Yawl know the drill.
A/N: my imagination can go haywire so if you need anything explained please Pm, or leave it in a review. Thanks!
A/N: PRECIOUS chapter 21is up! However, I will go back and fix and/ or change a scene if needed.
Last time: Well- Nah, I'll summarize it. Harry, Ginny, Ron, George, Fred, Dudley and three adults being Lupin, Sirius and James's played two games which were orchestrated by Kakashi. The games lasted the whole day and Haku and the women talked. And, finally Lily couldn't sleep…what will happen now?
Chapter 11!
The master bedroom was mostly the same as any other room in the house save for that it had only one double/queen sized futon which was located in the center; behind it and against the wall a small black desk with a black/white cushion, on top of the desk was documents or important papers. A small wide area (walking space) was presented facing the back of the desk and the head pillows of the double futon; to the right was the bathroom. However, the placement of the room's furniture doesn't matter at this moment. What mattered were the room's occupants.
Zabuza lay on the futon- on his stomach; hand popped up resting on his chin as he glanced at his companion who sat elegantly on the black and white cushion hovering over the desk as she read the papers.
"Come to bed woman," Zabuza drawled as his eyes took in her appearance. Haku was dressed in a light sleeping yukata with her hair hung down; silken strands falling down beautifully.
"I'll join you in a minute," her voice was as soft as ever ringing lightly like chimes.
Zabuza grunted not at all pleased that she wasn't in bed with him at the moment. "Touché…. What's in the files, Haku?"
The wind blew gently inside the room from the only opened window. It was open for certain reasons however- Haku flipped a page and spoke, "The records of the family that is down stairs."
Zabuza waited for her to continue.
"It is the information concerning the Evans family. I gathered from Lily-san and Petunia –san that they do not know of anything concerning Jonas Yuki ne Evans." Jonas Yuki the great (very distant)-grandfather of Lily and Petunia and the man who managed to do the impossible. Hide his talents as a Yuki-clan member and live without being discovered from certain parties. "The only Yuki-clan member able to do the impossible…" she trailed off slightly, but Zabuza didn't need farther explanation.
Haku flipped another file finding even more interesting information, before closing the files and unlocking the lock with a little bit of chakra. The draw opened and she placed the files inside closing the draw.
Haku stretched lightly like a cat before standing up. Her steps were soundless as she patted across the tatami flooring. However; just as she was about to make it towards the bed…
A 'whoosh' of sound indicating that Riri or another bird was flying through was heard. The wings were silver/white with black dots here and there; "Riri," Haku smiled as the falcon landed on her shoulders.
Haku ran her fingers gently through the falcon's feathers finally noting the letter that was attached to her Gyrfalcon's nail tip. She removed it, petting Riri once more fondly before the falcon set off in whichever direction she came from- most likely the previous being the cold mountains.
Haku glided in the bedding with Zabuza who sat up placing an arm around her dragging her close as she unraveled the letter and opened its contents.
XXXX….
"Wandering off, I see."
Lily jumped slightly not having expected anyone else to be in the halls or up for that matter.
"What are you doing up?" the voice repeated. Lily listened and sighed in relief. She recognized the voice as Mr. Kakashi's.
"..." Lily sighed once more, but it wasn't a relieved sigh. "No, I couldn't sleep," She finally said.
Kakashi hummed emerging from the darkness allowing Lily to see him better. His one eye stared directly towards Lily with calmness that just screamed control.
Lily fidgeted slightly, but did not falter. "I-"lily began. "I wanted to talk to Haku."
"And," Kakashi probed. "This couldn't wait till later?"
Lily shook her head. "Yes, I mean no, I wanted to talk to her alone. You know bonding; spend time before everyone else awakens."
Kakashi hummed once more thoughtfully. "Alright then," he finally spoke. Lily waited and watched as his one eye curved into a u. "Grab on to my shoulder, I'll take you there now."
Lily tilted her head a little questioning. Kakashi chuckled silently waiting for Lily to place her hand on his shoulder. Coming to a conclusion Lily placed her hand on his shoulder and just as his left hand rose –grey like matter surrounded them before they disappeared.
They reappeared in the halls once more however; a dim light shadowed upon the closed shoji screen doors. Lily looked towards Kakashi who did not move from his spot.
"Troublesome," it was Zabuza, Lily realized. "What is it Kakashi?" Unfortunately, or fortunately, Kakashi didn't need to answer as a petite shadow could be seen from the dim light ready to open the shoji screen doors. The shoji screen doors opened revealing Haku's form.
Haku smiled and handed Kakashi the letter concerning them all and turned to face Lily. "Kakashi-san you may go in if you like," she said addressing Kakashi, her eyes not leaving Lily's own.
'Mm…' Was Haku's only thought on the matter before she stepped out of the way and turned over her shoulder before addressing her companion who was inside; "I'll return shortly, Zabuza. Come," Lily followed as Haku closed the shoji screens doors once Kakashi entered and led the elder woman down the halls turned a corner and slid open the closed shoji screen doors that blocked the different sides of the house. She led Lilly towards the side patio.
Haku sat down under the moonlight waiting for lily to sit as well. Lily did so rather quietly. No one uttered a word.
'There's so much that I don't know,' Lily thought. 'And…'
"What is troubling you, Lily- Kā -san?"
Lily blinked for a moment then looked up at the sky. "I feel as though ..." she spoke slowly, unsure for a moment. "I do not know anymore." Haku waited patiently as she listened to Lily speak; "I….I am lost on what to follow."
Lily looked down from facing the moon to glancing down upon Haku who was still listening. She didn't speak though as if she wanted to get some advice.
"One normally," Haku spoke softly with a faint smile. "Chooses the road that is less traveled however, it is always best going with one feels. However, that is not what ails you so heavily, is it?"
Lily smiled faintly. "There is no Takayuchi's are there?"
Shock! That conclusion was... "No, unfortunately…..They are people in which we help out a lot and we visited frequently when we were in the area. What else?"
So, the family was like the Weasley's in the way that they would help out and vice versa just like Harry would with the Weasley's.
"… Why, why did you asked about our family? Not, that I'm against you knowing about your grandfather and grandmother or history, but..." Lily tried to explain.
Haku chortled lightly and shook her head. "You'll find out soon enough, but for now would you care to take a walk with me?"
Lily tilted her head slightly and nodded not seeing any harm in doing so. "Where are we going?"
"Not too far," Haku answered back walking bare-foot through the grass. A moment of silence till... "These lands that I and Zabuza – Haku confirmed Lily's thoughts from earlier that she never voiced. "Belong to a family that lived beyond the this bountiful vocational spot however, the last member of the family who never visited this place after so many years allowed us to live here peacefully and in return," Haku's expression changed slightly as she told of how she and Zabuza acquired the beautiful cottage home and the lands in which it dwelled. Lily missed the expression even though she was listening intensively. "We do our share in taking care of it on their behalf."
Haku stopped under a small tree a few miles away from the house. "Thanks for telling me, Haku," Lily spoke. She felt as though she was making progress even if it was small. It was only fair that she explained herself since, Haku opened up somewhat, right? Yes, it was and so…Lily explained her troubles.
"Why did you ask of Dumbledore?" Lily asked after moment of taking a breather. Lily was referring to yesterday when Haku asked several varying questions to each of them while the boys' ( excluding Arthur and Snape) were playing.
Haku's lips pursed. She had her speculations. "Just curious," she finally answered.
XXX…
Hermione Granger was a smart girl indeed. However, she didn't know everything. She turned towards her small bag and took out a little flash light and a book. It was about a legend. A legend that was fairly close in mythology and although she usually didn't read such things – she made exceptions on occasions.
Kagami or Looking glass.
That was the title of the book and Hermione drowned herself into the contents immediately. However, she stopped reading when she heard footsteps stopping at the door. The shoji screen doors open, "Sleep well, Lily-san." Then they closed again and Haku soft paddled steps left retreating down the halls.
'What was that all about?'
XXXX….
Sunrise ( the next day, some hours after Lily talked with Haku) was nearing soon and it was time to awaken. Well, Kakashi thought as he was in for a rather D-ranked day. Meaning today the group weren't going to be playing games like the previous day, but doing chores until the sun set before they – as in he, Zabuza, and Haku would explain their ordered assignment that the fifth has finally come up with.
"Ah, there you are…" he drawled finding Haku finishing up last minute training. Haku stopped placing her leg down and composing her posture. "Nothing's wrong per say. Just that get what you need done we will have to leave sometime early dawn."
Haku nodded. They came to a decision and it was just as Tsunade predicted before: "letting them staying our lands may be risky, but doing so will just make the oath more constructive and pronounce." Yes, Tsunade indeed said something similar to those words and it seemed that they were finally moving to take on the missions regarding wizarding Japan. Well, a few, but not many anyway.
Kakashi snickered comically as he purposely woke up everyone with the gong. 'Maybe I should have done this with my team,' he silently thought. It surely had the desired affect after all.
"Enough," Kakashi barked composing himself. "Get to work. Frist off men clean out the futons, second help out in the yards and third..." he paused and then stopped completely before speaking once again. "Ladies you are with Haku today."
Complainants and protest were silent as the gang grudgingly went to work. "Damn it," someone cursed as they were beating the futon with the mallet. Dust formed like a little clouds.
"Weasley," Snape drawled with a sneer. " Do not complain. Consider this a lesson in culture."
Ron rolled his eyes.
"I read that doing this to the bedding," Lupin started as he beated one of the futons; "Preserves stability."
"Really?" Harry questioned, out of the corner of his eye he saw Sirius doing the same.
"Don't see why they just didn't get regular beds," Dudley muttered lowly.
Vernon agreed.
James's, Arthur and surprisingly the twins were silent.
XX…
Haku was washing the clothes along with Hermione, Molly and Ginny. Petunia and Lily were cleaning up the guest rooms. "The Kagami," Hermione pronounced carefully. "How true is the legend?"
"Very," Haku answered. She placed the clothes on the rack at the same time Hermione was on her second set of clothing.
"What else is on the to-do list?" Ginny asked distracting Hermione from asking any more about the book.
"Saa..."Haku said mysteriously; picking up her cloth basket; "Dou kana (who knows…)."
Ginny and Hermione peered at each other while Molly just shrugged. She too picked up her emptied basket and followed Haku. It didn't matter this was how a child was supposed to live- helping out in the home and such while being children! "Come on you two..." She gestured for her daughter and Hermione to follow.
Petunia scowled at her sister, "Look at the mess you've left, sister. It's considered rude to leave a mess lying about."
Petunia swept yes, but left more for Lily to clean as she dragged all her dirt towards her sister's pile.
"Petunia," Lily groaned not in the mood to deal with her sister's behavior. "Can it and just clean up."
Petunia smirked victoriously.
A few hours, (not long after cleaning up the guest rooms and nearly finishing up the futons) - "Are you done? I need step pout and go into town," Haku started slowly telling the others; Lily, Petunia, Molly, Hermione and Ginny eagerly agreed.
"That's fine Haku," Zabuza commented as he just finished watering the roses. "One of us will be there immediately if anything happens."
Haku nodded with a smile and gestured the others to follow.
XXX…..
Haku led them out the front yard and down a straight path. The road was endless or so it seemed as they began to near a village- no a district. As they neared passing up small sides the women could feel the emptiness seeping around them. The markets, homes, even the small stands with old vegetables, fruits were vacated; empty just as the small village was. It sent shivers down Hermione's and Ginny's spines.
"It's like a ghost town," Lily commented looking to see if she would spot anyone.
"This is the Uchiha district," Haku answered through the silence that suddenly came back. "With them all dead this is basically a ghost town."
Dead? Every single one?!
"Dead…." Petunia uttered in horror. Molly made a strange sound form her throat. The idea was... was horrible.
Haku said nothing farther.
As the village of Konoha's center reached their eyes the others were quite surprised to witness that it was much like Hogsmeade except that it wasn't a snowy village and/ or it wasn't a wizarding village. Petunia however, thought nothing of it really knowing that a lot of big cities sheltered villages and towns/ countries.
It was lively, as lively as ever, Haku noted as the other women/teens followed her. "HAKU-CHAN!" Well, so much for being unnoticed. Haku's head snapped to the left and saw orange. Yes, orange running towards her with the speed of several cheetahs'.
The blurred orange mass stop revealing a boy with naturally blond spiky hair, blue eyes as blue as the sky, bright grin on his features; same headband (Hermione noted) as Kakashi, and dressed in an orange over baggy jumpsuit.
"Naruto-kun," Haku greeted. "Back so soon?" The boy Naruto was an eccentric young man that much the witches gathered. He talked excitedly, but they couldn't understand remotely half- no not even half of what he was talking about and Haku seemed to be listening and talking when needed.
"Is that so? "Haku said lightly as she listened to Naruto excitedly talk about his training and that he was just passing through the village with Jiraya before they would depart for good.
"Definitely and when I come back, Haku-Chan ..." Naruto suddenly had a serious look. "I'll be able to bring him back."
Haku frowned slightly, however she said not a word or comment about the Uchiha.
"So," Naruto was now grinning like a Cheshire fox all over again as if he never dwelled on serious topics. "Who are the lovely girls behind you?"
"Ah," Haku mumbled as if she was just remembering her companions. "Everyone this is Naruto-Kun. Naruto-Kun these people are Lily, Petunia, and Molly-san. The other two are Molly-san's daughter Ginny-Chan and her friend Hermione-Chan." Each one said a greeting. "They're the ones that Snape- san has told us about."
Naruto's eyes widen before he grinned and saluted Haku and the girls; "Ja ne, Haku-Chan, mina!" He would love to stay and chat, but he had more important matters to attend to.
"Such a nice boy," Molly commented.
"A little bit hyper," Petunia commented with a frown.
Haku chuckled they didn't know the half of it.
"I noticed he had a headband," Hermione said before Ginny could say something. "Was that just for show or is someone that young in the military also?" She was incredulous; the boy was only twelve!
Haku shrugged, "A trainee." She gestured them along. They noticed the statues of the hokage's and it was Hermione who asked. "They are former leaders of this village."
Questions were itching to be asked, but no one asked them only to not push their luck.
Haku led them to a flower shopthe bells chirmed lightly. "Ah, it's you again," Mr. Yamanaka greeted Haku who greeted back. He nodded and went to get the white lilies.
XXX….
"Wonder, what the girls are doing?" Fred said to no one in particular.
"No, clue mate," his twin brother George replied. Those two were sitting leisurely about in silence as they were thinking of ways they could prank someone in the near future.
"Man," Ron plopped by their side. "This muggle stuff sucks."
"It isn't that bad, Ron," Harry said walking over.
Ron snorted, "Says you."
"Where are Zabuza and Kakashi?" Fred asked Harry.
Harry shrugged, "don't know….was told to lay back with you guys."
George raised a brow.
"Told us that too," Lupin said with a small smile.
Footsteps came from behind from inside the house. "You people are ruining a good afternoon tea," Snape drawled as he sat in the distance with a cup of tea.
James's who was standing by Lupin rolled his eyes.
Sirius just relinquished in the moment of being by friends and family.
However, all things come to an end and when Snape felt a tangling sensation he knew that Dumbledore wanted him. It was faint, but he knew and had to leave so he finished the last of his tea and disappeared down the halls before Apparating away with a crack.
"Ah, splendid," Dumbledore greeted Snape. He was his most trusted spy yes, but…"How are things progressing, Severus?" He asked once the other arrived.
Severus scowled, "It's coming along, headmaster. I assure you, but what is this sudden summon about?"
Dumbledore's twinkled downed several degrees showing how serious the situation was. "The ministry is getting riled up more than what I expected, my boy."
Snape crossed his arms; noise pointing upwards. "And, that's urgent how?" He sarcastically asked. "In case you haven't noticed, headmaster… Those dogs are always riled up whether it's to catch the bone or not."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with slight amusement. "Yes, quite right however, you and everyone excluding Lily and James's need to return here immediately."
Snape pinched the bridge of his nose in distain, "Joy." He was relaxed there in Haku's home and really didn't feel like returning to his double duties.
Dumbledore gave him a withering look. "I'm serious, Severus. You and the others need to return by tonight no later. And, I am quite sure that Voldemort has been curious of his spy's absence as well."
Snape gritted his teeth. He wanted to duck Dumbledore for that, but… "Fine, I'll be back with the others."
He disappeared with a crack.
XXXX….
Snape returned with a dark scowl darkening his features immensely. He reached the others fairly quickly as they were still lazing in the previous spot. He coughed gaining their attentions, "We all need to pack up and return to Hogwarts."
Harry opened his mouth, but... "Headmaster's orders not mine." He then wandered off away from the sentimental glamour that was soon to take place.
Molly and the others as they headed back to Haku's home didn't really know how to make of the few little people they've met. Naruto was energetic, the flower shop owner was nice enough, but the woman Anko…
Anko was as energetic as the trainee, Naruto however, she was sadistic. In a way that she was on par with Snape, but Haku didn't linger long and as soon as they met the crazed-energetic woman (eating dango stopping to chat) they parted ways.
"Haku what are you going to with a these white lilies?" Petunia asked after a moment of thinking –shocker- about it.
"Giving my blessing and thanks," the kunoichi replied with a small smile not turning to face them at all.
The walk back to house went without trouble (surprisingly).
After lunch, Snape wasted no time in telling the three shinobi of what Dumbledore told him and they acknowledge that the wizarding world would want their upstanding, bright-fresh out of the schooling academics backs.
In short Dumbledore wanted his pawns back.
Harry protested once more and Snape scowled, "Enough, Potter. You may stay put with your family. I'll be back before midnight. Come all of – What is it, Black?" Snape didn't detest the other man –he just hated him for their former school days. "Very well, I'll snatch you up as well. The rest of you we need to leave. Now," Snape finished emphasizing the word now.
The Weasley's said their goodbyes along with Lupin and the house was only filled with Sirius, Harry, his parents, Haku, Zabuza and Kakashi. However, that soon changed when Haku and Kakashi stepped out of the house with the white lilies leaving Zabuza alone with the now four intensive gazes of the wizards and witch.
Lily coughed.
Zabuza ran a hand throw his hair and sighed. "Fix your faces. I care not for petty mood swings at the moment. Listen," he said his expression hardening. "Or, pretend that it wouldn't matter. I don't care, but unfortunately, Haku wished for you know –
"Know what?" Harry asked raising a brow.
"That your parents will be in our care once we leave- No; do not ask it's an assignment we must take. If you two," he looked at Harry and Sirius. "Utter a sound of protest and begging, I'll slaughter you were you stand."
He just made it clear that he was just relaying a message so the boy and the best bud/ brother wouldn't worry so much for the other two.
Sirius sulked slightly, "Fine."
A loud crack signaled that Snape was back to retrieve them and Harry and Sirius stood saying their goodbyes before leaving Haku's home.
N'cut! Next chapter is the final chapter-could be-sadly! It will include the trial and ending of this story! Thanks again-XD! Although, my last few chapter after 8 seems a little of like I've lost an edge of something; could just be me though. Until next time; I'm out!