A large hand grabbed her roughly by the collar and slammed her sideways into the filthy brick wall. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to maintain focus through the pain that threatened to disorient her. A swift kick to the back of her knees forced her down. She twisted around, throwing a desperate punch over her shoulder. To her surprise it was Haku who knelt before her instead. He caught hold of her trembling fist just inches from his nose. His thin lips split into a soft smile, a rare sight indeed. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Mistress Suikazan."

Caught off guard, Zabuza grabbed a thick fistful of her hair and yanked her head back. She arched back against his shoulder; her teeth clenched but not tightly enough to contain her strangled cry of pain. He let out a cruel laugh. "Well done Haku. You were right." He turned her chin towards him as he took a closer look and let out a low whistle. "Holy sh*t…you look awful. I wouldn't have recognized you in a million years."

"That's because you're an idiot," she growled at him.

His hand slid down to close round her throat instead as he growled in turn. "Watch it now…Daddy's not around to protect your ass."

"He wouldn't condone any mistreatment of her though," Haku gently reminded him. He looked at her slightly worried. His allegiance was solely to Zabuza…but he would admit to some fondness for the Boss's daughter. She had always been kind to him.

"Who said anything about returning her?" Zabuza chuckled cruelly as his dark eyes narrowed shrewdly. "Nobody else knows but us…and we could end this right now!"

"You haven't got the balls," She glared right back at him, as fierce as ever. Taunting him was pretty damn reckless but if Zabuza was on to her it was only a matter of time before Fuguki found out. There was also the risk of Kisame coming on the scene. She was running out of options fast.

Hatred burned in his eyes and he suckered punched her to the ground. She giggled, split lip and all. She wiped blood off with the back of her hand. "That's the best you've got? Pathetic!"

Haku looked a little exasperated. "Please don't rile him, Mistress." He reached out a hand towards his Master. It was shoved aside before Zabuza grabbed hold of the front of her shirt to pull her upright.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't split open that numskull of yours." He challenged.

She smirked. "Can't think of one on your own? How stupid are you?" He seethed with fury but she felt strangely calm. Pissing him off used to be one of her favorite means of entertainment. But the safeguard had always been her Dad's intervention, so she was never really in harms way. She knew full well that no such protection existed here. This sort of antagonizing was likely to get her killed. She wasn't entirely sold on the idea of there being life after death, but in a macabre sense it would be the ultimate freedom. Free from the Seven Swordsmen and free from Kisame's hold on her. Not that she despised him as much as her Father's Clan, but it was restricting nonetheless. So no…death at this moment wouldn't be so bad.

"Hey Ritsuko!"

Color drained from her face. Her eyes widened in panic at the sound of Kisame's voice in the distance. That definitely made Zabuza pause.

"Oh what have we here?" He teased. "Does a lover approach?"

"Of course not!" She protested as she struggled to pull away. He too noticed her sudden resistance.

"Now you want to run away?" He teased as he twisted her around, popping her shoulder of out place in the process. She gasped as a wave of pain washed over her.

"Seriously, where are you kid?" Kisame called impatiently.

"Why don't you call out for help?" He taunted. "Or perhaps this damsel isn't in enough distress? His grip on her loose arm threatened to break it entirely. She stiffened against him, her teeth ground from the effort of holding back the pain. Such stubbornness was annoying, and she needed to be put in her place. Another sharp twist broke her wrist and that made her scream.

Kisame heard it. She could hear running feet, pounding against the concrete. Zabuza chuckled in her ear. "Who's this coming to your rescue? Let's wait and see, shall we?"

She shook her head fearfully, a curious reaction. "Or perhaps you fear him…more than me?" He ventured thoughtfully. "That's pretty insulting."

Ritsuko felt a panic attack coming on, the rising anxiety drowned out Zabuza's words. The thought of Kisame coming face to face with this part of her past, especially when he'd been firm about her discretion…it was a clash she wasn't prepared for. But it wasn't just that, she didn't want Kisame to finish her fights for her. She didn't want his protection.

Kisame rounded the corner so sharply he was caught off balance. He threw out his arm to brace himself against the far wall. He stood there panting and disheveled with his shirt partially untucked. But he was prepared, he took aim with his specialized stun gun. Right at her. That didn't seem right. She looked over her shoulder and jumped in surprise to find the alley empty behind her. Where did Zabuza go?

A strong hand grabbed hold of her arm, startling her even more. Unable to form a fist with her broken arm, she threw it uselessly against him. Kisame caught it. "Easy there tiger. Wait is this broken?" His voice rose in alarm. Then he noticed the thick split lip with dried blood down her chin. He frowned down at her with a level of concern that embarrassed her. "What happened?"

"Just a stupid street fight, nothing more." She grumbled, averting her gaze. "You need to get out of here." She warned in a hushed tone. "We don't know each other."

"I'm not leaving you here like this," he said as he hauled her to her feet. The swift motion left her feeling very dizzy and her knees went faint.

"Hold on…j-just a…I can't shake this one off so fast," She protested in a soft whine, trying to head off the "shake it off" speech he was about to give. Normally she was on the same page, but the pain was getting to her now. And the thought of Zabuza on the loose was adding to the stress.

Her head fell back as the world spun around her. She felt movement but her feet didn't touch the ground. A strong presence surrounded her, a security she felt she could trust in. Through fluttering lids she saw Kisame's face above her. It took her a few seconds to realize that he was carrying her in his arms. She flinched at the closeness but there was no breaking free now. She reddened as she didn't know how to process this; it was all becoming too much and she took the easy out. Kisame felt her grow a little heavier in his arms. She must have fallen unconscious. "Street fight, my ass," he growled under his breath. Something else must have happened and he was going to investigate further. But first he had to get her medical attention.

Zabuza and Haku watched this scene unfold from the rooftops. Haku sat on the edge, letting his legs dangle freely. Zabuza stood behind him so he felt free to let his regret show. That wasn't the sort of reunion he had imagined. And now she had been injured and recaptured.

"Who's that guy? He looks familiar," Zabuza asked overheard.

"Kisame Hoshigaki," Haku said flatly. He was never one to forget a face.

"Wait…which one? The one who worked for Suikazan a few years back or the one who's affiliated with Akatsuki?"

"Both actually."

He rested a foot on the ledge and rested one elbow on the extended knee. "They look awfully chummy don't they?"

"You went too far back there, she's in rough shape now."

"She's still in one piece," he huffed dismissively. "Should have broken her leg instead to keep her from running away next time." He nudged his shoulder lightly. "Let's go kid."

"What will you give in your report to Master Suikazan?" He asked, curious in spite of himself.

"Nothing, we haven't found Samehada yet." He said casually.

Haku stopped short in obvious confusion. "But what about-"

"He's been without his daughter for nearly five years now. A few more weeks won't make much of a difference." He shrugged indifferently.

Haku frowned suspiciously. "You have something else in mind?"

"I'm not sure yet but it's certainly worth looking into if Kaori has Akatsuki connections."

"To further the Seven Swordsmen agenda?" The young man ventured a theory.

That made Zabuza burst out with a cruel laugh. "That brat has been nothing but a thorn in my side. Now its my turn to torment her!"

Haku's shoulders sagged in disappointment. He should have seen this coming. "Forgive me Mistress," he whispered over his shoulder.