master

A peculiar thing she was, the girl that had captured their eye. She didn't question them or anything about the sudden change in their living situation. Instead, simply adapting without questioning.

After arriving in Gato's mansion, she had simply lay limp in Zabuza's arms until he put her on a bed and told for her to get some sleep. Senselessly she obeyed his command.

And every other that followed after that.

A month had passed and somehow, just like them, she had found her way around the house. Mainly serving Zabuza while he barked around orders. He was never the polite one, though Haku had noted that with Sakura his voice would sometimes be a tad bit softer than when talking to others.

Takeda took care of most of the business, so Zabuza only had to oversee the production part.

Haku himself took care of poor payers and supervised most of the work, leaving Zabuza free to take care of Takeda's personal requests and start developing his long-awaited plans for Kirigakure.

Sakura stayed quiet, almost thoughtlessly going through life with them. Sometimes he would catch her staring into nothingness.

Oddly enough, Zabuza seemed to have start harboring some plans for her, which had surprised him a little but thrilled him at the same time.

Though he doubted she'd be anything like him, it pleased him to know he was right about her being capable enough to be a part of their… Hm, Haku thought, team, was incorrect.
He never really thought of him and Zabuza as a team. He didn't think or do anything without Zabuza… he didn't want too either.

'Sakura,' Zabuza said as she placed a drink on the table. She was wearing a soft pink shirt, adorned with blue flowers and golden leaves.
She looked very pretty in his clothing, Haku absentmindedly thought to himself, hardly noticing her posture stiffening underneath Zabuza's gaze.
'Yes?'

She always used the same soft-spoken tone when speaking up, as if she didn't want to invade silence but at the same time did not want to remain quiet either. Her eyes would look without fear into Zabuza's, almost close to bold staring. Yet no ill intentions lingered in them.

An enigmatic girl to say the least.

Figuring out what was on her mind had become challenging thing to do.

Actually, he didn't quite know how to describe her attitude for the moment. Though, he admittingly found her fragility rather alluring. It sometimes made him want to act out of control and baited him into pushing her limits to see where those edges of fragility truly lied.

Bloodstains appeared in his memory, serving him as a reminder she was anything but fragile. She had been apathic the days following and slowly had turned into the strange creature standing before his eyes, willing to obey but never telling anyone what was truly on her mind.

'We'll train this afternoon,' Zabuza simply said, making Haku snap out of his thoughts.

A surprise gasp left him, followed by a genuine smile. 'Oh? Is Sakura staying then?'
The amusement in his tone was hard to miss, yet Zabuza did not respond.

'I have nowhere to go,' Sakura simply answered instead. Her green eyes held something he couldn't quite put his finger on. Fire? Hate? Anger? No… it wasn't nearly alive as any of those emotions.

Zabuza hadn't bothered to enlighten him about her apprenticeship.

'Master Zabuza said he'd train me so I could use my chakra more appropriately.'
Again that feathery tone, Haku noted. A flicker of fire followed in her eyes, making him smirk. So, there was still some left of the old her.

'After the meeting,' Zabuza clarified to Sakura. 'Meanwhile, go get some goods for the old man, he might want to try something new too.'
'Of course,' she nodded, bowing her head. Without much noise she left the room and suddenly Haku understood what Zabuza saw in her. She could move without a sound and appear so very innocently. Believable, if neither of them had been witness to the gruesome scene of the three men she had murdered. Sometimes he wondered what would've happened if Hoji hadn't said anything. Would she have just left?

Poor Hoji, he snickered thinking back to the moment when he had cut his head off. He never did know when to keep his mouth shut.

'Did you bring it?' Zabuza asked, again interrupting his thoughts. 'Of course, Master Zabuza,' Haku answered nodding and handing over the small box that said sweets on it.
'This is the high-end stuff, is it not?'
'Yes,' he nodded. 'I checked it myself.'

'Don't get addicted,' he replied ruefully, placing the box on the small table. He then drank the drink Sakura had poured out in one gulp, needing it more often whenever he got stressed over meetings such as these.

'I licked it, I didn't consume it,' Haku answered, shaking his head at the idea of betraying his master over some drug. Though he did admit the little thrill afterwards was nice.

'Hm.'

Ah, a grunt of disapproval.

'I don't do it with the cheap stuff, I couldn't care less what get sold on the streets. Only when I know it is of significant importance. This is Mister Takeda's personal friend, after all.'

Zabuza only shrugged not caring too much who he was only that he could continue doing business with him. Since they got rid of Gato, Takeda predicted some dealers might find it a good excuse to start bargaining about the current selling-price. Something that, although he did not admit it, worried Zabuza. He wasn't good at negotiating without using violence in the process.

'You'll be fine,' Haku chirpily said as he got up and walked towards the window. The mansion was grant, to the point it could be considered obnoxious and attention-seeking. The big gate and the huge fountain in the middle of the entrance was extravagant. As was all the rest. Luckily, the interior in the house was somewhat bearable, nothing too offensive in color. Robust and dark furniture filled the rooms, along with expensive carpets and small trinkets bathed in gold-colors.

'Keep quiet about it,' Zabuza suddenly said.
'Hm?'
'Sakura. Keep quiet about it. She can be our little maid towards the outside world but…'
'Another tool for you to use personally, Zabuza?'
'Yes,' he coolly answered, mind wandering how he'd proceed with her training. Her chakra was her trump card. Taijutsu but… mostly the silent killing technique, which is what he wanted to use her for.
'As innocent as she comes off, she's not. But I want others to keep thinking that.'
'Do you want me to help her with training?'
'Hm, I can't constantly spend time with her. So, yes. Help her get better. Train her. Do whatever you see fit.'
'I will, Master Zabuza,' he bowed his head respectfully. He'd help his master make the greatest tool, greater than himself.

It was close to spring. The ground was cold underneath his feet, but the afternoon sun was welcoming the earth with a wonderous warmth that made all breathing beings want spring into liveliness. He took a deep breath as he approached her, finding her pink hair to look even brighter in the sun. Her appearance that of a beautiful vivid flower in a sea of green.

'Zabuza is waiting for you in the training-room,' he informed her, standing right behind her.

Slowly getting up, basket with flowers in one hand, she turned her head. 'Of course.'

'What are those?' he asked, intrigued by her strange arrangement of picked flowers.
'Mostly herbs and flowers for medicinal purposes…' she muttered, slightly flushing at his closeness. 'The former owner had a formidable library on medicinal herbs.'

Haku nodded, wondering if she was being purposely naïve about the real reason why a man like Gato would have such a vast bundle of information on medicinal herbs.
'I've always had an interest in medical matters… Also, next time, I want to be able to help Zabuza heal faster,' she explained holding up a particular white flower.

'There won't likely be a next time,' he smiled. 'Master Zabuza will not be hurt.'

Though obviously inwardly wincing, she just nodded her head in agreement. 'I guess not but you never know…'
'But please, when you have some time, let's read on this together. The subject interests me as well.'
A lovely smile appeared on her face, nodding happily at the idea. They went back inside the mansion together.

Zabuza asked Haku to leave once they entered the training-room, explaining he first wanted to talk to Sakura one on one.

Next time Haku saw Sakura, she had a purple bruise on her cheek and a small cut on her eyebrow. She didn't look particularly unhappy, again just going through the motions of the evening. Serving him and their master without making her presence noticeable, leaving only when Zabuza dismissed her for the evening.

'Was that necessary, Zabuza-sensei?' he quietly asked as more guests arrived and entertained themselves. Gato's old acquaintances were as obnoxious as the man himself. Drinking loudly and talking disrespectful to the women who would sit by their sides. The ladies in question were paid for their services but from time to time their masks would slide off and a look of disgust would pass their faces.

Haku was content he could at least wear an actual mask to hide himself behind.

'What?' Zabuza asked without looking in his direction. His eyes were on the men and their movements, overseeing if nothing was happening directly in front of his eyes. Only drunk laughter and the spilling of drinks and money. A monthly gambling-night had become a tradition, and to show his goodwill, Zabuza had announced these would continue.

'Sakura's face,' Haku softly said.

It wasn't as if he was being critical of his master. In truth, the white mask on his face represented his opinion on the matter, blank and indifferent. He didn't genuinely care for her pain, but it did irk him that now no one would be able to appreciate and see her otherwise beautiful features. Above all, it perhaps betrayed she was not a simple maid.

'She had enough soft training,' Zabuza explained.
'I thought you didn't want anyone to know about her?'
'You assume people will know,' he snickered, amused at his pupil's naiveness.
'Hm?'
'A good beating keeps personnel in place or so the filthy rich say,' he said, speaking the last words with utter disgust. The words left a bitter and foul taste in the mouth and Haku could feel the same disgust rush over him as they both watched the scene before them. Stupid, ruthless fools, who didn't care about wrecking lives… as long as they got what they wanted. Their reasoning as worthless as their lives.

'Hello,' as soft feminine voice said coming from his left. Looking at the source, Haku saw woman seating herself next to Zabuza. She crept closer, showing in inappropriate amount of skin, as the kimono she wore hung just on her shoulders. Her black hair was done up beautifully and her full red lips seductively moved when she spoke.

Women could have this look in their eyes that made men go weak, he noted.

And he had seen Master Zabuza willingly fall into it. Haku had to suppress a snicker, noticing his master's body language was already betraying him. Zabuza looked a little too interested in whatever she was telling him about the sake.

Haku kept staring until Zabuza signaled for him to leave, his attention still on the woman.
Ah, yes, he knew that signal. Shrugging, though wearing a wide smirk underneath his mask, he decided to take leave and keep the distance his sensei requested.

Albeit it in the shadows of the room, he would keep his eye on the woman, not trusting her intentions.

Long fingers tracing teasingly over his clothing, small whisperings and suggestive gestures kept going all night until the party died. Eventually she disappeared with his sensei to the bedroom.

It was morning when the last guests left, all drunk out of their minds. Haku behaved as the perfect host, respectfully showing them the way out, thanking them for coming and hoping they'd be seeing each other soon on business related happenings and if not on the next event.

Though his body was aching, he couldn't stand the idea of going to bed yet. He didn't feel like sleeping. His mind too preoccupied with the fact that some woman was still with Zabuza. He decided he didn't like her. What was it? Ah, yes, Suki was her name. A treacherous wench who was clearly looking for a new permanent home to a man of power.

Mastering his emotions was still something that was hard for him at times. Sure, he could wear the mask with a smile all day long but sometimes a certain feeling would eat at him inside.

No, he thought to himself, none of these emotions matter. He was worrying over nothing.

She would be gone in couple of hours once he was done.

They never stayed.

Going upstairs, noting most of the men were falling asleep as they kept "guard," he allowed them to leave and come back later, after they had rested. A silence filled the grand mansion that had been constantly filled with boisterous laughter and conversations for the entire night.

Haku enjoyed the silence, realizing he had missed it the past weeks.

Zabuza didn't need protection from anyone when he was around to avoid any unwanted confrontation, he confidently thought to himself. But he did ponder how long it would be before the hunter-ninja figure out where they were and come get them.
Zabuza had been working on gathering some men who could take care of that problem… Preferably shinobi to become a part of the elite. He had seen himself as the only one with that capability and had at first been a bit offended by the idea, until he realized Zabuza had bigger plans for him.

He was such a fool for thinking he understood how Zabuza's mind worked. He only had to follow directions, not question them.

Finally being able to take of his mask now that everyone was gone, he took a deep breath. A relief of tension followed, enjoying the feel of fresh air on his face.

As he got near his floor, he suddenly heard a noise down the hall. Halted, he grabbed his kunai, readying himself for any conflict. Focusing, he then sighed, feeling rather stupid as he sensed it was a familiar chakra.

She had disappeared for the night after Zabuza had excused her. For some reason he had assumed she had gone to bed but now wondered if she had been up to all night, spending time in her favorite place of the mansion, the library.

Opening the oak-wooden door of the study, he saw her sitting at a small writing desk. Taking notes from a book. Eloquently writing down while holding a tissue against the cut on her brow. Turning around, she gave him a small smile. 'Good-morning, Haku.'
'Sakura,' he greeted, realizing she had actually gone to bed and had slept. She looked well-rested and content. Puzzled, he stared at her, trying to figure out what she was doing.

Taking the tissue away from her brow she showed him she had managed to heal it quite quickly with the use of some herbs she had gotten from the garden.

Raising his eyebrows in response, impressed by the healed-up wound, she quickly started to explain how she had done it in the most adoring way. Having an almost childlike excitement to it as she showed him her notes. He cheerfully nodded and listen with delight to her talking. Eventually she fell quiet, and he could tell she was beginning to feel uncomfortable under his stare. But he couldn't help it, her enthusiasm and thorough explanations were simply captivating. Quietly wishing he too had the time to deepen himself on the subject and be able to impress Zabuza and her with it.

'Would….' Taking a breath, 'would all of this be of use to Master Zabuza?'
Haku stared at her. Her green eyes had become so lively for the first time since he had met her. Nodding softly, 'Yes, of course. He'll be very pleased with your discoveries.'
'I see, that's good,' she softly answered, hearing some sort of proud in her voice that was foreign to his ears.

For the first time in years he felt a strange twist within. Something vicious tugging at his heart and he couldn't tell if it was envy, jealousy, or overprotection. It was a mystery to whom it was aimed at too. Her. Zabuza. Himself.

Pushing away the feelings and tiring thoughts, he instead asked Sakura if she had breakfast yet.

Shaking her head in response, she did admit to being a little hungry. Getting up, closing her books, and taking her notes, she glanced at the standing clock. Seeing the time, she was about to reject his offer to instead wake Zabuza, like she always did.

'I can't, Haku, master Zabuza— 'is preoccupied,' Haku cut her off, not being able to help himself. 'He won't be needing you to wake him today.'

Noticing his usual façade slipping, Sakura only numbly nodded in response and ignored the underlying tone of disapproval.

An awkward silence filled the room and was becoming slightly unnerving as she started to fidget and nervously ran her hands over her notebook.

Sensing she had to break the strange atmosphere somehow, she eventually voiced her answer, hoping it reach him and make him snap out of it.

'Ok, let's have breakfast then.'

Haku only kept staring at her while noting her voice was again too soft, too quiet. But as always, she dared to speak up and answer.

He ignored his inner turmoil and shut off all thoughts as grabbed her hand and guided her out the study-room. 'Let's have breakfast together, Sakura.'