A/N Well, for those who had been waiting for a new update you have to thank Guestnekosback who reminded me that, yep, I did have a story that I had to write today. So I did. The whooole day. I hope you are happy! I sure am!

This is really important! Remember how the last chapter ended? And remember how the fic started? (If you don't then go read it again) Because! The last chapter is actually followed by the prologue and now we start after the middle of the first chapter (when Naruto calls Zabuza to tell him what they know about Haku's condition). You may go read now.

Chapter 13

Count Me In To Bury The Blade Deep In Your Spine

For a moment the two idiots stared at him wordlessly. As if he was the one who had something to reveal. Sure, a few months ago he would have been delighted to make fun of them, to snarl and watch as they trembled but right now he didn't really have the time. His neko was dying and liking it, which meant he was against the idea. Now more than ever.

Oh, he was going to kill the little rebellious shit, just not now. Not until there was no doubt in the minds of everyone about who exactly had done it.

"I don't think I have the entire day to stare at your pretty faces," Zabuza growled and they both flinched. Right, then, he did know he didn't have time for this but it was... pleasant. One of the few things in life he enjoyed.

"Have you heard about Sanguis Regalis?" finally the black haired, Sasuke, was it? asked while the other simply rolled his eyes and huffed. "It means..."

"Royal blood. Yes, I'm aware. What I don't see is the connection to the fact my cat is dying without my permission!"

A thin eyebrow rose as if in surprise but the boy didn't dare comment on his minor outburst. Smart one. Not like the blond, whose scowl was getting deeper and deeper and Zabuza's patience was wearing thinner and thinner with it.

"It... yes, that's the translation from Latin. However, there is also a myth about creatures, half-men, half-animal that carry that name. It is said they are..."

"I don't fucking care about characters from a child's story. You told me you found a way to cure my pet, get on with it or get out," Zabuza barked, the combination of his usual short-temper and the taunting of morons claiming they knew more than him taking its toll on him.

"We care more about Haku than you ever will!" The words came in a rush, angry and piercing, or they were supposed to be, had Zabuza not know they were true. He didn't care about the cat, it was just a pet that held no value. But that didn't mean it could disobey his orders and die when it wanted to.

He didn't owe the blond a response, though, so he didn't give it. He just glared at him, murderous intent in his eyes, until the other scoffed and said something about going to check on Haku.

When they were left alone, Sasuke opened his mouth to say something, most probably to apologize but then thought better of it, smart move since Zabuza didn't fucking care, and instead continued with his story.

"They were wise and humble. More human than animal, a thing not many people can claim about themselves. They possessed rare beauty that struck you immediately and a kind soul. The most perfect creatures on the planet."

"But?" If he really had to listen to those fairytales Zabuza decided that he was going to participate. This way it was going to end faster and... he wasn't very keen on listening about how flawless some made-up creatures were. "They couldn't be that perfect so what was their blemish?"

"Of course." Sasuke ducked his head and a smile stretched his thin lips. "Legend goes they became prideful and arrogant so nature found a way to punish them. They had a soul mate, a creature, destined for them since their birth, that they loved more than anything. That they couldn't disobey nor could they live without. A creature on which they depended and if they were refused its love... they could die. Scientist speculate it was the reason they hid from the other civilizations. For God-like creatures like them, being slaves to us, mere monkeys, must have been mortifying."

"Scientist? I thought you said it was a myth." Zabuza's eyes narrowed, there was something in this story that he didn't like.

"It is. Was. Until a man found a creature like that. A century ago, in 1897, the famous traveler Lee stumbled upon a red- haired neko in the Mayan forests. The half-kitten was far more intelligent than any other he had seen, picking up his language for a day and speaking of a land full of wonders and beauty. But when they tried to find it, it had vanished. Lee decided to take care of the neko and they immediately... they fell in love. Until recent years it had been considered just a cliche love story but then another one was found. It's dead now, of course, too much probing and everything, but scientist managed to see its genetic structure. It's nothing like the ones we have observed."

It was starting to sound like a bedtime story again and Zabuza was at the end of his rope. "And again why should I..." He froze, struck by realization.

Now, he had never been a dull one yet when he finally connected the dots and the image he created was something he had never even imagined, he was left speechless. It could explain some things, of course, if the whole story was true. Why the cat obeyed so easily, the way it had reacted when he told it to leave... They couldn't live without their soul mate.

Soul mate.

He was his pet's soul mate. He shuddered. Disgusting creature bonding itself to him like that! Without permission.

"So it's going to die because I don't love it?" Zabuza growled, not beating about the bush. Then he started laughing. "I think you are mistaken. The kitty is anything but the perfect creature you portray. It's worthless, not that bright either."

With difficulty, the man before him ignored the insults. "The star on his ear, it showed up when he met you. He was marked as yours even before you accepted him."

There was sorrow in his voice and, frankly, Zabuza couldn't care less. Tough luck for the kitty to be destined for someone like him, if they choose to believe in those bullshits of course.

"How would you save it?"

Sasuke laughed. It was hollow and dry, like cats dragging their claws on wood, yet it was like birds' song compared to Zabuza's. "We can't. Me and Naruto, at least. You, on the other hand..."

"What do I have to do? Accept it again and try not to hurt its little heart?" Zabuza was starting to enjoy that, the smile on his lips whispering of all those things he thought about making the little kitty do now when he knew it couldn't refuse him. "Play a nurse while it gets better?"

"Yes." The word was spoken so lightly that he barely heard it. He grit his teeth.

"What?"

"You have to love him. Simple acceptance won't do. He needs to feel the same devotion and affection turned his way."

"If that's the only way..." Zabuza laughed again. He had liked the neko. "You can take it and go. It isn't that irreplaceable."

In that moment Sasuke could have said a lot of things. He could have told the man before him that the connection wasn't one-sided, that just like Zabuza was Haku's soul mate, Haku was, had to be, but there could be an exception, even if he prayed not, special to him. He could have told him that he would never feel the same thing he could feel with the neko, if only he let himself feel. That would have been absurd and he would have only dug his and Haku's grave.

So instead he murmured, "I contacted a company that is interested in the Sanguis Regalis. They are not above giving everything for a living sample."

"I don't need money." Zabuza stretched his hands around as if to prove his point. And he did, everything in the room was and looked expensive.

Not that it mattered because Sasuke wasn't offering that. "Not money, pets. They say that if they can get their hands on a living, mated sample, "he barely hid his wince at that word, it sounded like Haku was a rare flower, not a conscious being," they can produce more. They can make you toys that will follow your every order, happy to serve or not, your choice. And when you are done all you need is to tell them to leave and you can enjoy their slow perish."

It was an awful deal. So tempting for the other man, yes, but if it were to happen so many would suffer and die for his amusement. If it happened. Sasuke seemed to hold onto that thought. He was only glad he hadn't shared that little bit of information with his lover, he was sure Naruto would chop him to pieces and feed him to the animals if he ever caught wind of what was happening.

It was too risky. But it was worth it.

Zabuza snorted. "Tempting offer, yet still too costly."

The cold words made Sasuke's heart freeze. He had entertained the idea that Zabuza would refuse but he had tried not to dwell too much on it. He hadn't allow himself to do so.

He closed his eyes in a weak effort to collect himself and figure out what he was going to do. When he opened them he found the other man deep in thoughts.

"What do I have to do?"

A/N2 Every contradiction in the story is completely on purpose!