Mizu: Yasu had a little break down, so she's not here to give the disclaimer-thingy. So I'm going to have a couple of dead people do it.
Ren & Ukari: …
Haku: Mizu, love, they're dead.
Mizu: Shh… they don't know that.
Haku: sigh Naruto isn't Yasu-sama's. She wanted to let you all know that, but she's kind of out of it right now.
Yasu: Haku? You're dead.
Haku: …Anyways. Enjoy.
Mizu watched as Kakashi led the gennin out into the forest. She cringed at the thought of Zabuza and Haku launching a surprise attack on Tazuna, but replaced her mask and followed them.
Kakashi was teaching them how to climb trees using their chakra to carry them up the vertical trunk. She watched the boys almost immediately fail, but Sakura kept going, almost reaching the top.
"So you're not just brains, Haruno-san," Mizu called.
Sakura smiled widely at the praise. "Untikimasu, Kai-sama," she responded.
Kakashi glanced at Mizu. "I missed quite a bit when I was unconscious, didn't I?"
"Short for Mitsukai. A little close, but it think the only one who has any chance of figuring it out is your Haruno-san." Mizu smiled. "That girl has potential. I should spend more time with the gennin," she mused.
"That might not be one of the best ideas, Kai-sama," Kakashi murmured back.
"What?" Mizu was stung. It was that bloody instilled fear of everyone who knew who – what – she was. "Afraid I might snap and kill them? With my strength, you should know I have control over it too. I'm not dangerous if I don't want to be, Hatake. I'm just a tool. I have no real will of my own." She spun on her heel, her hands in fists at her sides.
"Careful who you anger, Hatake. You may be the Copy Ninja, but there is always someone who out ranks you. Always." She left.
She fled to a house hidden in the forests. She hid while a short man in an expensive suit ant two taller bodyguards left. Before the door swung closed, she slipped in. she slid to the ground, tearing her mask away from her face, collapsing into silent sobs.
She heard a muted debate behind a closed door. She heard Zabuza tell Haku to kill her, and Haku protest fervently.
"Listen to him, Haku," she whimpered. "This pain…"
Haku was at her side in a flash. "Pain? What happened? Mizu?"
"They're all afraid of me. I can't truly be myself and have someone. I'm allowed nothing. Just because of this useless position as the strongest nin is the history of shinobi, everyone fears me."
Haku kissed her softly. "You will always have me."
Mizu shook her head. "But I won't! You travel with a rogue, someone who's in everyone's black book. He's one of the most wanted nin, besides the Akatsuki. You'll just be a number, an unnamed casualty. And if I loose you, I'll loose… everything." Her voice broke.
"Shh, shh, Mizu. Don't worry," Haku murmured, pressing her into his shoulder, stroking her hair.
"She's right, though," Zabuza said. He was leaning against the doorway, one hand clenched into a fist, the only sign that the movement had taken effort.
Haku turned fearful eyes on him.
"I am wanted dead. We've always used that to our advantage. If you die, no one besides me and Mizu would really notice. You're as nameless as she is," he said, nodding towards Haku.
"Not so nameless," Mizu mumbled into Haku's shoulder. She didn't pull away, though.
"But a tool, nonetheless."
"A broken tool," she whispered. Now she pulled away. She turned the full force of her anguish on Zabuza. "Never break Haku." She whispered the words, but they were far more forceful then they ever could have been if she had shouted them. "He is still pure and beautiful. Keep him that way, or so help me…" she had no need to finish the threat. The pure emotion in her eyes did it for her.
Zabuza made no sound.
"Mizu… don't worry. I like being with Zabuza-san."
"And the second that changes, you've been broken. And he'll be in great pain."
"Not dead?" Zabuza mused.
"Don't you think it'd hurt more to remain alive, alone, knowing Haku hates you, than being dead?"
Zabuza blinked, understanding.
Mizu stood, brushing away tears. "Proceed with caution, Haku, Zabuza. Kakashi's figured you're not dead." She left.
I've just been churning these out, haven't I? Aren't you happy writer's block hasn't hit me yet? And so close… so, so close to the end. Tears may be shed within the next few chapters. Be forewarned! Reviews? S'il vous plait? Vous connaissez…