Waiting(Zabuza)

[Haku]

Haku sat patiently in a chair for Zabuza to return from meeting with Gato. He had been invited to attend the meeting with him and had gone. Haku was wearing his hunter's outfit complete with his mask. Haku left in disgust after hearing what was wanted however. Not only because he was delicate about the job, although killing the bridge builder didn't bother him if he wasn't the one to do it. He hated the why of it all and the man who offered the job surrounded by guards. Haku respected power and the skill to use it well, Gato had neither. He had seen the country it looked poor and broken and his heart ached to save it. He also didn't like the greed that motivated the hit. why kill a lowly bridge builder if not for greed. The man in Haku's own opinion was a snake and he would be treated like one. He would watch Gato like a hawk. A slight frown graced his face under the mask as he sat tense and at the ready. Haku would leave when Zabuza was ready to go.


His patience was a direct result of his schooling. You couldn't attack first thing when you sight your target, they could get away and if you miss they'd be on guard for next time. This went doubly so if your target was a shinobi of any skill if only because they can fight back. Zabuza had taught him well and he was grateful for the training. His hand loosely held pair of senbon and his was drooped on his chest shamming sleep. Haku had his eyes trained on the doors.

[zech]

Gato. A few minutes with him and Zabuza was already growing tired of the man. He was greedy, as selfish as they got in fact. However, he had money and that was what Zabuza needed to accomplish his own ambitions. Zabuza didn't even have an inch of trust in him, he seemed naturally deceptive. If he even tried to get out of their contract, the Demon of the Mist would make him regret it. Haku had returned to their shelter before him, seeing as Zabuza was the one that had to make the deal complete.

A bridge builder named Tazuna - interesting. It wouldn't be a difficult assassination, after all he was a lone bridge builder. He could even send the Demon Brothers to take care of him while Zabuza kept an eye on Gato, then he could save a bit more time and money. Zabuza could always rely on his students, after all, he taught them well enough to survive.

Arriving at the shelter, he noticed Haku had already arrived, sitting neatly on a chair. "Haku." Zabuza said firmly as he took the Guillotine sword from its sheath and left it in the corner of the room. Turning to Haku, he folded his arms. "I'm sure you already know Gato isn't to be trusted." Of course he knew, Zabuza had taught Haku everything he knew, he would obviously be alert to Gato's distrusting personality. "I'm going to have the Demon Brothers take care of this Tazuna, that way we can keep an eye on Gato in case he thinks our services are free." He finished, that was the basic plan. Zabuza was experienced enough to know that something so simple would most likely lead to a bigger problem and he was prepared to kill this bridge builder himself if anything popped up to stop him.

"What's your thoughts?" Zabuza asked, leaning against the wall. Haku may have been young, but his insight was often valuable. He was curious on his opinions concerning Gato and the assassination, even if he'd follow Zabuza to the grave.[/size]

[Haku]

Haku looked up as Zabuza set his sword down and all thought of faking sleep left his mind. Lifting his mask off so that he could speak clearly he said. He stood up as he set his mask down and began to get something to eat for the pair of them. Haku was happiest when taking care of Zabuza and had begged to learn things like cooking in order to do so. He quickly got a fire going to warm the shelter and began to heat water which he summoned from outside. "Yes, it was fairly apparent. What do you plan to do about him if he does a double cross? He'd probably wait until the bridge builder was dead to do it but still." Haku mused for a moment on that point his frown deepening.

"Understood, sir." He thought that the task would be well suited for the demon brothers and he was curious just where the target was holed up. He wasn't completely sure if he should let the brother go alone.Not because he didn't think they could handle it but just to be safe. "Where is the bridge builder hiding?" He worked swiftly as he talked. "truthfully I wouldn't trust Gato. People like him don't like honesty as a rule and will bow to anyone who shows a sense of bravado. He should be easy to cow, you know if worse comes to worst." Haku's frown turned to a smile when he thought of Zabuza scaring the tiny man to death in one of his moods.

"May I speak freely about my thought on the job?" He paused collecting his thoughts and speaking slowly and carefully he began. "I don't like to kill as you know and from what I can see this place is strangling under gato's rule. the whole place is on the brink of collapse. on the one side Gato and despair on the other Hope and the bridge builder. I think we've been contracted send a message to any who would try to help the place..." Here he paused for breath and to get his emotions under control which he did with some difficulty as this was a touchy subject for him. "But we are not heroes nor I hope have we stooped to the level of common thugs. The people must decide for them selves what they will do. We are however simply weapons to do another’s bidding for good or ill."

Haku sighed and blushed a little after his impassioned outburst. He usually wasn’t this vocal all at once but the state of the town got his blood up. He stopped speaking and served the food he had made. There were fresh fruits and rice bought in town and some dried meat. "food's done." Haku offered one of the two plates to Zabuza and sat down with his. After he had finished he took the rabbit from its cage and sat with it on his lap. He fed it a carrot or two. Haku had a fondness for the animals when he was upset.

[zech]

Zabuza listened intently to Haku as he spoke, his facial expressions never changing from the deep gaze beneath his heavy brow. Haku was against Gato's rule in the Land of Waves, as he had indeed turned it into an impoverished region. Regardless, Zabuza would do what had to be done to acheive what he wanted, and by any means necessary. The people of the land were of no connection to him, no meaning to him. Why should they prevent him from achieving his goals?

As Haku offered him the plate of food, he nodded and set it down on the table. Zabuza however, remained standing. "As far as i'm aware, Tazuna will return to the site of the bridge in a few days from now." He spoke, resting his hands by his side. "The Demon Brothers will intercept him during his journey. It'll be a test of their worth." As he finished, Zabuza sat down at the table glancing down at the food before looking back up at Haku. "I'm not interested in Gato's little game with this country. You know the bigger picture by now, Haku." With that, Zabuza undtied the bandages covering his face and tucked in to his food, revealing his jagged teeth. Glancing up, he noticed Haku latching on to an animal, a rabbit to be precise.

He stopped momentarily, swallowing his food before talking. "After we eat, we'll rest then move on." He said, tossing another piece of food into his mouth. "You'll have to set the rabbit free when we do." He perked an eyebrow up, staring at the creature. Zabuza always wondered why he became so attatched to animals, but regardless he always remained calm when telling Haku to do something.
[/size]

[Haku]

Haku simply nodded at the command that he would have to leave the rabbit behind when they went. he knew that in his heart and did not question Zabuza on such matters.It was on moral questions not phycial ones that his soft heart wavered a little. It wasn't worth it to him as Zabuza's useful tool. He didn't want to be suddenly turned adrift for something so small as not doing what he was told. He would be died now if it was for his purpose in life. Haku some times wondered what Zabuza would do when he got his wish and what kind of ruler he would make. He hoped that he would be a good one.

"yes I know. We want the money, thats all that really matters." He said quietly and finished in his head.when the time comes you will find nothing wanting in me. I will make you proud of me. He just smiled as he watched Zabuza eat. Most poeple would luagh at Haku if he told them that the 'demon of the mist' ate like any normal person. Zabuza's rep had become some what larger then life in the past few years. " Where are we going to? We need to stock up on some things and get information on where the actual hunters are searching for us now. Might as well stay one step ahead of the pack." he was trying to stiffle a laugh as his own mood improved. He didn't luagh to often but Haku liked the thought of even a short rest in realtively comfortable shelter. Traveling all the time was a little tiring after a while.

Haku stood up and walked a little way out of the fire light. He knelt down and let the rabbit bound off before returning to sit across from Zabuza. His thought turned to how they had met.He had said when they met that he only wanted a tool. They had grown into a comfortable companionship over the years. Haku's greatful feeling had grown into genune respect and love for his master.He would do anything to keep his place at Zabuza's side.

[zech]

Zabuza continued silently eating until Haku asked another question. Without glancing up, he swallowed the food in his mouth and continued staring at the bowl. "We'll stock up but we should be under their noses by staying here. After all, Gato controls everything." He picked up another piece of the food and ate it, letting out a breath. He felt so miniscule, having to resort to working as an assassin for hire in order to obtain what he wanted. Haku, however, seemed relitively happy today. Zabuza could barley just catch his occassional little chuckle, to which he ignored.

When Haku threw out the question of, if he had actually thanked Zabuza for taking him under his wing, he gave an intense stare. He wasn't entirely sure how to react, but he certainly wouldn't go over the top about it. Clasping both hands onto the table, his eyes remained locked on Haku, unintentionally in an intimidating manner. "It doesn't matter, Haku." He said, shifting in his seat slightly. "You should look towards the future and forget the past." Zabuza knew that all too well, given his failed attempt to assassinate the Mizukage before certainly de-moraled him. Evidently, Haku was the thing that picked him up and brought hope into his dreams.

Coughing softly, he proceeded to wrap the bandages around his mouth and neck once more as he stood up from his seat. "And more importantly, we should be prepared to make a move, should the Demon Brothers fail." Zabuza said, knowing that he relied on this more than ever. What an annoying thought.[/size]

[Haku]

Haku looked down thoroughly chastened, his good mood dissipating like a puff of smoke. He gave a mental shrug and picked himself up off figurative ground. He knew that the question would not be received well and he got the answer that he expected from Zabuza on that. His response was a soft “yes, sir.” as he cleared up. He was trying to sort out his on feelings for the man who was all things to him. Haku understood his feeling would never be returned but he didn’t stop from feeling them. He was becoming more certain that he loved with him and that he was in love with him. The two kinds of love were in his mind two very different things. He knew that you could love someone and not be in love with them as you might love a mother or a sibling. After cleaning up he went to his sleeping roll and lay down with his back to Zabuza.

He was trying to figure things out. “I don’t think we should be seen together in public. This bridge builder will know the area and probably be expecting some sort of fight if he isn’t killed by the brothers. I can come and go unnoticed for the most part and you well you kind of can’t. It would almost too easy for me to kill him if they fail. Or do you want a swing at him, Zabuza?” Now that they were committed to the job he wanted it over with as fast as possible. Then they could move on to the next and be one step closer to the goal. Haku was being somewhat insolent at the moment. He half expected some sort of punishment for his behavior and would be surprised if it was let to pass. Haku didn’t usually push at any thing that would get him in trouble but some time he wanted the attention it got him. Affection wasn’t their relationship in any outward way. Most the time Haku was okay with this. He showed his affection by caring for and doing best for Zabuza. He took the fact that he hadn’t been thrown out on the streets and the knowledge of his place as Zabuza’s weapon as Zabuza’s respect.