Hey, folks! I'm Akiraka, and this is what you might call my debut story. So, I'm totally new at this. I'd love if you'd review, but please no flames. Constructive critism is much obliged!

Summary: Random acts of kindness usually don't go far for Hikari, and when she saves a shinobi named Haku, she doesn't expect this case to be any different. But after 4 years, he's back. Is God messing with her, or she just part of a game she doesn't want to play?

Major Pairings: HakuxOC, ShinoxOC, KibaxOC, a little NarutoxHinata

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, but please don't steal the OCs. Just saying.

1.

Haku was dying.

He could tell by the way the cloudy, silver sky seemed to be pressing down on him, by the way time seemed to slow, by the way the wind seemed to bear a note of finality on its wings.

Finally.

He could feel the snow prickling his face. He had always liked the snow, ever since he was a little kid-

But wait. He was supposed to be dying.

So as Haku lay there, waiting for the end to come, you can imagine his surprise when it didn't.

He cracked an eye open. Kneeling over him was a short, blue haired girl, her sparkling light blue eyes focused on his face. "What are you doing?" He asked flatly.

The girl stared at him like he was crazy. And maybe he was. "I'm saving your life," she replied just as frankly. Haku then noticed the light green chakra emanating from her palms, healing the hole by his heart.

"You know, every time you do that-"

"A year comes off my life, I know." She said, her eyes moving to her hands. "But what does it taking five years off of my life matter if I'm adding five to yours?"

Haku blinked. His eyes turned to Zabuza. He lay next to Haku, his eyes wide and empty. He should have died, too…

"Stop." He said.

The girl blinked. "What?"

"Stop healing me. Just let me die."

Her mouth dropped. "Let you die? Why would I do that?"

"Because I don't have a reason for living." He closed his eyes.

She scowled. "That's foolish."

Haku frowned but kept his eyes closed.

With one more burst of chakra, the girl healed all of his wounds and pulled him to his feet. "Stand up."

Haku blinked. "You healed me? Just like that?"

The girl smiled. "Yes, I always have had a touch for medicine."

Haku shook his head. "You made a mistake."

She was still smiling. "I don't think so. By the way, I'm Kousetsu Hikari. It's nice to meet you."

"Haku," said Haku, his eyes traveling almost subconsciously toward Zabuza.

"I'm sorry about your friend." By the tone of voice she used, Haku could tell she meant it. "I tried to save him, but it was too late."

Haku took a deep breath. "I've served my purpose!" He said, his voice filled with anger. "You should have let me die!"

"But I didn't. You can't change the past, and I have no intention of being your murderer now." Hikari shouldered her bag and began to walk away. Haku, for lack of another place to go, followed her.

"Where are you going?" He asked, catching up to her.

"Konohakagure." She answered. "And you?"

"I might go back to Mist."

"You're from there?"

Haku looked up into the foggy road. "Sort of…" He sighed. "I don't know what I'll do, though."

"Well, you're a ninja, aren't you? Mist must be in need of ninja."

Haku took an oblique glance at the girl. "What do you live for, Hikari?"

Hikari blinked, taken aback by the question. "W-well, I live for my friends, and my clan. They disappeared a long time ago. They might be alive, they might not. I always hope I'll find them one day. And when we meet, I want them to be proud of me." Haku thought he saw her blink hard at this, but she might have just been ridding her eyelashes of a snowflake. "And I live to get stronger."

"That's selfish." Haku snorted.

"No, it's not!" She said in mock anger, the ends of her lips twitching. "Not if you're growing stronger to protect your country."

"So that's all it's about, then? Konoha is it?" He asked, searching Hikari's face.

"Well, it's not about yourself. It's not about one person. It's about everyone, together!" He could see the fire in her eyes.

He chuckled. "Is that why you're so helpful?" He grinned as she stared. "Because you think of everyone but yourself?"

Hikari turned her head to face him and stopped walking. "But you can't think just about you." She said quietly. "There are so many factors; it'd be selfish to think only of yourself." Her look turned sly. "That's also why it's selfish to try to die."

Haku furrowed his brow and opened his mouth to say something, but shut it again. "Touché." He said wearily after a moment with a small smile.

The two walked in silence for a while, and yet it wasn't awkward. Hikari was enjoying the odd but pleasant sight of snow on green plants while taking small glances at her companion. Haku, however, was just staring ahead, trying to sort out the panic and sadness in his mind.

Eventually, they got to a fork in the road. One sign pointed haphazardly to Mist, the other neatly written to Leaf. Hikari readjusted her bag on her shoulder and glanced at Haku. "I guess this is where we split."

Haku swallowed. "I guess so."

Then she turned around and looked at him. Her voice began unsure, but she seemed to gain confidence as she went on. "You know, Haku," she paused. "I saved your life. You owe me a bowl of ramen."

Haku found himself smiling. "I promise, if I'm ever in Konoha, I'll seek you out."

She smiled the first true smile he had seen all day. She turned, and he watched her until she faded into the snow.

-

Thanks for reading!