Title: Admit Defeat
Author: Kisu
Rating: PG
Pairings: Sasuke x Naruto, Zabuza x Haku
A/N: Another chapter! I just had to portray Zabuza's character. XD Also, enter the scarecrow… Please pardon my grammar and punctuation.
Disclaimer: Kishimoto is a genius! I do not deserve to write this fanfiction! (which also means I don't own any of the characters and such…)
Chapter 14: Old Friends
A figure with dark brown hair that fell in silky strands around slim shoulders slowly placed the phone back in its cradle. A moment of silence ensued as Zabuza watched in amusement. Slowly the figure turned and let out a girly squeal making Zabuza startle badly. The tea in his teacup spilled over the ceramic edges and dripped onto the saucer.
"Zabuza!" The younger man cried. "Guess who called?"
"The plumber." Zabuza replied after a moment of thought.
"No!" Haku sighed. "It was Sasuke. The Sasuke!"
"Sasuke?" Zabuza repeated, clearly not familiar with that name.
"Naruto's brother!" Haku frowned. "Don't you remember Naruto telling us about him?"
"Oh him." Zabuza nodded before taking a sip from his cup. "Well what did he want?"
"He wants to hire us to be Naruto's bodyguards!" Haku beamed. "It'll just be like old times! We'll make cookies and drink cocoa and tell scary stories in the dark!"
"…" Zabuza raised an eyebrow.
"I can't wait to see him again; he's probably grown so handsome and strong." Haku beamed.
"Naruto is only a few years younger than you, Haku." Zabuza said, pointedly.
"Let's get packing! We'll get on the next flight to Konoha!" Haku exclaimed, rushing out of the room in a whirlwind.
"But we're lawyers." Zabuza blinked. "Why were we hired as bodyguards?"
---
All the while in the car from the airport to the Uchiha estate, Haku couldn't wait to see Naruto. He expected to see the same young man from college, a bubbling teenager with a high outlook on life. One who was bright as the sun even when it was shrouded in a cloak of darkness.
When he followed Zabuza into the house, he waited expectantly as the housekeeper paused at the bottom of the stairs.
"Master Sasuke, you have guests." Her voice was very motherly as what Haku expected from her warm greeting at their arrival.
Haku quickly strode up beside Zabuza, eyes scanning the top of the stairs for the familiar blonde.
His breath caught in his throat as a man appeared with eyes and hair as dark as a moonless night sky. This was Uchiha Sasuke, Naruto's older brother. A moment later another figure appeared next to him and Haku stared, eyes widening at Naruto's appearance.
His hair was still a brilliant gold and his eyes were still a beautiful cerulean blue. But what shocked him most of all was the darkness in those blue eyes and the sharpness that told them that Naruto had seen so much that others haven't seen in his young age.
"Haku!" He exclaimed. "Zabuza."
Haku stepped forward, throat working to answer the false cheerfulness in Naruto's tone. A hand clasped over his from behind and Haku's gaze quickly flickered to Zabuza before flicking upwards at the blonde.
Then with a sad smile, he bowed. "Our paths cross yet again." His voice was strong, warm, and reassuring but he couldn't help but feel his heart shatter into pieces.
The Naruto that they once knew was not the Naruto here.
---
In the outside world, life went on as it normally did. However it seemed like time had frozen inside the office. Haku stared at the blonde man before choosing his words carefully.
"What do you mean Ryuujin is going to fall?" He asked.
"I'll take them all down." Naruto smiled eerily. His red eyes glowed with passion. "I'll take down everyone who opposes me!"
"Opposes you on what?" Haku asked. What had happened in the few minutes that he had left the room? He took a step back. What if Orochimaru had been here?
"Haku." Naruto continued. "I discovered the solution to all of this! Shinja and Ryuujin must be put down! Then this will be all over."
"Are you serious?" Haku demanded. "You're taking down both gangs?"
"Nothing will change my mind." Naruto replied firmly. "I don't want any tools like Gaara and I to be created again."
"I really think you should talk it over with Sasuke." Haku told him. Naruto paused and a flicker of emotion flashed through his eyes.
"No."
"Naruto." Haku protested.
"If you get in my way, I'll kill you." Naruto whispered. Haku froze and a cold chill went down his back.
"Naruto." A new voice sliced through their conversation and they both turned to look at the corner of the room where the speaker walked out of the shadows. Zabuza narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. "Think carefully before you act."
"Zabuza, when did you-" Haku began.
"I've been here the entire time." Zabuza interrupted. "I saw you smashing the mirror, Naruto. Who did you see?"
"I-I saw…" Naruto whispered, eyes glazing over. Then in a flash, he regained his composure. "I saw no one!" He scowled.
"Are you sure?" Zabuza walked closer and Haku opened his mouth to protest. "Did you see Orochimaru in the mirror? Did you see yourself as Orochimaru?"
"I'm not Orochimaru!" Naruto yelled in outrage.
"Zabuza, that's enough!" Haku gasped, quickly stepping in between the two men. "You know how sensitive Naruto to all of this!" As he spoke Zabuza's eyes widened and he suddenly pushed him out of the way. Zabuza grunted as Naruto sliced down with a letter opener that he had grabbed from the desk.
"Zabuza!" Haku cried in dismay. "Naruto, what are you doing?"
Zabuza frowned and pulled back his hand, blood dripping from the shallow flesh wound on his palm. Then clenching his hand into a tight fist, he lunged out and slammed it into Naruto's cheek. Blood from his hand spotted Naruto's face and the blonde gasped, his red eyes turning back to its normal blue.
With shaking fingers, Naruto touched his bruised cheek before flickering to the solemn Zabuza and worried Haku. Then his gaze flickered to the letter opener in his hand and allowed it to fall from numb fingers.
"What have I done?" He whispered, falling to his knees. "What's wrong with me?"
Haku quickly rushed over to him and dropped onto his knees beside the blonde. Then swiftly, he drew Naruto against his chest, arms circling protectively around him.
"Zabuza." Haku whispered. He looked up, his normally serene brown eyes filled with anger. "Tell Sasuke that we will move to plan B."
"Plan B?" Zabuza stated.
"We will sign over Shinja Co. immediately. Naruto will not step into this building again." Haku declared.
"I will prepare the papers, then." Zabuza said, smoothly. He walked out of the room, professionally expressionless as before.
Haku let his arms tighten around the shaking man and closed his eyes, lips resting on the top of the sunshine colored hair.
"It'll be okay Naruto." He told him. "No one can get to you with Zabuza and me around. Not even Orochimaru."
---
"Here." Zabuza unceremoniously dumped a folder onto Sasuke's desk. Sasuke peered up at the older man from behind his glasses and he touched the manila cover.
"What's this?" Sasuke asked.
"They are papers to sign Shinja Co. over to you." Zabuza said, coolly. Sasuke leaned back in his leather chair and took off his glasses. One hand reached up to massage the bridge of his nose tiredly.
"What happened to the plan?" He asked.
"Haku decided to terminate the plan. Since he is a good analyzer, I believe that we should terminate the plan too." Zabuza explained.
"Did something happen?" Sasuke asked, opening his eyes.
"It's nothing that you should worry about." Zabuza said. "I'll pick up the papers tomorrow morning. Naruto will be staying with Zabuza and I for the time being."
"Wait." Sasuke shot up from his chair. "Where are you two taking him? There is plenty of room here and I expected that you two would stay here with Naruto."
"We're not bodyguards, Mr. Uchiha." Zabuza said. "We're lawyers."
"I'll pay you double then." Sasuke frowned.
"We didn't take the job for the pay, Mr. Uchiha." Zabuza smiled lightly. "We took the job because Naruto is like a younger brother to us." Sasuke watched as Zabuza slowly walked to the door of his study and open it. "Money can come and go but family is irreplaceable." Then he walked out the door, closing it softly behind him.
With a small smile on his lips, Sasuke sat back down and opened the manila folder to the first page. "Don't you think I know that?" He whispered to empty air.
---
"I'm home."
"Welcome back!" The cheerful voice broke into his thoughts and he whipped around to stare at Naruto who was beaming at him from over a bowl of ramen. Haku walked out of the kitchen with another bowl and placed it on the table.
"You're back, early." Haku smiled. "Come have some ramen with us."
"It's miso ramen!" Naruto grinned. "I haven't had this for ages!"
"Your favorite, eh?" Haku smiled, gently ruffling Naruto's blonde spikes.
Zabuza smiled slightly turning around to hang up his jacket. "I'll go change; you guys can start without me."
"Ok." Haku replied.
Zabuza walked into his room and slowly undid the buttons of this dress shirt. Tossing it carelessly on the bed, he frowned unconsciously as he made his way to the bathroom. Quickly washing his hands and washing his face. Turning off the faucet, he stood up and attempted to look for a towel with his eyes closed.
"Here." Haku smiled. A towel brushed against his hands and Zabuza grunted in thanks as he dried his face.
"Naruto looks better." Zabuza commented as he handed the towel back to Haku. Haku nodded and followed him out of the bathroom.
"Time can help wounds heal but the scar remains there forever." Haku murmured, absently.
"Again with your poetics." Zabuza retorted as he disappeared inside his closet. When he emerged, Haku was absently staring out of his window. "What's wrong?" He asked, walking over to him. Haku slowly leaned back against his chest, their fingers interweaving.
"I hope Naruto will regain his old self." He murmured.
"He will." Zabuza said, contently. "But then what will happen?"
"We will take him away. He can live with us and become the renowned doctor he always wanted to be." Haku declared. "We'll open a law firm and defend Naruto against any lawsuits from ill-mannered patients!"
Zabuza chuckled softly. "When Naruto regains his true self. He will decide his future because he's a grown man now. He knows what is right and what is wrong."
"I know." Haku sighed. "But I want to be there with him when he chooses."
"I do too." Zabuza admitted. They stayed that way for a while, looking out the window in silence. Then Zabuza shifted and wrapped an arm around Haku's waist. "I'll call an old friend tomorrow and you can call Naruto's old teacher."
"Iruka?" Haku blinked.
"Yes and I will call the other." Zabuza smiled.
"You don't mean Kakashi do you?" Haku asked, suspiciously.
"Perhaps." Zabuza replied.
"WHAT?"
One person sleeping on the couch was oblivious to it all.
---
It was a bright beautiful day, the sun was shining and the birds were chirping. Zabuza hated cheerful mornings. Giving a great yawn, he sat up and rubbed his eyes and fell off the bed as an ear-splitting scream shattered the morning's serenity. The door to his bedroom swung open and Haku, still in his fluffy white robe and slippers stood in the doorway.
"Naruto is gone!" He wailed. Zabuza sighed and got up. Then he walked over to the door and promptly shut it in Haku's face.
With another sigh, he walked to his bathroom to get ready.
Haku would probably want to go in search of Naruto.
---
His cell phone rang for the millionth time that morning and Naruto stared at it. He had turned it back on earlier and after being fed up with all the ringing, he placed it on silent. Only the flashing screen told him that the caller hadn't stop trying.
"Sasuke." He murmured, propping the side of his face up by leaning onto the table. He had no idea how to face him.
He took another sip of his latte and stared out the window. It was a small cozy café that was a few blocks away from Haku and Zabuza's apartment. Having no luck in finding coffee in the kitchen, he had decided to go out for some. Besides he loved mornings, especially ones when the sun was already ablaze in its rich golden color.
Still with a content smile on his face, he watched as a man walk by. The man had silver hair falling in soft tendrils over the left side of his face. In his hand was a romance novel, a smutty one as it seemed from the explicit cover.
The thoughtful expression on his face was suddenly replaced with a look of horror. With a start, Naruto jolted up from his chair.
Oh no. This wasn't good. He had to run away.
The bell on the caf's door chimed lightly as it opened and shut.
The silver haired man walked up behind him and Naruto grabbed his cell phone, preparing to make a dash for the door.
Then a firm hand landed on his shoulder and he tensed.
"Yo."
Slowly he turned around and smiled meekly.
"Hello professor." Naruto greeted the tall man.
Hatake Kakashi beamed and sat down next to him.
---
A/N: Boo…Naruto was only evil for like…a couple of seconds…ahahaha…sorry for the disappointment. I just didn't know how to continue the story with evil Naruto. But, I really love Haku and Zabuza's portrayal. And for the entrance of Kakashi, thanks to SiriusRemusLove for the suggestion!
I take all your suggestions seriously XD So I might incorporate your ideas into the fics!
Thanks for reading all!
Anime Lass: Thanks for your suggestion but I don't know if I can write Orochimaru into character like that. We'll see. XO