I sat at the feet of Zabuza Momochi and his partner Haku while waiting for our next target. I've been with these two for almost two years and I don't think we'd be considered friends since they've become more like bosses to me than anything else. I became a mercenary after my father willfully disowned me and cast me from his village, I met these two shortly after when I was on the brink of starving to death and they offered to feed me and house me as long as I obeyed their every rule and the only rule they ever really had was not to get in their way during a fight and provide backup when needed. Neither of them have ever actually seen my face or heard me speak in the two years that I've been with them as I constantly work a cat mask decorated in tradition Japanese art. This often made Zabuza mad but I had my reasons protecting my identity because my look betrays my secrets.
"Get your ass up Riku and get into position. We've got company now." I looked up at Zabuza and nodded. I jumped down onto the bridge we were surveying which startled my opponents.I took out my scroll and did the handsigns to summon my owl summon. I stood on top of her head and looked down at my opponents on the opposite side. Zabuza and Haku appeared at the bottom of my owl and looked out onto the battlefield. The bridge builder gasps as he sees the two faces once again and Kakashi prepares himself.
Haku trapped the raven haired boy in his kekkei genkai and Zabuza was locked in battle with Kakashi. The puny pink haired girl stood in front of the main target, the bridge builder, in feeble attempts to protect him. I noticed Kakashi beginning to get the upper hand and made shadow clones to slow him down while Zabuza got the upper hand once more. I sensed an unfamiliar chakra behind me and looked up to see an Akatsuki member standing behind me with a giant scythe on his back. Another joined him with a mask over his face and I immediately knew who this one was: Kakuzu, bounty hunter of the Akatsuki group.
My world seemed to slow down as Kakuzu pulled his hand back and thrusted it straight through my chest. I gasped as he gripped my heart and squeezed making me coughed blood onto his forearm. He yanked his arm out and I stumbled before falling from my owl; who screeched in pain before disappearing.
"Riku!" Haku disbanded his mirrors and attempted to catch me but wasn't fast enough as I hit the concrete of the bridge. My mask cracked and fell off revealing my piercing yellow eyes, purple markings around my eyes, and the fangs inside my mouth. Haku dropped down to my side and looked down at me with tears dripping from inside his mask. He ripped the mask off his face as he lifted me into his lap despite getting my blood all over his clothing and held me close to him. I raised my hand weakly and touched his cheek to gently wipe away the tears. Fighting on the bridge ceased as Zabuza joined Haku at my side and looked down at me with remorse.
"Don't...Don't cry...please Haku..." I struggled to speak as I looked up at him. He placed his finger over my mouth to try to shush me.
"Don't talk Riku, you need to save your strength..." Zabuza tried to keep his voice straight but I could hear it waiver.
"Every...Everything is going to be..." I coughed up blood which made me unable to finish my sentence.
"Well old man, looks like we have to finish this another time." Zabuza rubbed the back of his head and lifted me into his arms. Haku looked down to avoid looking at the ninja in front of him and they both jumped from the bridge to start heading towards home.
I relaxed against Zabuza's body and closed my eyes feeling exhaustion start coming over me. Zabuza gently shook me and I opened my eyes again to look up at him apologetically. I could see the worry in his face as we managed to get back home without incident. He laid me down inside my bed and I couldn't keep my eyes open much longer as Haku grabbed and held my hand close to his body. I looked up at Haku one last time before closing my eyes.
"Thank...you both.." I let my body relax as my eyes closed and my hand let go of Haku's hand. I was thankful for the time they gave me and I wouldn't have things any other way.
