Snow Bunny

Chapter 1

By: Klyukaizer

Haku is depressed, getting himself sick in the process. Why? Can Zabuza do anything about it?

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"Haku…" A cold voice came into his mind, but he didn't want to pay attention to it. Something was bothering him… Something. "Haku!"

"E- Eh? H- hai, Zabuza-san?" Haku stuttered. "Stop blacking out all of a sudden! Don't let your guard down!" Zabuza snapped. "Uh… H- hai." Haku nodded, heaving out a sigh and continued walking through the forest, following Zabuza closely behind. He felt the urge to ask that question, but he had the feeling that his master would hate him if he risked that chance.

Haku sighed out once again as he felt a cold hand touch his forehead. "You're pretty hot. Would you like to rest?" Zabuza asked his young student. Haku shook his head, "I- I'm fine, Zabuza-san." Haku whispered. Zabuza nodded and they continued walking away.

Haku blinked. And there, he thought Zabuza had actually cared for him. He quickly shook his head, feeling as if it was all an illusion and he was falling behind, as he ran after Zabuza.

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It was already dark by the time they had reached into a nearby cave. What's worst was… there was a heavy downpour. Zabuza brushed off all the raindrops from his shoulder as he glanced over to his tired student panting on the floor. "You know, I really think you're not feeling that well." Zabuza snapped.

"H- huh?" Haku stared up at his master. "I said you're not feeling well!" Zabuza raised his voice, making the younger boy blink some more, "You know what? Stay here. I'll go get some firewood for tonight!" Zabuza sighed as he left the cave once again. "Z- Zabuza-san!" Haku called, Zabuza knew his student was going to protest, so that's why he disappeared quickly.

'Yare, yare! Why's he stubborn these days?' Zabuza thought, 'He better not disobey me…'

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Flashback…

//"Zabuza-san! Mitte yo![1]" Haku cheerfully said, showing his master a cute snow bunny. "Isn't it cute?" Zabuza just nodded, preventing himself to show signs of weaknesses or mushiness.

"I know what to call him!" Haku smiled.

"Yeah?" Zabuza asked.

"ZABUZASHIROU[2]!"

"What?!" Zabuza shouted. "It matches, you know! See? He even likes it!" Haku just laughed.//

Flashback ends…

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Zabuza can't help but laugh at that time. Sadly, they had to let go of the snow bunny to its natural habitat. Haku was pouting the whole journey… Zabuza noticed that Haku really loved snow bunnies. Zabuza chuckled. His student was such a kid! And to think, he is already in his early teens.

Zabuza's attention was reacted when he came back to the cave with only his and Haku's backpacks. 'Haku!'

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"HAKU!" Zabuza searched frantically for his student throughout the forest. "HAKU! Where are you?" He called again as he jumped from tree to tree. His search was stopped when he saw the ebony-haired boy crouching in a nearby tree. "Haku."

Zabuza came down from the trunk as he saw his student sleeping with a snow bunny in his arms. "Haku…"

Haku instantly opened his eyes and gasped at his master. "Z- Zabuza-san. I- I'm sorry. I- I had to- th- this snow bunny was f- freezing, and I-"

"Shh." Zabuza snapped as he lifted Haku's weak body in his arms (while the snow bunny slept soundly in Haku's arms) and stood up. "Let's go back."

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"G- gomene…[3]" Haku said as he was laid slowly on the ground. "What for?" Zabuza asked with emotionless eyes. "For disobeying your orders." Haku answered quickly, too quickly to be exact. As if Haku had already thought of the consequences he might get. "Daijoubu.[4]" Zabuza said, sending out his chakra to create a fire on the firewood.

"Just. Don't do it again!" Zabuza snapped as he sat right across his student.

Haku nodded sadly. Haku looked at the snow bunny sleeping right beside his head, at least the bunny was safe. "Zabuzashirou…" Haku whispered.

"Did you say something?" Zabuza asked. "N- No. Not at all." Haku lied with a smile. Zabuza raised an eyebrow, "Go to sleep, Haku. You need to rest. Don't even think of disobeying me this time." Haku blushed a nod, and then closed his eyes, surrendering himself to sleep.

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Haku woke up in the middle of the night to notice the heavy thunder outside. He blinked a few times before regaining his vision back when he noticed the fire was out and that the snow bunny was nowhere to be found. "Z- Zabuzashirou?" Haku called in a low voice, filled with panic.

Haku sat up as he noticed someone or something beside him. He quickly looked behind him as he saw Zabuza with the snow bunny in his arms. Haku blushed as he saw the wonderful sight. He can't help but think that his teacher… his master… looked so peaceful when he's asleep.

Slowly, he took the blanket (which was currently wrapped around him) and laid it around Zabuza's back. Haku yawned as he laid his head on Zabuza's shoulder, sleep returning to him.

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"Haku. Haku."

Haku felt someone nudging him awake.

'Go away. I'm still sleepy.'

"Haku. Wake up!"

'5 more minutes, Zabuza-san.'

"Haku! The snow bunny escaped!"

"WHAT???" Haku instantly woke up as he noticed a white furry bunny staring back at him. "Just kidding." Zabuza came into view with a smile on his face. "Zabuza-san!!!" Haku pouted wearily, hoping he could go back to sleep.

"Uh-op! You can't go back to sleep yet! You have to drink this!" Zabuza said, handing Haku a bowl of green liquid. "What's this?" Haku stared.

"Medicine. You have to drink everything up." Zabuza instructed. Haku nodded politely as he started drinking it… that's when, "Pffffftt! Yuck!" Haku splashed everything out, wetting Zabuza's face in the process. "G- gomen.[5]" Haku blushed. "Thanks for the early bath!" Zabuza wiped his face with the back of his hand.

"E- hehehe…" Haku laughed nervously.

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"Sayonara[6]." Haku bid as the snow bunny gave one last look, before finally leaving Zabuza and Haku. "Ikuyou[7], Haku." Zabuza snapped as he started walking away. Haku nodded as he walked behind Zabuza. Once again, Haku was engaged in a game called 'staring-into-the-ground-blankly-and-getting-Zabuza's-attention'.

"Haku."

"Hai?"

"If something's bothering you, you know you can just tell me."

"Umm… sure." Haku whispered. "Well? What is it?" Zabuza raised an eyebrow.

Haku blinked, and then started chuckling. "I never recalled saying something funny." Zabuza snapped and Haku instantly silenced. "Oh… so you thought something was bothering me!" Haku smiled.

"No, I never thought about it… I noticed it!"

Haku was at loss for words. "Umm… I am?" Zabuza stopped dead at his tracks and held firmly Haku's shoulders. "Stop acting the innocent, Haku! I demand you tell me what's bothering you, right now!" Haku instantly paled and quickly faced away, "Look at me, Haku! Look. At. Me."

But still, Haku didn't look into the eyes of his sensei. "I… I'm confused." Haku whispered, which made Zabuza loosen his grip on the teen's shoulders. "About what?"

"M- my feelings. M- my heart. It's- it's as if- something… hurts inside…" Haku started explaining.

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"What do you mean?" Zabuza asked, "I don't understand."

"W- when I look at you, sensei." Haku said hesitantly. "Me?" Zabuza repeated. Haku nodded, "It's as if… I- I'm scared. Of- of you." Haku trembled. "Scared of me? And why are you scared of me? This is the first time you're actually scared of me since the past 16 years!" Zabuza joked.

Haku lowered his head, "The… 3rd to be exact." Zabuza blinked, and then laughed. "It's not like you've done something to upset me, is there?"

Haku shrugged, "I- I don't know."

"Come on, Haku. You have to open up to me sometimes, you know." Zabuza smiled as he knelt before his student and looked at him. Haku nodded in agreement as he leaned closer and took the bandages wrapped around Zabuza's lower face, the next thing Zabuza knew, their lips met… his eyes were filled with shock.

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Translation:

Frequently used Hai = Yes

[1] Zabuza-san! Mitte yo! Zabuza! Look!

[2] Zabuzashirou White Zabusha (Just mixed white with Zabuza! XD;; Ahahahaha!)

[3] G- Gomene I- I'm sorry.

[4] Daijoubu It's alright.

[5] Gomen Sorry.

[6] Sayonara Goodbye.

[7] Ikuyou Let's go.