Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Chapter VII: Into The Mist
Hours had passed by because outside it hade become darker and darker until the last rays of the sun were barely illuminating the room. They both had not moved from the bed and only had changed their position once every hour. When she heard footsteps on the roof, Sakura's heartbeat fastened and her eyes followed the sound while Zabuza remained unresponsive to the sound and kept staring at nothing.
Her eyes landed on the window, moving impatiently, she waited for whoever it was to appear, her thoughts clenching on to the silver haired man who had been roaming in her head all day.
When eventually Haku appeared she couldn't stop the sound of disappointment leave her mouth, something he heard but choose to ignore and simply smiled in return. Sakura couldn't help but slouch back into the bed, letting out a sigh. When would it be over?
He walked towards the pair and once stood before the two he quirked up an eyebrow at the sight. Both of them just sitting on the bed, unresponsive and silent. Zabuza had yet to acknowledge his presence.
When he finally looked up to his partner, Haku flashed him a smile. 'Did you sleep well?'
He didn't answer and got up and walked towards the small kitchen. Then he simply told him 'Tonight.'
Though he did not explain anything further, Haku nodded.
Sakura assumed he must've been talking about Kakashi and that Haku knew his partner well enough and did not need more but one word to understand him.
When Haku faced to greet her, he took in her appearance, noticing her hair was messy and tangled and that her kimono was wrinkled and out of place. Embarrassed she tried to smooth out the kimono and tugged on it here and there to make her look a little more decent. She curled up her knees in defense, hiding herself behind them. Haku's face remained blank and he didn't comment, then simply walked away towards were Zabuza was.
'Do you feel well rested?' He repeated his question again, looking at Zabuza, who simply nodded and remained silently at the table, sparring Sakura a glance, who gazed back but froze when his eyes caught hers. She shifted uncomfortably and he looked back to Haku.
'Did you get anything to eat?' Even when he spoke soft his voice sound rough and harsh.
'Yes I did. I had more luck today, I managed to get two fish. I'll share mine with Sakura.' He spontaneously turned around to look at Sakura's reaction. She gave him an uncertain smile back.
'Miss Sakura if you could—' But before he could ask her to assist him he was cut off by Zabuza, 'You make dinner.'
He seemed surprised by his command but stayed silent, staring at his partner who ignored him, he then glanced back at Sakura who avoided eye contact. 'Of course.' He responded cheery, ignoring the blatant dark atmosphere that hung in the room. It seemed the girl had a strange effect on them or perhaps it was the entire situation that disturbed their usual doing. He did have slightly nagging feeling in his chest but he pushed it back and started doing his new chore.
Sakura stared at the young boy, trying to figure out what could be going on in his head. Or why he was always putting on a fake smile, was it actually fake? She didn't know she just assumed because no one could be happy like that all the time. Right?
She wondered if he knew… Does he know what has happened? Probably… This morning he… She didn't finish the sentence in her head but the memories flooded back and she shuddered at the thought that both seemed to have lurid thoughts and wanted preform sinister actions on her. Zabuza was a full grown man, though she did not understand him at all she did know the concept of grown men and their needs, she wasn't that naïve. Yet Haku was just a boy her age, never had she looked at Naruto or Sasuke with fear that one of them would harass her. She genuinely thought they had never thought of such things either.
Perhaps she had been wrong, would they too do such things if they had a captive?
No, they're not missing-nin. They would never stoop so low, they would never betray their village! Naruto and Sasuke aren't anything like Haku. Like Kakashi isn't anything like Zabuza. They would never do such things to anyone!
But what if this was how all Shinobi were supposed to be?
She couldn't say she knew much about holding someone hostage or any situation similar to hers. Sure she had textbooks with examples but she knew that the academy would refrain from giving all the details to such a situation, not wanting to scare or traumatize all of them.
She balled her first at that thought, how hypocrite. She was scared and traumatized and they had done nothing to prepare her, they had just left her in the dark, unaware of...
His words hollered back into her mind. The hardship of being a Shinobi.
The words and thoughts twirled in her head, she could not stop the chaos. Everything felt like a haze suddenly, when she stared at the pair it was as if she was not really here as if she was watching them from a great distance. Her eyes blurred, closing them she let her head rest on the wall, taking a deep breath.
It was still raining outside, it had rained all day now.
Smelling the baked fish, cooked rice and the sweet scent of fruit, her stomach actually turned in disgust. She didn't feel like eating. She simply wasn't hungry.
'Miss Sakura.'
When he called her she had to force herself to open her eyes and look at the boy.
'Please take a seat.'
I'd rather not.
But she didn't say that out loud, instead she remained unmoved and simply stared at him. Her eyes asking him not to make her move, not to make her sit with them. For the first time ever she saw Haku's face turn into a scowl, aggravated by her behavior he marched up to her and pulled her up by her arm. Stumbling on to her two feet, she gaped at the boy.
Zabuza stayed silent and simply ate his food, staring at the pair. She wondered who was surprising who, him Zabuza by being so rude towards her or Zabuza him by not demanding for her to get up.
Or maybe neither were surprised, only her. Perhaps Zabuza knew Haku's true nature and she simply could not figure him out.
Sighing, she compelled and walked towards the kitchen, sat down at the table before Zabuza, staring at the plate. She couldn't bring herself to touch it. She refused to eat something that was made by him. She refused to accompany Zabuza while he was eating.
When Haku snatched her hands up and cut the bandages around her wrist, Sakura noticed that he was using the knife which she had tried to strike him with. Looking up rather surprised, Haku gave her inexplicable smile in return.
She poked her food a little and managed to take a few bites but she felt like vomiting and started to gag when she tried to take one more bite. She just couldn't bring herself to eat more.
Closing her eyes in defeat she pushed away the plate, 'I'm not hungry….' She spoke quiet and with a small tremble in her voice.
When Zabuza pushed his chair back and stood up, she squeezed her eyes shut and held on to the side of her chair, bracing herself. However all she heard was a deep intake of breath and the feel of wind when he walked pass her. She heard the bed creak and only then she dared to open her eyes, somehow she found the guts to actually turn her head around and look at him.
He just lay sprawled on the bed, his hands underneath his head, looking at the ceiling.
Haku remained quiet, grabbed her plate and started eating himself. He ignored the entire situation and her. With a gloomy expression on his face he cleaned up and when to sit on his own bed, leaving Sakura to sit by herself. She found herself staring at the creaks on the table again, following a thoughtless pattern on the surface. Haku took out a book started to read, Zabuza lay still on his bed, while Sakura never moved from her chair.
They remained quiet for the longest time.
Eventually it was Haku again to break the silence, not by words but by actions. He simply lay on his bed, getting comfortable to sleep but he didn't take out the sheet from his back pack nor did he undress or take off his sandals. After a few minutes of silence again he simply asked 'Master Zabuza?'
Waiting for an answer, he rose his head to look at his sensei, who finally, after a long time, moved off the bed. 'Sleep.' He commanded, getting a startled look from Haku in return. But Haku did not comment nor did he do anything else, he just lay his head back down, readying himself to sleep. Sakura could see he didn't close his eyes and, just like she had done the night before, he was staring at the wall.
She could hear Zabuza's footsteps coming towards her and involuntarily she started to tense up again, fear creeping up inside her though she had promised herself she would be stronger from now on. Afraid of what he would do, her eyes stayed on the table and only dared to glance at him in the corner of her eyes.
When he crouched beside her, which startled her, she had no other choice but to look at him. Patiently waiting for him to lash out at her, her heart beating in her throat. He heaved a sigh when he looked at her, she didn't know how to interpreted, he seemed somewhat disappointed in her. He took her arm and nodded his head towards the bed.
Shocked, her eyes stared at him wild and afraid like an animal. He didn't explain or respond to her, simply repeated his action, now slightly pulling her up by her arm. His expression was soft and she could've sworn she saw him mouth sleep. It then dawned on her they were retreating for the night, apparently he and Haku were taking turns who would sleep beside her and guard her. She didn't know who she dreaded more.
An ominous feeling erupted in her chest and hesitatingly she got up from her seat not wanting to make another scene or get herself in further trouble. She practically had to drag herself towards the bed, Zabuza remained surprisingly calm underneath the circumstances and simply walked behind her.
Apparently this time she had to get in first, he followed her but remained on his side, lying at the edge of the bed. Lying flat on her back she kept her eyes on him, awaiting his first move. Tears welled up from her eyes and she had to swallow a lump in her throat.
Please… Not again….
He stared at her passively, placing his hand on her eyes, closing them. When she opened them again after his palm left her face he closed his in respond, placing an arm around her waist. Sakura awaited for him to make another move, to start his disgusting actions from earlier. But he remained unmoved. Taking a much needed breath, Sakura lied still in the darkness. Trying to forget everything that had happened today, trying to forget his hands or how even his arm was now around her.
The silence in the room was thick, almost suffocating. She was certain none of them would fall asleep.
He said Kakashi was coming… How did he know that? Are we waiting for him? Is that it? She didn't know… She didn't know anything. Oh, Kakashi-sensei… Please hurry.
When she woke up it was still dark and Zabuza had woken her with moving up from the bed, his arm still half wrapped around her, she must've turned in her sleep because now she was with her back against him. She felt disoriented and drowsy, having a hard time to concentrate.
'Haku.' He hissed.
'Yes, Zabuza!' Haku seemed to be fully awake as he jumped off the bed and took his backpack putting it on, placing the fake ANBU-mask on his face. Without another word he leaped towards the window and jumped out into the dark night.
Not understanding what was going on as Zabuza got up and collected his massive sword, Sakura turned around and got off the bed, waiting for him to say something. He didn't explain himself and simply grabbed her by her arm and pulled her closer just when he was about to speak a huge explosion could be heard in the distance.
'Kakashi-sensei?!' Sakura gasped at the sound.
'That is not your sensei.' He informed her, grabbing his sword, he reached out and kept his eyes on the door, as expected, two men barged in, dressed completely in black.
ANBU! Her mind racing, she tried to struggle out of his grip, hoping her new saviors would help her, she reached out a hand. But when they responded by throwing kunai's and were also aiming on her it dawned on her that they were not here to save her. She was simply at the wrong place, at the wrong moment with the wrong person. Zabuza dodged them and reflected some of them with his sword, though he had let go off her when he made the movement, Sakura actually stayed put.
She didn't know if letting herself getting captured by ANBU would be any better than the situation she was currently in. They had not even asked who she was and if she needed help! They were going to eliminate her too without even a question! She was dressed as a civilian, what type of Shinobi were they?
Zabuza fought them eagerly, excited by the battle, now moving more freely as Sakura followed his movements, though she didn't know why but everything happened so fast that she had hardly any time to think about it. She let out a scream when Zabuza decapitated one and slashed the other a severe wound on his chest, making him fall down on the ground, bleeding to death. Zabuza let out a huff, grabbed her by her hand and ran with her towards the window, grabbing her closer they jumped out.
They landed with a loud thud on the roof of another house. When Sakura's eyes met the scenery of fire and smoke, her nostrils filled itself with the smell of ashes and something else. Something that made her taste metallic. Around them people, no, Shinobi were fighting one another.
Was this some type of raid by ANBU? A man-hunt for Zabuza? Was he that notorious they would go to such lengths? Why would they take such a violent approach?
Zabuza seemed rather unaffected by the state of the village and actually let go of her to fight the men that blocked their path. Lunging forward, she watched him fight one after the other, fierce and fearless.
She stared at the chaos and the manslaughter in front of her eyes, feeling all her hope fall. Slumping down to the ground in shock. She tried to breath and move, she should try to escape. But where to? It seemed that everyone who was not wearing a mask was an enemy to the ANBU. She couldn't even gasp when an ANBU-agent stood before her, too paralyzed by fear. Again he didn't ask her who she was and why she was here, he simply took out his katana, raising his sword to strike down on her.
Blood splattered on her when Zabuza's sword slashed through his core. A clean cut, if it weren't for the warmth of the man's blood on her face she would not have believed what had just happened before her eyes.
Zabuza looked furious at her. 'Not now, kid.' He grabbed her and she let him, too shocked to say anything.
'Kakashi didn't make it on time. We need to go, now!' He explained, hoping this would make her move faster when she still did not respond he hoisted her up and started running. Wielding his sword expertly with one hand, striking whoever came near them, holding her with his other.
He jumped on the ground and ran out of the burning village into the dark woods before them. Once they were surrounded by nothing but green and the blazing fire was behind them, he made a few hand-seals.
The dark ash clouds in the sky were fading.
No. Not just the sky. Everything. Everything was fading around them until there was nothing left but a sea of white.
Mist.
He started running again, still holding her up with one arm, disappearing into the mist.
I hope no one is disappointed by this chapter… Maybe some of you expected the Kakashi-Zabuza fight… It will happen… eventually… You just have to keep reading. (said in a creepy whispering voice)
Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter! Btw, should I have put in a warning note at the beginning of the chapter?
Comment/review!
