Flowers Bloom, Hearts Shatter

By: Li

Summary: Auron is sent from her mystic home of the Flordina Plains by a miscast spell and ends up on a familiar misty bridge. After watching Team 7 of Konohagakure and their jounin instructor Copy-nin Kakashideafeat Zabuza, she chooses to reside in the village until a few days after they left. Now, with the revived Haku as her guard and traveling on a merchant caravanthey are heading toward Hidden Mist. Will the former missing-nin Haku be recognized?

A/N: This took longer since I have less computer time than usual. Next chapter will be up whenever I can get to a computer with internet access.

Also, Auron will sometimes be refered to as Shurina or Kandai, the name she chose for her fake identity. As for Haku, he'd be Shinsetsu Kuhaina, and refered to as Auron's cousin (she thinks of him as one) or bodyguard.

!IMPORTANT NOTE! The first five chapters are about Auron and Haku's travels and some of the people they meet (hint hint). In chapter six, she finally arrives in Konoha and meets up with Naruto yet again, turning the Hidden Village upside down. She only changes minor events that I have planned, so look forward to some things old and new in later chapters.

Warning: hinted shojo-ai/shounen-ai (if you look real close to sentence structure and peoples' actions), no yaoi or yuri (graphic); disruptive OC

(1) means to see the ending notes or glossary

"Foreign language."

Spirits and Gods

Flashback is like this.

--mind speach--

Chapter Three: Shadow's Dreaming (on a moonless night)

The caravan traveled for a week on moderately good time before arriving within a few miles of their destination. Their trip was uneventful to say the least; save a few arguments between Funno and Auron over a disgusted Haku, usually resulting in the formerly mentioned participant's moping about. One of his friends (usually Masakichi)wouldstep in to cheer him upmost of the time, reverting the fallen man to his usual, over-enthusiastic self. His behavoir reminding Auron of the Konoha jounin teacher Kakashi-san had a rivalry with, though he seldom wore spandex.

All through the journey, Aurong knew she was being watched thanks to Shunhi-kun's mind tips. The two had been in regular contact on the newly reincarnated Zabuza's FlordinaPlains life. So far he had a new name, Jousen Talance, and family -Auron's own aunt had given birth and her husband, a Horn artist, painted the babe on canvas portraits regularly.

The caravan leader, her watcher, would come to their campfire and chat for a while over some watered tea then leave to another fire side. He kept glancing at the ice eyed girl every few seconds, makingsaid girl wonder if he was attracted to her or something. The concept was dismissed, however, since Auron knew no one here could become attracted to her in that fashion; though arranged marriages were common in her homeland, many cut the engagement when they found their reicarnatedlove from their First Life#.Auron's was out there as well; she just had no intention was finding him or her.(1)

At the moment the man was giving a speech to the leading merchants, others checking their stocks to make sure everything was adequate and accounted for. Auron sat calmly with an unusually tense Haku: the girl sharpening the blade she'd stolen from an unsuspecting merchant andthe boy reflecting dark thoughts. Said femalejust sighed as her cousin's mood reflected in the now-uncomfortable atmosphere.

"Are you alright, Kuhai-kun?" She'd taken to shortening his pretend name in some kind of affectionate manner, causingthe young manto blush uncontrollably in embarassment when some of the braver and rowdier (drunken) men had taken her example as acceptable. Some of them still didn't look at brushes the same way again, after his 'punishment' to them.

Haku just nodded once, rigid form not relaxing in the slightest.

Sighing again, Auron sheathed her new blade and stood, moving across the fire to sit by her guard's side. Laying a comforting had on the teen's shoulder, she leaned in and started a silent conversation with her head in his not-so-tense-anymore shoulder.

--They won't know you. Your appearance has changed,-- consoled Auron, sending feelings of comfort and water-energy (for relaxation) Haku's way.

It would take more than a few words to sooth the young man's worries. --My appearance may have changed, but my chakra cannot. They will know of my bloodline as soon as they sense my power.-- He was starting to turn this into a complex.

Auron just blinked and stared at him, unsure of what he was talking about. --Chakra? Is that what you call the Power you and the other guards hold? An odd name, that.--

Haku whirled in surprise, causing some caravan members to glance their way, wondering what was happening. The two were constantly silent lest spoken to directly and it seemed they held a special bond. One would know when the other was in trouble if they were separated for some reason, which had only happened twice, and if one spoke to someone, the other knew the conversation instantly, it seemed. As much as the other travelers had gotten used to it, it would still take a few more weeks time to be unsurprised or, in some cases, afraid.

--Y-you mean, you don't use chakra?-- inquired Haku, slightly panicking. Was she some sort of spirit, then, to borrow the energy of the elements instead of just manipulating them? Not that it really mattered; she would still be his mistress even if she wasn't quite human.

--No. I don't need to. Chakra is for fighters, anyway. I would never wish to harm someone with my power, ever; I cannot even if I wanted to.-- That made sense; her land was very peaceful and causing injury beyond accident must be taboo. He didn't press the subject; she seemed a little uneasy mentally, from her last message.

--I'll be fine.-- Hopefully he could go back to brooding now.

Besides, your energy has increased and changed since I gave you some of my life essence to bring you back. We share more than a mind to mind bond, Haku; our living energies reply nowon one another,-- Auron continued, ignoring his last comment. Outwardly they were both silently staring into the fire, faces stony, and seemingly comforting one another with just the presence of the other.

Confused, Haku asked, --How does it effect me? Or you?--

Auron just sighed mentally, spirit shoulders slumped as she tried to explain, though her outward self hadn't changed, --You have a fighter's form and instincts; we share some of the same impulses, though I still do not know how to fight. You, on the other hand, will live as long as I, maybe longer, and the handling of your increased power store will have improved to near perfection. Nothing else outwardly -most of the change is mental, though not mine so much as yours, since I hardly took any of your essense.--

"I'll leave you alone, now," she whispered, loud enough for the closer merchants to hear, as she waited for her silent explanation to sink in. It would take a while, since he had many thoughts to mull over.

"Call if you need me." He knew what she meant.

Haku just nodded as his mistress walked off, body relaxed to a point of slight meditation as he composed himself. The merchants watching them wondered what had happened between them both, none more so than the caravan leader.

Campfires away, Auron was drawn into yet another arguement about Haku by an enraged Funno. Really, did the man think she wanted to mate with someone she thought of as a responsibility, and maybe family? Or was he just bored?

The next day brought bad news for a yet-again tense Mist missing-nin: they had reached the Hidden Village gates and sentries were looking the merchants over, asking for paperwork and identification. Auron saved him for yet again, this time from the cold gazes of unfamiliar jounin guards.

When said shinobi came to the wagon being driven by their merchant friend Funno (who was all too happy to havethe younger malesitting behind him), Haku began to sweat inwardly. What if they recognized him, even with his matured face and new chakra feel? They would attack him and his so-called cousin, and the teen couldn't protect his Lady from all the hunter-nin that would chase him. What to do?

His frantic thought process was interrupted by a smiling Auron handing the grim collector two folders packed with papers, saying, "Here are the records, recommendations and travel plans. Or do you just need our Village paper work?" The chuunin sweatdrop and look uneasy, silently wondering why he always had to check the crazy, hapless ones.

Eyebrow visibly twitching in annoyance, the Mist nin handed the packed folders back to the widely grinning girl and stated in an emotionless tone, "Just your travel papers." A few of his comrades began to snicker, the others remaining impassive.

Auron's smile just widened and winked at Haku as she leaned into the wagon (the cover's down, and the one she's on has veggies!) and fished out two much thinner folders from under a pile of zucchini. Handing it to the man, she said in a terribly cheerfully sweet voice that could make anyone die from the sugar coating, "Here you are!"

Flinching slightly, said man took the papers, glanced down as he flipped through them quickly, then handed them back and walked tensely away. His still snickering friends made a few gibes before receiving a furious glare, causing one of their number to let out a startled meep at the intensity of his heated gaze. She had to wonder what kind of killers they were, or if they hadn't taken a human life yet. They lacked the shadow of silent guilt that came with surrounding your heart in cold diamond the caravan guards had beneith their alert gaze.

Relief flooded through Haku as the gates were opened andthe many wagons entered his old home, the Village of the Hidden Mist. Relaxing against the still smiling Auron, he wondered where she'd gotten convincing enough papers, seeing as she was from another continent all together.

--Shunhi can be helpful and unconcerned, sometimes,-- Auron answered elusively. Glancing at her from the corner of his eye, her soul-guard then remembered that she could hear his thoughts if she wanted to.

Smiling playfully at him, the girl stated comicly, "You know, I don't think that chuunin liked me very much. Was it something I said?"

The way she phrased her thoughts and manner she stated them in startled a laugh from Haku, who was soon joined by the surrounding merchants, including Funno. As much as they didn't get along most of the time (partly his unwanted fault), Auron and the enthusiastic man had one major thing in common: they were both naturally sadistic.

He felt a reassuring hand on his shoulder and turned to Auron, a small smile gracing her pale face. "Don't worry so much, cousin. I'm sure we'll find a nice place to stay here."

Haku just nodded, knowing what she meant. Hopefully, his mistress was right; and from what he had seen on their travels so far, she usually was.

Unbeknownced to them, the caravan driver watched the whole exchange as he directed the oxen of his own cart around a sharp bend. What surprised him, though, was when the girl he was so interested in looked up and smiled in his direction, a mischievious twinkle in her eye. He quickly turned away, keeping dark eyes ahead, wondering if the enigmatic girl knew he'd been keeping a close eye on her.

In Auron's own mind, she was smiling evily. Something was going to happen soon, she knew, and the girl had best enjoy the irritated screaches and shreeks of those she chose to drive insane. Next victim on her list: Nagiru Yusha, her silent watcher. This would be fun.

There were three major things Auron loved: sleep, sadistically annoying people, and surprisingly, helping those who were in need. There were also three things she hated with a passion: waking up, having to do something against her will, and seeing others treated unfairly, or made to cry by someone other than herself. The moment she entered the merchant ways -full of neverending traffic- in Hidden Mist, Auron was asleep and Haku was trying to wake her up.

No luck there.

She was usually up and helping to make breakfast by the time Haku awoke on their recent travels, but he knew she was a light sleeperand just didn't want to get up. How was he supposed to wake the girl without earning her sadistic rath for the next few days? Auron had already made him wear a dress one time, and passersby stared at him with hearts for eyesor envy, by locking the rest of his clothes up in her trunk he didn't dare touch.

Pondering to himself who he couldconvince to wake the girl and not feel guilty about her rath falling upon them, Haku smiled a sadistic smiled scarily like Auron's own. Maybe thethatbond joined their personalitieshad mixed them unconsciously... It really didn'tmatter.

Turning to the driver now stuck in the merchant's square traffic, the guard called, "Funno-san! Can I ask you a favor?"

The man's scowl lit up into a dreamy smile instantly, hearts floating around him. Jumping to the man he'd never thought would talk to him, Funno let the smart horses drive themselves. (He was just sitting their because Haku had told him to, anyway.)

"Anything for my darling angel!" the man shouted, glomping around Haku's waist, causing watchers to stare and giggle.

Haku just sighed inwardly, looking slightly uneasy to anyone watching. He did feela bitbad for tricking the annoying clingy-person, but Funno just didn't get that he was a guy and not some damsel under a Forbidden Jutsu.

"Firstly, Funno-san, please stop calling me such names," the guard scolded the clinging man, sighing as said man just nodded hyperly, calling him Kuhai-sama. "Secondly, please wake my cousin up. I've tried everything I could think of and she still hasn't stirred." This last was said pleadingly, and Funno went right to the asked task.

Shaking the girl's shoulder surprisingly gently (they seemed to hate each other, after all), the man murmured something in Auron's ear that caused her to jump up in a panic. Glancing around, only to see a smirking Funno-san and sweatdropping Haku, the girl grabbed her waker by the front of his cotton shirt, glaring murderously.

"Don't. Even. Dare."

Suddenly the carriage jerked to a halt, the merchant's leader calling out before Funno could suffocate via Auron's strong grip, "We're here, minna-san. Please request a room and tommorrow our selling begins!"

Releasing the man, who crumpled to the ground whimpering in pain, his mistress glanced around curiously. Their wagon sat before a middle-class inn, looking slightly run down but homey nonetheless. Auron smiled and grabbed Haku's hand, ignoring the man laying in the vegtable piles now being rescused by his laughing friends, and dragged him toward the enterence enthusiasticly.

She seemed to have more and more mood swings lately, and often lapsed into an uncomfortable silence around other caravan members as they chatted around a campfire. Haku was worried, but didn't dare voice his concern lest she be unpleased; the girl was unprediactable that way.

"What did he say?" Haku asked curiously, wanting to distract himself from such thoughts. Auron's face imeadiately hardened as she whispered something in her guard's ear throught clenched teeth.

His jaw dropped in disbelief. How dare that idiotic, insensitive man even indicate such a thing? He was dead meat when Haku was trough. The 1001 Ways to Kill Using Needles context , a book of lists he'd once written, would come in handy now...

Auron, surprisingly, stopped him by a simple pull on his collar and relaxation accupreture point. Haku's mustles turned to puddy, and he would have collapsed if his mistress hadn't been holding him up. Sometimes he wondered if she even needed a guard, considering what she could do herself already.

"You can kill him later! Now we have to find a room before they're all full!" Auron scolded, helping Haku into the inn.

As much as he wouldn't like to admit, his 'cousin' was right; they need a place to sleep. Sighing to himself, Haku was surprised to find all his limbs worked according to his commands. What had she done, to make his mustles only loose for a few moments? He would never know, most likely.

Allowing himself to be dragged into the middle-class inn, Haku glanced around. No one he knew was about, apart from people he'd met resently, and hopefully it would stay that way.

Two Days Later...

Waking to a cold room and liquid darkness, Haku groaned. Where was he? Oh, yes. Hidden Mist, with his 'cousin' Auron, sleeping in a junky hotel room that smelled too highly of fresh flowers. And in the gloomy silence, he could tell he was alone.

Jerking awake, the guard frantacly searched for any chakra pressence and the familair mind connected to his own. Not caring that he was only dressed in a revealingly loose yukata with nothing under, Haku consontrated on the faint, murmuring presense of his mistress.

He found her on the balcany, staring out at the slumbering city from their top-floor view, the lights barely illuminating her still form. Something was off; she hadn't noticed his presense, it seemed, which had never happened before.

As he drew closer, he noticed one thing: her eyes -usually a clear bright bluethat reminded him of the stars- stared dully at him, an odd gray color like clouds before a storm, and just as unseeing of the real world. What was happening to her?

Haku heard the murumuring more clearly, the sequence of whispers that had caused his mistress's current state. His eyes widened as he recognized the type of words being repeated. He hadn't known Auron to be a prophet, yet it would explain some things...

The words were now repeated in his own mind as he stared into those captivating clear-gray eyes, now bordering on a murky molten-silver...

'Flowes Bloom
From Winter ice melting
To bring Spring Rain.

Souls mend
as Hearts Shatter
In neverending seguence.'

What was she predicting? he wondered, snapping out of his daze as a mist thickened between their mind link. It was Auron's duing, he was sure, to protect him from knowing a future he might not like.

But what had the warning went?

In the diming light, Haku saw the girl's eyes change back to their normal near-transpartment blue and smile grimly, lips tight, as she stared out at the city below. Glancing at the waiting guard from the corner of her eye, a faint flicker of murky-silver in those clear gem-like orbs startled him. Was she Seeing again?

Her mind was closed to him, but not conversation.

"Wh-what was that, Airan-sama?" he asked, voice shacking as much as he willed it not to.

She just smiled wryly, chuckling dryly under her breathe. "I have the blood of my home's top three Clans running strong through my veins, Haku-kun. They have quaities others don't; what you call bloodlines, right? You can understand, since yours is... well... a little similair.

"You see, instead of controling one Element, mine allows me to master a skill or inhance something I already know. I can't do Jutsus; my chakra capability is almost nonexistent, if you can tell. I know Spells, and can See the Future when I wish, and sometimes when I don't. Like now."

Sighing out right, the girl glanced at him with wise eyes she shouldn't have. This was not the sadisticly fun girl he'd come to know, but someone that reminded him of his dead mother, a person who carried much knowledge within them only to let it go to waiste and keep her true self secret from the rest of the world.

Like him...

Or what would have been his old self. Zabuza, his precous person, had cared for and changed him not only into a so-called tool, but into a teen who consideredthe mana mentor and father-figure who'd taught him how to love again. After he'd lost his parents... he'd stopped feeling for so long... What had caused his new mistress's sorrow; the prize of her wisdom?

But this one, this girl who reminded him of dead family, of when he'd been happy for the first time, was not letting the knowlege she'd gained rot away in the back of her mind while she lived a peaceful life. In fact, she was kind enough to share it with him, one who she hardly knew...

Her voice continued to talk, and he left obliged to listen, "My powers are needed here, as there are many others like me where I come from. In blood, that is." She smiled sadly, a deep longing for something he couldn't understand shadowing her eyes a clearer crystaline. In was vaguely... frightening, to see such emotion on a face so young.

Wasn't she supposed to be spared the grief many outcast children in the Ninja Countries lived through, growing up in a perfectly peaceful place with no conflict? Or had something happened, even there, that even the Gods could not prevent? (He knew of Flordina's History from Auron's conversations.)

The girl just sighed and forced a happy smile for the worried boy. "Get some more sleep, Haku-kun; we'll be leaving here sooner than expected." Her guard stared questioningly. "The caravan driver annouced so while you were asleep here. I listened into their meeting, anyway."

Gesturing to the glass doors behind her, Auron patted Haku on the shoulder and whispered a "Goodnight." Yawning sleepily, the boy did as told until he realized something that made him stop just a step into the room.

"What about you, Airan-sama?" she winced at the formality, then just waved his question off.

"Not like I'll get much restful sleep, with all these visions and the dead around. I'll be fine in the morning; no need to worry." He was dimissed.

Not entirely convinced, Haku sent one last glance her way before disappearing into the bedroom they should be sharing, knowing he had to obey her order.

Curling up on the comfy matress, something he hadn't had in a long time, Haku fell into slumber musing Auron's past adventures in a far away land, thanking the Gods silently that they were leaving Hidden Mist earlier than planned.

Watching above him, Shunhi just smiled and went to join the restless girl, knowing she wanted to see him for something.

((Scene Added 6/12/05))

Auron sighed as she stared out at the city, something of a habit she'd developed after two vage nights of restlessness, and turned to the waiting God floating before her. She'd called Shunhi, not just for formality, but for understanding company. As much as Haku had become an asset to her, he wasn't ready to understand her full selfjust yet.

Smiling wryly up at the worried God, who just sighed at her expression, the girl stated tiredly, "Thank you for coming, Shunhi-kun."

Her shinigami friend found a resting place on the balcony's reil beside her, trapping his long black robes over the edge, reaching out a perfect hand to pat her shoulder. "It's begun, then?" he asked warily, speaking of the prophecies of her Hero and chosen Lord Kitsubi.

"It has," Auron replied with a whiskful grin. "I've seen him a second time. Wish it had been the first, then..."

Shunhi's face hardened as he resisted the erge to smack her atop the head. Sometimes she could just be so negititive and depressing... "You can't changed what happened." His Mortal friend glanced up at him, a pained expression behind her hardened eyes. "Airan-sama, if we, the Gods that watch over Flordina, could not change the... even in the slightest, there was nothing you could do."

His words were meant to be a comfort, but only managed to confirm a part of the guilty hurt she unconsciously knew. If she would allow herself to cry, the moment his words sunk in Auron would've been bauling in the Death God's arms. The problem is she didn't; the girl just smiled sadly, before pushing the pain away and staring out at the midnight lights of Hidden Mist.

"I..." There was nothing else to say.

The Heiress glanced at the seemingly young man staring at her with such a troubled expression, only to smile and state, "It's alright, Shunhi-sama," she never uses -sama..., "I'll get over it."

Said god flinched visibly, hating to hear such things from his favorite Mortal. She hid her true emotions well from most behind guarded eyes now closed as she smiled, but to someone who'd known her soul for countless lifetimes passsed, nothing could be veiled from his now-searching dark orbs. If only she wasn't so reclusive. After what happened with ... (daren't even think the name of the person who'd caused her so much pain) that boy, Auron just needed someone to open up to.

Someone to trust.

"Auron," the shinigami whispered, leaning toward his human ward.

"Hmmm?" said girl murmured, glancing back at him with a blank expression.

"We won't let it happen again." Auron eyes widened as her Immortal comrade just smiled, tucking a stray hair behind her ear as an attentively affectionate brother might have. "It will not happen again." His tone was final, leaving no arugement room for the girl's likely protests.

Instead Auron only smiled slightly, the usual glint back in her clear ice eyes, as she leaned her head on Shunhi's slim chest and sighed. "I know, Shunhi of the Otherworld. I know." She used his informal title as she sometimes did with Athne as the Lady of Rememberence.

Leaning into her God friend, his arms drapping loosely around her in an embrace she so needed, Auron fell asleep in Shunhi's arms. Gazing up at the gray cloudy sky as it began to rain, said shinigami thought back to the girl's family predictions. He sighed; the storm had yet to come as the rain pounded down around the embracing duo.

It all began, and he hoped her meddling changed what was needed.

Owari Chapter Three
E/N: Three done, many to go! I hope you enjoyed it, next update whenever! A little shorter than usual, though that's alright, ne? It was kinda rushed...

Chapter Four: (once in a) Blue Moon (Haku and Auron leave the Hidden Mist, only to get seperated from the caravan and be attack by bandits! What to do?)

1- ...Flordina Love Consept...

The Flordinese beleive in love of all kinds, as long as the person is happy and peaceful with no real conflict. If a match doesn't work, they choise someone more compadable or closer in feeling to the person being chosen for. They also do not care if two of the same sex are in love and welcome the couple with open arms. It is common for servents to help their masters in the teachings of love, or the masters to teach the servents. It doesn't matter to them (or me, for that matter) and it's fairly common. There are enough same-sex couples to make pleanty of children, though.

Li