There we go again. I guess I can safely state that I won't be able to post every saturday as long as I don't manage to get some chapters ahead... and that's not happening very soon. Well anyways. Thanks for all the people following me so far, and even more so for the reviews I got, few they may be.

Have fun with this one. A bit more serious maybe, but I just can't pack in fun were no fun belongs in.

Disclaimer: I know it, you know it, we ALL know it and as surprising as it may sound: no I don't own Naruto or Bleach. Surprised you?... really?... thought so.

Reasons and Decisions

"Haku-chan! Dinners ready! Get in already!" A small boy with dark brown hair could be seen, wearing only a ragged white shirt and light blue pants, playing in the snow, oblivious to the cold. "Hai Okaa-san!"

Water formed a small ball in the hands of the slightly older boy. "Kaa-san! Look what I can do!" His mother on the other hand looked mortified. The resounding slap left the boy shocked. "Kaa-san..." The tall pale woman began crying. Her dark hair swaying in the wind picking up around them, snow began to fall.

"I'm sorry Haku-chan. Don't show this daddy! This is something dangerous!" The young child seemed shocked, while his mother embraced him, crying softly.

"Kasami, open this door." A strong masculine voice said, barely contained anger prominent. The same pale woman was holding her child, a defiant glint in her eyes.

"What are you gonna do, Toroshi? What changed about me? About YOUR child?!" Tears were falling while the young boy in her arms was shaking with fear he didn't know the source of. It seemed as if the air itself turned against him. Terrifying him. Something was awfully wrong. And why would his own father sound like that? What were they argueing about anyways?

"I won't repeat myself Kasami!"

It was then that the door exploded and a mob of angry villagers could be seen once the dust had settled. Some were carrying pitchforkes, others had torches. They all looked murderous, some even dared to look betrayed. As if she had been the one to do the wrong thing!

She was dead. Her blood soaking the wooden floor. She hadn't died without a fight. Taking down the whole mob with her into the pits of hell. He was the only one left. His own father turned to young Haku, disgust written clearly on his face. This... man... this beast wasn't his father! It couldn't be his father. A strong man he had always looked up to! The once kind blue eyes were now cold and distant, fury blazing just behind the black of the pupils.

"Tou-san... why... why did you kill kaa-san..." He asked, his voice shaking, tears flowing freely down his face. Toroshi just stared at his... son in disgust. This was just one of the many abominations the mist tryed to rid themself of. And he would follow the order of the Mizukage even if it meant to destroy his family. Thought what family, he asked himself. These were just freaks of nature that had to be disposed of. He raised the bloody knife, preparing to end his sons missery.

"Why... TELL ME WHY!!!" Haku shouted and ice spikes erupted all around him. His father caught off-guard was pierced with at least twenty of the lethal bodies of frozen water. His heart was ripped, he was dead before he could even comprehend what had happened just now.

Haku was in a daze. He had wandered around the land of water for a few days now. Never sleeping, never eating, never even resting for a short time. He was completely oblivious to everthing around him and the screams of protest his own body send his brain. He was lost in his own darkness. A darkness that would settle deep inside his heart and soul. His hands were stained with his fathers blood, that he knew. Both his parents were dead and would never come back. He knew that aswell. He was truely and totally alone in this world now. Not needed, not wanted for something he had no controll over. Sadness turned into sorrow. Sorrow fueld anger and anger rose to hatred. Hatred against everything. Yet he was hollow. He couldn't bring himself to contain the feelings anylonger. He was just an empty body. Wandering around planlessly.

"Do you want to come with me, kiddo?" Asked a tall swordwielding ninja in front of him. Haku looked up, his eyes empty, devoid of any emotion whatsoever. "Will you be my tool? Will you lend me your power that no one else wants? I can feel it inside you. The ice that screams to be released. Will you accompany me? Will you become my weapon?"

Haku continued to look at him. A small glint passed through his eyes... and he smiled. With a weak and small voice he uttered just one word. "Hai..."

Zabuza just smiled. Ruffling Hakus hair, while the young boy stood up intent on following his new master. The one person who accepted him. The one person that wanted him even thought he knew what he contained within him. It was then that Haku got a new purpose for living.

"So you will work for me Zabuza-kun?" Asked a short man, wearing an expensive suit and supporting his form with a cane. The man in front of him had a dark look in his eyes. The abnormally large zanpakutoh strapped to his back.

"Hai, Gatou-sama." He spit out, not trying to conceal his disgust he held against the small man. Gatou in turn just grinned. Haku looked uneasy while looming in the protective shadows. Something strange was bound to happen and he knew it. Something was gonna happen to his Zabuza-sama. Suddenly Zabuza grunted, only years of training preventing him from screaming out in pain. Haku could see a vial sticking out of his neck, having already emptied it's contents into Zabuzas bloodstream.

"What the fuck is that?! Explain yourself Gatou!" Zabuza shouted while strange sealing patterns began to spread over his neck and upper body. Gatou just continued to smirk while holding some strange metallic device.

"This, my dear Zabuza, is something I bought from a good friend of mine. He was experimenting with this kind of things a few years prior. A new kind of sealing method that will allow me to ensure that you are loyal to me and only me. Should you decide to go against me this little mark in your neck will be triggered and bring you down into my torture chambers. And trust me, that's not all this sweet little thing will do. I hope I made myself clear."

Zabuza glared at the short man, hatred ablaze in his black eyes. Thought he could soon feel pain shoot through him. Pain even he wouldn't be able to bear long. He lowered his gaze, submitting to Gatou. Haku was in tears again. Silently but crying all the same. A true ninja had to be an emotionless tool, yet, strong as he might be, he couldn't help but feel his heart break, seeing his master submit to scum like Gatou...

Naru had left the room already. And even thought neither Haku nor Natsuki had seen her face, both knew she had been upset, maybe even crying.

"So that's what happened... this damn vermin. Must be a different version of the cursed seal Orochimaru developed. Thought since it is not applied directly... I may be able to get rid of it..." The bluehaired Kitsune contemplated her next steps. She knew she needed Zabuza if she was to go against the Akatsuki, and she really didn't like the idea of Haku dying. Especially since her sister seemed to show vast interest in him. Even if she didn't like to admit it. She would have to go into Gatous base, find Zabuza and rid him of that damnable seal.

She was already going through different patterns of seals she could use to achive the desired effect, when Haku, who had been silent till then, interrupted her thoughts.

"What happened to Naru-san?" He asked, trying to rid his voice of any concern, and failing a little. Natsuki guarded expression crumbled a bit and a flicker of saddness passed over her face. She began to gaze into the distance. Contemplating what to tell and what to hold back. Finally she sighed. It didn't matter how much she would tell, without telling him nearly everthing it would be useless to even open her mouth.

"I met Naru for the first time when she was five. I'd like to think from this point onward her life got a little bit less lonely and filled with hatred. But some damaged had already been done. We both are hated by our own village for something we had no controll over. People glare at us, despise us and some would even go so far as to spit us straight in the face. It stopped once we were to 'dangerous' to mess with. Now they are simple scared, yet they continue to glare, to whisper..." She looked lost nearly at a breaking point, her pupils had dilated quite a bit and she was trembling ever so slightly. A soft wack of Yukis tail brought her out of it thought.

"Sorry 'bout that... well anyways... this was AFTER I could help her through the darker hours, AFTER she had someone who loved her, cared for her and tried to protect her or stand up for her. Before I came... she was absolutely and totally alone in a town full of people who hated and despised her very existence, sure there still was Sandaime-ojisan... but he still had to deal with a lot of stuff at that time, the work nearly swallowing him whole... Well, the most I could prevent, but some damage had been done. The worst... her hands were already stained with blood. It had happened when she was just three years old. Some freak tried to attack her, it was while Kasei was unconcious that his violent chakra took control and his most primal instincts took over... she ripped the guy to shreds. Literally. After that Kasei had been more or less awake, his chakra became dormant and only healed her from then on... but she lost part of her innocence back then."

Hakus eyes had widened considerable. These two weren't much different, compared to himself. He had known it when he looked into the eyes of those two. They held something that he would find in his own aswell. Lonelyness. Saddness. Maybe... if he could get Zabuza-sama to agree...

"That still doesn't explain why she left the room so suddenly." He had to know for sure. He just had to ask to be certain that his assumptions were correct, that it wasn't just an idea born out of false hope. Natsuki stared at him for a moment, not sure if she had heard correct, if it wasn't such a sad situation she would have laughed.

"Isn't that obvious baka-chan? You reminded her a lot of herself. Her past self that is. She knows your pain and she couldn't bear the pain knowing someone like you experienced a similar fate to hers. She may not know much about you. But she began to like you over the past few days. To know you suffered as much as she did... you may want to look for her. I guess it would be better if you spoke to her directly."

The brownhaired ice manipulator thought about that for a moment, he wanted to speak with her, with the blondhaired enigma. He knew Natsukis somewhat, but Naru was strangely silent around him. Never saying much, guarding her emotions as best as she could. She was... different. Her sister seemed more trusting, but she also appeared to hold some secret knowledge, always wearing a knowing look whenever their eyes met. It was as if she knew him already. As if he wasn't a stranger. It didn't matter much thought. She was no thread, just like her sister. He was, at the moment, absolutely defenceless. He was without chakra and had lost all his senbon. Sure he could still fight with taijutsu. But what good would that do? Without the use of chakra even his stamina was serverly limited and he was neither strong nor fast enough to beat either of those two. And he didn't want to. He would speak with her. He just needed to know more about the blond.

Haku had already reached the door without noticing it himself, to immersed in his own thoughts. His hand was resting on the handle. He had decided. Something, or rather someone stopped him thought.

"Haku, I have but one condition for you. Break her heart, and I'll break you." Natsuki said, dead serious. The fake hunter gulped nervously. He would add that to the facts he knew about the bluehair, she was protective over her sister. And he knew she was a force not to mess with. Zabuza-sama was far beyond his level, and she had hold her ground for quite some time, even thought she had lost. He nodded eitherway. He didn't want to hurt her, all he wanted were some answers to questions that plagued him.

"I would never do such a thing, Natsuki-sama." He said, bowing ever so slightly. He had made a decision. He was just about to turn around when the vixen glared at him. He raised an eyebrow, had he said something wrong?

"Cut the crap Haku. I'm not your master but a friend, don't even start with that 'sama' shit." He actually smiled, a geniue smile at last. "Hai, Natsuki-chan." He wouldn't see it anymore, having long left, but Natsuki had let a smile slip onto her face. Thought it disappeared soon, once she began to refine her plan for this day. Leaving the room she met up with Kakashi inside the forest were he was training Sasuke and Sakura.

"Kakashi-sensei, I'll be gone for a while, please don't worry for I will soon return. Hopefully with some reinforcement." She gave him a small scroll. "This is all we found out so far." With that she vanished, not even giving Kakashi the time to say something. Sasuke was furious. The damn idiot was always avoiding him, now she would be gone for kami knows how long. Why did she dare to just ignore him?! She should be happy to be asked to make him a weapon! Yet she seemed to not even listen to him when he approached her. But soon... soon she would oblige, just like it was supposed to be...

Naru was sitting at the peer staring at the slightly misty lake in front of her. Her eyes shone with depression, some tear streaks still marred her face. She couldn't understand it. How could your own parents turn against you? What made his father act like he did? What reason would he have to kill his own flesh and blood? This was plainly insane! Haku may as well had one of the most powerful bloodlines if trained properly. And because if it... his father had killed his mother and tried to end his life aswell... just because of what he contained within his body. Would her own parents reacted the same?... would her mother have hated her once she knew that her own father had sealed a demon within their child? She would never know.

She was so immersed in her own thoughts that she didn't notice the weak chakra source approach her. Only the soft hand touching her own brought her back into reality.

"Haku?!" she stuttered a little shocked. "Watcha doin' here?" She tried to summon up her mask of fake smiles, failing horribly. Haku gazed at her, taking in her still tearstained face and slightly red eyes. He touched her cheek, using his thumb to wipe the stains away. The blond kitsune just stared at him. Shocked beyond believe. She couldn't understand what was happening. Why was he here in the first place? What was that look in his eyes?

Hakus voice was soft as he spoke the first words since the moment he had left the room, where his thoughts had brought up a conclusion. "Why... Why are you crying?" It was a simple question, but the one he needed to know the most. She stared at him, her defence crumbling, tears welled up. She just cried again and with the surge of emotions she couldn't control herself as she cluched Hakus chest.

She was stuttering and sobbing as she wailed: "I can't understand. Why would your own parents go against you? They're supposed to love you aren't they?! They're supposed to care for you! Not kill you! And for what?! A bloodline limit?! That should be something to praise not to hate goddamnit! It's so unfair! He had no reason... NO DAMN REASON! To make you suffer... it just... it's just not right..."

She continued to sob sometimes mumbling about it being not fair. Haku just sat there, trying to sooth the blond all the while thinking about what she had said, what her sister had said and what he knew about the life of these two. Slowly he embraced the blonde. Pressing her body against his ever so softly. With two words he was finally able to console her.

"Thank you." Naru just blushed once she realized that she was held by a Haku. Thought she didn't do much against it. Snuggling a tiny bit closer, closing her eyes she let the words he had whispered repeat themself in her thoughts. 'Thank you for caring.' Was all Haku thought while he lost himself in the presence of the strange blond girl.

Deep inside her, Kasei smiled. He may be a pervert, but he liked to see something as sweet as this all the same. Slowly he walked along the corridors, passing a door he knew all to well. Opening it with one of his tails he walked inside the room and looked around. There were only a few pictures inside the giant room. A pencil drawn one from Kakashi, thought it slowly seemed to get some color, then there were oil paintings. One showing a smiling Natsuki, with Yuki draped around her neck as usual. On another one was Kasei himself grinning like a fool. Yet another one showed Teuchi and his daughter Ayame, in front of their ramenstand Ichiraku. Then there was one showing the kind face of the Sandaime Hokage and to his side Iruka with the kind smile everyone knew him for. Last but not least a picture showing Hinata with a shy smile on her face, Hiashi besides her uncharacteristingly smiling and having Hanabi sitting on his shoulders. Far in the back was another picture, this one seemed to be a giant photo showing their graduation class, even thought Sasuke seemed to be slightly blurred, as well as Sakura. Ino too was blurred but not as bad as the other two, the rest of them thought, were clearly visible. All standing infront of the Hokage monument.

He wandered around a bit, staring sadly at the still empty parts of the giant wall, but stopped short once he saw a new painting. It wasn't finished yet, but one could see that it was made with highly qualitative colores. It showed a brownhaired boy, with chocolate brown eyes and a kind face holding a feminine beauty.

Once again, Kasei couldn't help but smile at this. Haku had already gotten a big part in Narus heart. Maybe the biggest yet if the colors of the painting said anything. He was curious to see what would happen in the future.

Natsuki overlooked the base in front of her. Well actually it was more of an estate. And here she was scared for a moment that it would be hard to find. This mansion just screamed: "I'm here! Find me!" Well, leave it to a short man like Gatou to have a mansion this pompous to compensate.

Even thought it's probably just to boost his ego. You'll still want to be careful. One never knows what may lurks in the shadows. Yuki said scolding her charge slightly.

'I know. Let's get moving. Better be unnoticed thought', thought Natsuki promptly changing into her small fox form. Looking around a bit she slipped through the bars of the main gate. It would be difficult to get inside, but notes from Haku regarding the guardshifts. Hoping that Gatou hadn't changed those yet she would be able to slip inside once the guards at the side entrance went for a break. She had a 10 second window, but that was all she needed. Darting through the bushes she soon saw the aformentioned side entrance. The guards, two pretty sluggish wannabe-samurais, were staring into the distance, looking slightly dazed. One of them glanced at his watch every few minutes but began to groan soon.

"Damn, when are we finally done. I'm bored!" the shorter one said. His partner, a big guy littered with scars and two wicked swords on his back glanced at him, but said nothing. It was half an hour later that the shift finally ended. To Natsukis shock, the door opened and revealed the two new guards, while the former two went inside.

'Shit, so they changed it already...' she cursed inwardly, soon followed by a suggestion from Yuki she had hoped to avoid.

It seems there is only one way... make sure you really end it. If you just knock them out it would be... dangerous should they wake up at the wrong moment.

She sighed silently, jumped out of her hiding spot and together with a quickly formed kagebunshin tried to appear like two playing foxes that just didn't know where they belonged. It worked as the guys guarding the door simply grabbed their handles and let go again as soon as they saw the small animals. That would be all the would see after two icy spikes pierced their skulls. Releasing the clone and going for her humanoid form again Natsuki opened the door as silent as possible. The inside of the mansion was rich. Marmor everywhere. Fluffy red carpets showing were to walk while goldframed paintings hung at the walls. She could go for Gatou now, but that would be to dangerous considering she neither knew what kind of protection he had, nor what else he might have bought from questionable sources. So instead it was Zabuza she would free for now. He was a valuable ally and a strong addition should he decide to come along.

Sticking to the walls and freezing the cameras that were installed she made her way through the mansion. Here and there she had to kill a guard or two that got to close to her hiding spot. Hiding them proved to be as easy as killing them. Gatou seemed to have a preference for big statues. And I mean big statues, the kind of big where you wonder if they were made together with the house itself since it was rather impossible for those to fit through any door, seeing as they nearly reached the ceiling. So hiding the guards inside these things was rather easy.

After hours of searching she finally found a hint of Zabuzas chakra. It was weak... no it was shielded. He seemed to be behind some kind of barrier. Following the lead she stopped short in the middle of a long corridor. There was no door whatsoever but the lead just stopped once she continued for a few feet. She inspected the wall... was it really that easy? Letting water cover the whole wall inspecting every little slit or indent she soon discovered a little panel. She'd need a security code as it seemed...

"Hey, why does that guy even get food, even the really good stuff? I thought he was some kind of prisoner for trying to betray Gatou."

"Idiot. He's still the assassin hired by Gatou-sama. Do you honestly think Gatou-sama would kill him without his job being done? The guy just needs to be... persuaded to continue with his assignment."

The two guards from the side entrance were now carrying what looked to be a tray of food, and as it seemed they were intending to go through this damn door. Transforming back in a small fox and sticking to the ceiling, Natsuki was hoping not to be seen. She was lucky, since the two fools were argueing about the need of Zabuza getting food they hardly noticed that they were at the area that led down to his cell. Enhancing her sight with chakra she watched the guard entering the code.

Once finished she dropped down, again changing back, she grabbed two kunai and landed silently behind the two. Gripping the head of one of them she slit his throat before he even knew what was going on. The other one, feeling his partner kick him whirled around only to recieve a kunai to the head. She cursed again. This was getting to much. She had killed more or less twenty guards already. It was to much. She had to finish this soon... hiding the two corpes in a dark corner behind the now secret entrance.

Sticking to the wall she ran down the stairs and along the following corridor, stopping short in front of a single cell.

'What have they done to you, Zabuza...' she thought, moving her lips out of habit. In front of her was the broken form of one Momochi Zabuza. Chained to a wall, his body covered in bruises, that alone was nothing that would faze someone of Zabuzas caliber, but she could see the glowing seal on his neck. His face stuck in a grimace of pain. She sighed. Luckily she had taken the key with her, one of the dead ex-guards had with them. Opening the cell she contemplated if she should unchain him first or get rid of the seal. Thinking about it, it would be best to get Zabuzas thoughts back under his own control. Rummaging through her pockets she brought forth a small brush and a bottle of ink.

'I hope this'll work... You sure you picked the right pattern?' She asked her tenand and sensei.

Of course. Back in the old days we had to deal with seals similar to those, since it isn't a full grown Juin it should work properly.

Natsuki was uncertain. Seals were pretty uptight concerning rules and regulations. One mistake and instead of a container seal one may aswell have created a nuke like exploding tag. She had no choice thought. Furiously scribbleing down the runes and kanji needed for the pattern, she soon had used up all the ink. But it was ready.

'Please kami, make this work...' She prayed and began to channel chakra through the runes on Zabuzas body. The seals started to glow and began to move. First snaking around on his skin before they seemingly attacked the small seal on the demons neck. A small dragon formed around the mark that began to eat up it's own tail. While becoming smaller and smaller it tightened around the mark. Slowly but surely the mark shrank until it was only a little black dot which, with a small puff of smoke, vanished completely.

Zabuza slowly opened his eyes, the first he saw were the tightly bound assets of one Yuki no Natsuki then her stomach and lastly her covered neitherregions since his handcuffs were open and he sank to the ground. Then she collapsed, too, only to be caught by the demon she had fought a week prior.

"Welcome back Zabuza... hope ya feel a bit better." Yuki said, toning it weakly. She hated that. Natsuki had invented a seal that would help them using her voice. The problem with it, she sounded just like she would sound when she would speak herself. So if she would sound weak, Yuki couldn't do anything against it. It was rather annoying sometimes. Bringing her into a sitting position against the wall besides him he stared at her curiously. Finally his surprise won out.

"What are you doing here?" Natsuki stared at him.

"Hm, let's see. Killed something around twentytwo guards, scribbled down a sealing pattern that used up a whole bottle of ink, channeled enough chakra to be exhausted... oh and of course got rid of that mark on your neck in the process while freeing you. Are you really that stupid? What would I do here? Haku is sick with worry, so we better get back quick."

If Zabuza was surprised, he sure as hell hide it well. The only indication that he had heard her at all was the slight twitch seen through his mouthcoverings.

"I guess we were lucky that they didn't know about Haku or else I would have had skilled ninja instead of wannabe-samurai as guards." He acutally chuckled slightly, but soon turned serious. "We better get going before he takes note of the missing guards. Thought I am surprised that you're helping me at all. I'm your enemy remember?"

Natsuki sighed, she knew that would turn up.

"No, Gatou is my enemy. I'd like you to be an ally, thought that is up to you. You should speak with Haku thought, before you make a decision." She said yawning slightly. Zabuza nodded and got up, waiting for the Kitsune to do the same, he saw her struggling quite a bit. He raised an eyebrow... no wait, he didn't, he raised the skin were an eyebrow is supposed to be.

"You alright?" Zabuza actually sounded a tad bit concerned. He kinda liked the kid. She had shown great potential as an aspiring swordsman. If it had been any other circumstances, he would have instantly asked to take her on as an apprentice or at least be allowed to oversee her training. If her sister was even near her level both of them could be great fighters. He was kinda glad she came to help him. He maybe had the chance to correct some mistakes made in the past...

He sighed. "You can't move can you?" It was more of a statement rather then a question. The girl sighed. "That seal took it's toll on me. It was quite a struggle to get that damn mark to vanish again... hadn't thought it would be that hard..." Only now did she even think about the fact that she would probably be dead if Zabuza hadn't woken up or had decided to kill her instantly... well luck was on her side she guessed. She was pretty sure luck was hers for today once Zabuza scooped her up and raced out of the building, knowing its layout quite well and not even slightly concerned about the cameras since he was to fast anyways.

An hour later the two finally arrived back at Tazunas. Haku was instantly fuzzing about Zabuza while Naru did much the same about Natsuki. The both of them were just rolling their eyes at the antics of their loved ones. Kakashi... well he took it rather well... if he even noticed that is. He was still reading his perverted book and giggling like a school girl. Sasuke and Sakura were nowhere to be seen. Probably either guarding Tazuna, who was still working, or training. Now all that was left to do, was to plan Gatous downfall.

"Gatou-sama, Momochi Zabuza is reported to be missing."

"Is that so? Well, we'll let him a week to come back I guess. Should he decide to not show up till then and report a success we may have to contact him again. Maybe he could send some aid this time."

"Hai Gatou-sama."

Next chapter will hopefully have a few more Naru/Haku moments... thought I won't know for sure until I wrote it. My fic tends to run away from me on a regular basis. Anyways. See you next time on Claws and Blades.

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