Here is the flashback!
Yay! An actual plot! (Kind of)
Enjoy!
Promises Not Made are Promises Never Kept
Flashback Thirteen – Andora
"Come on, Sasuke, come on!"
He lifted his head above the water, gasped, and ducked his face beneath the water again, his arms and legs pumping.
Gods, that water was cold.
"Just a little more, Sasuke! Thirty more seconds!"
I've already been doing this for an hour, Haku. He thought miserably. Thirty more seconds is agony.
"And time! Okay Sasuke, come on up!"
Sasuke gasped, pushing his hand against the surface of the water and pushing himself atop it, his Chakra allowing him to settle upon the surface of the river as he managed to pull himself into a stand.
"Start walking Sasuke, or you're going to be left behind!"
Stumbling forward at the reminder, Sasuke began to walk along the surface of the water, naked except for his boxers and panting heavily.
"Haku, I'm freezing," he commented. Haku smiled from where he sat on the boat next to the younger male.
"I'm sure you are," he replied pleasantly. "Use your Chakra to warm you up. Just don't forget to keep the Chakra flow constant at the bottoms of your feet. I'd hate for you to fall in again."
"I'd appreciate it if I didn't have to swim for an entire hour the next time," he stated. "Just pull me back into the boat before I drown, okay?"
"You're of the Country of Water, brat," Zabuza reminded him icily from where he stood on the boat, keeping an eye out. "Drowning would be disgraceful."
"Teach me that bubble thing and I never will," Sasuke shot back, making Zabuza take a moment to scowl at him. The youngest male shook his head. "You know what, on second thought, I think I'm okay just freezing to death."
Haku laughed lightly as Zabuza rolled his eyes.
"So where are we going?" Sasuke asked as he walked alongside the boat. "Isn't a river kind of… obvious?"
"Yes, if it were any other river," Haku replied with a smile. "This river is full is man-eating eels!"
Sasuke almost fell in again.
"And you were letting me SWIM IN IT?"
"Relax, Sasuke," Haku answered easily. "The eels aren't active until late afternoon. It's still early morning. Besides, do you think we'd let anything happen to you? What do you think the nets are for?"
"I was under the impression we were going fishing," Sasuke replied meekly, eying the water with greater intensity. Zabuza shrugged.
"Yeah, for eel," he stated. "Fall in again, Sasuke. I'm getting hungry."
Sasuke mimed the words back at his teacher irritably and looked away with a scowl, making Zabuza and Haku share an amused look before they resumed watch.
"We're going to a village that's declared itself neutral in all affairs of ninjas, known as Andora," Haku continued, answering Sasuke's initial question. "As a result, it's become sort of a refuge for outlaws and vandals. We should be safe there until next winter when we can reenter the forest and not worry about being hunted."
"Yep, that's the plan," Zabuza replied dryly. "It's just getting there that's the hard part. Every single country has ninjas stationed around the outskirts of the village, as close as they can get without violating the neutral laws. If we manage to get past them and into the village, then it'll be getting out that's going to be the pain."
"Sounds like a death trap," Sasuke panned in disbelief. "Are we sure it's a good idea to go there?"
"Sasuke, that place will be like a feast for your Sharingan," Haku told him. "Little skirmishes break out all the time. Even tiny fights can be goldmines for that kind of bloodline. You could learn so much there. You already know all of my tricks. It's time you got some new ones."
"How are we going to get in, though?" Sasuke asked. "You said the entire village is surrounded, right?"
"I've heard that there's an underground passage into the village, through a mountain," Zabuza replied. "It's still used to smuggle illegal drugs and slaves. But it's dangerous."
"More dangerous than enemy ninja who want our heads?" Sasuke asked incredulously. Zabuza grinned at him.
"Exactly."
They went ashore right as afternoon came around, and Zabuza took the boat into the middle of the river and sank it, taking no chances. No one could have any clue that someone had been at this portion of the river.
They were getting close.
"Be on your guard," Zabuza told them as they left the riverbanks and headed into the trees. "There are a lot of shady people around these parts, and the closer we get to the mountain the worse they're going to get. Stay close; keep an eye on your weapons."
"Don't worry, Zabuza," Sasuke quipped with a smile. "All you need to do is say hello and show 'em your pearly whites."
"Stick a cork in it, Sasuke," Zabuza replied, making the boy grin. "You thought the other forest during the summer was bad? This place is ten times worse." The expression faded from Sasuke's face, and he glanced at Haku worriedly. "Here there may be ninjas, but they're not held to any code of honor or morals. They're as seedy as they get in these parts. Don't talk to anyone unless absolutely necessary, and don't go showing off your bloodline. They'll take those eyes from you the instant they can.
Sasuke swallowed, and Haku placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, we have each other," Haku cooed comfortingly. "We'll be okay. I'll protect you."
The youngest boy looked up at Haku and smiled, reaching out to hold his hand.
"And I'll protect you," he breathed, making Haku smile broadly back. Zabuza pushed at them a little bit, making them stumble and break apart.
"None of that while we're here," he told them. "You can be all mushy gushy when we have four walls, closed blinds and a locked door. Until then, look tough."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow at Haku and his very feminine features in disbelief. Haku merely shrugged.
"They'll learn the instant they try to tangle with us," Haku explained easily. "I'm on guard. But I'm not worried."
Sasuke smiled.
That's a good way to put it.
Slowly, they made their way up through the forest to the base of the mountain, where their new journey would begin.
End Flashback Thirteen – Andora
Here is the flashback! You get one more chapter, because you guys are that awesome.
And yes. I am just pulling this 'Andora' place right out of my ass. :D
Review?
Much love!
DDB
