Chapter 29
For a week, Yupa kept the dancer busy teaching her the rules of the trade. At the same time she was overseeing the orphans and helping in the rebuilding of the town since the extermination of the enemy. She was very useful, the older man saw that instantly. She was much better with communications and dealing with people face to face instead of fighting. Though that wasn't to say that he had not been impressed by the young woman with her background. Yupa had seen her in the fight, but all in all at least he knew he could trust her to watch over the shop while away on business. Lacey took up residence with the orphans, who were overseen by an elderly woman named Maka. She had helped the children escape into the tunnels and was very sweet and caring. When the dancer got home from work every night she would help cook dinner before tucking the children into bed. This was the closest thing the young woman had ever had to a normal life and Lacey was enjoying it… To an extent. For some reason there was a part of her that missed the constant travel.
"Let's close up soon," Yupa stated. "No one else is coming by today, and I have an early morning tomorrow.
"Yes, sir!" she called. Setting a box in place she then began to pack up the front counter so it could be folded in and locked up.
"Lacey! Lacey!" She glanced up, watching as Lisa, Nico, and Nao came running down the street with a few others rushing after them.
Pulling down the awning, the young woman brushed off her hands and turned back to them. "What are you doing here?"
"Ms. Maka wanted to pick up something for us to eat," Nao said. Her hand gripped Lacey's pant leg. "Are you done?"
"Almost," she smiled. "Just let me tell Yupa."
"Okay," they spoke in unison. It was followed by a chuckle, the group watching as Yupa emerged.
"I heard your little party from the back," he said. "She's all yours, children." Cheering, they rushed back to Maka across the street, Lacey smiling after them. But she didn't follow right away, looking back towards the ex-rogue. "Something troubling you?"
"Maybe it's not my place to ask, but how did you become so… well, nice? I've come across a few rogues when traveling with Zabuza and Haku and none of them have been this civil. Or at least able to blend in with society."
"If I was still in my early thirties then I would be the same as your partner Zabuza. But age changes you over time, that I can guarantee. You'll see. When those two get to a certain age they will realize that their time as a rogue has come to an end. You can't be a Ninja forever. Unless you want to get yourself killed when those who are much younger than you start making a name for themselves. It's a matter of survival of the fittest. And I'm not the same young man I used to be."
Lacey gave him a kind smile. "That's comforting, thank you. I was just wondering because you treat those children as if they were your own."
"When you are an ex-rogue trying to make a living and controlling a town under the radar you need loyal subjects."
"Hmm… that is very true. Have a good night, Yupa."
He waved goodbye to the group as they moved down the street.
"Welcome back, Yupa!" Lacey called into the back of the shop when the man walked in. There was a rush of customers she was tending to, those from neighboring villages now coming to visit their markets since the threat was gone. All of the businesses were booming again, and some of them were Yupa's contacts, rogues looking for places to stay or information on possible jobs in the surrounding area. Apparently, he knew everything as far as Lacey was concerned.
"Busy today I see."
"Well that's because it's actually nice out today."
"So it is." His eyes landed on the rogues waiting around off to the side from the line. "Meet me around back, boys."
Some grunted, others not saying anything as they did as told. It took hours for the crowd to die down, the young woman sighing heavily and collapsing onto a stood. She was exhausted and the day was just barely halfway done. Having been out of view, Lacey was startled when a set of knuckles wrapped against the wooden frame. Standing, the dancer fixed her hair before looking up with a grin. "How may I-?"
The words died in her throat staring at the patron with wide eyes. "What…? What are you doing here?" she whispered.
This had to be some sick joke or a damn good Jutsu because standing in front of her was none other than Zabuza. And even he seemed unsure, shifting between both feet uneasily. "We… had another mission," he muttered, looking away.
"Oh, um, well then, I'll grab Yupa-
"I'm not here to speak with Yupa."
She cocked a brow in confusion. "Then what are you here for? Supplies?"
The young man grunted, running a hand through his hair in a frustrated manner. "I don't know," he nearly snapped.
They remained silent for a moment, Lacey moving to the side door so the counter no longer separated them. "So… this rogue you're hunting…" Both arms crossed in front of her chest, leaning against the wood. "Are they good at hiding? Skilled assassins?"
"No, nothing like that. It was supposed to be an easy kill."
"So then what happened?"
"We ran into a bit of trouble. Haku and I couldn't figure out the proper way to approach this."
Her brows furrowed. "And you're asking me?"
He gave a quiet snicker, head shaking. "We're not that desperate for a plan."
This time, the young woman's brow twitched in annoyance. Obviously nothing had changed in the nearly two weeks that had passed. "Jerk," she muttered under her breath.
"What was that?
"Nothing. If you don't need my help then why are you here?"
"Does that really matter?"
"Yes, Zabuza. You should be miles away by now, not still here. So why are you? And where's Haku?"
"Busy doing something else."
"And you're…?"
"Will you come with us?"
Lacey was at a loss for words, staring at the young man in shock. That had not even been a thought in her mind as to why he was here. Why would the rogue want her back in the first place? All she seemed to do was cause trouble. The dancer thought that now he would be happy with the fact that she wasn't there anymore to screw things up. "Why?"
The question seemed to surprise him. "Huh?"
"Why do you want me to come with you? Because if it's only so you can kick my ass or manage to make me fall in a trap for your own amusement then my answer is no."
Slowly a smirk crept onto his lips making the dancer nervous. "Well then it looks like you're coming with us."
Lacey yelped when he reached forward, trying to get back inside the shop. But he was too quick, arm wrapping around her waist and tossing the young woman over a shoulder. "What are you doing?" she shouted, pounding against his back in retaliation. "Let me go! Put me down!"
Yupa pulled back the curtain from his 'office', trying to figure out what was making such a racket. But the old man couldn't help but laugh at the sight. "I knew it was only a matter of time before you came back."
Zabuza glanced over, rolling his eyes. "Whatever…" he muttered.
"Yupa! Tell him to put me down! I have work to do!" Lacey shouted.
"Quit squirming."
The ex-rogue chuckled, head shaking. "She's all yours Zabuza."
"What?" she squeaked out.
"I hate to tell you I told you so, Lacey. And I'm not about to deny your partner's wishes. After all, I am in debt to him for helping me. It was a pleasure meeting you, young lady. Your presence will be missed. Zabuza. Be sure to come by every now and again."
He grunted, turning away and moving towards the outskirts. "Zabuza! Put me down!" Yupa continued to laugh to himself.
"Not gonna happen," he answered.
"You can't just decide out of the blue to remove me from this new place! I have a life now! And what about the orphans? I can't just disappear on them!"
The two were making a scene, some of those in the streets turning to look at the display
"They were already informed for you… possibly leaving."
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"Haku went by the orphanage two days ago to talk to the old woman. The children were aware of your departure. Why do you think some of them were so upset to see you leave?"
"How long have you been watching?"
"A while," he muttered, knowing the gig was up. Haku and him had never left the area in the first place, cleaning up the scrap that had bother to stay around after the town's liberation. Rogues who had absolutely nowhere to go.
"That still does not make up for the fact that I'm leaving them! Zabuza, you don't understand. Those children-"
"Will be fine on their own."
"They need parents, Zabuza!" She was back to pounding against his back and trying to get away.
"And you have been offering them that?"
"Yes! I… I think… I can't abandon them."
"You won't," spoke a new voice. Glancing over, the dancer watched as Haku joined them on the road. He had a small bag in hand, most likely the small trinkets she had acquired, weapons, and the change of clothing Yupa had given her. "Maka said there have been families who were interested in taking in the orphans, and Yupa has become a frequent partner in the facilities. I wouldn't put it past him to take care of them and once old enough put them to work in positions they would be most valuable. Unlike most orphans, these ones will not be neglected and cast aside. So you don't have to worry about leaving them in incapable hands." Though her struggle caused the teen to cock a brow. "You didn't give her a choice, did you?
"I did," Zabuza stated. "Unless our agenda for asking her back involved kicking her ass or make her fall in a trap for my own amusement then her answer was no. However, since neither crossed my mind at the time then I took the answer as a yes."
"You tricked me!" Lacey stated.
The partners smirked at each other. "We're rogues," he said. "What else did you expect?"
There was just no reasoning with the young man, Lacey slumping in defeat. "You could've asked nicely," she muttered.
"I thought I did. It's not like I knocked you out."
The dancer rolled her eyes, watching as the town began disappearing from their view. It was nice, knowing what it could be like to live life in one place without moving around, actually having a job, and having a place among a community. Lacey still couldn't understand why either rogue wanted he back. The dancer who always seemed to get into trouble. The young woman who was not a skilled enough Ninja to even go up against most Jounin and the skilled Demon of the Mist and see victory. Gathering information and infiltrating towns undercover couldn't be that big of a deal to them. Lacey had seen Haku do it before and had been getting by just fine without her before they met.
"You'll have plenty of time to do what you were doing back in that town at another time. We're leaving this hellhole for a mission in Wave Country. So, unless you want to exhaust yourself then go ahead and keep struggling. It's going to be a long trip."
Her hair hid the smirk, head shaking. There was no reasoning with them, but she wouldn't have it any other way.
A/N: I don't own anything
