Mystic: 2

Chiemi

Naruto awoke on a bed, his head spinning. He groaned out load, but lay still, not daring to move. He listened to what sounded like someone cooking and inched his head a little further. The room he occupied included a bed, desk, and a closet. He frowned. No window.

The door flew open. Haku stopped short nearly dropping the tray in his hand. He smiling suddenly and said, "You're awake!"

Naruto stared in shock. Now that he could see more then the flat chest, he could almost mistake the boy for a girl. He was even more girly then Sakura! Or maybe it was that Sakura was a manly woman. So...no, Naruto wasn't even thinking down that path today. Haku helped Naruto so he sat up.

"I brought you soup to ease your stomach. And warm tea. You should drink the tea first to ease your nausea to keep the soup down," Haku said sitting the tray on Naruto's lap.

"Where am I? Where is the rest of my team?" Naruto demanded.

"Well, you are in one of my homes. I don't know where the rest of your team is. Are you a ninja?" Haku asked.

"Yep. Here is the," Naruto stopped mid sentence when he didn't feel anything on his forehead. His eyes widened. "Where is it?"

"Oh. Do you mean this?" Haku dug around in his pockets before pulling the forehead protector out.

"Yep!" Naruto nodded, more then slightly relieved.

"I had to take it off to help you," Haku said.

"What where all those needles in me?" Naruto asked.

"When I found you, you were suffering from fever, I think red fever. The needles are an ancient way of relieving sickness. What were you doing in the forest anyway?" Haku asked.

"Training! A ninja is always getting better, and because I'm gonna be the best of them all, I have to train harder then the rest!" Naruto told him with vigor. He was tempted to also shake his fist, but the nausea in him held him back.

"But, what are you training for? Who are you training for?" Haku persisted, his eyes turning into the wise, harden look he wore in battle.

"I'm training for myself! I'm going to prove a point to all those people who use to treat me like dirt! When I'm top dog, they'll have to say, he's number one! And.... I guess to prove a point to a certain person," Naruto admitted.

"So are you doing this for that person's sake or for your own satisfaction?" Haku asked.

"Huh?" Naruto asked his eyes narrowed so far you couldn't see them. Haku laughed, then looked sober.

"I guess what I mean is..When people are protecting something truly precious to them, they truly can become...as strong as they must be. Do you have someone, Naruto?" Haku asked. Naruto paused, think back to Kakashi and how he said he'd never let his comrades die. He thought about Iruka sensei protecting him. He thought about Inari and his father. He smiled at Haku.

"Yep, I know all about that!" Naruto said.

"Good. Now drink your tea. I'm going to go warm up your soup," Haku told him.

"Damnit Naruto, where are you?" Sasuke asked. Sasuke felt anger at the dobe and just want to find him, strangle him, then kiss him...wait what? He meant find him, kill him, then sleep with him....NoO. Sasuke jerked and fell out of the tree he sat on.

"Damnit Naruto!" He shouted. Sakura looked down at him in bewilderment. She had never seen him so uncoordinated before. She sighed; even Sasuke was getting tired. They had been at it for at least three days, but there had been no sign of him. Nor had there been anymore attacks on their client.

"Sasuke..are you okay?" Sakura asked in concern. Sasuke nodded at her and stood. Damnit, he thought. All I need is sleep and all of this will pass...I hope.

Kakashi appeared right in front of Sakura, scary her so bad she fell out the tree, screaming. Sakura hit the ground and blushed a deep red. She rushed to her feet.

"Kakashi sensei!"

"Hai. It's your turn to guard our client. Sasuke will take over tomorrow morning, so you have three to four hours," Kakashi stated. "If you like I could loan you one of my books?"

Sakura shrieked, turned an even deeper red, and shouted, "No way, sensei!" She ran to her station. Kakashi just shrugged. Sasuke snorted. Baka sensei, baka teammates.

"Sasuke, let's go," Kakashi said before turning and disappearing. Sasuke nodded and followed. Naruto..where are you?

Itachi walked in. Haku nodded to him and stood. He left the sink and stopped right in front of him.

"Master Uchiha, is there another assignment? If so, we can not accept right now. Master Zabuza is injured and will not be able to handle your type of...assignment," Haku muttered.

"I see," He said his eyes narrowing. He opened his mouth, but he was cut off by something he never wanted to hear said to him again.

"Sasuke baka! Where is everyone else!?" Naruto demanded standing in front of him.

Itachi's eyes widened. Naruto paused, looking at him.

"Ah, sorry. I thought you were someone else," Naruto told him.

"Naruto kun! You aren't well enough to be out of bed!" Haku cried out, horrified. Hakuu quickly ushered him out the room. He turned back to Itachi, his face once more a mask of indifference.

"Who was that?" Itachi asked, his eyes narrowed in concentration.

"Uzumaki Naruto," he told him, his face low.

"That name..is familiar..." Haku's heart dropped. To be familiar with Itachi was never good.

"Don't let him leave here Haku. I will be back in three days," Itachi told him. He stuck out a scroll. "Give this to Zabuza."

With that, Itachi left. Haku collapsed against the door as he closed it. Whenever Itachi came, Haku always felt it was a life or death situation. One accidental word could end your life. Haku breathed heavily, but swore to himself one thing. I'll protect you, Naruto.

So, did ya like it? R&R!