Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter VII

I kept tossing and turning. I just couldn't seem to find sleep. I was aggravated at how I had handled the situation. The fact that the entire town was in lockdown wasn't helping me relax either. I kept thinking about Haku, while Zabuza's words kept echoing in my ear.
Though his words had felt genuine, I was reluctant to believe him. Or maybe a small part of me was fearing what this all meant. I didn't want to know and at the same time I had to.

Haku… what if you are not safe? Then I've nursed this criminal to health for… for what actually?

'Argh! I can't believe this!' I growled and clenched my fists. I gave the empty pillow next to me a punch. Over and over until I finally felt the anger leave me. I let out a heavy sigh and sit up, rolling my head around to relax my neck muscles. It was raining again and I could hear thunder in the distance. I open the curtain to take a look at the town. It looked unnervingly dark, as if it was missing all life. Not a single light was still on.

When I hear a crack in the hall, I get startled. Knowing this old house could make some odd noises from time to time, and the fact that the wind was raging over the roof, should've been more than enough to ease my mind but yet my feet moved quicker than my mind.

A tiny little voice inside was telling me I was simply seeking someone out that I had made up in my mind.

Maybe I am, I admitted to myself. But just like when I was kid, I had to be certain.

Peeking my head through the doorway to see if anyone was truly in the hallway or not, I saw nothing but pitch-blackness. When hearing the rain pour down harder and a thunder strike nearby I let out a small shriek.

I glanced over my shoulder at the window again, only darkness. It made me feel nervous.
Without thinking further, I walked towards the shamble ladder but halted when I heard another noise.
I didn't want to say any names out loud because I wasn't certain about who it was I was hearing.

I hoped with all my heart it was Haku. I heard another noise and I was certain the sound was made on purpose.

Turning on my heels I walked down the stairs warily looking around and perhaps holding the railing a little to tensely.

I felt my heart race a little and I nervously felt my breath waver in my throat. I was taking only short breaths when reaching the far part of my kitchen, where it was truly pitch-black. I didn't dare to open my mouth to say his name but I did hold out my hand, hoping for him to reach for it.

There was no one there.

I let out a sigh of relief and felt foolish for thinking someone was down here.

I shake my head and turn around. Nothing but the sound of rain was now filling the room and every noise I had just heard and deemed as intentional seemed now nothing more but meaningless. I walked up the stairs wanting to go back to my room but I halted when seeing the shamble ladder. Though I had no reason to care, except perhaps for my promise to Haku, I couldn't help but feel the need to check on Zabuza. He had been drinking while being on medication, which had me worried. I shouldn't start being careless as a doctor just because of… well, this mess I found myself in.

With a sigh, I decided to go upstairs. When I reached the ladder, I was startled to see how dark it was up there. The light never went out and I knew Haku kept an eye on the candle, it hadn't been burned up yet when I was in there earlier…

'Oh, no,' I whisper, realizing something must've happened. Haku would never forgive me!

Suddenly the open closet next to me made a loud noise, I widen my eyes when I see a hand reach me.

I let out a yell when I was roughly pulled in and pressed against a much taller figure then I had expected. A hand was placed upon my mouth. 'Quiet,' he hushed in my ear. I widen my eyes when I realized it was Zabuza, who had somehow made it down here.

He shakes me and tells me to be quiet again. I stop moving and await for a sound to be heard but again I hear nothing but the usual sounds a house made while the rain continues to pour down. He slowly lowered his hand from my mouth. Thunder can be heard and suddenly lightening eerily lit up the room.
I'm afraid to talk but I look up to him and he places his finger on his lips, telling me to stay quiet.

He mouths the word ANBU to me.

I suddenly turn into a different person. My ears are more alert and I await another sound. I shake my head and shrug, not hearing what he had.

'He's going to come in…' he whispered when the house turns dark again.
'Who?' I whisper almost soundlessly.
'Wolf,' he whispers into my ear. I could smell the alcohol from his breath, a worthless detail to take note on. I felt scared and I pushed myself into him, hoping whoever was coming wouldn't find us. Zabuza's arms snaked themselves around me and hold me still. I can feel my body tremble uncontrollably.
'Your room,' he growls angry when we hear noises coming from it. Someone was clearly trying to open the window.
'Has he seen you?' I quickly ask. He shakes his head.
I see his shoulder hang in defeat. 'It's over… I can't fight.'

I try to think of something, anythingbut foolishly hiding in the dark. I simply couldn't let this happen! What would happen? Who I could trust? What would happen to Haku? My mind was going slightly mad and the adrenaline made me think irrational, dangerous things.

'If I get rid of him… Will you tell me everything?' I ask, not sure what I was about to do.
'What?' he asks me dumbfounded.
'Will you?' I resolutely ask him again.

I see his white sharpen teeth unveil themselves in the light when I look up to him. I quietly tell him to let go, feeling suddenly extremely uncomfortable with our close proximity. I hear the window in my room open up and I hurry up to get back to my room, I couldn't' let him get in the hallway!
Not thinking clearly, I grabbed a decorating vase standing on the tiny table in the hall, I went into my room to confront the intruder. Having already some sort of story ready when I see the dark figure.

Pretending to have no idea who was to come I swing at him, closing my eyes in the progress. To my surprise he grabs my wrist, a firm grip holding my arm in place but then gently loosens up.

'Doctor,' he calmly states. I open one eye to meet his white mask, to my relief it is indeed Wolf. If it had been some other ANBU I would've felt more insecure. Not that I had any idea how he would respond to me.

'W-what are you doing?!' I scream at him. I take a few deep breaths before placing my fist on his shoulder. 'You scared the hell out of me!'

'I apologize...' He muttered feeling obviously uncomfortable.

'What are you doing here! You can't just get in here!' I scream at him again. I tried to avoid thinking of Zabuza, waiting in the dark. I tried to let my mind react to the idea that a man had just tried to force his way into my house.

'I… was investigating. When I saw the open curtain and the empty bed…'
'You figured you had to come in and check!?' I screamed again, straining my voice. I wanted him to truly believe I was afraid. That there was no greater evil in this house but him.

He apologetically held his hands up, 'I truly ask for forgiveness, doctor Haruno. I did not mean to scare you.'

'Well, you did! Why are you here!?' I asked while acting as if the trembling hands had been caused by him and not the anxiety to get completely caught in this lie. I cross my arms on my chest and tuck my hands under, hoping I could keep them still.

'I feared you were being held captive,' he bluntly answered.

I frowned at the answer, while feeling my heart race again when exposed to danger.

'Why would I be held captive?' I ask, thanking my rational mind for thinking clearly.

'I feared that…' he halted, probably feeling foolish. 'I had a hunch and I guess I was wrong.' He held calm and steady tone, a sheer contrast to mine.

'So you break in and enter my house!' I yelled at him while pushing him in anger. 'Get the hell out of my house!' I screamed at the white passive mask. 'You terrorize me when I'm working, now here, in my own home!?'

He grabbed my hands and tried to calm me down but it only fueled my anger.

'I won't let you think you can just do whatever you please! Get out of here!'

'Sakura!' he answered on firm tone, startling me. 'There isn't anyone in this house, is there?' he asks me pleadingly. When looks down at me, for a moment our eyes meet and I see how dark his brown eyes are. A little cold looking but I could hear it in his voice, he cared about my wellbeing. Or so he made me feel.

'No,' I hiss. 'Now get the hell out of my house!' I tell him. I genuinely hoped the harsh approach was effective on him.

'Can I just take a look?' he pleadingly asks again.

'GET OUT!' I scream while hoping he'd obey my wishes. He takes a few steps back, giving me a nod.

I figured if I played the frightened woman he would indeed find it his responsibility to take a look around and make me feel safe. At least this way he might think I had nothing to fear or else I would be reacting differently.

I hear him utter another apology before jumping out the window.

I run to the window closing it firmly and shutting the curtains. I take a deep breath and feel the wetness of the rain underneath my feet. Going back into the hallway, I had half expected to see Zabuza but my kunoichi instinct suddenly kicked in and I realized that Wolf was probably not just going to leave because I had just told him so. I needed to keep up my act a bit more to make it believable.

So I daringly switched on the light and took a good look around, as if I was afraid someone was in my house.

Zabuza, of course, stayed quiet.

I tried to think of what I would normally do if I would actually be finding myself in the situation I had just claimed I was in. So I went ahead and grabbed a towel from the bathroom to clean up the mess his wet figure had made on the floor.

I look out of the window a few more times, while letting the light in the hallway stay on a bit longer. But after about a good half-hour I decided had played pretend enough.
I turned off the light and peeked out of the curtains one more time before getting into bed.
I was going to try and fall asleep. And I needed to make it believable. Of course, I had no problem to toss and turn, I had plenty of experience in that part of the act.

I don't know how long it had been or how long I had been lying in bed but if felt far too long. Zabuza had yet to move…

I did found it actually a bit humorous that a man like him was hiding in a closet.

But then again he is in no condition to fight yet… And I could tell that this… wolf was well at finding his prey. He had been so close… I let out a sigh, getting out of my bed. Quietly and almost slithering like snake to the door, that I had wisely left wide open. When I was in the small hallwayagain, I looked at the far window to the right that had see-through curtains.

I cursed my choice of decorating-style for a second, while then realizing that meant Zabuza was kind of trapped. I turned my head and waited for a sound to be made but he kept so quiet I was starting to doubt if he was even there at all. I couldn't call him out and if I went to him now… Wolf could still be lurking around and see me do that.

Biting my lip in fear, I turned around and went back to bed, deciding to stick with my original idea of waiting for Zabuza to make the first move. He was the one of after all that had heard Wolf sneaking around the house. I'd have to wait for him.

I let out a heavy sigh when my head meets my pillow. I can hear the rain pour again and all my troublesome thoughts turn into a blur. I don't how I did it but I managed to actually fall asleep.

When I wake up I'm greeted by the a light of the morning. Dark clouds were still filling the sky and light rain was dancing on the already soaked ground surrounding my house. I cautiously look around, awaiting a strange sight or sound to betray the presence of ANBU or any other unwanted visitor. The only thing is that moving and breathing is nature and I get a little mesmerized by it all before my rational mind wakes me up entirely and tells me to go see what the day beholds.

I take my time to get out of my bedroom and slowly walk into the hall. Halting when I see the doorframe of the closet. I swallow a lump that had settled in the back of my throat.
I still didn't know if I should just go ahead and check on Zabuza or not.

I was being kept hostage in my own house by an assassin, ANBU and my own paranoid thoughts...

I warily look around, taking a small glance behind me at window with the sheer curtains.
Zabuza and Haku had walked around here without hesitation, so why should I fear being seen so much? I'm in my own home, damn it!

Fueled by my temper I simply stalked towards the closet only to find it empty. Where the hell did he go? He wasn't that much of an idiot to get out after all I had done to keep him out of ANBU's hands!?

Getting actually angry at the idea, I grab hold of the shamble ladder leading to the attic.

He better be in here!

It was so dark in here I couldn't see a thing. I looked around and noted that he had blend off the small window and that the candle was out. Was he here?

While opening my mouth to call him out I got hushed by his voice, getting startled at the same time.

'You scared me!' I whisper to him.

'Either get up or go down but don't just stand there!' he hissed at me getting out of the bed.
'I don't think anyone is here,' I tell him but I can't hide the uncertainty I feel when saying that. I wasn't sure about it either. Uncomfortably, I get up and walk towards him, telling him to stay in his bed.

'When did you get out?' I ask, not remembering hearing a single thing all night.

He smirked at me. 'Earlier this morning…'
'Didn't hear you,' I mumbled. I quirked an eyebrow at him when I saw his smirk staying intact. 'So I'm not a super elite kunoichi! I didn't study to become one—'spare me another speech about you great profession,' he cut me off, though still smirking. It wasn't about me not waking up.

'What is it?' I ask, not wanting to get into another argument with him.

'You're quite the actress,' he says, widening his smirk. 'You should get an award for the role you played.'
'I'm not proud of it but I did what I had to do,' I answer, avoiding his eyes and the amusement that flickered in them.

'But you did, despite the feeling you had inside,' he said. I looked up to see what he meant by that but his expression had become unreadable. I didn't know if he was still making fun of me. It almost sounded as if he was trying to make a point.

At first I want to ask him but I decided against it and let it go. Shrugging it off, I seat myself at the end of his bed. Giving him a stern look. 'Now tell me the truth.'

He smirks again, eventually even starting to laugh. He gets up from his seated position, getting a little closer to me. I don't like where this is going and I instantly feel the feeling of betrayal. I could tell he was up to something.

'Why would I tell you that?' he asks me on a lazy tone. Whenever he acted like this, he'd give me these perverted looks. I had become smart enough to figure out he was just doing that to intimidate me but yet I couldn't help but feel it always found its way in. I involuntarily pushed my back into the wall behind me.

'Because I saved your ass,' I hiss angrily at him. He only got closer, not impressed by my little outburst.

'You lied,' he pointed out. 'So now you have no choice. You got yourself into a trap. I'm not telling you a damn thing,' he hissed, 'And you,' pointing at me, 'are stuck in the situation for as long as I see fit.' He brought his face closer to mine to emphasize how much he was still in control. 'All you did tonight was seal the deal for me. Now I know you are not going to betray me because you'll end up in deeper shit then me... Remember what you said? I'm the assassin but you… You're the traitor. You're worse scum now then me.'

His cold voice gave me chills and I suddenly realized I was taking short breaths.
'We had deal,' I manage to say. I hated those sharp teeth he bared at me. Perhaps he thought he had me where he wanted but he was wrong... The short breaths only meant I was trying to control my temper.

'Tell me the truth, who do I have to watch out for?' I ask him again without the use of a shaky tone.
I feel his hand on my leg, slowly getting more up. I stare at the revolting movement for a split second before looking back up to him. 'Me,' he answered with a snicker.

My hand moved before my brain could think it through and I smack him so hard his head takes a turn and hits the wooden balk next to us. He hisses in pain holding on to his head, while I push him off me and get up. I snatch the kunai, that had been lying behind him, from the matrass and hold it out before me.

'I'm done getting played around, tell me what the hell is going on!' I yell at him.

Rubbing his head looks up at me alarmed. 'Quiet, you dumb—', he halts when he sees the weapon.
I'm not entirely surprised when he starts to laugh in reaction at me. Feeling embarrassed while getting more furious I shove the weapon on to the wound on his neck. The sharp tip teasing the fragile skin that was still healing. His laughter ceased immediately.

'I can take you pain away but I can give it back too,' I hiss at him. 'Stop stalling and tell me the truth!'

He stays quiet for a minute, obviously a bit impressed by my actions. He stares at the kunai for a second, I know I'm hurting him but he pushed me beyond a point I had ever dared to cross, that of hurting a patient. I have to stop the feeling of actually shoving it into his wound. I felt in control and empowered, as if all of my questions were finally about to get answered. I could tell I had angered him and suddenly he looked a lot less smug then before. Raising my chin, I repeated how I wanted to know who I had to fear and what was going on.

Before I could blink, he snatched my wrist, hurting himself in the progress. He grabs a hold of me.

At our close proximity I widen my eyes before he turned and pushed me into the bed. Fearing something entirely else then the kunai, he held it above my head while tucking my other arm behind my back.

I let out a shriek when I feel the pain hit my shoulder.

'L-let go! Stop it!' I yelled in panic but his hand covers my mouth before I can make another sound. I squirm and I try to fight him off but he is too strong for me. Hissing at me to keep quiet, he firmly holds me into place by letting his entire body weigh on me. Struggling to get lose, I can feel that I can no longer move a muscle and he patiently waits for me to calm down.

'I can't tell you anything, you idiot,' he hisses when I finally cease all movement. 'You are way in over your head.'

I keep my gaze firmly on his eyes, trying to not blink. I can feel all the hatred inside of me pin on him.

I hated how weak I was next to this man, though deep inside I knew this was only normal. He was so much taller, stronger and more trained then me. Of course I didn't stand a chance.

I can't stand this! I… I just need to hurt one of his wounds!

As if being able to read my mind, he shakes me, telling me to keep still and listening.

'You want to know more? Then listen,' his voice turn from a cold shivering tone to a barely audible whisper. 'This goes high. Very high, Sakura.'

I stop moving, thinking and even for a moment breathing.
Damn, I hate how much him using my name had an effect on me. I assume he was very much aware of that, as if he knew he closer to me by doing so.

'They hired me… Someone hired me, Sakura. Do you understand what that means? They killed a man of great position and you think they will hesitate to kill you? If they find out about you, they will simply because they can. You would be nothing but an unfortunate nuisance they had to take care of.'

His brown eyes bore into mine and I felt my anger and hate leave and made room for fear and hesitation. Sensing how I was no long fighting him off, he eased the pressure on my wrist and even let go of my arm. Even though I pull my hand loose from his hand, I let my arm rest lifelessly on the bed. My shoulder was hurting too much and I no longer felt the need to fight him.

'Haku is out because he has to make sure our mission is success,' he explained. 'If we fail, we die. You die. That is all you need to know. You don't want to know more. Trust me, you will die if you end up knowing more.'

I finally find the ability to speak again. My voice feels rough for some reason, as if I had used it all up earlier when screaming into his hand.
'If so, shouldn't I know who to avoid or who to be wary of?' I asked. I felt empty and so my voice sounded the same. The the spiral was only going downwards from here on out.

'Just stay away from strangers or people who you have encountered in strange way,' he answered on a rather soft tone. 'People who try to find their way in.'

'Keep everybody out?' I ask, using a sardonic tone this time. 'Kind of like you do?'

He didn't answer but I could feel I hit something, I just didn't quite know what it was and if I should further investigate. I don't even know why I had just said that. I didn't know this man and he didn't know me.

Yet our position and the way our lives were entwined with one another told a different story.

'What about Haku?' I felt like a coward to retreat my daring question immediately after I asked it by asking one that changed the subject.
'You already know what he's doing—'you said you trusted him,' I pointed out. I couldn't ask the question out loud. Was he not the child I deemed him to be?

'It's over,' he muttered. 'Enough of this shit.'

Without thinking, my hand snakes itself quickly up and end up touching the stiches in his neck. He had cut one open. I held on one of the wires, slightly tugging it and making him hiss in pain.

A simple thought had turned into a quick reaction. I couldn't recognize myself anymore.

'Don't,' he angrily whispered, while clenching his teeth.
'Tell me,' I continued.

He smirks at me again. 'Such a feisty thing you are.'

That sort of intimidation wasn't going to work. 'Tell me,' I repeat.

'Haku isn't some innocent boy,' he simply answered. 'I trained him.'

I wanted to say something but I couldn't find the words, I just heard his echoing in my ears. That meant Haku wasn't some companion… Zabuza hadn't just picked him up for no good reason.

A successor of some sorts.

Hazed by what had been said, I let him mindlessly take hold of my hand again but instead of forcing it of his wound, he just held it. 'Let go,' he demanded. I didn't.

'You don't do this, Sakura,' he said, almost closing the gap between us. I could feel his breath tickle on my skin. My eyes widen and fixate on his. His dark brown eyes stay locked on mine. 'Don't,' he reminded me. 'You're better, remember?'

I wish he stopped talking… His lips touched me ever so slightly.

I let go and he slowly places my hand next to my head. His hand doesn't let go and his stare is holding me into place. I'm not quite sure what is going on. When he breaks the eye-contact, I take deep breath. The way he looks at me and my body… His hand wanders off and rest on my hip for a moment. The electricity in the air was unavoidable and I was surprised at how I let myself get drawn in.

I found myself responding to him but made no move to indicate what I was feeling.

I did however watch him push my hip slightly up into him. He looked back up to me. His nose slightly touched the skin on my neck and when his mouth passed mine, I could taste his breath. Our eyes meet again and stay locked for a second.

Startling me when closing his eyes and withdrawing himself, he tells me to get up.
'Go, get up,' he muttered. Grabbing the kunai out of my hand while sitting back up. He pulls me up and pushes me off the bed. 'Go get some breakfast.'

I don't look around, I don't say a word. I just get down the shamble ladder with rapidly beating heart and a frenzied mind. I don't dwell on what has just happened and ignore the feeling inside.

Mindlessly I walk to the kitchen and prepare myself a piece of toast and some tea. I block out what has been said and push out the fragments left of what happened last. I just eat in peace and enjoy the heat of my tea, warming me up on this cold morning. It finally stops raining.

Should I even worry about you being cold, Haku?

I think about his kind smile and his little frame.

Or are you doing things to people that should make me worry about them?

I let out a heavy sigh,hearing Zabuza's voice inside of my head. Even there he's wearing a smirk. I could hear him smirk.

Haku was his student!

I close my eyes, not being able to believe that this child was no longer… innocent. Zabuza was a far worse brand of a man then I had thought. I thought he was exploiting Haku but turns out that perhaps is leaving him his legacy. I couldn't stand the thought that this young boy would one day turn into the same brute.

He isn't just a brute, I countered. He's… made out of something inhuman, I suppose. He did talk, like I had asked… And I truly didn't know if I was indeed happy with knowing what is going on.

So many thing had been said that my head was still spinning.

Higher circles… Did he mean higher circles in Konoha? Trust no one… Strangers… Who had I met? I meet strangers every day!

Haku was his student...

What was he doing out there?

Could he… kill? Harm another being?

I watch the steam in my cup of tea disappear into the air.

How much innocence was still left in him? I couldn't see Haku doing a single immoral act.

My mind was on repeat, letting every single thing that has happened to me the last few weeks pass before my eyes. I keep analyzing. Overthinking thinking. I see Haku flash before my eyes the first I met him. A dead man. A wounded man. The commander sitting up in his bed. Haku's grateful look when I decided to help Zabuza. The smirk of Zabuza when he first sees me.

I then see Zabuza's look on his face when he held on to me.

I push out the thoughts and feelings, getting up from my seat in the progress. I clean up my kitchen and decide to ignore Zabuza's request for breakfast. He could wait. I didn't want to be in the same room with him for the moment. And a part of me felt that he had just said it to get me out of the room.

After taking a long shower I decided I had made him wait long enough. I keep peeking through the curtains. Wondering if anyone was watching or if I could just move around freely without anyone's notice. I choose this house so I could be free when I'm not working, my job already came with so much rules and regulations. I didn't feel like walking on eggshells in my own space and yet here I was, feeling more targeted by friend and foe.

I nonchalantly grab my plate and hot cup of tea and walk up the stairs. I keep looking for any strange movement outside and I'm starting to wonder if I have gone mad whenever I see it is nothing more but the wind.

I push the plate up and then come up the ladder with the hot tea. I don't make eye contact and I don't explain myself why it had taken so long. Zabuza ignores me for a split second but when realizes I'm going directly down stairs again, he calls me out.

'Sakura.'

'I don't remember ever giving you permission to call me by my first name,' I angrily tell him.
'Get up here,' he says, ignoring what I had just said. 'Bring me that plate here, will you?'
'Come and get it yourself,' I spat.
'I can't,' he answers. I see him holding on to his leg. He's making a pained expression and I see he was sweating despite the lack of clothing.

'What's wrong?' I ask, feeling my anger evaporate. I sometimes hated how fast I could turn the switch from being real emotional person to a doctor but not the other way around. Without thinking, I get up.

'I hurt my leg,' he muttered.

'When?'

'Last night,' he hissed in annoyance. 'You think I was comfortable in that tiny closet? I had to sit with my knees up to my chest!'

'Let me see your leg,' I calmly respond, this time ignoring his little outburst.

'Just give me the food,' he simple answered.

I put it on the table next to him but don't obey the undertone in which he said it. I don't leave.

Having ripped pants on did have its advantage that I didn't have to wait for him to undress or even ask for permission to see his wounds. The one more severe wound on his leg was bleeding.

That actually doesn't look too good.

'You need to rest,' I mutter. 'You should've have stayed put!'
I hear him growl in annoyance, explaining to me that he couldn't just hope for the guy to leave. It had taken a lot from him to blend off the window and get down the ladder without making a noise.

I still applaud him for that and yet at the same time it frightened me how skillful he was.

'I'll take care of it,' I simply say. 'In the meanwhile, eat your breakfast.'

There is a definite silence between us and a strange atmosphere hung in the air. It kind of felt as if the situation asked for a small conversation to take place and break the awkwardness but the both of us were too stubborn to speak up. So instead we actually decided to make it as unpleasant as possible by keeping our mouth shut. I think we both had the idea that this way we were at least both suffering.

I let out a sigh when I'm done. Looking up from the wound to him, I see how he still had beads of sweat on his face. He hadn't eaten and it seemed he was in more pain then he had led me on. I had asked if he could handle it…

'You should've said something,' I angrily tell him, annoyed at just how stubborn this man was.
'I'll go look for some painkillers—'no,' he says cutting me off. 'You've been up here too long, if—'if they were still watching us, they would've come in by now,' I tell him. 'Besides you send out Haku to do something to distract them, did you not?' I ask him on a stern tone.

I see him swallow his pain before speaking. His voice doesn't sound as cold as usually. 'Yes…'

'Well, he probably did his job then.' I feel cold when talking. Empty. As if the emotions I was trying to feel didn't come natural. It all felt so wrong and unreal to me.

'Exactly,' he grits his teeth to hide his discomfort. I can tell by the look in his eyes he wants to emphasize the cruel reality just to irk me. I click my tongue but don't say a word in return. I get up and leave, just like he asked me to.

'Sakura,' he calls when I put my feet on the ladder.
'What?' I say with a sigh, wondering what he wanted this time.

'Do you have… any books lying around?'
I give him a confused look, not sure what he wanted to do. 'Yes…'
'I could need some distraction,' he eventually says. 'Unless you want me to get drunk all the time.'
I roll my eyes at the last comment. No, thank you. 'I only have medical books.'
'That's fine…'
It was an odd request to say the least but it made me think that he was at least a bit more human than I had thought. He actually had a mind to distract.

'You should rest up,' I tell him after I gave him the painkiller.
'I will, doctor.' There is that mocking tone again. I decide to not let him get under my skin and ignore his antics. My feet hit against something hard and I see the sake bottle of last night. I crouch down and grab it. It's half empty.

'My company for the night, put it back down.'

For a moment I want to defy his request, the next I tell myself to not care. I put it down and tell him I'll be checking on him later.

I want to go take a nap. I'm assuming Zabuza hasn't slept a lot either and wants to do the same. So again our ways part. The house feels strange, not just because of the situation. Not because I felt watched all the time. It felt empty too.

As I let my head rest on my pillow, I realized I kind of miss Haku. Or at least I miss everything I thought he was.

There is no smell of homemade soup in the air. No warm gestures had been given today. No thank you.

A part of me still couldn't believe what Zabuza had said had been true but at the same time I had to admit I hadn't caught ANBU lurking around anymore so… that meant Haku had done what had been asked of him and Zabuza had been truthful for once. For a moment I want to see a white mask peeking through the trees when I look out the window from my bed.

But deep inside, I know I'm not going to see one again.

I let myself fall into oblivion, no longer finding the energy to think it through.

Rain.
I hear rain again. I flutter my eyes open and let out a yawn. The weather was still as gloomy as before. An endless grey sky. I stretch out and roll my neck around. Rubbing my shoulder, I felt how it hurt more than before. I cursed the bastard again while rolling out of bed. I felt lazy.

I never slept during the day and I was rarely bored. But I didn't want to do anything today.
'I could read up on some papers,' I mutter while staring at the clutter on my desk. I swear I had cleaned that up at least a week ago and it always would turn into the same mess in less time then it took me to clean it up. Seeing the bookshelf in the corner next to my desk, I remember his request.

I guess I should go check on him, yet my feet stay firmly where I stand. Contemplating for a bit longer before eventually giving in to my rational mind.

He hasn't been completely unbearable.

With a sigh, I take a book. Something rather generic but interesting even for people with no medical license. A ton of information on emergency procedures. Ha, I'm starting to educate the assassin.

To my surprise he wasn't sleeping, just patiently awaiting my return. He gave me short nod. He still looked tired.
It was at the tip of my tongue to ask him if he couldn't sleep but I kept my mouth shut.
Handing him over the book, I tell him the short summary. He could probably pick up something out of it.

He doesn't accept it immediately but eventually takes it. As I let go, his other hand grabs my wrist.
Before I can object, he tries to pull me down.

'What the hell do you think you are doing!?' I yell at him.
'Sit down, Sakura,' he coolly answers.
'I'm not going to—'sit down,' he hisses angrily, roughly getting me down.

'What is it?' I say it more rudely then I had intended.
'Act normal, this is becoming annoying,' he answers.
'What is!?'
'Get over it,' he mutters.

Was he talking about… that moment?

I feel my cheeks flush but try keep my expression stoic.

'So Haku isn't what you thought he was. You can still save him.' The sarcastic undertone in his voice, mocking me entirely, sets off my already short temper. My foolish mind also made feel embarrassed. A bad combination.

'You don't think I can?' I yell at him defiantly, though inside I feel as if I indeed no longer can reach him. Or at least I'm not sure who I am reaching for.

'You know what, Zabuza,' I push his hands off of me. 'Don't worry, I won't stop you. I want you to leave. And Haku. The quicker you both leave, the better.'

I see him roll his eyes at my little speech but redeems himself from saying directly what he was thinking. Instead I see him take a deep breath.

'I know you see Haku as this kind little kid but…' I saw him take another breath, as if he was having a hard time trying to find the words. Or maybe, and this was drastic thought, he was trying to show me some compassion.

'I think you are a very kind person.'

I'm a bit too stunned to say anything back. He startles me even more by leaning in closer to me, his brown eyes become almost unreadable and I can feel his breath tickle my face again.

'But unfortunately the world isn't half as kind. And some of us only know a certain type of suffering, one that cannot be healed. We are two worlds apart and Haku is trying to find out where he belongs. But I know,' his voice sounds so certain, 'I know he belongs with me.'

I swallow a lump that had settled into my throat in a matter of seconds.

I know, I know what world he was talking about. I'm a doctor. I've heard so many stories…

'You don't want him to have a different life?' I ask him, hearing myself whisper for some reason. I felt as if I was standing close to a murderous beast that was either going to let me be or devour me at one point. It all depended on my movements.

'You know it too,' he simply said. 'I'm sorry I had to burst your little bubble but I had warned you.'

I hesitate before answering, hating how easily defeated I was in the argument.

'Just leave.'

Hope this chapter makes up the long wait! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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