Yes, you can believe your eyes. After a 3 month hiatus, life had kindly granted me some free time, and I've been able to update. I'm gonna try to update this more frequent.

I know the plot's going kinda slow. Okay, really slow. When I wrote this, I wasn't really sure where I wanted it to go, but things are gonna pick up soon. I promise. In fact, something happens between Naruto and Haku in this chapter…

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Sakura slunk back in behind the doctor, who put a cool, soothing cream and bandage on Haku's hand. Sakura hung back by the wall, watery eyes fixed on the floor, gradually coming back to Lee's side. Lee wouldn't look at her.

The shock and trauma had drained what little stamina Haku had. The doctor was not even out of the room when Haku curled into Naruto and fell asleep, completely drained. Naruto held him for a few moments longer than necessary then laid him down and covered him with the blankets. He wiped a stray black lock from Haku's sweaty face and kissed his forehead.

Naruto shot Sakura a dark, angry look, the wordlessly left. Sakura kept her head down, staring at her toes, unable to meet her teammate's accusing glare. She leaned against the windowsill. She couldn't bare being close to Naruto, seeing the hurt and betrayal in his bright blue eyes. She also couldn't look at Lee, seeing the disproval in his own black eyes. She wanted to leave, to run and hide, but something inside her made her stay. This was not over yet. Actions had consequences.

Just wait until she got a hold of Ino! This was all that stupid pig's fault! No, it was her fault, too. She had to take responsibility for her actions. She went along with Ino; she didn't stop her. Then again, she had not known just how serious Haku's condition was.

"Sakura-chan." Lee's voice was low and hard, not warm and flirty like it usually was.

Sakura flinched. She felt his steadfast gaze, his eyes calling her to look up. Fearfully, she raised her head.

"That was cruel. Vicious and cruel, what you and Ino-chan did to poor Haku-chan."

Sakura looked down again. She already felt bad. Besides, Ino did it, not her. Something, the same feeling that held her here after Naruto and the doctor left, snapped. It was none of Lee's business. She knew she was wrong- she wished she could take it back. Sakura was wrong, but she did not need her crush telling her that.

"I see! It's a tragedy if something happens to pretty, darling Haku-chan. If that's the way you feel, then fine! I'll leave the two of you alone!" The tears she struggled to hold back spilled down her cheeks and her trembling hands balled into fists.

Lee glared back. "That's not it! If Haku-chan was well, was whole, then I would be laughing with you. Heck, I bet even Naruto would! He's done worse to people, but never like this!"

Sakura raised her fists, pressing them against her eyes. "I'm sorry, okay?!" She yelled, starting to cry.

Lee hated it when his pretty cherry blossom cried. He wanted her to only ever be happy. But Sakura was wrong in this. His voice was gentler, not as steely. "It's not me you should be apologizing to." He looked meaningfully at the unconscious Haku in the bed next to him.

"Shut up, Lee!" Sakura howled then ran out of the room weeping. Lee looked sadly at his cheerful yellow daffodils.

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Haku slept for two days, so he missed Naruto's many visits. His hand was healing nicely, much easier than the rest of his broken body. Normally, a person would have healed from the prank powder by now, and the damage not as severe, but in his weakened state, his body hurt easier and took longer to heal because it did not have the strength to take much damage. It took all of Haku's strength- physical and mental- just to cling to life, slowly clawing his way back.

Naruto had been training hard, pushing his body to the limits to make himself stronger. The sun was setting and he had fallen asleep, slumped in a chair and leaning against Haku's bed.

Haku's long lashes fluttered open; he gazed blearily, then smiled at Naruto. "You stayed." He whispered. Naruto was deep asleep, looking haggard and worn. Haku could tell he had been training hard. He laid a soft, slender hand on the spiky blonde hair.

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Naruto yawned, opening his eyes. His neck, shoulders, and back were stiff. He stretched, joints popping.

Haku had been lightly dozing; his eyes immediately popped open and he smiled. "Naruto-kun."

"Haku-chan, how are you feeling?"

"Better. My hand still hurts a little. The medicine they have here isn't very good. If I had some murtlap, I could make a better salve."

"You sure know a lot about plants."

Haku chirped. "Zabuza-sama wanted his tool trained expertly in all things, to have the sharpest blade possible."

Naruto frowned. He hated when Haku referred to himself as a tool, as if he were merely a thing, a possession, instead of a human being.

"You were picking those weeds that morning in the woods."

"You remember?" Haku's stormy grey eyes shone with a pleased light.

"Do you?" Naruto peered at him frankly.

Haku looked down and blushed, nodding his head slightly. Tangled raven locks slid forward like an obsidian curtain, separating his face from Naruto's.

Naruto brushed the hair back, tucking it behind Haku's ear. His fingertips were rough handling kunais as they brushed against the soft skin of his cheek. Haku was smiling, cheeks tinged pink, cherry lips looking sweet and inviting…Unconsciously, Naruto leaned forward, blue gaze intent on those soft pink lips.

Their lips were mere inches apart when both their eyes snapped wide open in realization and they jerked back, looking away from each other. Naruto had nearly kissed Haku.

The blonde put his hand behind his head, laughing nervously. "I-I…I gotta go…gotta …gotta get up early tomorrow…training and all…"

"Y-yeah…" Haku breathed as Naruto dashed out the room. His lips tingled; he wanted to feel Naruto's lips against his own. He wondered what the younger shinobi tasted like.

Tbc…

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