Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. For my friend and beta, L's-True-Successor23, who requested a story in this series.

The Protector

Haku really didn't know what to make of the scene before him. Suigetsu was grinning like a mad hatter, sitting on a barrel and sipping water while the returning Sasuke glared daggers at Zabuza. A blonde boy with odd whisker-like scars on his cheeks stood beside the blacksmith's apprentice. Haku assumed he arrived with Sasuke, though if that were a good thing he couldn't tell.

"I'm being fair here and asking you to release Suigetsu from his apprenticeship." Sasuke snarled, his black eyes cold and lethal as snow. Haku frowned; the air around him was becoming hostile and icy. If he threatened Zabuza, Haku knew for certain he would intervene, even if it meant losing his life.

He wanted to be a tool for Zabuza; the blacksmith had indeed saved him from the streets after all and gave him a purpose in life. If he were in anyway useless to Zabuza, what was the point in his living? Even if he were only a tool to him, a mere toy to pass the time with.

"Fair? You waltz in like some punk and fill his wandering mind with silly stories of pirates and vengeance. Speaking of pirates, why would you, a former lieutenant become a one? I highly doubt it's for the sake of adventure." Zabuza glowered down at the Uchiha, crossing his arms. "And if it's for vengeance you know nothing of pirates. You'd soon find yourself dead."

The blonde man frowned, a flash of anger appearing on his face. Haku blinked in understanding. It wasn't easy to sit back when one you care for is insulted. Perhaps he should intervene and end the bubbling argument. The raven-haired man really had no clue what he was getting into when he stated Suigetsu was needed on his ship as soon as Haku and Zabuza walked into the smithy. The blacksmith was fresh out of a fight with some gray-haired man with a mask covering his nose and mouth and a scar over his left eye. Had Haku not intervened the man could have finished him off, but Zabuza wasn't pleased and had been in a foul mood ever since.

"Why is it any of your concern as for why I became a pirate? The point is I need Suigetsu's assistance and skill."

"For what? Gallivanting about?"

"No." Zabuza sneered as he looked down at the seething man.

"You're just an ignorant kid, a navy-child. You have no idea the life of pirates."

"It's a temporary arrangement."

"Heh. A pirate's life is always a "temporary arrangement." You're at the mercy of the sea and sick navy men who kill without a fair trial, removing our habeas corpus. Pirates barely live five years. You, kid, won't make even one. So if you think I'm going to give up one of the best apprentices I've seen yet only to hear he'd been slaughtered, you've thought wrong." Haku took a sharp intake of breath. Sasuke's scowl deepened and he growled, his hands balling into fists. The brunette stepped forward.

"Look. These bloody pirates have my wife and if I don't get to her soon, who the heck knows what's going to happen." Suigetsu had stopped looking amused and stared as the argument unfolded. The blonde hung back, not at all pleased at the delay the argument was causing.

Haku stared at the young Uchiha. So that's why he wanted Suigetsu to come with them. He had someone to protect, someone precious, someone he loved completely and wholly. Haku's face was soft and lit with understanding to the plight, his head turned slightly to the side and brown eyes serene.

"Zabuza. Let him go." He stepped forward, earning looks from everyone in the smithy. "This man, he has someone precious to him, someone who gives him a purpose. If he needs help in protecting her, give it to him." Zabuza was frowning, his face that of displeasure. He however nodded his head in consent and Haku smiled up at him.

Suigetsu grumbled something along the lines of "What? No fight?" as he moved to collect his things. The blonde nodded at the two of them and left the smithy. Sasuke grunted and quickly followed. Suigetsu was out the door with no more than a wave and a brief "Later!"

"You. Are too guileless." Zabuza stated, moving to clean up the project Suigetsu "accidentally" left behind. Haku smiled and followed his precious person.

"Well, it balances you out, Zabuza sir." He put a hand on his shoulder. "If something were to happen to you like what happened to Sasuke, what would you do? Most likely the same thing."

"True, but I highly doubt you'd get yourself into such trouble."

"Perhaps."

~x-x-x~

Okay so Brandy I hope you like it. I know it's not a flat out yaoi, but can you forgive me? Yeah, I'm not a yaoi fangirl, pretty much despise it, but she loves it and ZabuHaku is so much better than what she originally wanted…SasuNaru (which resulted in my hissing and blenching.) I'm not too pleased with it, because really, I don't know how to write stuff like this, and I just can't. Anyway, reviews are appreciated! Thanks for reading!