Prologue

Running. Running as fast as he can to the exit of the city. His plan failed. He needed to leave or risk being caught and imprisoned, or killed. But he needed to see her one last time. She was willing to throw her life away for him. As much as he wanted her to come with him, he couldn't bring himself to ruin her life.

She wasn't allowed to become a ninja. Her father went as far as going to the Mizukage, having it written on paper. Tch, as if that meant anything to him. He trained her in secret. Taught her how to fight and defend herself in hand to hand combat. He wanted to train her further, but that rat saw them one day and told the Mizukage. Lucky for him though, he decided to let it pass so long as she was put on a team. Unfortunately all good things come with a price. She was on a team with that rat.

Momentarily his thoughts went to Haku, wondering if he died or made it out of the city. What was he thinking, of course he isn't dead. Turning to the right and disappearing into a thick mist, he started to search for her. After 3 minutes, he found her. She was trying to tell her father and the rat to let her leave. She was lying to them, telling them she could get me to turn myself in. They hesitated and their grip on her became loose. She saw the opportunity and jumped away from them.

"I'm sorry… but I love him…" and with that she ran.

Her father was angry, yelling at the rat. This was all his fault, he didn't try hard enough. She didn't love him like she was suppose to. The rat's face was angry yet determined. He was going to try and stop her. Zabuza left and found her already close to the exit. He caught up in no time. Standing behind her quietly was a hard face. A mask of no emotion covering his self inflicted pain.

"Desarae."

She stopped and turned around. Her blonde hair flying out of her face from the quick movement. Her hair was down, like always. He's told her before to put her hair up. Her hair would just get in the way in a battle. She never listened to him. She knew how much he loved to see her hair down, despite what he would say.

"Zabuza.."

Relief filled her blue eyes at seeing he was okay and a small smile graced her beautiful features. He always wondered if she was really from Kirigakure. Her features almost looked foreign compared to all of the other women here. But she's been here as long as he can remember. She must get her looks from her mother, certainly not from her ugly old man. In fact, he's never seen her mother before. She must have died. Desarae never talked about her. If she was mentioned, sadeness covered her face before she would change the subject.

"Desarae. You need to stay here." Instantly her face was one of hurt and confusion.

"What? N-no.. No! I'm not losing you! I'm coming with you! I'm strong now! And I'll become stronger! I'm never going to leave you, I promise! I swear on my life I won't slow you down or hold you back! I've already told you, I'll help you achieve your dream no matter what!" She was becoming frantic at the fear of losing her closest friend, the man she loved. She closed the space and griped his shirt in her hands. Tears started to form in her eyes.

This was becoming harder then he thought it would be. He grasped her shoulders, looking into her eyes. The eyes of innocence. Though that was a lie. She was anything but innocent. If you looked hard enough, you would see pain in those eyes. Almost hollow from the things she's witnessed in her life. The fact that he made her happy, made the pain go away, amazed him. How could someone so sweet and frail love a demon?

Seeing the tears threaten to spill, he looked away. The truth was, he loved her too. The demon with no feelings and no emotions. She had somehow found a way into his heart. She was like some sort of disease. He couldn't get rid of her not matter how hard he had tried. He was starting to crack. Starting to think about what would happen if he allowed her to come with him. But now was not the time to be thinking of a possible future. He was out of time. He needed to leave now and find Haku. She doesn't even know about Haku. How he managed to keep that from her still amazed him.

"Desarae. Don't. I don't want this life for you. Always running, always looking behind you, always lurking, always sleeping with one eye open. If you come with me, you'll be labeled as a criminal. Wanted. A rogue nin. You deserve a life, happiness, a family. Things I can't give you. Please don't make this hard for me… You need to stay."

Just saying these words hurt. For both of them. They both knew it was true. But she didn't care. She didn't need a family as long as she was with him. As long as they died together, she would be happy. But he was as stubborn as she was, probably more so. She knew he wouldn't let her through that gate. Hell, it would probably be easier to let him leave thinking she was staying, then just follow after him. She made up her mind. She would just wait then follow him. She hated it here anyway. The only good thing was Zabuza. If it wasn't for him, she would have left years ago.

She wrapped her arms around his waist. Her head right at his shoulders. He wrapped his arms around her, tangling his fingers in her hair for the last time. His body started to shake, just barely. He buried his face into her hair. This is the last time her would see her. Probably ever. He memorized the way she felt against his body. The way she fit perfectly, how small she was compared to him. Then he pulled back and studied her face for the last time. He never wanted to forget how beautiful she was. But at the same time, he did want to forget. He didn't want to remember the expression on her face. Pain, fear, abandonment, heartbreak. Her face reflected how he felt inside.

Couldn't he just take back what he said, snatch her up right now, and just leave? Keep her and never let her go? No. He couldn't. He wouldn't. He bent down and kissed her. Though he had become somewhat distant due to training Haku, she never got mad at him. It was the only secret he kept from her. He almost hated Haku, resented him for keeping him from his love. For taking precious time away from being with her. But he knew deep down, it wasn't Haku's fault. It was his own fault, something he would never admit to aloud.

The kiss was filled with so much feeling, so much passion it almost hurt. Her hands were holding his shirt so tight, she might makes holes. And her head and body were becoming sore from how hard he was holding her to him. The kiss held all of the emotions he could never express, all of the memories they will never get to make. It was time to go. He could hear the footsteps of the ninja catching up to him, finally. Tch, they're pathetic. He pulled away. Looked into her eyes.

"I love you, Desarae. I-" He froze, eyes wide and coughed blood onto her face. Her eyes grew in horror. They had been too distracted, they hadn't heard the rat sneak up. Five kuni were lodged into his back. The shock caused him to freeze but more were flying near him.

She stepped behind him, blocking the oncoming kuni with one of her own. He recovered quickly and the two began fighting off a group of ninja. He could hear the rat trying to change her mind. Asking her how she could love a monster and not him. How he's loved her his whole life and they could have a proper life together. The thought of him with her made him laugh, but the thought of him touching her made his skin crawl and his rage flare.

With his mind unfocused, a blade was fast approaching his heart.

"ZABUZA! NO!" She raced at a speed unknown to herself. "Ack-" Zabuza couldn't move. All he could see was a blade coming out of her back. She saved him. Sword in her chest, blood dripped out of her mouth. Everyone was still. The ninja whose sword was inside of the kindest girl in the village, let go. All they could do was stare. They didn't know what to do. Everyone loves her. She always went out of her way for everyone. They knew she claimed to have feelings for the Demon of the Mist, but no one believed she would jump in front of a blade for him.

Her vision was blurry, black spots everywhere. She started to fall backwards. Zabuza caught her before she hit the ground. On his knees, he held her to his chest. They stared at each other for a moment. He could barely see her through the tears and rage building up. She started gasping for air.

"Zabuza… please." A question wasn't needed. He removed the sword quickly. She gasped harshly, tears falling down the side of her face. No one could move as they watched the heartbreaking scene in front of them. Was it even possible for this demon to love? To care for someone?

Her hand slowly and shakily reached up to his face. Cupping his face, she spoke her last words.

"I love you too… Zabuza… Always and… F-forever." Her hand fell, her eyes starting to close. Tears finally fell down his face, for the first time.

"No… No! You can't leave me! You promised me! You said you're stronger now! I know you are! You're too strong to die! You promised you would never leave me… and help me achieve my dream. Please… you are my dream Desarae. You… you can't die."

She smiled sadly, now crying more. "Please don't remember me like this. Remember me from a different time, with you.. happy. Don't remember my death, remember my life." He pulled her closer and kissed her one last time.

"I love you.." tears dropped onto her face.

"I love you t-ack-too…" Coughing up more blood, growing cold, she allowed herself to close her eyes. Dying happily in his warm embrace.

All were silent, not knowing what to do. Zabuza held her tighter, leaning over her. Almost as if to protect her from the world. His head almost touched the floor as tears freely fell to the ground. He should have just let her come. They wasted so much time saying goodbye. If he had just let her come, she'd still be alive.

Even the masked boy hidden in the trees outside the gate could hear the demon's scream. He should have gone in there, to see what was taking so long. He could see Zabuza talking to a woman, one he didn't know. One that saved Zabuza, twice. Now it seems she's dead. How unfortunate, she looked young. While all the ninja were still, Haku could sense one was ready to attack Zabuza in his only moment of weakness. Time to move.

No…. NO! This can't be real! She can't be gone. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-" Zabuza fell to the floor. The rat bashed him in the back of the head. His vision blurry, his mind unclear. He could sense that something was happening to him, but all he cared about in that moment was her. She looked at peace. He supposed it wasn't a bad way to die, next to the only person he's ever loved. The only person who loved him.

Her eyes cracked open, just enough to see him beating Zabuza. Blood was everywhere. He was probably dead. She could only hope that death took her to him quickly.

Haku jumped in as Zabuza was acquiring more blood on his person. He was still alive, he could sense his heart beat. But the girl, if there was a heartbeat, it would be gone soon. He momentarily thought of bringing her with them. Ultimately, he decided against it. She was gone. Zabuza didn't need to see the lifeless body of this mysterious girl than he already has.

He grabbed Zabuza and ran.

In the silence of the room, one could hear light shuffling of sheets. The shuffling became more rapid, thrashing. The room became silent once again as Zabuza sat up in the bed, panting heavily and scanning the room for danger. After a moment of disorientation, the panting decreased. THe man sighed deeply and rubbed his face. He had had another nightmare. Well, more like another memory. And a shitty one too.

There's no way he would be able to go back to sleep now. Not because he wasn't tired, he was. Really, it was the fear of watching her die again. Why were these memories resurfacing so frequently now? He had pushed her to the back of his mind over the last year, with much difficulty, but suddenly she was coming back to the front.

"Feh. Stupid nightmares."

Hello everyone! Desarae here~ I would like to apologies now for the possible OOCness of any character. Especially Zabuza. I haven't wrote in a long time, and I've never wrote a story for him. So I'm kind of new to writing for him. Also, for the current lack of description in fight scenes. Again, I've never wrote it before and right now it's kind of weird for me. But I hope to improve for your sake! Thanks for reading. OH! ALSO, I don't really know the time period between Zabuza's attack on the Mist and the bridge scene with Naruto. So I'm putting a bit of time between it.