I don't know how much more I can type… this is getting too… too sad… But as I writer, I must continue and finish this story. Let's move on to some things that always cheers me up, reviewers. I have two shouts from last chapter. One for Hiei's-Little-Dark-Phoenix and one for fennecfox03. Many thanks go out to you guys who review and as for you who don't… well you still have my thanks for giving this story a chance. I will see you next chapter.


Chapter Fourteen

So they've come to pay their final respects, I looked down at the four Leaf Ninjas. It was nice of them and the villagers to bury Zabuza and Haku up here.

I looked down particularly the ninja known as Kakashi of the Sharingan Eye. He looked like a tough ninja and his chakra, though still somewhat depleted, was still something to worry about. He probably knew I was up here, but he didn't seem too interested in me.

I don't think he would do anything to me, but I'll remain hidden for now, I thought as I looked up through leaves at the blue sky. My mind was still overflowing with memories and I just let them run where they wish…

I pulled the covers up over my face as the sunlight started to shine on my face. I was in a pretty comfortable position at the moment, for once after the last week, and I wasn't going to let the sun disrupt that.

I should probably get up and see what Zabuza wants… me… to …, realization, OH MY GOSH! I'M STILL IN HIS ROOM, I shot up.

"Oh crap! That really hurts," I moaned as I fell back into bed.

"Good morning Zi," a familiar voice greeted me.

"Zabuza," I asked uneasily.

"Who else would it be," he answered calmly, "this is my room."

Oh my… this is really awkward; I pulled the covers over my face.

I felt him sit down on the bed and put his hand on my hip, "you weren't so shy last night."

Oh… man… what did I do…, is all I could think.

"It's been about a week since my fight with Kakashi," he lifted his hand off of me, "I've got most of my strength back and I know he won't be in any better shape than I am. It's time to strike once more and this time," I heard him clinch his fist, "I won't lose."

Normally I would have said something, but I was quite speechless.

"Zi," he pulled the covers from my face.

He still hadn't wrapped his face for the day and his eyes seemed so different. It was like I was seeing them for the first time and they reflected deep into his soul.

"Yes," I shyly asked.

"I need you to get into that safe if and when Gato leaves. Grab everything of value and wait for me and Haku on a knoll above this village. I told Meizu and Goza to meet there when they were done with their mission. Haku and I are going to the bridge to finish either the old man and Leaf ninjas or Gato, if shows his face. Don't come anywhere near there," Zabuza stared me in the eyes, "you won't be of any use to me there with your injuries."

"Zabuza…," I started but he put his hand over my mouth.

He continued to stare at me with his gentle eyes, "listen to me for this last time. After this final job, you won't ever have to again."

My eyes went wide as I gently pulled his hand away from my mouth, "what do you mean?"

He turned his back to me, "I… I just can't have you around anymore… you're to distracting. Last night made me realize that. I don't need so many things in my life that take my attention away from my dreams."

I looked down, "so… I'm distracting… does that mean that you…"

"Please don't say it," Zabuza interrupted me, "just don't say another word. I'm leaving now," he stood up and started towards the door.

"Zabuza wait," I said as I got up, "please wait." I grabbed hold of his shirt and rested my head against his back, "please don't do this… I have this horrible feeling that something bad is going to happen today. It's like right before my brother died. You can just kill…"

He slowly turned around, placed his fingers under my chin and lifted my head so I could look him in the eyes. He bent down and gently pressed his lips into mine.

There are no more doubts about how you feel about me, I whispered inside my head,and I no longer have any doubts about my love for you…

I could feel a tear roll down my cheek. I knew that he had made up his mind and there was nothing I could say that would possibly change it. He pulled away slowly, leaving me breathless.

"Please Zi, just do as I ask this last time," Zabuza took his hand from under my chin.

I couldn't say anything, but I nodded my head to show that I understood his request. He roughly rubbed my head and continued out the door…

"That was the last time I saw you alive," I interrupted my own memories, "it was a good note to leave on, I suppose…" I continued to think about that last day…

An hour and counting, I thought as I peeked around the corner at Gato's office.

He was still in the building and seemed to gathering all the guards and swordsmen he had at his disposal. He had also sent his two personal and I assume his best bodyguards to the target's house.

Clip clomp… a set of footsteps were coming my direction. Without hesitating, I jumped on to the ceiling and stayed as much as I could in the shadows. Two guards came down the hallway, passed underneath me and headed into Gato's office.

"Sorry Gato sir," one of them started, "we couldn't find that kunoichi anywhere."

"She most likely went with Zabuza," Gato commented, "no matter. He should be there now, fighting with that other ninja that Tazuna hired and if we're lucky they've destroyed each other by now," he laughed.

"What happens if either one of them is alive," someone asked.

"Neither one will get away from this fight without a few major injuries," I saw Gato's shadow appear under the door, "will they be easy picking for you to kill… like shooting fish in a barrel."

The room came alive with laughter and praise as the door opened. Every one that was in there started to file out. I waited until I was sure that there was no one in the room.

This is oddly familiar, I thought as I walked over to the office.

Quietly entering, I headed towards where the safe was.

"Oh great," I sighed, "it's a combination lock… grr."

Bad memories of my lock picking class surfaced in my mind as I started to try all sorts of combinations.

Creak… someone's coming, I quickly jumped into a corner.

"Do you really think that girl is still in the building," it was one of the guards from before.

"Yeah, she was still pretty injured from my understanding," his partner entered.

Great, either I'm seen or I have to… I ran the two choices in my head.

"The boss thinks that Zabuza told her to stay here and kill him," the first one theorized.

"Actually he told me to steal anything of value," I appear behind them.

They didn't even get to turn around before I thrust my gensens into their temples. Their lifeless bodies fell to the ground; a pool of blood slowly forming around them. I shook my gensens to get off a portion of blood and bone.

"And now back to you," I said in an annoyed tone as I went back to the safe.

Thump… thump… thump, my heart started to pound. It almost felt like it was going to burst inside my chest.

Is this what Haku meant, I wonder as I slid to the floor.

My heart started to beat in strange ways, like it wanted to escape from the captivity of my chest. It jumped and leaped, trying to tear through bone and muscle, as least that's what it felt like. Then it started to slow down and finally returned to normal. I huffed and puffed as I tried to catch my breath from the internal attack.

"Damn," I cursed, "that was the strangest and most painful thing I've ever felt."It was just so strange… Then suddenly I felt this overwhelming feeling of dread and pain, "something's is wrong…," I brought my hand up to my heart, "I … I have to go to the bridge… something is horribly wrong…"

I pulled myself up off the floor, though I was in terrible pain. It felt like I had to get to the bridge and help Zabuza and Haku. I couldn't shake the feeling that they were in trouble.

"I have to get to that bridge," I clinched my teeth as I ran down the maze of hallways.

Please Haku… don't die. Please Zabuza… don't die either…