Chapter 53

I woke up on a futon in Tazuna's guest room. Next to me was the Kubikiribocho. I was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday. Apparently everyone else had woken up already because the other futons had been put away already.

"Shinobi-san, breakfast is ready," Tazuna's daughter told me from the doorway. "Also, there's someone here to see you. Don't keep her waiting too long."

I sat up and rubbed my eye. "What?" I took my sword and headed downstairs.

Haku was sitting at the end of the dining table, sipping tea. He was wearing a sleeveless pink kimono accented with purple swirls and a white obi around his waist. The kimono showed off his slender arms and was open just enough to show off his pronounced collarbones. His delicate neck was wrapped in a thick black choker. His flowing black hair was so straight and smooth and shiny that I momentarily doubted whether he was really a guy.

"And I thought I looked like a girl."

"You!" I pointed at Haku. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to know the name of the person who defeated my master," Haku said, lowering his tea. Tazuna's daughter brought him some food. "Thank you, Miss."

"Ooh, isn't she so cute?" the woman remarked as she continued to set out plates of food. No one started to eat. Everyone in the house was sitting at the table looking at me curiously.

"What do you mean Zabuza was your master?" Kakashi asked, studying the beautiful teen.

Haku looked into his tea. "When I was nothing but an orphan in Kirigakure, Zabuza-sama took me in. He taught me ninjutsu and I swore I would be his weapon so that he might one day bring peace to the Mist."

I sat down across from Haku. The sword on my back must have looked comically large. "My name is Haru."

"Haru. That is a pretty name," he remarked. "Haru-sama, I hope you won't be offended, but I would like to know if you are a man or a woman."

Under my eyepatch, my face twitched and spasmed around my glass eye.

Sakura laughed weakly and told him, "Haru is a guy."

Haku held his hand over his mouth in a delicate expression of surprise. "Oh. I assumed from his diminutive stature..." And then he blushed in embarrassment.

I wanted to cry. In despair, I ducked my head under my hands and stared down into the simple wooden table. I dared to ask, "Is that it?"

Haku put down his tea and spoke seriously, "Now that Zabuza is dead, I truly have nothing left. I have nowhere to go and no one to turn to. Please, Haru-sama, allow me to accompany you."

"What?" I asked in shock. Everyone else also seemed to be in various states of surprise.

"My life, my body, is yours to do with as you wish. Please...I'll do anything..." He clenched his kimono tightly and tried to hold back his tears. "I just don't want to be alone again..."

I don't know what anyone else would have done in my situation. Someone else would probably have handled it differently, probably better than I did. But being me, there was only one way I could react.

I put my hands into the air and shrugged. "Do what you want, Girly."

That night, Sakura and I laid out futons on the floor in preparation for sleep. At the moment, Kakashi and Sasuke were outside. Although Sasuke had first watch, I had several crows looking over the surrounding area just in case. It was too soon for Gato to have found a replacement assassin. Tomorrow, Kakashi and I would see if Haku's information would allow us to find Gato and 'persuade' him to leave the bridge alone.

"All finished!" Sakura said happily as we finished the minor chore.

"Alright. Night, Sakura." I slid into a futon and lay down.

The girl gave me a weird look. "Are you just going to sleep in your coat?"

"Yes." I shut my eyes and pulled up the duvet. Although I changed my clothes underneath every day, I didn't want to be caught without my coat if we were suddenly attacked.

"Weird," she said as if wearing pink pajamas on a mission was completely normal.

Haku walked into the spacious room, still wearing his pink kimono. "Haru-sama. Is it time for bed?"

"Yes," I grumbled, pulling the blanket over my head. I was suddenly joined by the androgynous teen, who decided to slip into my futon. "Really?" I asked in disbelief.

Haku said nothing as he lay next to me. Instead it was Sakura who sputtered, "What? What are you doing? It's completely inappropriate for a guy and a girl to sleep together like that!"

"Don't worry. I'm a man," Haku reassured her.

"It was still awkward when you climbed into the bath with me," I added. "I don't need help washing my back."

"I only wanted to be useful," he said.

Sakura sprayed blood from her nose all over her pajamas before fainting backwards onto the futon she had just laid out. I just ignored her and used a chakra thread to turn off the lights.

"Girls are weird. And damn, Haku's feet are cold."