One Damn Thing

Why the hell did you pick him up that day? Why didn't you let him go? He was too good for you. Too damn good for you. And why, until this annoying yellow-haired kid came along, did you never notice? He was too good for you. And you sure as hell didn't deserve him. How could you have been so selfish?

What would you be without Haku? He was so kind, so pure. He was everything good that you weren't. He could've done anything, but he stayed with you. Always by your side. Why? In the end he even made you a better person…

For you, he became a shinobi. For you, he gave up everything and became your tool. For you, he suffered. All so you're foolish dreams could come true. How long? And now he was dead. He even died for you. For you, for you, for you, and did you ever do a thing for him? Did you ever do one damn thing for him? No. It never even crossed your mind. He was merely a tool to be used for your own purposes. And you sure used him. Just like Gato used you. Now when did that happen?

Haku was dead. Dead and gone to a place you could never go. Maybe in that place he could finally have his own dream. The one you never let him have. And you, so greedy, that you would want to follow him there. No. Let him go. Let him be free.

This stupid yellow-haired kid had opened your eyes. Finally. Just a little too late. This kid… to bring tears to your eyes… He wasn't stupid. He was a hell of a lot smarter than you. He saw the worth in Haku as a person. Something that had taken you years.

When did you start loving Haku? And why, only now that he was gone, did you realize it? It was too late for that. Too late to find out what his dreams were. Too late to give him the life he should have had. Too late to tell him "Thank you." In the end, you lost everything. But it wasn't too late yet. No… not too late… to do one first and final thing for Haku.

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AN: God, I cry every time I read that chapter.