Haaaaaaaaai gaaaaaaaais 3

Yes, I know, I know. Beat me into submission. :( I know I've been a terrible authoress.

But I've been living on my own for at least a year. I have a fabulous boyfriend, and I've finally managed to get all of my stories from my old computer onto an external hard-drive, so now uploading is no longer a problem. :]

I'm really sorry you've had to wait so long, my friends. For those of you still here, thank you. It's much appreciated, and I'm so not worth your loyalty.

This is the first upload. Hopefully, by the end of the day, there will be another chapter, another flashback and then another chapter. Fingers crossed, but no promises!

I love you all!

Flashback Six - Agony

They were being chased. Again. Sasuke was growing tired of this. They had been running for three days already, and their assailants were still in hot pursuit.

Zabuza, Haku, and Sasuke hadn't rested for what seemed like days. The snow never stopped falling, and the sun's rays barely penetrated the clouds.

He couldn't get his mind off how tired he was.

Leaping from branch to icy branch, Sasuke was between Zabuza and Haku, the former in front and the later bringing up the rear.

"We should stay and fight," he muttered to himself. "This is cowardly - running away."

"We might just have to stay and fight," Zabuza called over his shoulder, as if he had heard Sasuke's complaint. "It's obvious they're familiar with my style. These guys are different from the others."

Sasuke smiled.

"Yes. Finally."

It had been over a year since Sasuke had been with them. In a year he had become stronger, faster, and to the outside, even colder.

But Haku knew better. Zabuza knew better. That playful, warm spirit that had been locked away after the massacre was - in this snowy, chilly land - peeking out from under the lid of the treasure chest where it had been put away, looking up curiously into the outside world. Little flakes of snow drifted in through the cracks onto its cheeks, making it giggle, and push against the top even more with its tiny, frail arms. But it wouldn't be able to get out by itself.

Haku knew that soon enough, either he or Zabuza would be given the key to open that chest, and free that tiny little sun.

It was just a matter of time.

Zabuza leaped from the branch, but instead of going to the next one, fell through the branches to the snowy floor.

"Here. We make our stand here."

Sasuke and Haku dropped down next to him, clothed heavily in warm robes and cloaks with just their eyes visible.

"Well, what's the game plan?" Sasuke asked. "They'll be here any minute."

"Stay together," Zabuza replied. "I'll vanish up into the trees. You two know the rest."

Sasuke nodded, and Haku merely smiled. The elder boy looked over to the child, who wasn't even in his teens yet.

"Ready, my dearheart?"

Sasuke's eyes scowled a little.

"Stop calling me that." But Haku could see the warmth of pleasure behind that ice.

"Haha, okay."

Chakra from behind them pulled them into the world.

"Here they come!"

There were three assailants. All from the Village Hidden in the Mist. Sasuke and Haku could feel them lift up into the trees and vanish into the snow flurries.

Sight was barely helpful. Hearing and smell were useless. All they could do was feel.

So Sasuke closed his eyes and reached out. He felt the adrenaline start to pump as the excitement heightened.

This is it. This is what I was made for.

His eyes snapped open.

Yes!

One of the assailants landed.

Immediately, Haku trapped him in mirrors, leaving Sasuke's side as the Uchiha leaped away, darting through the trees and drawing the attention of the other two.

The plan was perfect. Separate them one by one, and let either Haku or Zabuza pick them off from the safety of the trees. Sasuke was light, fast, and small. He would serve as an excellent decoy. And he had. For the past year, he had been luring hunters into traps of agony and death.

It had occurred to him once to let Zabuza and Haku be captured. To let them die and demand to be taken back to the place of his birth. Konoha. They deserved it, didn't they? For kidnapping him? For hurting him? For taking away everything he ever knew?

But then Haku had handed him a cup of spiked tea with a little smile, and Zabuza had come back from the hunt successful, with a pregnant boar in his massive hand. They had eaten well that night, and as Sasuke fell asleep, he could feel Haku put a blanket on him, and carefully tuck him in with the utmost of gentle hands.

Then Sasuke had realized. Who would WANT to turn these two in? Haku, with his soft hands and soothing voice, or Zabuza, with his rough but keen sense and firm belief in hard work? Who would want these two dead? These two classic examples of absolute human beings? It was... a sad thought. That they were hunted only because they desired the freedom to live life as they chose.

And that Zabuza was a murdering, pillaging delinquent, but who was paying attention to that?

Smiling, Sasuke had fallen asleep.

These two were his new family.

"Sasuke!"

Then it went horribly, horribly wrong.

The young Uchiha suddenly became aware of burning, chilling agony as needles of ice all but shredded him in a rain of arrows, the assailant he was leading away somehow having the good sense to set a trap beforehand.

Oh.

He had to smile grimly.

What had always been Zabuza's one rule during training? Pay attention.

Yeah. Should probably do that.

Sasuke could feel himself falling to the ground, and then a strong, angry arm caught him across the waist, pulling him up to a stronger chest. Sasuke really, REALLY hoped it was Zabuza coming to save the day again, but he was not so lucky. A kunai was held close to his throat, and then suddenly the Uchiha became aware of the powerful, burning pain.

He let out a yell of agony. Something high-pitched and gutteral and angry and ohGodpleasehelpme-

"I have the boy!"

Fuck.

End Flashback Six - Agony

Thank you for sticking with my, guys. :]

Again, loves!

DDB