All my Fault


Zabuza looked upon the boy. He could have swore his heart skipped a beat at the painful realisation. He closed his eyes, and opening then, expecting it to all be just his imagination.

But Haku's still chest failed to rise and fall.

"Shit.." he said, instantly making way over to his bed. "Shit... kid, come on, you can't have died..." He cursed, grabbing Haku's shoulders and shaking him. "Wake up you dumb ass! Wake up!"

Of course, Haku did not respond. His hair fell out of his loose bun from being shaken, and his whole body remained limp, like a rag doll. Zabuza looked at him, and slowly realised what it was that he had to do...

He took a deep breath, and brought the boy's face to his own, desperately breathing air into the boy's lungs, and forcing it back out, and then giving him more again. He did this for a moment, but it seemed like nothing was happening... He was about to give up, when finally, Haku's chest began to rise and fall again, without the help of his master.

Zabuza looked at him blankly, catching his own breath for a moment, before letting him drop back unto the bed with a thump. He took a few steps backwards, and with a deep sigh.

"How why the hell.." he said. "Did I just do that..."

He sighed, and leaned against the wall, his body slinking down to the floor. "...Whatever.." he said. "The kid can recover on his own now.. I'm done.." he yawned, crossing his arms to his chest. "God dammit.. I need some sleep.."

For a while, he remained in his spot, staring intently at the bed where the boy rested, but his eyes slowly closed, and his head drooped.
"I should stay awake.." he told himself lazily. "I should.. well.. the kid's fine now... a nap wouldn't hurt..."

He began to slip off then.

"Zabuza..san?"
His head snapped up, and his eyes came to rest upon the bed. Haku lay upon it, turned to his side, looking at him. He jumped up, and ran to the side of the bed. Haku's eyes traveled with him, but he barely turned his head.

"So your awake, eh kid?" he asked.

He blinked, and a smile came upon Haku's face, and he shook his head. "You tried your best..." he said. "I'm sorry Zabuza-san..."
"You should be kid, that was a pretty stupid stunt."

"No Zabuza-san..." he said.

"What the hell are you tal--"

Haku sat up in the bed, the blanket falling off his shoulder, revieling his soft pink kimono.

'Wait.. he wasn't wearing that..' Zabuza realised.

The boy stepped off the edge of the bed, and looked at his master. His arms dangled to the side. The bandages Zabuza has wrapped around him fell off, showing unmarred arms. And he smiled at Zabuza, causing him to take a few steps back.
"Are you trying to mess with me?" He demanded, anger rising.

Haku looked at him, sadness in his eyes. He tilted his head slightly to the left.

"What do you mean Zabuza-san?" he asked, taking a step towards him. "Why would I mess with you?"

"Wh- what hell are you doing in that kimono? I thought I told you before I didn't like you wearing that stupid thing..."

But Haku seemed to not hear him, taking one more step, and reaching out towards his master, placing his hand on his shoulder. Zabuza tried to pull away, but his whole body seemed to freeze at the soft touch. He tryed to fight it, but couldn't budge.
'What the hell.. I'm paralyzed!' he thought, finding that no matter how hard he tried, he could move nothing but his eyes.

The boy removed his hand from Zabuza's shoulder, and slowly reached out towards his face, touching his masters cheek lightly, before lightly beginning to pull of the wrapping he had covering his mouth.

'What the hell...' he tried to yell, but not even his mouth would obey him at this point. 'Stop this foolishness Haku!'

"I wish you wouldn't have hidden yourself from me..." he whispered, as the wrapping fell to the floor. Haku pulled his hand away, and then stepped back.

"Zabuza-san..." he said, wrapping his arms around the man in a tight hug. "Why didn't you ever tell me..."

Slowly Zabuza felt his arms seem to move on their own, wrapping around Haku, and pulling the boy as close as possible.
"What the hell... tell you what.." he managed to say.

"It doesn't matter..." he said, letting go of his master and looking up at his face. "Its too late now.."
"Too late..." he said. "What's that suppo--"

He was cut off again as the paralyzation took hold of him again, and Haku pulled away from him.
"Its too late..." He repeated again.

"Your becoming useless to me..."

Zabuza's voice echoed throughout the room, although it did not come from his mouth. Haku smiled a peaceful looking smile.

"You are losing your purpose as a tool..."

His eyes closed, and he slumped to the floor.

"Your becoming weak."

Haku began to sob quietly, as his arms began to glow, the cuts returning. His blood dripping down his arms and upon the floor.

"And for that..."

He looked up, and smiled at his master through his tears.

"I think I shall dispose of you soon..."

"Gomen nasai.. Zabuza-san.."

A visable wave of pain shot through Haku, and he cried out.

"Haku!" Zabuza snapped out of his paralyzation, and lurched forwards towards the boy. But right when he was about to grab him.

Everyhing faded into black. He heard Haku cry out again in pain. "Zabuza-san! Help... help me!" his voice pleaded.
"Haku!" he yelled. "Where.. where are you?"

"I'm.. I'm.." he stopped, and nearly screamed.

"HAKU!"

There was nothing after that. Haku didn't respond to Zabuza. He looked around franticly, only to see nothing but black.
"DAMMIT!" he yelled. "Its all my fault... my.. fault.."

Zabuza's eyes snapped open, and he jumped up, as the room came into view. He looked around, spying Haku on the bed, safe, and still breathing.

"It was just a dream.." he told himself. "A.. dream.."