Disclaimer: I do not own this story. The original idea for it belongs to Animemadness101 on Quotev. I only took the liberty of correcting the grammatical mistakes in it and uploading it on my profile. All credit goes to Animemadness101.

Chapter 1

Zabuza needed to relax.

After completing an assassination mission, he was exhausted, annoyed, and hungry. Their target had been nothing but a hassle to grab, though it should've been easy. He had clearly underestimated him, taking more time than it should have to kill the target. Haku was tired but wouldn't show it. However, the ninja could hear his partner's stomach growling in hunger. Weighing the amount of their pay, Zabuza looked up, noticing a tavern up ahead.

"Hungry?" he asked Haku.

The teen saw the sign. "That sounds nice," the boy answered before walking in.

The tables were all lining the wall except for the back one, a bar off to the right of the room. Something important seemed to be going on by the instruments and lights that lined the back area. The assassins took a seat, a waiter coming to their table.

"What can I get you?"

While the two ordered, Haku asked, "What's with the equipment?"

"We've got a performer coming tonight. Should start up in a few minutes. A dancer from the Land of Waves. Should be quite a performance is what I've been told."

"This better not be some annoying music," Zabuza grumbled, setting his sword to the side

"I agree, but we might as well stick around. We're not going anywhere at the moment."

The man grunted as their drinks arrived. They were halfway done with dinner when the lights went out, those in the front coming up slowly and spotlighting the area.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen," a tall man spoke from the front. "It is my pleasure to introduce a performer who is well known in the Land of Waves for her exotic dancing. I now give you, Estella!"

He disappeared into the shadows, those holding the instruments starting to play. From a different set of shadows came a young woman, only nineteen years of age, hands locked and held high overhead. Her stomach moved like a snake, performing multiple belly rolls in the process. Muscle was clearly defined on the dancer's body, flexing and un-flexing with every move.

Hips snapping to the beat, chest rising and falling on its own, Estella was in total control of opposite body movements, contorting into different moves and positions. To the viewers, it was as if she was gliding across the floor on air.

She crouched to the ground then on her knees, arms moving in a snake like fashion. When the beat picked up, it was the knees this time that glided, the girl's stomach rolling in the process. Estella got onto her feet so fast and gracefully one would have to be watching very carefully to see it.

"She's amazing," Haku spoke when the song finished.

"Feh," Zabuza scoffed, pouring himself another drink.

Song after song, Estella did not disappoint the crowd. There was more applause, more money thrown her way, more patrons. Soon, the place was too crowded for Zabuza's liking and they left.

"What a load of crap that was," the man grumbled, looking for a cheap place to stay the night.

"I thought it was interesting," Haku spoke. "I've never seen someone dance like that before."

"Whatever…"

They stuck around, the two assassins looking for work and restocking supplies. Every night, the dancer, Estella, was performing at different restaurants and locations all around town. Zabuza grunted, moving somewhere else so he didn't have to watch her display. Though the man couldn't help but sneak a peek every time he passed.

"We're leaving in the morning," Zabuza informed that evening when Haku and him sat in a restaurant. "There's no client here, so we're going to move on to the next town."

"Alright," the teen answered. Haku looked around, noticing a group of men taking down equipment. "Looks like we've just missed Estella."

"Good. I think I've seen enough of her to last me a lifetime."

Haku smiled lightly. "That's just being mean. You've never met her."

"Well, her dancing performances have been driving me up the wall. She's been everywhere we try to go. It draws too much attention to one place."

The boy shrugged his shoulders, eating his food.

It was completely dark outside when the two left. Two blocks away from the restaurant there was a cry of alarm, then a loud crash coming from a dark alleyway.

"You bitch!" a voice yelled. "You think you can just up and leave?"

"I-I-I'm sorry!" a voice answered back. There was a slap, another crashing noise following.

"You think you can get far? I always know where to find you! You're nothing without me!"

"Well, maybe I don't want to do this anymore!" she yelled back. "I'm not a slave!"

"You belong to me or have you forgotten that part?"

"I'm not going back!"

There was another crash, Haku stopping. "What is it, Haku?" Zabuza asked, stopping to look at his partner. "You want to help?"

"Listen you bitch, you follow my orders, or else-"

Something sharp rested against the man's neck, stopping him.

"I suggest you release her," Haku ordered, stepping up to his side. In the attacker's hand was Estella, who in turn was trying to pry off the grip around her neck. Zabuza stayed back behind him, holding the weapon.

"Who the hell are you?" the man asked.

"We're just some travelers and we couldn't help but overhear your conversation," Zabuza answered. "What seems to be the problem? Or do you make it a habit to attack women in an alleyway?"

"This is none of your business. This girl belongs to me."

"I've done my time!" Estella cried out, trying to pull away. "Let me go!"

"You're not done until I say so!"

"Yes, I am!"

He raised his fist in a threatening way, the girl cowering in fear, waiting for the punch of submission. However, his grip disappeared, Estella falling to the ground.

"Leave," Zabuza ordered the man he had forced face first against the wall. "You're done here."

Throwing him to the ground, he ran off into the night. Estella watched him retreat like a terrified animal, breaths coming out in pants. Her body was shaking in fright before tears began to silently fall from her eyes in relief and fear.

"Get up, girl," Zabuza ordered. She looked up at him and Haku, eyes wide. "What? Cat got your tongue now?"

Estella said nothing.

"Do you have anywhere you can go? Anyone who can help you?" Haku inquired carefully.

"I don't have anything…" she whispered.

The boy looked up at Zabuza. The man sighed to himself, knowing where this was going. "Would you like to come with us?"

She thought about it for a second. "I don't think I should… I've troubled you both enough…"

"Feh," Zabuza scoffed, seeing that she was going to be stubborn. "Someone like you won't last the night on your own. Especially in that get up." He had a point. Estella was still dressed in the performance costume, showing off her body in a sensual way. "You're coming with us, whether you like it or not. Now you have a debt to repay us for saving your ass."

Estella opened her mouth before closing it, nodding in response.

"Let's go, Estella," Haku spoke with a smile, offering her a hand.

"That's not my name," she answered, standing shakily.

Zabuza cocked an eyebrow. "Then what is your name?" he asked.

"Lacey."

"Lacey what?" Haku asked.

"Just Lacy."

A few minutes later they came to the hotel. "Shower's in back," Zabuza directed. "I suggest you use it."

"Yes, sir," she answered.

"I'll find you some clothing," Haku said. "And leave it in the bathroom."

"Thank you," she spoke lightly, closing the door behind her.

"I have no idea why you did that," Zabuza spoke to Haku when they were alone.

"She would've turned out just like me if left on the streets," he answered, startling the man. The boy then went in search of some clothing.

The water was hot as it ran over Lacey's outstretched hand, a smile coming to her lips. When the temperature was just right, she jumped in, letting the warm water run over her skin. The first priority was to clean away the dirt and makeup till her complexion was back to normal. Then came the hair, lathering it with the contents in the shower to get rid of the products tangled in it. Once that was done, Lacey just stood in the shower, taking in the feeling of the water hitting her skin in a blissful way. A smile came to her lips before a giggle escaped. There was a feeling in the pit of her stomach that made the young woman elated, unable to keep it in.

Zabuza heard the light laughter when he passed by the door, stopping to listen. A few seconds later he looked at the door in confusion, shaking his head. "Crazy girl," the man muttered.

Haku glanced over, watching as his partner came into the room. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Damn girl's laughing to herself. What's up with that?"

Haku smiled lightly. "I can't help but be happy for her. The fact that she's no longer a slave to that man could probably be her reason."

"Whatever, it's annoying."

The door to the bathroom opened minutes later, Lacey walking into the kitchen. Her auburn hair was down completely, damp with water and curling just above her breasts. A bruise was present on her right cheek from the slap she had received.

"Thank you for letting me use your shower," the girl spoke up. "And the clothes." She wore some very loose fitted clothing Haku had managed to find. "I promise to be out of here by morning."

"There's no need for thanks," Haku spoke up. "And why would you leave?"

"Erm, well, I just assumed that, since you did so much for me already, you'd not want me to stick around. I don't want to be a nuisance."

"Feh, damn right you're trouble," Zabuza spoke up, his back to the young woman. "You're so much trouble it's sickening."

"Uh…"

"But don't think we're going to let you off that easily."

"Huh?"

Zabuza turned around, a sadistic smirk present on the other side of the wraps. "You have to pay up for everything we had to do for you tonight. Don't even think about skipping out on us before you pay your dues. Or did you forget our conversation in the alleyway?"

"U-U-Uh, n-n-no. Wouldn't dream of it…"

"Good." The man turned around in his chair as Haku set out dinner. "Now sit down, eat, and shut up. We leave early in the morning."

Lacey looked over at Haku, who nodded with that small smile of his, telling her it was all right.

"Yes, sir," she answered, taking a seat.

"And enough with the formalities, girl. Zabuza. You will say Zabuza and Haku. No 'sirs', no 'Master', no 'mister'."

"U-Uh, y-yes si- Zabuza. I'm sorry."

"Damn you're so annoying…"

Lacey cracked a smile, watching the man eat before digging in herself.

It was early morning when they left.

"Here," Zabuza ordered, throwing a pile of clothing in Lacey's face when she entered the kitchen the next morning, having slept on the couch. "You'll get yourself sick in the clothing you had and the ones you wear now. Get changed. We leave in five minutes."

The pants were slightly baggy, closing around her ankles at the bottom due to elastic. A long-sleeved black shirt with a loose turtleneck rested on the top part of her body. Looking over at the costume she had worn, the dancer ripped the pink sash from the outfit, running it through the belt loops to hold up the pants. Pulling the loose strands of hair up with a clip, the tips cascaded over the top of her head. With one of the straps from the bra, she ripped it off as well, wrapping it around in a headband fashion. The ankle and wrist bracelets she kept on, as well as the single earring and black neckband.

Lacey walked out of the bathroom, finding Zabuza and Haku waiting. "Those look nice on you," the teen commented.

"Thank you…"

"Come on, let's get moving," Zabuza ordered. "We're leaving this Village behind us."

There was a food market going on outside, a slight mist hovering over the area. People were out and about, buying goods in every which way. Lacey looked around in wonder, having never seen anything like it. The smells made her mouth water, color everywhere. For once, she was not traveling on a carriage or in the confines of that man's method's of transportation.

She was so happy Lacey began to walk faster past Zabuza and Haku.

"Hey…" the man spoke up.

A large grin stretched over her face and she broke into a run.

"Hey!" Haku and Zabuza tried to keep up.

Lacey weaved in and out of merchants, careful not to knock anyone over. She finally broke through the gates of the village, running clear into the forest and stopping in a meadow. The young woman twirled around in a few circles before falling back into the grass, wiggling her toes inside the black shoes and her outstretched fingers in delight.

"Hey!" Zabuza yelled, the two finally catching up. "What the hell was that for? If you think of running away, I'll-"

Lacey broke out laughing, stretching her whole body. "I actually walked out of some place…" she spoke in delight. "On my own!" Another giggle broke her lips. "I really am free…" She looked over at the two Ninja. "Right?"

Haku looked at her kindly. "Yes, Lacey. You're free."

"Feh, first she has to pay us back, then you can go on your way," Zabuza pointed out.

Instead of feeling down, she only smiled wider, answered, "Okay," and sat up. "Where are we off to now?"

"Wherever we can find a client."

"You're ninja. Don't you have a Village you're assigned to?"

"We're rogues. Assassins. Guess we forgot to mention that." Lacey was quiet. "Does that bother you?"

She shook her head. "Not really. Being rogue… I think is better. I hate rules. I loathe them… I guess it was fate that I met the two of you then?"

Zabuza eyed the girl before daring to think to himself,

Maybe…

Edited 27/11/2018