Hello everyone. Not much to say this round, no new reviewers. But I wasn't expecting a lot of reviewers for the story anyway. Oh well, just ignore me and read the next chapter, adios.
Chapter Four
Brilliant hues of reds, yellows, oranges and purples painted the sky as the sun slipped below the horizon and stormy clouds began to gather. I gently blew into my wooden flute, playing a bittersweet melody that echoed through the cooling night air. I loved playing my flute, they loved listening to it or at least that's what they said. I brought down my wooden instrument to wipe away a tear, "I remember those nights when we would sit around a fire, I would start playing and you guys would sit there, listening. Sometimes I would play songs about a hero's triumph or a tragic death of a lover. I just played whatever I felt like." I brought up my flute and began to play again, a sad song about two lives that were lived to the fullest, lives that were spent to make their dreams come true. It reminds of that night when Haku asked if I had any dreams, had a purpose in life. It was the night when the haze started to lift...
"Come back here," Haku yelled as he chased the snow hare.
It was strange to think that Zabuza would even allow him to have a pet, but then again I don't think that he would have denied Haku such a simple pleasure. Haku chased the hare a little ways ahead of me and Zabuza before he caught it.
"Got you," he said as he snuggled the soft white fur of the hare.
So sweet and innocent, yet so deadly... The visions of Haku's abilities mingled with the current scene. He appeared to be so kind and gentle, but when he and his master were at work... oh to think of it made me shutter.
"Are you okay? Are you cold or something," Haku asked sweetly as he came up to me.
"Oh... no. I just was thinking about something that... umm...," I couldn't say exact say what I was thinking.
He stared at me with confusion for a few seconds then smiled. I couldn't help be give a small smile myself, he was so much like... him...
"If you two are done," Zabuza stared back at us.
"Sorry Lord Zabuza," Haku ran up to join him.
I just sighed and followed after them. To imagine I've been with these guys for about two weeks and I'm not dead yet. I don't know if I should count it as a blessing or one of the levels of hell.
"Lord Zabuza, I was wondering if you were going to take that offer the one Mister Gato was advertising. It is a considerable amount of money, you would be able to build up...
"If I may insert my own opinion," I interrupted.
Zabuza glanced back to me, "no. Don't talk unless I tell you to talk."
I folded my arms in anger, "whatever," I huffed.
They went back to talking about building up some sort of army or such, but I really didn't listen. I really didn't care, it wasn't my country or my concern. Staring up into the fading blue sky, I watched the clouds shift and play about, they also were dark and heavy.
"Hmm... it's going to rain tonight," I said to myself as I stopped and watched the clouds.
"What did you say? Something about rain," Haku looked over his shoulder to see that I stopped.
"Yup... it's going to rain... in about an hour or so. I think we should find shelter, it's going to be a bad storm," I looked to where the clouds were coming from. They bubbled and boiled in anger, like the very heavens would come down.
Zabuza sighed, "you would know, wouldn't you? Come Haku... girl."
Why can't he use my name... it's only two letters and one syllable. "It's Zi... not girl," I huffed as I came up next to him.
"Girl," he said mockingly.
The flash of lightning illuminating the abandoned shrine more brightly than the small fire that we had built. The crash and bang soon followed.
"It's right over head. We should consider ourselves lucky that Haku found this place," I said as I made myself comfortable on hard wooden floor.
"If you hadn't predicted the storm, we might have been stuck in the middle of it," Haku smiled over at me. "It's amazing that you've been four for four on rain storms. How do you know when it's going to rain," Haku asked shyly.
I closed my eyes, "it's nothing special, just something that I've been able to do since I was a kid."
"How," he asked.
I turned over, "I don't really want to talk about it... it's just part of my nonexistence past."
I heard Zabuza force a laugh, "aww... can't the little girl handle her past. Did she do something bad or maybe she's shamed herself? From the way you react when you look at your headband, you seem to have a very rich past."
My headband, the symbol of my village, my friends... and him... my brother. "It's none of your business and you," I sat up, "wouldn't even care." Why did Haku even give me that stupid thing back?
The lightning flashed once again, it illuminated Zabuza's face, casting shadows about his face that made him more demon-like in appearance.
He just smiled, "whatever little girl. Why don't you play something on that flute of your's?"
Asshole, I thought as I pulled out my instrument. Closing my eyes, I began to play a gentle melody. The notes sounded softly through building, never harsh and never shrill. They spoke of family that live happily in the mountains and had no cares. The song then told of a time of terror and pain, the death of the mother and father and how their son and daughter, twins, were left alone in the world. All their sorrows and pains echoed in the music as it competed with the rain on the roof. I finished the song, music... my escape from memories... my holder of memories.
"That was so... so sad," Haku looked down to the floor, his eyes were filled with a familiar pain.
"What, not in a good mood tonight," Zabuza asked uncaring.
I didn't dare say anything, I actually felt like falling asleep for once. "Well if you don't mind, I'm tried so I'm going to sleep," I put my flute back into my backpack and laid on the wooden floor.
"Goodnight Zi," Haku whispered.
I don't know how long I slept, but when I woke up Haku and Zabuza were asleep and the storm had passed. Quietly getting up, I walked pass the sleeping pair. I came out to once was the porch of the shrine, the moon was out and the stars dotted the sky. Storm clouds had gathered in the west and hints of lightening could still be seen. Puddles of water littered the ground, reflecting the starry night sky. I sat down on the edge of the porch allowing my feet to dangle above the surface of a large puddle. It was so peaceful, it reminded me a lot of nights on the roof with my brother.
"Oh Ye... if you were only here," I whispered down into the puddle.
"Who's Ye," a sweet voice asked behind me.
"AAAGGG!" I lost my balance and went flying forward.
My face hovered about a foot above the water. With a sharp jerk, I was back in my original sitting position.
"Sorry," Haku apologized as he let go of the tail ends of my obi.
Not only does it keep my clothing tied, but apparently my obi keeps me from falling into puddles, I sighed as I repositioned myself.
"It's ok Haku... you just scared me," I looked up at Haku.
"If I may," he sat down next me, "but who is Ye?"
I looked down into the water, "someone from along time ago. Someone that I... I cared for..."
"A friend or family member?" he asked innocently.
"A... a family member... my brother... my twin brother." A tear rolled down the tip of my nose into the puddle below as I finished my broken sentence.
"Twin brother? Did something happen to him or did he go off somewhere?"
"He died... a long time ago... he was killed," I pulled my legs up to my chest and put my arms around them.
I could remember everything up to that night when my brother died, but everything after that was like a dream. The daze seemed to drown out the memories of that terrible night, but it didn't make it go away.
"I know what it feels like to lose family," Haku sounded like me. "It's a cruel pain to bare, isn't it?"
"Yeah, especially when your alone... at least you have... umm..." I started.
"I have Master Zabuza," he finished for me.
Yeah, the soulless son of a bitch who threatens me everyday, I thought. I just couldn't understand why Haku looked up to someone like Zabuza. It's not like Zabuza treated him like a brother, it was more like a servant. Well at least he treated him better than me, I was more like a piece of trash.
"Zi, tell me something." Haku asked shyly, "do you have any dreams?"
"Dreams? Why? Should I?" I asked sarcastically.
"Don't you want to accomplish anything? Don't you want a purpose in life," Haku asked distantly.
"Dreams mean that much to you... they mean nothing to me... not anymore," I said in the same distance voice. "Do you have dreams? Do they give you a purpose?"
"My dream is to see Master Zabuza's dreams come true. That is my purpose," he answered in a sure tone.
We just sat there in silence, either not knowing or wanting to say something. The stars and moon started to fade and give way to morning light. Just like the sky, the puddles of water turned brilliant colors of reds, yellows and oranges. It looked like it was going to be a beautiful day.
"What are you two doing out here," an annoyed voice came from behind us.
"Just admiring the view Master Zabuza," Haku answered cheerfully.
"Whatever. Girl, fix breakfast," he nudged me with his foot.
"My name is Zi," I said under my breath.
"Girl," Zabuza mocked.
Haku giggled, "I'll help you."
