jack had a black, long-sleeved shirt with arm-plates and metal plates on his shoulders. He had a thick red belt around his waist, and skinny black pants, with red vans. I smirked; Jack had good taste. Unlike with most guys, he could choose his own clothes and actually look good.

He let out a low whistle when he saw me. I had a cropped red hoodie that cut off at my hips with elbow length sleeves, worn open over a black, form fitting vest top, black biker gloves, and a red skirt that went down to mid thigh, with spandex shorts underneath. My calves were also bandaged, and I had standard ninja sandals on. I had made a few adjustments to the vest top and shorts, giving them torn bottoms, and a few slashes through them to make them a little more punkish.

"Funny how we both chose the same colours, eh? Great minds think alike." Jack winked at me, and I grinned. Then I grabbed his hand, pulling him along. "Where're we going now?"

"Haircuts. Your hair's a mess, and so is mine." Jack's eyes widened, and he immediately started pulling against my grip, as though I was taking him to Death Row or something.

"Nooo!! I hate getting my hair cut!!" I just rolled my eyes, sending chakra to my hands to keep my grip secure.

"You are going to get a haircut, whether you like it or not, fool." I said, and he growled, sitting down, and forcing me to stop. I glared at him, "Fine, have it your way."

I dragged him along, and because of that, it was hours before we had finished remaking ourselves. I had gotten my hair cut to suit the new colours. It was short at the back, and long at the front, in a layered bob. I had also gotten a long fringe cut in.

Jack had gotten his hair cut short, though it was still long enough that it fell in his eyes, and flicked up in places.

"See, that wasn't so bad." I said, and he just humphed. I sighed, and then started pulling him along again. "C'mon, we gotta go see the Hokage and find out where Zoey, Naruto and Sasuke are at."

Jack grumbled the whole way there, but soon stopped the moment we flew in through the Hokage's window.

"Charlie! Do you want them to kill us or something?!" he hissed, and I rolled my eyes.

"Ah, Charlie, you have finally returned. And you brought a friend." I nodded to the Hokage.

"Hai, this is my... brother, Jack. Our parents just died, so I went to go get him. Sorry I didn't inform you; I was distraught." the lies flowed naturally, and I elbowed Jack to get him to stop staring at me so shocked.

"I see... that's quite all right. He'll be staying with you, I presume?" I nodded, and the Homage smiled.

"Um, where's Zoey? I didn't see her at home." the Hokage's expression darkened considerably, and he gazed at me, sadness in his eyes.

"I'm afraid that Zoey went missing a while ago, around the time that you did... I'm sorry." I just stared at him, and he continued. "We think that it may have been a man named Orochimaru-"

"I know who he is." I glared at the floor, then blinked. "Gomen for interrupting. But, uh, where are Naruto and Sasuke? I haven't seen them in a while."

Well, technically I saw them yesterday, but he didn't need to know that.

"They are currently with Kakashi and Sakura at the training grounds. However, now that there are three of you spare Genin, I would like you to create a new squad, instead of rejoining your old one. Is that okay?" I nodded woodenly; I didn't particularly want to leave team 7, but you can't just say no to a request from the Hokage. "Good. Report back here tomorrow morning. But first, rest up. You must be tired from your travels."

I just nodded again, then pulled Jack out of the room, but not with the same enthusiasm as before.

"Zoey's been taken by Orochimaru?!" Jack whisper-yelled, and I nodded blankly. I couldn't believe this. First Tommy vanishes, and now Zoey's gone too...

"I need to be alone." I mumbled, dropping the keys to the flat on the floor in front of Jack. Whether he found his way there or not... I didn't particularly care at that moment. Call me selfish, but two of my closest friends, including the one that had been my rock in the Naruto world for so long, were missing. I didn't even know if they were alive. So you can't really blame me for wanting a time out.

"H-hey! Wait, where's the flat?!" I just ignored Jack's shout and jumped out of the nearest window, taking off at a fast pace before the desperation overcame me.

---

I had been sat drowning in sorrow for about an hour now. I hated this world! All it did was build me up happily so that it could watch me fall when it knocked out my supports. And I was falling now, deep into the depths of the oblivion that is depression.

I just wanted to go home! This isn't my world, I don't belong here! I just want Tommy and Zoey back so we can all go home!

My phone suddenly buzzed, and I pulled it out, seeing that I had a text from Jack, asking where I was. I just closed it, then caught sight of the date. It was the tenth of September; ten days until Zoey's birthday. She'll be sixteen. My birthday was before that, the thirteenth. I was born specifically on Friday the thirteenth, and always loved it, but now I don't see what I thought was so great. I was an Autumn child, just as Zoey was, and look what's happened to her. We had such great stuff planned for our sixteenths... but now none of it will happen.

I could feel a tear roll down my cheek, but made no move to stop it. Why did everything seem to go so wrong here?

I jumped as a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around me, pulling me into a familiar-smelling chest. My open eyes saw orange, and I felt immediately comforted. Naruto.

I vaguely felt him clumsily running his hands through my hair, and closed my eyes, hiding my face in his jacket.

"It's okay, Charlie, dattebayo.." he said softly, and I squeezed my eyes tight shut, trying to stop the tears. I couldn't show how pathetic and weak I was, not in front of Naruto. I was warm, and comfortable, and with a dear friend... and it made me realise. Even if Zoey and Tommy weren't there, I still had my other friends. And that was enough.

---

End of chappy 13 :3

Fan, vote, and comment!!