Melting
By Mizu Miyamoto
Disclaimer: Finally! A new Haku story! Later on, there will be some HakuSaku. Also, there will be no shonen or shoujou ai in this fic. This is my story, but the characters are not. They all belong to the manga ka Musashi Kishimoto and the studio he works for. So please enjoy and R&R!
Author's note: this starts in episode 18
Ichi
I failed…I've failed Zabuza-san…
Kakashi's fist had already gouged a mortal wound in Zabuza's chest. Blood fell to the ground, gathering in pools near Zabuza's feet. Haku stared at the sight, petrified. He had arrived too late to take the blow for the only person he cared about. Zabuza's eyes darted around in their socket, and fixated themselves on the boy.
"You failed…me" said Zabuza, speaking the last of the words. Blood spewed out of the dying man's mouth, and like a flick of a switch, the shinobi was dead.
"You failed me". That line hit Haku harder than a giant shuriken. He slumped to his feet, and hung his head. Hot tears trickled from Haku's brown eyes and landed gently like snowflakes onto his lap.
Kakashi stared at the boy. He's too hurt to attack…he has no purpose other than to serve that man…better go round up the rest of the team…
"Sasuke-kun…Sasuke-kun…" Sakura sobbed over her comrade's body. Needles protruded from everywhere on his body. Tazuna, who stood by Sakura, shed a few tears.
"Sakura….you're heavy…."
"Sasuke-kun?" gasped Sakura, taking her head off his chest. Sasuke was alive, but in need of medical attention. His eyes reflected the amount of pain that coursed throughout his body.
"You're aliiiiiive!" she cheered. She cheered so loud that Naruto, who was looking for Haku, heard Sakura's jubilant cry. The mist was a little less dense, so he could see easier. His two teammates, as well as the bridge builer, were not far off in the distance. As soon as he arrived near the two, Kakashi appeared in a poof of smoke.
"Wow, for once he's not late," Naruto chuckled. Kakashi dug around in his pockets, searching for some gauze and disinfectant. However, the wounds of the Land of Mist were not totally patched up yet.
Near the edge of the bridge, Gatou and his mob unloaded themselves off the yacht on from which they came. "Remember men! Kill Tazuna! The man who brings me his head will be awarded his weight in gold!" announced Gatou. The mob scattered across the bridge, searching for Tazuna, driven by greed and blood lust.
Haku, who was not too far away from the horde, heard the faint ruckus of their yells and death-threats. I don't care if I die…I am merely a tool…a tool who no longer has any use. The pitter-patter of feet sounded. It got closer, and closer with each passing second. Soon enough, he could smell the reeking stench of shinobi who had not taken a bath in several days.
"You! You're Tazuna, aren't you?" growled a very hairy man. He pulled out a sword, and pointed it at Haku's throat.
"No. But I don't care if you kill me," replied Haku.
The hairy man raised an eyebrow. "Okay."
Just then, the world around Haku vanished. In its place was a blazing inferno, filled with souls of evil-looking men. Flames burned their souls down into little heaps of ashes. And then, the ashes returned to back into men.
"Haku! Haku!" a voice called out. Haku spun around.
"Zabuza-san!"
"No Haku!" shouted Zabuza, who was only recognizable by his forehead protector, "Don't die yet! Don't suffer the same fate as me! You still have a life! Do whatever you can do to be good and clean your slate! Kill that evil man Gatou, for he shall also meet his fate here."
"But Zabuza!"
"That is my last will! Now go find your real purpose and live!"
"Yes Zabuza-san," replied Haku. The flames around him dissipated. He then found himself back on the bridge. The hairy man's sword was pointed at his throat.
"No! I will not die yet!" exclaimed Haku, springing to his feet. In one swift motion, he sent three needles through the man's forehead.
Don't suffer the same fate as me! Do whatever you can do to be good and clean your slate! Kill that evil man Gatou, for he shall also meet his fate here.
"I'll make sure I have a better view of things," said Haku to himself, "I won't be led astray by evil anymore, even if it is comforting."
And so, he rushed off into the mist to find Gatou and his henchmen.
"They're taking so long…" mumbled Gatou, smoking a cigar, made of tobacco leaves from the Land of the Hidden Sound. A loud scream came from one of his henchmen. The man fell to the ground, peppered with senbon (needles).
"Bridge builders can fight?" Gatou questioned himself, raising an eyebrow. Then, some men to the left of Gatou died. Something came speeding towards the rich man at an impossible speed. It was Haku.
"Haku! What is the meaning of this?" ordered Gatou, dumbfounded. Right after asking that question, the man was dead, needles lodged in his heart and neck. Haku stood over the dead man's body.
Now go find your real purpose and live! Haku remembered Zabuza's last words, which were a bit uncomforting. However, they were the truth, and Haku needed to accept it.
Haku answered the Gatou's question with the utmost sincerity. "The meaning of this? I did this for myself."
TO BE CONTINUED….