(5 minutes later)
I was sitting by him, polishing my weapon, which is a gigantic cleaver and secretly watching his movements from the corner of my eye. After he ate he washed the plate and wiped it dry. And despite still being a little ill, he washed all the glasses in the sink as well, and even scrubbed the sink itself (There were no plates in the sink because I can't cook and thus hardly eat at home). Then he patted his wet little hands dry on his torn, shall I say, shirt. After that he finally noticed me looking at him and smiled. Oh, the innocence of a kid.
"All right, go and have a rest. We have to wake up early tomorrow."
"But, Zabuza-san, where will you sleep then?"
"It doesn't matter. Don't ask anymore. Go."
(30 minutes later)
After removing the bandages that cover half my facial features from my face, I lay awake on the straw mat on the floor near where Haku is sleeping, trying to incorporate a little kid into my life. I am an adult used to solitude, how should I go about a kid with a high potential of becoming a formidable, unrivalled shinobi? Did I make a mistake in picking him up from the snowy streets? After all, this kid has nothing but a powerful bloodline limit. Which is precisely why it's like finding a big piece of unpolished diamond that everybody treats as glass. I weighed the pros and cons and found out that there is no harm in trying to utilize him to the fullest, just that it would be rather hard work in the beginning.
(Zabuza falling asleep at last)
I feel a small, unfamiliar hand pulling on mine. It's that girlish boy I brought home.
"Zabuza-san, I felt the floor with my feet just now and it was so cold! Please sleep on the bed with me. It's okay, my dad used sleep next to me too."
Innocent, clueless kid with the personality of a rabbit. It was getting cold, and I didn't want to decline Haku's thoughtful offer, so I agreed.
Half an hour passed like half a day. It was terrible trying to get a proper sleep as I was made to keep my hands to myself. I mean literally. You see, I was very used to having the bed to myself so my arms would land on this empty part of the bed, sometimes on the other empty part. Now there is another body, although small, occupying my favourite empty space. If you still do not get what I'm trying to say, then I shall not explain further. Anyway it is not right to let your hands go free on someone else you are not close with. I confess that I still do not know Haku's gender. I guess I should just stay a few inches away from him (right now I'm still assuming he's a boy, but could not safely confirm) lest I get accused of being a paedophile.
But now what. Haku had automatically rolled into my chest. Oh well. It's normal to reach for warmth and security when it's just beside you. He's still shivering a little, so maybe it's okay if I put my arm around him a bit.
The painful fingers of the sun jabbed my eyes. Ugh, it's morning already? I haven't thought of a way to train him yet. What shall we do today?
I think I just remembered something. Darn! I had let a dirty kid sleep beside me, maul at my shirt and steal my pillow for a whole night! I should have made him bathe yesterday! How can I forget!
Haku turned and smiled at me. "Good morning, Zabuza-san. You look quite nice without covering your face," he said, getting up.
"Quit being a nosey parker," I snapped. "And go take a bath."
