WARNING: Yaoi/ slash/ shonen ai, etc
WARNING: Yaoi/ slash/ shonen ai, and a light dusting of smut (very light) .
DISCLAIMER: Only in my dreams does Naruto (or more specifically Itachi) belong to me. :3
Haku – January 9th
He's never seen his sensei smile. When he leaves the classroom, the scarf he wears constantly is wrapped tight around his face to ensure no curios students will whip it off as he presses through the crowded corridors of Kirigakure high school.
For years now Haku has wondered what the bottom half of his sensei's face looks like, but had for all this time restrained himself from removing that scarf and instead focussed on the rest of Zabuza's body: his unnatural height, his heavily toned arms and chest – visible even under shirt and jacket – and his oddly tinged grey skin which always seems to make the man look slightly ill.
When Haku first arrived at Kirigakure, he had heard his senpais discussing the eccentric sensei, but it was only when Zabuza had taken over his biology class that he truly began to notice the man. Zabuza would discuss human biology with a morbid fascination, telling the class all about pressure points and the best places to land a sword in order to ensure an almost instant death – such revelations had caused squeals of disgust from the majority of the female students and gleeful appreciation from the rest. Haku had said nothing, done nothing and Zabuza-sensei had looked at him, surprised at his lack of reaction. It was only a moment, but Haku had seen in his sensei's eyes the same loos, the same desperation to be loved as he saw in his own every time he looked in the mirror.
Haku wanted to know what caused such pain in his sensei's eyes. Had he, too, seen the deaths of those he loved? Rumours flew around of Zabuza's ranking in the Water country's army. They said he had been a General or some other high-ranking officer in the last war against Fire country. Had he lost his soldiers? His friends? Perhaps a lover? Haku was desperate to know, yet he never showed it, he simply continued to watch his sensei from the shadows, wondering what happened.
The days turned into weeks, weeks into months and still Haku could not bring himself to ask his sensei or to rip off that damned scarf and reveal what was beneath. The new year came and with it the January snows of the Water country, on his way to school Haku would see snowball fights in every garden, couples sitting on snow-covered walls and holding hands and the pure white snow rabbits that lived in his garden finally emerged. Also with the turn of the year came Haku's determination, carefully hidden (not that anyone would have noticed if it weren't) to reveal the parts of his sensei hidden in his eyes and beneath his scarf. He made it his new years resolution to try and urge himself on, and it was on the 9th of January – Haku's long forgotten birthday – that he finally gained the courage to put his plan into action (though to call it a plan would suggest structure, of which it had none).
After that day's final period of biology, Haku stayed behind in class to collect his thoughts. To his surprise, so did Zabuza-sensei.
"Zabuza sensei?"
"What is it Haku?" Zabuza had never yet used honorific in Haku's presence, yet another little detail that separated him from the masses.
"It's just . . . I wanted to . . . It's my . . ." Haku took a deep breath and pushed out the words he hadn't meant to say "you have the same eyes as me" he murmured determinedly, fists clenched at his sides "I want to know why"
Zabuza raised an eyebrow "I don't know what you're talking about brat"
"So full of pain and loss, why is that?"
To his surprise, Zabuza laughed. "You're a pretty brave kid. Either that or you haven't heard the stories about me." His voice was laced with an arrogance that seemed to be appearing less and less often recently.
"I've heard them all. I even have some of my own theories Zabuza-sensei" he remembered to add
"Sit" commanded Zabuza, pointing at a small chair beside his desk as he flopped down into a slightly larger one. "I've been wondering about you for a while"
Haku's heart leapt, had he been thinking the same things about Haku as Haku had about him? "Sensei?" he managed, heart thumping all the while.
"I've seen you watching me" Zabuza began, and smirked as he sensed Haku's pulse quicken. "Not only in class which is normal, but in the corridors. In the grounds. And you don't have any friends that I've seen"
"I don't need friends" Haku replied abruptly. I have you. "But does that mean . . . have you been watching me too sensei?"
The man's skin changed colour slightly. Had it been a normal colour Haku would have thought his sensei was blushing. "I have" he admitted gruffly, and Haku's big brown eyes widened noticeably and they met Zabuza's own pitchy black ones.
"Why?" he asked gently, and Zabuza looked away
"Why not?" he bit back still embarrassed at Haku's comment. "You asked me about my eyes? Well I know all about how they are filled with pain and loss, as well as anger, hatred and . . . desire" he almost whispered the last word and met Haku's eyes again, causing the younger of the two to blush uncharacteristically.
Carefully, unsure of what he'd heard, Haku raised a hand and pulled away his sensei's scarf gently, uncovering a mass off bandages wrapped around his face. Zabuza had been sat deadly still, but quickly snapped his hand to catch Haku's wrist as the boy went to peel away his last defences – feeling a shiver run through his student at their contact.
"Please?" he whispered and slowly, carefully, Zabuza released his grip and allowed Haku to continue removing the neat wrappings.
Haku drew in a deep breath as his sensei's face was revealed, pulling away the last of the pristine bandages and softly running his fingers over Zabuza's newly revealed face, brushing along his jaw-line and over his lips, enjoying the feeling as the older man shuddered beneath his touch.
Haku was about to speak when Zabuza grasped his wrist again. "Don't" he choked out and Haku caught a glimpse of sharp white teeth beneath those oh-so-inviting lips.
"Please" he whispered again, looking up.
"Why should I?" Zabuza's voice was filled with anger "You've seen enough. Haven't you had your fill? Aren't you going to run off now and tell everyone what you've seen?"
"Zabuza-sensei –"
"Don't Call Me That!" he yelled
"Zabuza . . . san. I wouldn't do that to you. I couldn't because you are . . . you're special to me. You are the special person I want to protect, and I –" he paused, almost unable to go on "I would do anything for you, because I exist for you"
Zabuza stared at his beautiful student, trying to comprehend fully what had just been said to him – it was his turn now to be unsure of the situation. Haku had hung his head, embarrassed at his outburst, and Zabuza slowly pulled at the wrist he had not let go of, dragging the rest of the boy with it and at the same time raising his other hand, weaving it into Haku's long, shining hair, pulling his head forwards, pushing their lips together in a gentle kiss.
Haku moaned at the feeling of Zabuza's calloused hands tangled in his hair, his rough lips against Haku's own soft ones, and pushed himself forwards into the kiss, bringing up his other hand to rest on his sensei's – his sensei's – chest.
Neither was sure how long they remained there for, but they were rudely interrupted by a loud drawl calling Zabuza's name, and footsteps echoing down the corridor towards them. Zabuza was the first to pull away, releasing his star pupil and hurriedly re-wrapping the bandages around the lower half of his face, and winding the scarf in a panic.
The door burst open and teacher and student turned in shock.
"My my" said Kakashi after a pause "you could cut the homoerotic tension in here with a knife"
Noticing how close he was to Zabuza, Haku tried to shuffle a little way back and Kakashi grinned under a scarf almost identical to Zabuza's.
"Ignore him" the grey skinned man grunted "he's just been reading Icha Icha yaoi edition." The second masked man grinned even wider and shrugged with an attempt at nonchalance. "Anyway, I hope that helped you Haku" Zabuza lied easily.
"Oh, yes, thank you sensei" Haku replied, catching on quickly and rising from his seat. Zabuza grunted in reply and Haku made to leave.
"By the way" Zabuza added, and Haku turned in the doorway "Happy Birthday"
His brown eyes widened in surprise, but Haku smiled genuinely – causing both senseis' jaws to drop – and bowed deeply "thank you. It's been a particularly good one" he said, before turning back and walking away down the corridor hearing a dimmed:
"What happened? Tell me everything" from Kakashi and Zabuza's reply of "I don't know what you're talking about old man" from behind him.
The best in a very long time. Haku mused, stepping outside into the frozen New Year's air and delighting in the snow that settled in his hair and on his eyelashes, before beginning the long walk home.
Arigato, Zabuza-sensei.
Owari!
Thanks for reading :3