After waking and having something to eat, Haku told Hayami to wash up and handed her another pair of clothes to be dressed in. The demon had told Hayami about the village they were currently in and wanted to let her have some fresh air before leaving for his home country. Plus, it would give Hayami the opportunity to pick out some clothes that suited her more. As much as Haku found it adorable for her to wear his, he thought she might appreciate her own.

It was still morning but getting to the Hidden Mist would take a while. Haku was packing his things in a backpack. He planned to leave with Hayami after finding her something to wear that she liked. Everything was calm and peaceful so far. Each time he came back to put something in his bag or rearrange something, he'd see Hayami sitting by the window looking out at the village. The embassy was out of the way from the main streets but you could still tell how bustling things were around here.

He needed to pack his bathroom supplies he had brought then he and his mate could leave, Haku thought.

Haku had just turned the corner for a moment to grab what he needed and took a second look to make sure he missed nothing else. It only took that moment for the peace and calm of the start of the day to be turned inside out.

The demon came running out from the shower room, after being alarmed by the sound of glass shattering and the scared shriek of his human mate. If he hadn't been in such close proximity to Hayami, he surely would have gotten another vision from her fear. He had always gotten one whenever something caused Hayami to fear for her life.

Several people with identical uniforms and wearing animal inspired masks had broken through the window. They now stood in the room surrounding the space between the room and outside. Haku immediately looked for Hayami. While he was on high alert because of the intruders, he was relieved to see that she was okay and physically unharmed. She had gotten on the ground and hid behind the other side of the bed in the nick of time. Haku went over to her and made sure she was okay before having her stand beside him. She leaned against him with her arms locked around his waist. After reassuring her that he'd protect her at all cost, Haku turned his attention to the intruders.

"How dare you.." Haku gritted through his teeth. One arm kept Hayami secure against him while the other hand had pulled out three senbon, ready to fight if needed.

Haku's glare narrowed even more when a familiar voice called out. "There's no need to turn this into a blood bath, Demon of the Snow." The voice called. There were only a few people who referred to Haku by his moniker and not his proper name.

"Danzo." Haku recognized the other in return. He spoke his name a bit begrudgingly.

The elder made his entrance by coming in through the broken window, just like the shinobi he sent before him. He made his way from behind the shinobi slowly, limping with his weight on his crutch.

Hayami didn't like this man one bit. He looked creepy with his face half bandaged, the stern look his eye gave, and just his aura overall. Something about him was off.

Hayami pressed herself against Haku further until there was almost no more space between them. Her hands clutched her demon's clothes tighter, giving him the hint that she was even more scared with Danzo's presence. Haku's attention was on protecting Hayami from these people but he still was very much aware on any little indication she gave. He had always been a very self controlled person who thought things through before reacting. But seeing Hayami in such a state had caused such a severe restlessness he never experienced before. He was struggling to not eliminate the elder and the ninja with him.

"Any reason why you've had our room broken into like this, Danzo?" Haku swore he saw the elderly human smirk at his question, which only made him angrier.

"A necessary precaution," Danzo answered. He then further explained, "I just became aware of the circumstances the human beside you was found under. We must get as much information about Raiga as we can from her, for the sake of the village."

In Haku's eyes, they were practically asking him to just let them have all his fury. His instincts started seething at the insinuation of taking his mate from his side. Even if Hayami did know something, Danzo's actions were inappropriate at best. But unfortunately, Haku was all too aware of the elder's lack of decorum and patience when it came to dealing with his kind.

Haku scoffed, "As if I'd let you get close enough to touch her, let alone let you interrogate her."

"That girl is a human. She should be taken in by her own, and not by demons. She was found by Leaf shinobi and should be in our custody."

"I'll have you know, this human beside me is my mate. So actually she does belong with a demon like myself." Haku fiercely replied. For a moment, Danzo's expression spoke shock. But only for a moment. Danzo was sorely underestimating how far the demon could be pushed.

"Even so-!"

Once Danzo tried to contest Haku's position again, Haku let out a low mix of a growl and hiss. It was threatening in nature and dared Danzo to even attempt taking action like he planned. At the same time, the air suddenly got much colder as a precaution by the demon.

Haku knew that this all was only a pathetic excuse for an intimidation tactic. There was no such thing as intimidating a supernatural from protecting their mate. His kind would fight to the death rather than let their other half be harmed. Haku was only surprised with the thin lines that Danzo was crossing, by breaking into the Embassy, where the elder had no authority himself, and forcibly take someone in their care. Danzo had no right to do any of this. But as an Elder of the village, Danzo often would be let off easy when he didn't go about things like he should.

"'Even so,' Danzo?" Someone new had entered the room. A woman with blonde hair split into two tails, amber eyes and painted red nails appeared between the demon and elder. "Who died and gave you the right?!"

"Ah, Princess Tsunade." Danzo acknowledged. Haku also greeted her presence, calling her "Hokage" respectfully. The shinobi Danzo had brought, known as ANBU, knelt down once the woman had arrived. Even more ninja joined the commotion with the Hokage's appearance but only to stop it. They stood behind the offending ANBU agents and secured their arms behind their backs.

"Danzo! Just what do you think you are doing?!" Tsunade, the Hokage of the village, yelled.

"Do you even realize what you are risking by doing this?! And especially in the Land of Water's property! You know already what's been decided so don't intervene."

Danzo scowled and tightened his jaw, letting out an exasperated noise before making his exit. And on the other end, Haku put away his weapons.

The ANBU didn't dare to move since they were supposed to be under the control of the Hokage. Tsunade was clearly peeved by what happened. With one side having left the standoff, Tsunade turned to face Haku and the human girl he kept close. She was one of the few Leaf officials who know what Hayami was to Haku.

Tsunade' s features relaxed at the two and calmly walked up to them. Haku had a positive relationship with the village's leader so he saw now need to guard her from his mate, unlike with Danzo. Haku still held Hayami since the previous events had been a shock to her. But his own expression had softened as Tsunade approached.

"Congratulations on finding her, Haku. Take care of her, she's very beautiful."

"Thank you, Lady Hokage. I'll be sure to cherish her."

Tsunade then directed her sights on Hayami, speaking to her next. "And you, Hayami. I can see Haku already loves you very much. You're in very safe hands with him, so take care of him too."

Tsunade spoke to Hayami with a kind voice. While she was obviously a strong woman, Hayami felt no reason to flee or avert her eyes. She looked at Tsunade and nodded at her words without saying anything. She still held onto Haku, however. The sudden, tense interaction was too much of a shock to let her guard down so quickly.

"Still, I don't know what Danzo's up to, I still have to question these ANBU, so I suggest you and Hayami leave as soon as you both can, Haku."

"Yes.. You're probably correct on that. We were going to leave today in any case, but we'll probably speed up our departure back to my village sooner."

Tsunade hummed and smiled at Haku. "I thought you'd say that. I've asked a colleague of yours to escort you both to the train station, and he has my permission to stop anyone who tries to stop you two from leaving. I'll leave you to it then. I can't leave the office for too long." Tsunade left and took the remaining ANBU with her, along with the extra ninja that came with her.

"A colleague..?" Haku asked himself aloud. He quickly shook off the thought and focused on Hayami again.

"Are you alright? I know that must have been frightening."

All the evidence of defying malice in his voice was gone, as if it were never there to begin with. His eyes had also returned back to the tender gaze that the human knew.

"Y-Yeah.. I'm just a bit shaken.." She certainly showed it, too. Her voice wavered and her eyes were glossy, but she was alright, and more importantly: safe.

Haku looked at her with empathy. He hated that she couldn't go even a day without a scare yet. As much as he wanted to get back into bed and coddle his mate, Tsunade spoke the truth. It would be best that they both leave for now. Haku held Hayami close in a tight hug one more time. He let her go to grabbing his backpack, before picking her up in his arms. When he said they should leave as soon as possible he meant it.

The one the Hokage spoke of the escort the two was Mangetsu Hozuki. Apparently, he was the one who saw the commotion from outside and alerted the Hokage. Haku thanked his fellow shinobi as they both hurried to the train station, with Hayami in Haku's arms. The human girl recognized the sharp-toothed Mist ninja's voice as the one who told the medical staff to leave her alone. She wished she could thank him too, if only Mangetsu's teeth didn't bother her so much. It reminded her too much of Raiga's. But Mangetsu meant her no harm. Once as she and Haku made it to the station without a problem, he bid the two farewell before leaving.

The demon and human would have to take a train to the coast of the Land of Fire, before getting on a boat to make it to the Land of Water. It seemed like the farther they got from the Leaf village, and Danzo, the more Haku visibly relaxed.

The train ride went well but the boat made Hayami nervous. She was secretly paranoid that the vessel would sink and she and Haku would go down with it. They both had the privacy of a cabin on board, a similar set up when they were on the train. Hayami had immediately sought the shelter of Haku's arms once they were settled. On the train she had looked out the window in wonder occasionally. But not on the boat. It seemed like all she wanted was to ignore the world while aboard. Unfortunately, the travel by boat could not be helped.

Of course, Haku noticed. He tried comforting her but it did little good. He really didn't mind the clinginess but knew she was only this attached now because of everything that happened earlier, coupled with the problem she had with boats. But it wouldn't be long at all until Haku would bring her home. What he would call 'his' home would now be 'their's' and the thought made Haku happy. Surely, once they were home, Hayami would be able to feel settled and become more at ease.

Hayami thoughts were overtaken by the earlier events. She was scared for sure but now she just had so much on her mind she couldn't think straight.

Everything was becoming so real for her, now that she had met Haku.

When the old man, Danzo, had burst into their room she found herself rushing into Haku's arms without thinking. In that moment, the closer she was to the demon the safer she felt. She couldn't explain the innate need for him. And the demon himself equally bared his fangs towards those who threatened her, as the saying goes. He should have scared her too but he didn't. Like his touch, his protective nature only made her feel safer, though oddly so, she thought.

He was so much more gentle and kind than any demon she previously knew. She didn't even know a supernatural like him could exist. But earlier, the fact that she was mated to a demon became all the more real for her, too.

She remembered what Danzo had called him. Did he mean Haku?

What about that unbelievable sound that came out his seemingly delicate throat? Or how his voice had hardened? Don't even get her started on trying to digest how the air had gotten so cold, and so suddenly. With the timing she could only assume it was Haku's doing.

And speaking of 'baring his fangs,' did he even have fangs? Hayami didn't see any. And otherwise, his teeth looked no different from any human.

He said he didn't drink blood, right? She maybe he didn't. It was only an expression, after all.

It was starting to set in that Haku really wasn't as human as he looked after all. Even so, Haku was nothing like the demons she had known. He was the only one she felt safe with.