Chapter 26

A headache was the first thing Zabuza felt when he woke up. Sitting up made his skull throb, reaching back to feel the bump under the gauze wrapped around the head. And the dried blood. He couldn't recognize anything his vision blurry for a moment and noticing someone walking towards the bed. It was one of the women from the underground tunnels. "Thank goodness you're awake," she said. "We were worried." The rogue grunted, trying to stand. "You mustn't!" Zabuza's balance was thrown off, slumping back onto the mattress in even more pain than before. "You've suffered a severe concussion. Don't stand up again until the doctor comes in."

"Where am I?" he roughly asked. "What happened?"

"We were attacked," Yupa spoke up, coming around the curtain. He was wrapped in bandages as well, looking worse for wear. "The rogues were onto us and managed to find our openings.

"A loose end?"

"Most likely. Though we can't be sure because some died in the tunnels."

"What happened to it?"

"Destroyed. There's no way we can return without being exterminated. That base is gone."

"Then where are we now?"

"Fifteen miles south of the town. Fin had a contact, a hideout they use when in the area on missions. We're deep in backcountry. No one will bother us.

"Haku?"

The man's attention turned, Zabuza following his gaze to see his partner lying asleep on a bed. "He's completely exhausted himself to a point where we had to induce sleep. Poor lad has been distraught since the retreat. Have to admit, that was not your brightest move, rushing back into the collapsing tunnels. And…"

Zabuza's brows furrowed. Why on earth would he run into the danger? He had to have a good reason why. Haku? No. He saw the teen being dragged out by someone else. Someone had been in danger. Someone-

His eyes widened, slowly looking up and locking eyes with Yupa. Even he could tell something was bothering the leader. "Where is she?" Sighing heavily, the man looked away.

"Zabuza…"

His palm slammed down on the table beside the bed causing it to tremble under the force, the whole room going silent. "Where is Lacey?" he shouted.

"The poor girl… she didn't make it along with nearly a third of the others. The tunnels caved in."

Zabuza's hand shot out, gripping the front of his shirt tightly and dragging him forward. "And you didn't go back! You didn't think there was a chance to save them?"

"I had to think what was best for those that had managed to escape death. Those who were lucky. You. You were reckless becoming unaware of your surroundings, which is why you allowed a boulder to fall on your head. If I had not saved you then you would be dead. Choices had to be made."

"Then you made the wrong choice! You had plenty of men-!"

"Let me ask you something, Zabuza." The young man grit his teeth. "Why do you care?" The Mist ninja was at a loss for words. "I asked you this once, if you trusted her. And you said yes. And I know you partner has questioned you on your feelings towards her. I have ears. Always in denial, you treat her like a partner, yet keep her at a distance because she wasn't really a Ninja. Lacey was a dancer, who you tried turning into a rogue like your partner Haku. And you both knew it was impossible to even do such a thing, but you were persistent. Obviously you felt something otherwise you would've discarded her at the first town."

"It's more complicated than that," he growled, grip tightening.

"Of course, it's never simple. Not for rogues like us. It was inevitable an unfortunate event would befall her. Like I said, she was no ninja."

"You trusted her!"

"As did you! So then tell me why was it so hard to keep her closer?"

Slowly, Zabuza's grip fell away feeling as if something heavy were lying on his chest. It was almost difficult to breathe, but he would refuse to show it. Yupa sighed heavily, straightening his shirt. "We aren't good at this, being rogues and all," the man stated. "Even normal Ninjas are not supposed to show emotions or develop feelings on the battlefield. Though that is entirely different for us. We must be emotionless, heartless being in our line of work at every moment. The moment we break away from our Villages our fate is sealed." Yupa turned away, walking towards the door. "We will not be moving for the next few days. Not until enough of us have recovered and can figure out if this whole mission can even be salvaged."

Zabuza fell back on the bed, ignoring the pounding in his head that made spots dance in his vision. A hand covered his eyes trying to hide the feelings that threatened to show as a Medical Ninja came over to try and stop the pain. From his bed, Haku had heard everything. His eyes ached from holding back unshed tears, turning away from his silently mourning partner.

What were they going to do?

"We no longer have numbers," Yupa spoke up to what was left of his allies. "Many lives were lost in that attack, good men, innocent women and children who did not deserve what happened. What we now need to decide on is if this is a fool's mission."

"Couldn't agree with you more there," a rogue muttered.

"I'm not asking you to stay. You're free to go if you think this may be too much for you. But hear me out on this one. They won't take you as allies. I know every one of you here and none are snitches. If that were true the enemy killed them because their purpose was served. So, you have two options, gentlemen. Either run away like cowards to other countries and set up a new base there, because I can be damn sure that if you stay here they will only kill you in a matter of time. We are their competition. Or you could stay and fight for our land. Remember? We were here first. These bastards invaded from the mainland, thinking they could due us in. I'm staying to prove them wrong. That I'm not going to give up my land to shitheads like them. I think it's time for a new order to be arranged, don't you?" Determination grew in the crowd's eyes. "And I'm not talking about that damned Lord who easily sold us out."

"Ruling suits you," said a rogue.

"Yes, I quite like the sound of that," he agreed. "So then the question stills stands… Who is with me?"

There was a chorus of hurrahs throughout the men, the woman nodding, some holding their children close.

"Are we staying?" Haku asked, looking up at the man.

Zabuza thought for a moment. They had no reason left being here, Yupa having come in and paying them in full. The teen figured they were paid early because he felt guilt for what happened to Lacey. She was innocent. Though Haku wasn't sure if the rogue should return to active duty as of yet. His head injury was not quite healed, having taken over the medical team's duties so others could be seen to.

"We stay," the young man stated. Haku watched as his grip tightened on his arms. "We stay and fight." The teen could only guess the reason they were staying was for revenge, though Zabuza would never admit it.

Haku couldn't sleep. It had taken hours for him to calm down the orphans that slept around him missing Lacey's comfort. Nao was sobbing because Nico and Lisa had been lost in the tunnels as well. Nothing was helping. He couldn't escape it, this tight feeling in his chest and the uncertainty that this was actually happening. That by escaping the tunnels bodies were left behind.

The teen sighed, quietly sitting up and removing himself from the room. Quietly moving through the house so not to disturb anyone the rogue attached the pouch to his waist. Standing on the falling apart porch his eyes scanned the dark tree line, knowing that their forces were patrolling the perimeter for any signs of the enemy. They could not allow themselves to be found again. Glancing around once more, Haku took to the woods moving through the shadows discreetly.

"Where are you going?"

Haku froze, turning to find Zabuza leaning up against a tree. "Out. I can't sit in there anymore."

"Where exactly?" The teen refused to answer, causing the young man to sigh. "Just give it up, Haku. She's gone.

"How can you accept that!" he nearly shouted. "Wasn't she more than that to you? The least we could do is find her body and give her a proper burial.

"We are not going back there and that is final!" Zabuza snapped. "The enemy could still be lurking in the woods waiting for us to do just that. Come back to save the others. And then what? We're dead too. And I will not allow you to be kidnapped and tortured in order for them to find us."

The air between them fell silent, Haku looking away in defeat. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

The rogue sighed again, pulling away from the tree and approached his partner. "She's gone," he breathed. "You need to accept the fact that this time there is no saving her. And she's never coming back."

"Unlike you, Zabuza, I can't forget. I won't."

"It would be better if you could."

Impossible.

A/N: I don't own anything