I wanted to go in a very different path than anything I wrote before... here is my idea.

Yugao found Mika the moment he finished his most recent shift in the hospital, hands shaking from his first week as a medic in training as . The boy had been working hard, far as she had been told, in the week since he had come back from his mission in Wave. That he had healed a great many in Wave and killed many alongside her old senpai Kakashi only added to her pride in the boy. "You are doing well, I hear."

Mika turned to her, yellow coat over his ninja gear and solid peace in his eyes. "I do try. I think this will be a good path for me."

"I am sure it will be. I hope that by the next chunin exams, you will be strong enough to take it on by yourself."

That made Mika grin sheepishly. "I would love that."

Patting his shoulder, she asked. "How are you handling for your first kills?"

He froze for a moment. "Oddly, I'm fine. I think killing kids, should it be my mission, would be harder... Kakashi advised me to make friends. I have never been good at that. I tried to make friends with Haku, a sort of captive from Mist, but as far as I know he has yet to wake up."

"Actually, he is awake, it was what I was sent to tell you. Why don't you visit him?"

"I think I will."

And so Mika shot off, into the halls of the hospital with Yugao at his heels, ready to guard him should this Haku try anything... untoward.

The room, due to Haku's potent chakra, was cold and crisp. Fog formed on the window and you could almost see your breath. Haku was sitting in his bed, turning toward the window. "Hello, Mika. I hear you have been visiting me for some time." The boy turned, smiling at Mika. "And you are?"

"Yugao, his sensei."

Haku bowed. "It is nice to meet you." He turned to Mika. "I also hear that you saved me, and carried me to safety... I owe you my life. What is it that you wish of me?"

She actually saw Mika sigh, a wistful, pained look crossing his face. "I want you to be my friend, but also to make your own peace. I want to be happy, in your own way."

Tears fell down Haku's face. "I have never lived for myself, for anyone but my loved ones... I heard what Zabuza said. I will try." He held out a hand, which Mika grabbed and held fast. "Friends, then?"

"Friends."

"I heard you killed Gato's men, I bet you really can use a blade."

Mika laughed. "I'd love to think so."

"The doctors say I can leave here tomorrow, but I will be on restrictions for another week. I would be honored to teach you some things, help you to maximize your power as Zabuza once did for me."

Mika bowed and Yugao felt herself finally relax. She could see, through her Anbu training and sensory skills he was telling the truth.

"I would be honored."

"Yugao, I can see how tense you are." Haku started, piercing her with his beautiful brown eyes. "I would be happy to have your monitor us, to ensure I am safe."

"No need, your mind was evaluated when you were recovering. You were deemed extremely safe for Mika to be around." She moved, with such speeds even Haku seemed startled. Her finger found his chin, moving to face her as she glared down with malice. "Should you betray Mika, or any of us really, I will end your entire wave of being. Are we clear?"

Haku actually laughed. "I have less than no intentions of harming my literal savior... and I think it would dishonor Zabuza, who saved me from so much. He entrusted me to Mika's care, and that... that means something to me."

She read him well, it seemed. "So be it. Now, I must go, but you two, please, enjoy your time together."

And so she left the room, pleased that Mika finally had a friend. She had thought it odd he would dedicate an entire month to solely training but after speaking to the Hokage... and his old senseis, and Kakashi, it seemed she really should have looked into things far more than she had before.

No one should be that alone, it only festered in their hearts, burning them into something terrible and dark...

She had seen it happen...

She remembered Itachi's fate all too well.

;;;;

"So," Mika started. "Tell me about yourself?" He sat next to Haku's bed, carving him an apple he saw nearby. "I could start if you'd like?"

Haku, taking the apple, nodded. "Please do."

Mika sighed. "I was born here in the Leaf, in extreme poverty, to a broken unstable family. My father was a monster, he beat me almost constantly. A ninja, a chunin, found me near dead in my home. They smelled the blood. My father had abandoned me after nearly killing me. I vowed, coldly, to never allow myself to become that weak again. That much of a victim. I enrolled in the ninja academy the next month."

Haku grabbed his hand. "Our stories have quite a similar path... my mother was born to old warring blood, from an era long by..."

The heavy conversation would eventually turn, and the two discussed techniques of healing, combat and so on.

"I would love to learn some water techniques. I just discovered I am a water chakra type."

Haku nodded. "I use water and wind, myself... I will see what can do, you will help me as a medic, to catch up so to speak, and I will help you become a better water user. Sound fair?"

Mika laughed. "That sounds perfect. Some of your speed training would be welcome, to trounce Sasuke so easily, I am actually quite amused. He always had something stuck up his ass."

That got Haku to chuckle lightly. "I noticed... yes, I will help you with that as well. Come pick me up at nine. I hear the Hokage has given me an apartment right by yours, said it was his idea to keep us close."

Mika nodded. "I will have to thank him for that later."

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a joy to write.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.