DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto, Kishimoto does. I don't own Hikari Aino.

A/C: Constructive criticism is warmly welcomed and appreciated, as well as readers' suggestions/ideas. (Particularly when it comes to Lemons – I really suck at those! :S) Flames and mean comments are not welcome – saying 'no offence' means squat. If you don't like what you're reading don't leave a comment!

CARPE DIEM

"Dream as if you will live forever; Live as if you will die today."
~James Dean.

~HIKARI P.O.V~

Both Sakura and I fought against Tazuna's surprisingly strong grip to get to Sasuke's body. Failing that, I chose to watch as Kakashi-sensei prepared his attack to stab Zabuza with his neat lightning technique, all while casting worried glances in Sasuke's general direction.

"It's no use fighting, Zabuza…" I heard Kakashi-sensei's stern voice as he addressed the obviously struggling missing-nin who was trying to buck off Kakashi's ninja-dogs who had him pinned in place and exactly where Kakashi-sensei needed him to be.

"Might as well give up. You will not win in this situation." Kakashi-sensei reminded him.

I couldn't help but smirk when I saw Zabuza's eyes widen when Kakashi-sensei then raised his crackling, electricity enhanced fist - that was so intense it created a ring of debris which littered the ground. Nearby, I overheard Naruto and Haku comparing the similarities between them which brought a tear to my eye and, I noticed, Naruto's.

~NARUTO P.O.V~

I'll admit that this guy has had some pretty low shit happen to him…pretty much like me. But I still need to do what I can to avenge Sasuke's murder…

After arguing with this random deep, sinister voice inside my head (that mysteriously appeared) for a moment, I decided to comply with Haku's death wish.

The mist disappears and I could instantly see a hysterical Sakura, an angry Hikari, a scared Tazuna, Kakashi-sensei who was stony faced and Zabuza who was smirking, the latter two both locked together in a battle that Kakashi-sensei appeared to be winning.

So I charged at Haku… albeit reluctantly. What I didn't expect was Haku to direct his attention elsewhere at the same moment I lunged at him, by grabbing my wrist in an iron grip.

"What gives? You wanted me to kill you-"

"RAIKIRI!" Kakashi-sensei roared, grabbing my attention before I could finish my protest as the air gets even more intense all around, due to our teacher gathering all the energy he needed for his attack.

When the jutsu was completed, Kakashi-sensei looked up and I cringed back at the cold fury I could see in his eyes.

Mental note: NEVER piss off Kakashi-sensei, if I want to live AND become Hokage…

"Die."

He then immediately rushed forward to his hand into Zabuza's chest. Zabuza's eyes closed instinctively as he waited for the expected bloody impact Kakashi-sensei's hand would make on his chest.

"Zabuza-sensei!"

I looked forward expecting to see Haku still standing there, but realised too soon that he had been the one who shouted out Zabuza's name. There was a gut-wrenching 'squelch' as fist made contact with flesh and I turned my head towards the sound. And I wished that I hadn't…

~SAKURA P.O.V~

Still completely focused on getting to Sasuke-kun's body, I heard a 'squelch' and turned towards the source of the noise and felt the bile rise in my throat at what I saw.

Just beyond where Hikari, Tazuna and I were standing, stood a blood spattered Zabuza, who was staring horrified at a bloody Haku, impaled on an extremely surprised Kakashi-sensei's fist which was still embedded in his chest. Haku had a peaceful smile on his lovely face that made my heart break.

But when I looked closer, Haku's eyes had glazed over - he was dead.

I looked over at Naruto who had turned a sickly green colour, which was understandable, as none of us (Naruto, Hikari, (Sasuke-kun…all depending if he was still alive or not) and I) had ever seen somebody get killed, let alone a corpse. But I doubted that it would be the last one we would ever see in our careers.

Hikari was silent, but even she had shifted colour as well - turning into a deathly pale colour.

We suddenly heard a solid thump and the three of us, including Tazuna, who seemed horrified by what he saw watched as Haku's body detached from Kakashi-sensei's fist and crumpled onto the deck of the imcomplete bridge and lay there, not even twitching.

My eyes widened when I heard Zabuza actually sobbing over Haku. Zabuza then angrily attacks our sensei who dodges and quickly reaches down to close Haku's staring eyes.

"Can we see Sasuke now?" I asked desperately.

Naruto and Kakashi-sensei looked at me soberly, obviously reluctant to tell me the 'bad news'.

I growled angrily, "I already know, dammit!"

Which immediately got their attention and they nodded, just as Zabuza charged at Kakashi-sensei, earning a swift kick in the face for his troubles. I turned to run towards Sasuke and saw that Hikari had already beaten me to it and was now hovering over my beloved Sasuke-kun's body.

~HIKARI P.O.V~

Tears fell from my eyes and hit Sasuke's deathly pale face.

He looked so peaceful where he lay. But if he was truly dead, why would he have a slight redness in his cheeks?

I frowned and placed my head upon his chest, being mindful not to push the senbon needles deeper into his skin, and closed my eyes listening for a heartbeat.

"What are you doing?" snaps Sakura, who had just arrived. I chose to ignore her, concentrating to find what I was looking for.

Thump-thump.
Thump-thump.

I grinned in relief.

Sasuke's heartbeat was there but barely, he needed some serious medical attention. It wasn't before I realised that Sakura was still standing there looking at me with fury, but the smile on my face stopped her completely.

"What?"

I sat down Indian-style and carefully positioned Sasuke's head to rest in my lap, making sure not to jostle him or push the senbon needles deeper.

"Sasuke's alive! I heard his heartbeat!" I stated, an excited smile spreading over my face that apparently was infectious because the moment Sakura heard the word 'alive' she beamed from ear to ear.

She instantly crouches to Sasuke's side and hesitantly touches his face, before drawing back in disgust.

"Oh! He's burning up." She said, wiping her sweat covered hand on her dress before fixing Sasuke with a worried expression.

Not knowing what to do, I settled for gently playing with Sasuke's hair, knowing that it would piss him off, as he hates people touching him, unless he fully trusts them and/or likes them.

"I'll kill you…" I heard Zabuza mumble, followed by the sounds of Zabuza's sword falling and hitting the wooden planks of the bridge as he tried to slice and dice Kakashi-sensei who dodged each one effortlessly - indicating that Zabuza was getting tired. A combination of fatigue and grief over Haku's death.

"Hey! Why don't you pick on somebody your own size?" snaps Sakura, diverting Zabuza's attention towards her. Our teacher glares at her, irritated.

"Shut up, Sakura. It's Kakashi-sensei's fight, so stay out of it." I retorted sternly, knowing Sakura was out of line - Zabuza has a beef with Kakashi-sensei and Sakura is likely to be bitch-slapped by Zabuza without any trouble.

Sakura turned on me.

"Who asked you?" She spat, getting into my face.

But before I could say another word, an agonised scream ripped through the air and everyone turned to see that Zabuza had a kunai buried in his arm.

My eyes widened.

"Whoa!" I muttered as Kakashi-sensei dodged the same kunai and Zabuza's sword that had been hurled and swung in his direction. Quickly grabbing two more kunai, Kakashi-sensei fixed Zabuza with a confident smirk before saying:

"Sayonara!"

And diving in for another stab. However, he is swiftly interrupted by the sounds of expensive shoes rising and falling on wood, and the tap-tap-tap of a cane.

~KAKASHI P.O.V~

Watching coolly as Zabuza succumbed to his grief, harsh laughter stalled the fight between us.

Looking back we saw a stout middle-aged man with spikey, mousey-brown hair and black sunglasses, dressed in an expensive looking suit and supporting his weight on a gold-handled walking stick the rich civilians would probably have.

"Gatou." whispered Tazuna fearfully from where he was standing behind Sakura, who was kneeling next to Hikari, who had Sasuke's head resting in her lap.

Naruto was standing guard over the small group, but still eyeing us off warily as if waiting for instructions to help fight. He looked at Tazuna sceptically.

"THAT'S Gatou?" Naruto asked, eyebrow raised.

I tended to agree, although by the smug expression the man had on his face, said otherwise.

Naruto scoffed, "He doesn't look that tough."

Sakura smacked him over the head.

"Baka! Shut up for once in your life!" she snarled before returning her suspicious glance at Gatou.

Naruto winced in pain and started rubbing at where Sakura had clubbed the hyperactive ninja over the head, and started pouting before getting serious and watching Gatou like a hawk. My eyes narrowed as I realised Gatou had brought along with him a group of rogue-ninja, thugs and criminals who were leering at us.

Oh shit, this is bad…

All three of us were extremely weary, not to mention injured and obviously in no condition to fight… at least, not with these numbers. Gatou grinned evilly at Zabuza who tensed up - obviously not glad to see him like we were.

"Well, well, well. You sure do talk big don't cha, Zabuza?" drawled Gatou in an uneducated type of voice that didn't suit his appearance.

I cringed.

"Kinda expected a bit more from ya."

Zabuza grit his teeth growling underneath his breath. He was obviously the type that didn't like being talked down to like a disobedient child.

Gatou looked over his glasses and down his nose at Haku's bloodied corpse lying on the ground.

"Even your little boyfriend here bit it."

The temperature dropped several degrees as rage engulfed Zabuza's face. I shuddered.

"Kakashi-" I blinked in surprise when Zabuza addressed me.

I nodded in response.

"Seems like I've been betrayed-"

No shit Sherlock…

"-which means my contract has been voided-"

I interrupted him before he could finish his sentence.

"Right."

Zabuza grunted in reply.

"So what are we gonna do about this little-" I subtly indicated Gatou.

"- jam that we're in?"

Zabuza was about to answer my question before Gatou interrupted unexpectedly.

"Well, Zabuza… it's been fun. But it's time for you to vamoose now!" the little punk sneered, I felt more than saw Zabuza shaking in fury beside me.

"Give my regards to this little runt (he indicated to Haku) in hell." He spat dismissively.

Then did the worst thing a person could do which would cost him his life - spat on Haku's corpse.

Next thing I knew, Gatou's body was falling backwards and hitting the ground hard. He had been sliced open - his blood spraying everywhere - and his face was frozen in both shock and pain. There was an outburst of rage from the evil entourage Gatou had brought along with him.

"OH NO, BOSS!"

Zabuza glared at them with hatred and grief. Tears brimmed in his eyes.

"Oi kid!"

Without taking his eyes off Gatou's mob, he turned his body towards where Naruto was still standing with angry tears streaming down his scarred cheeks.

"Yeah?" Naruto asked cautiously, rubbing away the tears with his sleeve.

It was then, that I saw Sasuke twitch slightly. I felt my eyes widen slightly before pretending I hadn't noticed anything and waited to see what Zabuza wanted with Naruto.

"Toss me the knife." Zabuza demanded.

Naruto frowned but snatched up a knife Zabuza had previously thrown during our fight and hurled it at Zabuza who caught the blade between his teeth, since one of his arms had been rendered useless. Without thanking Naruto, Zabuza turned to glare down Gatou's corpse.

"Wait for me, you bastard!" He said around the blade and charged headlong towards the now stampeding mob of angry henchmen.

I could definitely see what was going to happen and I quickly moved to stop it. He may have been our enemy before, but even he didn't deserve a fate like this. I watched in horror as Zabuza was run through with a lightning-charged blade by one of the henchmen.

Zabuza coughed up blood which seeped through the bandages wrapped around the lower-half of his face. He grinned in triumph at the man, and eyed him off as though daring him to attack again.

The man snarled.

"Damn You! Don't act so cocky when you're about to die!"

I winced as the blade was pressed deeper into Zabuza's chest, causing the missing-nin's knees to buckle. I couldn't stand watching this anymore.

"Zabuza!" I rushed forward to aid him, but Zabuza snapped his head at me and glared.

"Get back! I don't need your help to kill this riff raff." I paused, gawking at him thinking he was truly insane.

But then again, he was a rogue-ninja from Kirigakure, who had this inhumane instruction during their Genin qualifying exam to eliminate competition for the rank of Genin. But still, could one as injured as he was seriously keep his own fighting against a bunch of thugs who were at the top of their game?

"If it wasn't for that motherfucker (indicating Gatou) Haku would still be alive right now!" Zabuza insisted.

I realised that this was a fight for revenge and I reluctantly nodded.

"I'm going to make him pay eliminating every single man who was associated with him!" He vowed before detaching himself from the sword embedded in his stomach and slitting the throat of the man holding the sword, before moving on to slaughter the rest of the mob - but not without sustaining even more injuries than before.

Eventually, Zabuza used the same technique I had used against him back in the forest just outside this village. The same one that had accidentally swept up both Naruto and Hikari in its powerful current, and used it to drown Gatou's mob.

Unfortunately, it managed to take Zabuza with it.

"Shit!" I muttered and rushed forwards towards the fallen missing-nin expecting him to be dead, but was mystified when I discovered that he was just barely clinging to life.

~HIKARI P.O.V~

I watched in complete horror as Zabuza took on at least a hundred vengeful men with only one arm and the blade Naruto had tossed at him between his teeth.

It was either the most courageous or the most idiotic thing I had ever seen in my life, and I was being forced to watch it happen right before my eyes alongside a mystified Sakura, a grim Naruto who had his hand on my shoulder and tear-stained tracks running down his cheeks, and a stunned looking Tazuna who looked like he didn't know whether he should cheer enthusiastically, or running screaming for the hills.

"Oh Kami…" I whispered.

Both Sakura and Naruto grunted in agreement. All four of us gasped fearfully as Zabuza summoned the same wave that Kakashi-sensei made that day in the forest that nearly took Naruto and I to our watery graves, wipe out the mob in two seconds flat - Zabuza among the few that were swallowed up.

I felt Naruto's hand increase pressure on my shoulder and I winced in pain.

"Ka-ka-shi-"

We heard Zabuza croak and we saw our sensei crouch down beside the fallen missing-nin with a grave expression on his masked face.

"Take…me…to-"

We didn't need to hear the rest of what Zabuza was trying to say, as it was blindingly obvious what he wanted. And I felt my heartbreak at this. Naruto got up from his perch next to me and sprinted over to Kakashi-sensei, who had picked up Zabuza's battered and bleeding body and was heading towards where Haku's body lay.

"Is he-?"

Sensei shook his head at Naruto, confirming that Zabuza did not have long to live. Naruto's head hung in sadness.

"He's mortally wounded, Naruto. He sustained too many injuries. Summoning the Suiryuudan on himself inflicted even more damage on himself. There's nothing more we can do for him, I'm afraid." He confirmed Zabuza's end.

Several moments passed before both Kakashi-sensei and Naruto's head snapped towards Zabuza's body.

"He's gone." Kakashi-sensei closed Zabuza's staring eyes.

Sakura and I whimpered in sympathy when the only colour Naruto had on his face immediately drained away and Sensei placed an empathetic hand on my blonde best friend's shoulder. I watched as he started talking quietly to Naruto about something.

Probably about death.

I already had that talk with my Mother the day my father and Grandfather had been murdered, so I knew what to expect when someone died. I saw that Naruto only seemed to be barely listening because he, like the rest of us, was looking and probably feeling stricken.

I felt something shift slightly on my lap and my eyes widened when I realised what that something was and glanced down hopefully.

"Sasuke…?" I questioned the unconscious boy lying in my lap.

Sakura's tear streaked face snapped towards me.

"What did you say?" she asked.

I ignored her focusing on Sasuke - any movement was a good thing as far as I was concerned.

"Sasuke, can you hear me?" I asked him one more time.

Sasuke moaned in his sleep and Sakura screamed both in relief and happiness, traumatising my eardrums.

I think my ears are bleeding…

"Sasuke-kun! It's me, Sakura! Open your eyes!" Sakura demanded, alerting Kakashi-sensei, Naruto and Tazuna's attention as all three rushed forward to our side.

I scowled at Sakura like she was an idiot - which in a way she was.

"He can't Sakura, he's still unconscious." I stated matter-of-factly, carefully easing Sasuke's head off my lap so I could kneel beside him.

Sakura glared at me, as though daring me to contradict her or insult her in front of her 'beloved' but most definitely unconscious Sasuke-kun. I blinked owlishly at her, not up for taking her crap right now.

"He might've moaned in reply, but he's still seriously wounded." I continued, just as Naruto thudded down next to me, staring at Sasuke like Christmas had come early.

"Teme?" He asked hopefully, earning a smack in the head from Sakura, which I instantly blocked by grabbing her wrist in an iron grip. A move that Kakashi-sensei didn't attempt to reprimand me for.

In fact he seemed to be approving much to my surprise.

"Good diagnosis, Hikari-chan." Kakashi-sensei complimented me, ignoring Sakura who gaped at him for not telling me off.

"And you're correct. Sasuke is indeed seriously injured."

Naruto suddenly attained the 'light-bulb-over-the-head' expression on his face before he turned towards me and scared the shit out of me by seizing me by the wrists and grinning at me.

"Kakashi-sensei! Hikari can heal Sasuke!" Naruto announced as I frowned at him in confusion, as did Kakashi-sensei who looked at the both of us sceptically.

"Really now? Please explain." He asked, frowning slightly.

"Yes, please do." added Sakura who had venom dripping from her voice.

"Naruto? What the heck are you talking about?" I asked my enthusiastic friend, who bounced excitedly.

"Do you remember back in the woods? You found me passed out on the ground while I was trying to master that tree-climbing exercise?" I nodded, still confused.

"Yeah… so what-" then it clicked and I brightened for a moment before frowning again.

"Do you really think that'll work?" I asked unsure.

"Will what work?" snapped Sakura frustrated.

Naruto turned and beamed at Kakashi-sensei and Sakura before replying to Sakura's question.

"I was passed out from using too much chakra when I was still trying to master that tree-climbing exercise and Hikari came along and healed me." Naruto stated, causing me to blush.

Kakashi-sensei trained his eye on me.

"How did you manage to do that?" He asked.

"It's nothing really, just something the women in my family has possessed for generations. A sort of healing jutsu called 'Holy Prayer'." I confessed, playing with my fingers uncomfortably.

Sensei raised an eyebrow.

"So what you're telling me is that you have a bloodline trait or Kekkai Gekkai technique that can heal anyone?"

I nodded suddenly feeling nervous. He scratched his head thoughtfully.

"Hmmm. I'd like to see that, if you don't mind." He requested.

Again, I nodded and moved to follow his order. However, Tazuna stopped me.

"Er…shouldn't you remove those needle thingys?" He questioned.

Kakashi-sensei chuckled embarrassedly.

"Oh yeah. Silly me, just a second." He apologised and moved to examine the senbon needles still protruding from Sasuke's body.

"Wow. Sasuke's a lucky boy. Haku must've been aiming to paralyse, not kill him." Kakashi-sensei eventually reported.

"These senbon needles managed to miss every vital organ in his body." He then began to carefully extract the needles from Sasuke's body, being careful not to nick a vital organ.

Sasuke started whimpering in pain as each needle was removed.

"Shhh, Sasuke. You'll be okay, just relax. I promise it will be over soon." I whispered into his ear whilst carding my hand through his inky locks.

Sasuke relaxed the moment my hand started stroking his head, I felt slightly awkward when I could feel Sakura staring at me with daggers in her eyes while I was soothing him.

"There. All needles have been removed." said Kakashi-sensei.

"You may proceed with your demonstation, Hikari."

I gulped before lifting Sasuke's dark blue shirt up slightly so that his navel was showing. Sakura blushed bright red and I rolled my eyes, before pressing my hands on Sasuke's lukewarm skin. I closed my eyes and immediately focused my chakra to my hands and transferred it into Sasuke's body.

I heard awed gasps from my audience.

"Her hands…" exclaimed Tazuna.

"They're glowing…" added Sakura, with a slightly jealous tone in her voice.

"Light blue." finished Naruto.

I couldn't help but grin at the astonishment in everyone's voice. I felt Sasuke shift underneath my hands and I stifled an overjoyed gasp.

"Hmmm. Very interesting." commented Kakashi-sensei.

A few minutes passed, I sensed Sasuke was fully recovered, but he still needed to rest despite his injuries being healed.

"He's healed." I announced, and retracted my hands, pulling down his shirt and moving away.

Suddenly, Sasuke's hand shot out with cobra-like reflexes and grabbed my wrist. I winced slightly because of Sasuke's grip and looked fearfully at Sasuke who groaned and slowly opened his eyes. He sat up and shook his head to get rid of the grogginess.

"Ugh. Remind me, never to do that again…" He muttered and directed his attention towards what he had in his hand.

Frowning, he moved his eyes up and locked gazes with me. I blinked warily at him before gasped in shock when Sasuke smiled softly at me.

"What the hell just happened?" He demanded, before struggling to get to his feet with mimimal assistance from both Kakashi-sensei and I (mostly because he still had his grip on my wrist).

"You were wounded?" answered Naruto, stupidly.

Sasuke simply glared at him.

"You don't say…" His voice dripped with sarcasm.

"I meant just now before I regained consciousness." He asked, already irritated.

Sakura simply shrugged like what I had just accomplished was nothing special.

"Hikari healed you, right after Zabuza committed suicide." she pointed towards the bodies of both Zabuza and Haku. Sasuke narrowed his eyes on the corpses before looking at me in confusion.

"You healed me? How did you do that?"

"With her family's Kekkai Genkai." Sensei answered for me, whilst 'beaming' from ear to ear.

"Very impressive, by the way." He complimented me and I blushed in embarrassment.

Sasuke finally, but very reluctantly - I noticed, released his grip on my wrist.

"Hn." He replied before sauntering over to the corpses, leaving me standing there feeling slightly hurt at his reaction. Sakura smirked triumphantly at my hurt face before hurrying to catch up with Sasuke who ultimately ignored her as usual.

"Well that was fairly abrupt." I muttered dejectedly before feeling two sets of hands on my shoulders.

I looked up to see both Kakashi-sensei and Naruto smiling at me sympathetically.

"Don't worry about that Teme." Naruto suggested.

"I wouldn't have put it that way-" Kakashi-sensei stared at Naruto sternly causing Naruto to blush and pout cutely before returning his attention on me.

"-but I agree, don't worry. He'll come around." Kakashi-sensei reassured me.

Before moving over to where Sasuke was currently inspecting the remains of the bodies.

"C'mon, Hikari-chan. Let's go help!" said Naruto cheerfully and I grinned - glad that Naruto was back to his typical sunny personality that I found so endearing.