"Zabuza-san!" Twelve-year-old Haku smiled across his guardian over the breakfast table. "Do you know what day it is?"
"Of course!" Zabuza laughed. "How could I forget?"
"Cool, isn't it?"
"Yeah." Zabuza smiled. "Tell you what, why don't we skip training today?"
"Woah, really? Thanks!" Haku got up, washed his empty cereal (read: Lucky Charms) bowl, and bounced out the door.
Zabuza sighed. Oh, crap... what did I forget this time? I don't think it was his birthday? The day he and I met? Children's day? Goodness, some father figure I am...
Frowning, the Mist-nin looked at the calendar. No markings were made except for 'moon:waxing gibbous.'
Damn. Whatever it is, it's not on the Calendar. It must be some sentimental day to Haku that went one ear and out the other! Maybe his friends know....
Zabuza stood up and ran out the door, his 1/4 Eaten Ham and Cheese Omelette sitting to grow cold, unaware that moon cycles was the only thing his calendar covered and that minor holidays were left off.
...
While running to Kisame's house, Zabuza ran straight into Hozuki Suigestu.
"Zabuza-san!" Suigetsu gasped. "Guess what day it is!"
Zabuza blinked. "You know?"
Suigetsu grinned. "You don't?"
Zabuza glared. "Listen, brat. If you don't tell me what day it is..."
"Zabuza-san, if you can't remember an important day like today, then I don't feel justified in telling you."
Suigetsu melted into a puddle and disappeared.
"DAMN IT!" Zabuza yelled, pounding the ground with his fist.
...
Haku walked down the street alone, licking an ice cream cone Zabuza had bought him. The Demon of the Mist had appeared out of nowhere, purchased the treat, and run off saying he had to go do something.
I wonder what it was, Haku thought. He hasn't been this nice to me since that time he broke my piggy bank. And that was years ago.
Haku sat down on a bench and continued consuming the ice cream, not even looking up when Suigestu ran by naked (then again, he did that a lot), or when Kisame copied him.
Well, okay, he noticed, but he pretended not to. Thinking about that sort of thing was something someone avoided. Besides, the strawberry bits in his ice cream were much more interesting.
"Haku!" Zabuza ran up, something behind his back.
Haku smiled. "Zabuza-san? Are you finished with those errands?"
"Yes, Haku," Zabuza said breathlessly. "I am finished with those errands. Here."
He brought out from behind his back, a large white rabbit.
"Zabuza-san... he's beautiful." Haku took the bunny and held it gently. "This is the best Groundhog Day I've ever had!"
Zabuza twitched. "Groundhog... Day?"
Haku nodded.
"Right..." Zabuza sighed. "Of course. That's what it was."
"By the way," Haku noted. "I saw my shadow earlier. I think that means it's spring."
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
(based on a true story.)
(sorry for any disturbing mental images of naked Kisame.)