Never drink a liter and a half of Pepsi and expect to come out of it unchanged. *hic* I am drunk on Pepsi, and three and a half *hic* hours of sleep. I'm genius, I'll admit, but am I really genius enough to *hic* create Naruto? *hic* Guess not. CATS HAVE KNEES!!! *hic* Ask your bio teacher. IT'S THE TRUTH!!!!

Kakashi kept Mizu away from Haku's grave for a week. During that entire time, Mizu kept herself shut in her room, not moving, rarely eating. When she did eat, it was even less likely that the food would stay down. Usually, she ended up retching, unable to calm her stomach.

Sakura stood in the doorway, watching Mizu speak with the little boy.

"Mizu-san, why are you sad?"

Mizu wiped away most of the tears, propping herself up on her arm. "Remember… remember how sad you were when your daddy died?"

Inari nodded.

"That's how I feel."

"Why? Wasn't that boy a bad person?"

Mizu sighed. "No," she whispered. "Not at all. He was a very good person. Kind, and loving, and sweet, and always happy, no matter what. Always, always happy. He treated me like a person, like a regular human, instead of a shinobi. A tool. I was real to him.

"He was my hero. My angel. And he gave me strength, something to fight for. A reason to live."

The tears started flowing again. "And now he's dead. Now he's gone, and there's no fight left in me."

"What about your friends?"

"I never really had any. Everyone's been taught to fear me, that I'm dangerous. So they're afraid to befriend me."

"I'm not afraid of you," Inari said bravely.

Mizu laughed, mussing his hair. "That's because you're a fool," she teased.

"Or fearless."

Mizu sighed, grinning through her tears. "A fearless fool," she murmured.

"Why does that make you cry?" Inari asked, confused.

"That boy said the same thing when I met him," she said.

"Oh. Sorry."

Mizu shook her head. "Not your fault, Kid." She turned away.

Sakura came in. "Mizu-sama. Please. Eat."

Mizu shook her head. "Drank water a bit ago. Didn't stay down all too well. Do you know how uncomfortable it is to vomit water? I do."

She listened as Sakura stood. "take Inari with you. No offence, Kid, I'm just not in the mood to talk anymore."

Sakura motioned for Inari to follow.

Later, Kakashi went into her room to try to calm Mizu and get her to build up strength to leave. Again, Haku was brought up in the conversation.

"I don't care if he had his lot thrown in with Zabuza!" she cried. "He was a good soul! He didn't deserve to die!"

A moan.

"If only I was able to stop him… if I had been in front of him… if it was me who had died instead…"

"Is that what you want?" Kakashi asked emotionlessly. "To die? To be dead? Because loyalty to your village isn't enough? Because you don't care about protecting your people?"

"You don't know what it's like. No one's there for me now. He was all I had. The only friend. You know what it's like to be a ninja – you don't know what it's like to be a tool. Nothing but a tool. When everyone is afraid of you. People you've known forever, kids you used to play in the streets with don't even look you in the eye anymore. You can't go anywhere without changing your name and still running the risk of being recognized, because you know you'll either be assassinated or hired within five minutes.

"Hatake Kakashi, the copy ninja… heh. What a joke. You think that just because your name is in everyone's bingo book, you're worth fearing. But people don't cower at your name.

"And yet. And yet. My name. Even if people don't know exactly what I look like. They fear me. My strength. What does my name do to you? Sukiyari Mizu. I see it. your fear. Just my name. And I'm sick of it."

There was silence for a bit.

"But he wasn't like that. I was just another human being. My fearless fool," she said laughing softly.

And then three words The Angel had been taught were a sign of weakness; "I loved him."

"Then go." There was pain in Kakashi's voice. "I may never know the extent of your pain, but no one deserves pain that deep."

A pause. "And I'm sorry, Mizu."

"There is no fear in your eye," Mizu said, slightly surprised.

Another silence. A muffled sob. "Thank you." She struggled to her feet and stumbled away.

Aww!! so sad. But to make up for this chapter, you'll like the next one. Promise. *grin* Reviews, s'il vous plait! Vous connaissez je vous adore!!