Disclaimer: Hello everyone! Here comes the new chapter in Melting! Once again, these aren't my characters, but it is my story. So if I catch you stealing…..you may wind up as a red streak on the ground. Anyway, although it may seem like a SasuSaku fic at first, there will be SakuHaku. So enjoy, and R&R! Cheers!
Ni
Back at Tazuna's house, Kakashi busied himself by tending Sasuke's wounds. He had pulled out most of the senbon from the boy's body earlier on the bridge, but still a few remained.
"Kakashi-sensei, will I ever be able to battle again?"
There was silence for a few seconds.
"Well, since some of the needles punctured your vital organs, you will need to take it easy for about six or so months," Kakashi informed. Sasuke sighed in despair. No battling and no training for at least half a year. It was almost as bad as being one of the elderly ninjas in Konohagakure, who were past their prime and sat in bed all day.
"Damn…" Sasuke muttered.
Sakura stood outside of Sasuke's room, eavesdropping. He won't be able to battle for at least six months…
"What a pathetic shinobi I am…" Sakura mumbled to herself, "If I had been stronger, then he might have been spared…Ino deserves him more than I do."
"Ohaiyo, Sakura-chan!" greeted Naruto, cup of ramen in his hand.
"Hi Naruto…" Sakura replied unenthusiastically.
"Why the long face?"
"It's Sasuke…his injuries won't allow him to battle for six months…"
Naruto struck a triumphant pose. "Don't worry! I'll make up for Sasuke!"
Sakura leaned herself against the wall and slid to the ground. He can barely even do his part…
"Naruto, just leave me alone right now," Sakura ordered, "Don't talk to me."
"Alright…" Naruto walked away glumly. Kakashi sauntered out of Sasuke's room. He looked down and saw Sakura.
"You're hurt too? I didn't see any needles sticking out of you earlier…"
"No, it's not that…it's…" Sakura decided not to tell Kakashi her problem. She didn't want to sound like a weak, sensitive ninja. "I'm going to go take a walk around the village. I'll be back for dinner." She rose off the ground, dusted herself off, and went out the front door.
"Must be a girl thing…" Kakashi muttered, "Anyway…I haven't been able to read my book lately." He pulled Makeout Paradise from his pocket and lost himself in the world of porny literature.
It was your average, muggy night in the Village of the Mist. The air was enveloped with the smell of roasting fish, a specialty food in the village. There were a few people out on the streets, as well as a stray mutt or two. Haku exited a small grocery, holding a bag of vegetables and bread.
All right, so I got rid of one evil in this world. But that can't be my sole reason for existence. He walked down the street, and noticed a lonely shamisen player. He stopped by to listen. The player wasn't that great, but you could hear the musician's soul with every note. The song itself sounded lost and half-baked, probably like the player of the instrument itself, who had a dream at one point, but had faltered and wandered off the path.
No wonder why it's so hard to find a reason in my life…this village is festered with people with no hope for a better future. If I am ever to live, I have to get off this island. He tipped the player a coin. The musician looked up and smiled, but Haku had already walked away to receive any thanks.
Haku sat down on the porch of his house. It wasn't really a house, it was merely a three-roomed shack in the middle of the woods. He and Zabuza had hung out here before being associated with Gatou.
Breaking off a piece off bread, Haku realized how lonely he was. It was the first time in several years that he had eaten alone. He missed Zabuza terribly. He knew Zabuza was evil, but he filled the void in Haku's heart. Zabuza was like a stolen meal. It satisfied your stomach, but you felt bad about eating it. Haku wanted to cry.
I can't let myself cry…I have to be strong! The tears came anyway. Stop crying! I won't let myself cry! I won't let myself cry! Haku's sadness turned into anger.
"Why can't I stop crying!" he shouted, pulling some senbon from his pocket, subsequently flinging them at a tree.
Sakura had just exited the village when she heard some yelling come from the woods. I have to go see! Somebody might be in trouble! She ran as fast as her legs could carry her, ignoring the branches that snapped against her legs and arms. She stopped when she came to a small clearing in the forest. There was a small shack in the clearing, but what caught her attention was a boy, who looked much like a girl. He stood hunched over, panting. In his left hand he held a bunch of senbon.
It's the boy from earlier!
He looked over at her angrily, but when he realized who she was, the rage melted from his face. The senbon dropped from his hand to the grass.
Sakura explained,"I'm sorry to intrude! Please don't kill me! I thought someone was in trouble so I came to investi-"
"It's all right. I'm not going to kill you. I was just angry at myself and was blinded by my rage."
"Angry? Why?" Sakura questioned.
"Because I'm weak."
But how can he feel weak? He nearly killed Sasuke!
"Sakura, could you stay awhile?" questioned Haku. Sakura's stomach growled. "It sounds like you haven't had dinner yet."
"I really should be going."
"Oh, ok," Haku said, "You're lucky you have someone to eat dinner with."
It was then Sakura noticed Haku's real feelings towards her. Since Zabuza was dead, Haku had nobody to lean on. Haku didn't want to kill Sakura, he just wanted some company.
"On second thought," said Sakura, "I think I'll join you for dinner."
Haku and Sakura sat on the front porch, eating vegetables and bread. It had grown dark now, and the only source of light was the stars and a few lanterns. "Do you like the Village of the Mist?" questioned Sakura, trying to make small talk to break the silence.
"No, not really. I did back when I lived with my parents, but the land has changed since then. Now, it's just a well of sorrow."
"What do you mean?" questioned Sakura.
"The people in this town seem to have a lost cause. Nobody really has any goals, nobody really cares about anything," said Haku. He picked up a carrot. "They're just like these vegetables. They just exist. They grow, and then die."
"I guess you must feel like a vegetable now that you've lost Zabuza."
Haku was stunned. She was able to read his feelings like an open book. "Yeah, I guess I do," he said with a bit of a chuckle. Then with a serious tone he asked, "Do you believe in divine intervention?"
"Yeah."
"Well, after the battle this morning, I almost died. I was at the swordpoint of one of Gatou's men. I wished to die and join Zabuza-san. But all of a sudden, I found myself in this world full of flames. I saw many evil men burning in them. One of them was Zabuza-san. However, he told me he didn't want me to die yet. He told me repent and find my purpose in life. And after that, I found myself back in this world. I killed off Gatou's henchmen, and then Gatou himself."
"Wow. That does sound like divine intervention," said Sakura.
"I swore I would live a clean life. I swore I would fight evil. And I promised myself I'd find my purpose. Sakura-chan, what's your purpose?"
"Well," she replied, "There's a special ninja in my group…"
Sasuke. That boy that Haku had almost killed earlier, was Sakura's reason in life. Haku felt awful that he had almost taken away Sakura's reason in life. Haku apologized, "Sakura-chan, I am sorry for what I did to Sasuke this morning. If you don't mind, I'd like to aid him in his recovery."
"I would like that," replied Sakura, "I would like that very much."
"I'll be seeing you tomorrow then. You best be heading back. Your comrades are missing you."
"Thank-you Haku," thanked Sakura, bowing. As she walked off, Sakura thought of something. She may not of been able to protect Sasuke, but she had found someone to help him. She smiled at the thought, and forgot her worries as she traveled back to Tazuna's house.
"Where's Sakura-chan?" questioned Naruto, eating vegetable soup.
"She went out for a walk. She said she would be back for dinner…" informed Kakashi.
"Or maybe she got lost!" suggested Inari.
"Hi, I'm back!" announced Sakura, coming in through the front door.
"We're having vegetable soup for dinner!" announced Inari's mom. Sakura sighed. I just ate vegetables for dinner…
TO BE CONTINUED…